Today's engine choices.
 

Hello. Fairly new to r/c and need some input on some good .15-.45 2 stroke engines in the middle-price field. I have a good deal of older engines (Enyas .09, .15, .29, .35, .45 and Veco .19, .45, O.S. .25 and .30) but these are mostly engines from the eighties and while operational obviously probably a bit low on power and high on weight compared to their newer counterparts. Thoughts?

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

You can never go wrong with OS.

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

From the reading I've done, the smaller OS LA engines are good. I've also read good feedback on Thunder Tiger and Magnum engines. Some specifics include the OS .15LA, it gets really good reviews. I saw one in a combat mustang a couple weeks ago. Faster than anything else out there. I've got a Thunder Tiger Pro-36. It's got good power and weight, and a reasonable price. I've also got several older OS engines, 25FSR, 25F ABC, and 32FSR that still run strong and have comparable power to today's engines.

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

Thunder Tiger -- enough said.

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

I knew about O.S. being good engines (although I don't think they're really powerhouses...then again I'm not looking for a powerhouse, just something that will keep up) but didn't think the Thunder Tiger was more than a sport type engine. I do have a Thunder Tiger .25 (the bushinged version) that's a few years old and although I haven't run it I didn't think jst from looks alone (I know, I know...) that it was really anything special. I'm sort of partial to my old Veco engines (the .19 and .45) for build quality (both have dual bearings and built like a tank) but they're UNBELIEVABLY heavy for their size.

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

For background I'm going to be building scale from scratch...multiple planes (most likely different sized versions of the same plane) in various sizes from .10-.45 'I'm hoping'.

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

The Thunder Tiger Pro Series, OS FX and Magnum XLS are all dual ball bearing high performance and easy to operate engines. The Thunder Tiger and Magnum are less expensive than the OS. My OS and Thunder Tigers will start on the first flip of the prop 90% of the time.

Tom

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

I think that "nearly any" brand of engine in the size range your asking about is suitable. Many people have their own preferences. They think that since their engine runs well for them, that particular brand of engine is the best.

Pick a brand. You will probably find that the one you pick is perfect.

One brand I will suggest staying away from, in the .40/.46 size range, is the Tower brand. There have been hundreds of complaints about Tower's .46 engine. I have first-handedly seen several of these engines give people constant problems, and would have to say that it's an engine I would never buy.

For further questions on this subject, I would recommend going to the glow engines forum.

Good luck,

John

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

Well, to throw in my $.02 worth, I run an Enya .15 baffle piston and have run an OS .35 iron piston engine, and depending on the type of aircraft and flying you want to do, I don't see where a more modern engine will be necessarily "better". Now if you are looking to 3-d and want unlimited vertical, no, they won't cut it. But for a dependable sport plane type engine I'd use what I have. Just remember to use at least 20% oil with some castor in them and they'll be happy and live a long time.
Oh, and I didn't remember the Veco .19 being that large of an engine. But it's been awhile since I've seen one. I know the Enya .15 is small even compared to the modern engines in its class.
The main thing is have fun and do what you want. I get a kick out of having something a little different from the other guys at the field.

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

Several good engines above.... Super Tiger engines have also worked well for me over the years. I've also never had one peal a liner either! The GS .40 is hard to beat from a reliability, cost, and power to weight ratio...

Just my 0.02$ worth!

Lee

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

The TT Pro series are very powerfull (match the OS engines) & respond well to further tuning. Additionally, they are of superb quality, easy to break-in, trouble free in operation, last a very long time and are available at remarkably low prices, considering the quality & performance that you get.

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

It's good to know that most of the common engine brands (Thunder Tiger, OS, etc...) that you guys mentioned are nice and reliable. Since I'm planning on doing scale planes rather than aerobatics the utmost in power does not concern me so much as reliability and ease of operation. Most important of all it's reassuring that the engines that I already have are still good choices (even though some are 20+ years old). Thanks guys.

RE: Today's engine choices.
 

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_22...tm.htm#2289435

There is another thread open on this same topic in the Beginners forum. I am closing this one. The link above will take you to the open thread.

Eric