well i'm looking for a second plane and have pretty much narrowed it down to the 4*. But my question is, can the wing come off? (silly question but you never know). I was looking at the arf version (not much of a builder myself), what type of engine would you reccomend for the 40 size?

Thanks

Yes the wing comes off.
A good .46 2s or a .70 4s engine will be a good match
I would go with the 4s if the extra money is not a problem

Try a search on RCU for "four star 40" or "4*40"--there is TONS of info on build techniques, tips, and modifications to the 4*40. Lots of good info! Enjoy!

i have an .46 la in mine, bout the only use for one of them! it pulls that around good. wont go vertical for very long but it works good.
and yes the wing is bolt on, the only planes i know of that have non-removable wings are SPADs and the dazzler
good luck

Great airplane the 4*

Anything from a bushing .40 (LA) up to an Irvine-53/Webra etc.. I would choose at least a ball-bearing-46 so you could use the engine in other planes as you perf. expectations get higher-

Keep us posted!
james

Check out the EV0 46 NT. I have that on mine. It is plenty of power.

I've heard nothing but good about the Evolution Engines...there are a few of them at our club and they all seem to run great. Most people lose the limiters & flywheel, as well as the dorky 3-blade prop.

On a side note, how do you get rid of the flywheel? What does the backplate on the spinner ride against?

I'm not sure; several people on RCU have mentioned taking it off, but no one has specifically said how (I did a search--no luck).

I like my three blade prop...

I've been told the 4* is a great second plane.. I would put just a little
larger than recommended engine init.. But a 46 would be good.. I
was going to get the 4*40 with OS 46ax.. But I ended up with the 4*60

And two yes'es.. The wing does come off.. And the Dazzler's wing does
not:-(... Luckily for me my Dazzler still fits in my car... But since I was
given the Dazzler.. My "second" plane.. 4*60/ Mag 91 4s is still not
completed.. But I'm working on it slowly...

hey Raideron... I am working on a 4*60 with a mag 91 too! I just finished covering last night...can't wait to get it finished!!

i have another question... right now i'm flying the Alpha by hanger 9, my question is if i get the 4 * 40 arf can i use my tansmitter from the alpha (JR Quatro) and just buy some servo's, and reciver instend of buy a new transmitter? and if so, do you think i could stay on the sme channel as my alpha?

Yes you can an it is common thing, the servos,receiver,+ battery swicth set is called flight pack and you can get it from lots of places Horizon and Servoocity for Hitec gear. Get your crystal and you are done.

But, as I know JR Quatro does not have the model memory(I am Futaba user and don't know much about JR models), if you intend to fly both your trainer and 4* you should look for a better radio with model memorry. Otherwise it would be a litlle pain swicthing between planes. And you will end up forgeting reversing a servo.

Also most of the time if youneed standart servos buying a complete radio set is more logical than buying just the flight pack. Look for a 6 ch, radio that you will use for some time and you can sell your old TX for $35-$50 to someone interested. Or keep it as a buddy box for demo flights to your friends.

what if a i use JR servo's and reciever, whats this revere servo thing you are talking about?

proprunner.. Let me know how she flys.. It seems like a great match..

Hey Righty,

You can just take the radio equipment out of your present plane and
use it on the 4*.. Or just get you another flight pack.. Rec./servos for
your JR transmitter for the 4*..

On reversing a servo... It's just the way the servo is placed in the plane
which may cause the direction of movement to be changed.. "norm" or
"reversed" Most radios have a switch so you can change it if you have to,
BUT... If you do a GOOD pre-flight check.. That should be no problem in
forgetting on the set-up.. But it has and does happen..

so as long as I make sure i put the servos in like my alpha so i don't reverse them i should be fine?

Then everytime you switch between planes you have to retrim the plane as you will loose the trim. And if you want to stick to the hobby your best move will be get a better radio. As you will need it soon or later.

If money is an issue, then move all your radio gear from trainer to 4*, once you start flying it you will not want to fly the trainer. If money is not issue get a radio with model memmory and trim memmory, preferbly digital trim lever so that you don't have to remember to save the trim. Which I always forgot.

But before going to 4* get most out of your Alpha, don't be emberessed from flying trainer, at least I was and wanted to fly a better plane.
I finshed and flew 4* after 100 flights with my trainer and there is no rush, there are hundreds of beatiful planes out there, you will fly them eventually not all but some.

So my advice is fly the trainer as much as you can then move radio to 4* and foirget about the trainer. Unless something bad happens.

For engine, I flew my 4*40 with 46FX and flys great.

Why not put a Magnum .52 in it? I've seen them power a Funtana and another ARF with no problems.

If I were in the market again I would get the Magnum 52 for the price and more power, altough lots of people here in RCU are very happy with O.S. 46AX.

I had Magnum 46 XLS on a SPAD and it is also nice engine and will by a .91 XLS due to my good experience with 46 XLS.

I have a Rossi .45 in my 4*40 and it willl haul serious boo-tay!

On the Evo engine, which is a super engine, you remove the prop and the thrust washer/weighted flywheel. That is mounted right behind the prop and it slides off. The normal thrust washer from Evolution costs less than $3. My LHS ordered mine. Slide the thrust washer on the notch, put on your favorite 2 bladed prop, and tighten it all down. Go fly. You will get a lot more power and higher RPMs. I'm using 11x7 props. (Be sure to remove the baffle out of your muffler)

I think I read somewhere that someone tried to fly with both the weighted flywheel and a 2 bladed prop, and barely got the plane around to land. If I remember correctly, it barely had enough power to lumber around once for a landing.

I've owned an OS .46 FX, a TT Pro .46, and the Evo .45 Trainer. The Evo is the best of them by a long shot. It the OS .46 dies soon, and it sounds like it may, there is no question of replacing it with the Evo .46NT.

Yeah it should work... That is as long as the 4* servo tray allows
you to put it in the same way as your Alpha..

You know Cobra78 is right on, on getting a computer radio.. If
money is not the issue.. I would stick with the same brand if you
could so as to buddy box with your present radio just in case
friends or family would want to give the hobby a try.. That way
you could train them:-)

This isn't correct. Before computer radios became so inexpensive most of the guys I knew flew multiple models with what by todays would be considered entry level radios

Here's a few tricks to extend the life of your "entry" level radio.

1. Follow raideron's advice and set up both planes so the servos don't need to be reversed between planes. This isn't complicated it just requires some planning on your part.
2. Mechanically trim each model so that they are "trimmed" with the trim levelers set in the middle. You do this by flying it and then triming the model with the levers then adjusting the clevis one full turn of the clevis is about equal to on "click" on the trim lever so if you need 2 clicks up elevator trim then you land and turn the clevis 2 turns in the direction that will give up elevator recenter the trim on the radio and fly agian. After several "trimming" flights you will have a model that has been trimmed to fly with the levers centered do the same with the other model. Now all you have to worry about is making sure the trim levers are centered as part of your preflight.

Yes computer radios with multi-model memories make it easier to set up a model but it is possible to fly multiple models with a non-computer radio.