I have a Phoenix extra 300S. When I went to put the motor on I completely changed my outlook of this ARF. First the dimension they give you from the firewall to the thrust washer doesnt give you enough room to clear the cowl with the spinner. Second the mount it came with should be for a .46 2-stroke and Im using the O.S. .55AX which has the same mounting dimensions and IT DONT FIT AT ALL. To make it fit I would have to sand 1/4 of an inch off the inside of the mount. Should I just go get a different mount and will the new mount have the same mounting holes for the firewall. Also the throttle pushrod goes directly through where the gas tank should be.I hate to start cutting on the mount as I dont want to have the motor all out of line. I am about to cut the whole model in half and throw it in the trash(maybe a little impatient). Please help before I go crazy.

kbailey45,

If your engine doesn't fit the mount then either trim it up to fit your engine or get another one. If you decide to get a new one the holes may or may not fit the holes you have in the firewall now but it's no big deal to drill new holes. If you need to move the engine out so the spinner back plate will clear the cowl you may have to add to the fire wall. For example, if you need to move it out 1/4" then epoxy a piece of 1/4" ply or hard wood to the current firewall. As for the throttle linkage, that's always a tough one on any plane to figure out. You just need to get creative. That’s the fun of this hobby.

Im just gonna get a new mount but as far as the dimension the manual doesnt say to do it but when you look at the pics you can tell. You have to put slots in the cowl to go over the landing gear and it will slide further back that should make it right.

If I drill new holes what about the ones that are already there. Do I need to fill them with something and what if the new holes are too close to the old ones and I just have to make a big hole. I buy ARF's cause I dont want to spend that much time building kits and I dont have all the tools to do all this stuff with(I have a drill). But now I have to redo the whole thing and line crap up again. Sorry to vent but why cant these companies make these things RIGHT.

I think you should just give up, throw it in a box, and send it to me. I will pay the shipping.

YA !! give up and send it to Ram, that way you won't have a heart attack or something.

Really man just relax and ENJOY the hobby and all the little flustrations that belong to it. You will be surprised how much you can ENJOY it if you don't let it get to you. You sound new to the hobby, how did you get involved with a 300 ???? ENJOY !!! RED

Im not new just impatient.

kbaily45....remember....this is a "Hobby.......Not A Job"

kbailey45,

You can epoxy a round wooden rod in the holes in the firewall and after it drys you just sand it down and then your ready to install the new engine mount. I don't every remember buying an ARF and not having to do some sort of modifications, that's just the way this hobby is. I did buy an expensive Pattern plane once and nothing would fit and I was so mad at how much I paid for the plane but after you get it all done you gain a lot of experience that you can pass on to someone else as we are doing hear. Take your time and go easy on yourself. Here is a big thread on this plane already.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4798510/tm.htm

if I epoxy rods in will the firewall be strong enough and what if I have to drill partially through the rods and epoxy