bruce, I will try that. Maybe something bigger. Who knows. It will be a while till i get the $ for that after tonights order. Which is putting me down 100 bucks and thats WITH 20 bucks off

You have time, still have a repair to finish and a kit to assemble. After a certain point, prop size become a PREFERENCE thing anyway. You'll get to like the way a plane feels with a given prop better than another but that will take time. Right now, BASICS should be on your agenda. Not rolling your plane up into a ball or a pile of sticks.

See the video yet?

Newb -- sheet the wings with 1/16 balsa, from the leading edge back to the main spar -- top & bottom. The 4* flies better with sheeted wings (cleaner airfoil) & the wing is very much stronger (it needs it).

The four star was designed to fly well with a 40-50 4 stroke engine and a 30-40 2 stroke engine. If you use a .46 it might need some tail weight and wing bracing. It can be built to around 4# with a light 40. Perfomance will be very good though with a 46!

Thanks britbrat.

I had a question, With that 46 ax, will i be able to maintain a hover at all? I am not getting this thing for 3d but would be coolt o be able to hover for about 30 seconds.

Thanks
Chad

It depends upon your skills Newb. That combo has enough power to hover, but the 4* is not a 3D airplane -- you will find a 30 sec hover difficult -- but then again, you are a lot younger than me, so maybe it won't be so hard.

haha. I know it iwll be hard. Anyways
Gotta Go

I've had the ST 51 on my 4*40. Lots of vertical performance and speed with an APC 11x5. This is a great combo. This engine with the APC 12.25x3.75 has plenty of thrust to hover and pull out, my ability to do so limits hovering. I don't think the 4*'s were designed with hovering in mind. Ground clearance is a little limited with the big prop, I've broken plenty. I have more fun with the 11x5.
have fun with whatever you get, Mike.

I second the nomination for the Thunder Tiger .46 Pro. I'm flying one now in an LT-40 (I really needed the extra weight up front). A search of these forums or of the web/usenet will turn up some pretty solid references to this particular engine. It's well made, has plenty of power and is available at a bargain price.

FWIW, mine seemed to enjoy a little more nitro to idle reliably (10-15%). For a draggy trainer type aircraft, I'm swinging an APC 11x5 prop.

I fly a 4*40 w/ an OS 46AX that is just now getting well broken in. The 46AX replaced an aging OS40FP. I run APC's 11.5/4 propellor. With the stock muffler, the 46AX flys the plane with authority and it's a pleasant sunday cruiser that does basic aerobatics quite well. But, it will not quite hover.

I bought Tower Hobbies muffler ($14.95 and reputed to be a cheap mod for performance) and the 46AX came alive. Now it turns the 11.5/4 prop at just over 13000 rpms. Top speed is scary fast for me as a fun fly lover and I spend a lot of time at about 1/3 throttle. The plane will take off into a hover in about 20 ft. and easily maintains the hover. It will not, however, pull vertical out of a hover. At 4200 ft. elevation, it literally has "unlimited vertical" and will accelerate in a vertical upline. That muffler made the plane into an entirely different animal that competes w/ my Hanger 9 Twist (w/ OS 50sx) for adrenalin rushes. I've achieved flat spins (though once started the plane doesn't want to stop), rolling circles, and high-angle-knife-edge flights with stock surfaces (only having the control surface gaps sealed). The motor did require addition of about an ounce of lead under the horizontal stabilizer for balance but it now flys as well inverted as upright.

I love the OS 46AX and the $14.95 for the Tower Hobbies muffler is money well spent IMHO. BTW - I've read in the forums the Tower Hobbies muffler gives similar results on the Thunder Tiger Pro 46.

Live long, and prosper
Jerry L. Gubka

I am also assembling a Four * 40 ARF as a second airplane. What about the OS 46 LA? Would this engine provide an adequate amount of power for learning the basic aerobatic maneuvers?

ok, I know i SHOULD get the OS, but i really don't see a reason to pay 110, when i can get an engine just as good for cheaper. MUCH cheaper

I have an OS 50SX in my 4 * 40. I love the combo. I agree that it is an expensive engine, but between it's performance and reliability, I am really happy with my choice. I originally had the OS .46LA in the plane. It was a real dog. With the .50 my 4 * is a whole new plane. Last week, I cut the wings down by one bay on each side. Now the plane really rolls and spins!

In regards to extra strength, I did two things during construction of my kit. First, i used .75 oz glass over the entire sheeted center section. Second, I pinned the verticle stab to the fuse using 3 pieces of bamboo cut from a kebob skew.

Scott

Hi,

I just picked up a used TT 46 Pro for my Four star 40 here on RCU and was wondering how bad it will be out of balance with the fairly heavy TT 46 up front. I have read that I will likely have to add a few ounces of weight to the back of the fuselage to get it balanced right.
I was also looking at picking up another O.S. 46 FX or AX, but decided to try the TT because of all the great things I have heard about this engine. Any other advice or recommendations is always welcomed.

Have a great day!

Matt

depending on what your trying to do ,the 40 size mills will fly the Four star fine.the plane has a fair amount of lift / drag so the smaller mills properly proped will work ok.i had an intresting experience with one some time ago. Fox 40 BB , 10/6 . plane flew but just did not respond well &felt some what sluggish. switched to a 11/5 & it was like a whole new aircraft.much better response overall and speed actually increased.

so will the super tigre be a good engine for it? I have been told OS rules all, but didn't like my OS now

Newb, in terms of adequate power, any modern ball-bearing .46 will have more than enough (Super Tigre included). I suggest that you buy one that you can afford & that you can live with easily.

In my opinion the the Winners are: TT .46 Pro (possibly the best all-around .46 sport engine on the planet) & OS .46 AX (another really good engine, but I'm a bit anti-OS at the moment).

Second tier sport engines: Evolution, LEO, Magnum, Super Tigre, & MECOA -- all good, but can be a bit fussier to live with.

Third tier: GMS, Tower -- based on Super Tigre designs, they are powerfull, but can be frustratingly troublesome.

Don't bother engines: MDS, VMax


These are my own personal opinions based upon direct experience, or direct observation. Undoubtedly there will be many more opinions out there.

ok, I thinki will go with that thunder tiger. I have heard ALL good things about it