I'm fairly close to finishing my first plane (kit, Tiger 60, about 70% done) in about a decade and am already considering my next plane. I decided not to purchase an engine for this plane because I already have an OS .46 SF that might have had 1/2 gallon through it and rumor had it these were fairly strong and would be fine while I got reaquainted with flying again (going to be careful and do nothing but buddy boxed flights for a few weekends first).

After further investigation that .46 may not be enough, and am considering picking up a Tower .61, and using the .46 in my next project.

SO..

#1: Should I forgo the .46 for a .61 on the Tiger?
#2: Is the Tower .61 (read good things via search, but wanted to get some current reactions and have been bitten by off-brand re-labeled products before) a good selection or should I go with a more well known manufacturer?
#3: What is a good .46 size P-51 kit? I'm looking for something I can detail, retracts, etc. Basically something I can do slowly over 3-6 months

Zzyzxx,

General rule of thumb on selecting an engine for most planes the manufacturer provides a range of engine sizes select one at the upper end of the range (you can allways throtle back but full throtle is allways full trotle)

I've never owned a tower engine so I won't comment on it. The engine forum has had threads on this engine I suggest you do a search.

I have a GP .40 sized P-51 that i'm planning on using a SF .46 on. The one problem with detailing the smaller warbirds is that you can make them heavy which increase wing loading and makes them land hotter. So be carefull if you decide to "detail" you could in fact be creating a static model instead of a flying model.

Yeah, always the upper end of the reccomended range...

as for planes, warbird in particular, i say go larger. Go for at least a 1/6th scale (that's about a .60 sized - 60" span) if you would like to make a really good looking 'scale project', with the bells ansd whistles.. (A 40 plane can get overloaded with retracts, etc..) Top flight have some excellent choices..

As for the .46, there are a few planes to consider, but you should also consider your flying skills. You might weant to look at what other planes Great Planes has to offer, as they are usually 'great planes'!! look at teh RV4, the Super Sportster 40, or the newly released Ultra sport. you'll get a 'more advanced' plane that is designed around a .46 sized engine. And you can improve your flyign skills with such a plane!

Sig too!! Smith Mini plane (my next 'winter project)..

Everyone I know has had bad luck with Tower engines but then I don't know everyone. I've heard good and bad on RCU forums. If you are going to go with a .60 try the OS LA. I know that statement will create a lot of flak. OS always has had good carburetors. The same cannot be said for Tower engines. I support Tower in almost all cases for everything they sell but the engines I've seen personally can't quite cut it. Even Clarence Lee doesn't say much good about them and he is usually very generous with his engine analysis.

Reason I want to go with a .46 sized warbird for my next plane is basically because I have a practically perfectly new OS .46 that I've had for 9 years and feel obligated to give it some air time.

I haven't used a .60 two stroke in a Loooong time. For anything that big (or bigger) I go with 4-strokes. However, if I needed to get an inexpensive 60, I would try the Evolution 60. I reviewed the Evo Trainer System (.45) last summer, and if the .60 is as good, it should be great.

PS Great Planes 40 size P-51 would be perfect for your 46. I had one, and I sold it a few years ago just to make some room. Wish I still had it!

Tower has modeled their engines pretty much after the OS seriers, including the carbs. Maybe the manufacturing process has less quality control than OS. I have an old Tower 40 size still running with no problems with comparable output to an OS LA.

There was a recent review of 60 size two strokes in one of the RC rags recently, and the Tower 60 actually came out way up there in their ratings, low idle, high top end, power to weight and power per dollar spent.

I's suggest something like the GP P-51 as a good flying plane, but hold off on the detailing. As has been discussed, the smaller warbirds can get way too heavy pretty quickly. You can play around with covering, cockpit, markings and stuff to get the feel for it, but save the retracts and weighty details for a larger one.

Here's a small Dynaflite P-51 that I played with just as I was talking about.
Dennis-

For your tiger 60 I would spend the extra money and get the Tower .75 or a GMS .76. Try this web site WWW.gmsengines.com they have the .76 for 85.00 shipped. This size engine will make you plane really perform good.

Rick

Appreciate all the responses - looks like I'm gonna hold off on buying a plane for the engine - maybe I'll hunt down another .46 SF (Ebay, etc) and make a large scale P-38. Overall it sounds like I'm gonna enjoy this hobby better with larger aircraft.