Ok…I’m planning on dabbling with planes again. I flew a trainer many, many moons ago a few times and have recently decided to re-ruffle the feathers again. My first step is to start off cheap to get the feel again.

I’m considering the Tower Hobbies trainer 40 but am undecided about the power plant. I’m looking at either the Tower 46 or OS 46 LA and need some input from the experts. I’d consider other engine options that are in the same price range as well. I also have in mind to make a float-plane with this trainer in the future. So I’m wondering if I may need to opt for more power or will one of these motors be enough.

Thanks,
-Will

For $10 more you can get a Thunder Tiger Pro 46. One of the best 46 size motors made.

i got a tyower 46 man its a good engine never let me down

I've got 3 Tower .46 motors and they all run flawless. One of the Towers is in a SIG LT-40 Kadet Trainer. It has lot's of power. I took an older OS .46 out and put this Tower in it and saw a big difference right away. I'm sold on them, but you may hear different from others.
Good Luck,
Peter

I would go for the 46 over the 40. The 46 can be used more effectively in future models you will own and fly. BTW...I have the OS 46AX and also a TT Pro 46 and see no diff. they both run with authority and power. The Tower engine may do the same also.

Great replies folks...Thanks a bunch... Looks like the needle is setting somewhere between a TT Pro 46 and Tower 46.

Do ya'll think that either of these engines have enough umph to pull a Tower trainer 40 out of the water with a set of floaties?..or am I expecting too much?

...also if you're wondering, reason why the interest to make a float plane in the future is because I have a friend that has a Seawind and I want to be able to play in the water too after I get some more stick time... Just trying to get the best bang (fun) for the buck and still be able to feed the family...

IMHO..do yourself a favor and spring for the OS .46 AX. It's quite a bit more than the LA, but you will actually USE it after your trainer/float-trainer are um....too timid for you anymore.

I have an OS .46 LA NIB that I will never use because I just don't buy small planes anymore. You will grow out of those engines pretty quickly....well you might. (Some people prefer smaller, easy to transport planes.)

I had a tower 46. It would not hardly run on 15% pink omega. Put it on cool power an it will scream. Then i grabbed one of there 61"s An it is strong to. They are cheap. Better get them before tower figures out what they are worth

I can vouch for the Thunder Tiger 46pro too.
Excellent engine. Very reliable and trouble free.
As far as flying with floats, I don't know .... but if you go with much more of an engine you will run into ground clearance issues with the bigger prop. Just something to think about before putting to much engine on the trainer.

I've had a Tower .46 on my Tower Trainer for the past 3 months. It has plenty of power for this airframe. I've converted the trainer to a tail-dragger. Even when the grass is "higher than desirable" on our field (2-3 inches), it still pulls through at about 1/2 throttle. Once airborne, the plane will trim out for level flight at just about 1/2 throttle.

One caveat - it probably took the better part of a gallon of 10% Omega to get it fully run-in.

The LA 46 will be fine on the Tower Trainer, since its not as heavy as some of the larger trainers (Kadel LT 40 or the Nexstar) but a ball bearing 46 is a much better investment. I've messed with the Tower 46, the TT PRO 46, and the OS 46 AX. For my money, the best VALUE is the TT PRO 46. All the power and reliability of the OS with the cost of the Tower. The Tower 46 takes longer to break in, and requires more fiddling than the TT Pro 46.


Brad

Everyone will have different opinions about the motor to put on. Everyone will say to invest in a 46AX. Which is a fine motor, but to get a plane in the air such as the tower trainer, the os46LA will have more than enough power.

I ran an 46LA for over a year on a trainer, then a TWIST (Kind of underpowered) and a mid wing plane, it pulled great. If they are broken in well, the 46LA has enough power to do more than most people think the little engine is capable of. Plus, you can't beat the price.

The OS 46 AX is a “bite the bullet” option. However, the posts from happypappy and bkdavy both express hands on comparisons of the OS 46 AX and the TT 46 Pro and the consensus seems to boast the TT. I’m a huge fan of the ease and durability of OS engines and this is my first venture outside of that realm. Judging of the replies and from a money standpoint it would seem to me that the TT is the best buy. My only reservation is that is there really no difference between the AX and TT? Power wise?

I know that we’re not talking “big bucks” here. But I do like the discussion of “good buys” regarding the low end (entry level) modeling scale, so I really do appreciate the input folks.

Point regarding the use of a larger engine and larger prop is a good one to bring up as I was looking into that as well.

NuCrasher: Funny thing you should mention your taildragger mod. I’m a fan of taildraggers as well and already have full intentions on converting mine as well. Do you have any pictures or post regarding your mods? If you get a chance, could you please share some details?

Thanks,
-Will

I have both the TT and OS, in fact I flew both today.
I actually had a bit of problem starting the OS as it was pretty cold out. The TT fired right up.
Power wise I really can't tell the difference between the two (of course they are on different airplanes. OS on a Hobbico Brighstar and TT on a Seagull Spacewalker II)
As far as I can tell the only real difference is the remote needle valve on the OS and the price.
PS: when I say OS I am reffering to the 46AX.

nothing at all wrong with the LA 46, just run either a 11x6 then go to an 11X7 for when you want a bit more performance. i did also run mine on 15% great light engine.

Save your money and get the Tower 46. There fine little engines.

Gibbs

I have a 46LA in my Falcon III and have had no problems at all. It's surprising just how well the LA does in the Falcon.

Dan

Here's my take on your original question. I have all the engines mentioned except the OS .46LA and that is the one I recommend.

All of the engines mentioned are good. I have OS .46AXs in 2 twns (4 of them). They are the most reliable, easy to set engines around. I yanked other engines and bought these just to have the twin engine reliability.

My Thunder Tigers are down on power a little to my AXs, but they are old and worn. The TT .46 will probably do better on a small prop, while the AX will be better on a larger prop. Both are excellent engines, I just like the AX better.

I have had a Tower since they first came out, also a couple of GMS .47s. They run well, but are not as reliable as the OS. I have found that the Chinese engines take about a gallon of fuel to really get broken in well. Before that, they tend to not idle well, not transition well and not shut down on closing the throttle. I have seen guys drive themselves to total frustration trying to tune these characteristics out of a Chinese engine with low time. A few will do it, most won't. If you buy one, you may as well count on flying 12-15 tanks before all these areas come around.

The OS .46LA is less powerful, but most of the time you don't need all that power in a trainer, anyway. The .46LA will be plenty. It is very easy to start, run and set up. In a couple of tanks, 6 max, it'll be running great.

Another good thing about the OS .46LA is it has a plain bearing. I also fly seaplanes and a plain bearing engine doesn't have ball bearings to rust out. It's practically bullet proof for float flying. And trust me, your engine will get wel sooner or later. The .46, as compared to the .40LA, will have the little extra power you need for float flying.

If you want to go a little bigger, a sleeper, and best buy, in my opinion, in the .61 class is the OS .65LA. It turns many props faster than the more expensive .61FX, it's easy to run and you can dunk it, too, without rusting out a ball bearing.

Finally, when you get a second plane, most people with not too much experience, like to warm up on their old trainer for the first flight of the day, then fly the newer plane. Keep the .46LA in the trainer, even with floats, and get a new AX or Tower or TT for your next plane.

I have the Thunder Tiger .46 Pro in my LT-40 and it is excellent. I've had no problems whatsoever..runs like a champ.

I have heard anecdotaly that the TT Pro 46 and the OS 46 FX (predecessor to the AX) were actually designed by the same person. I've got two TT Pro 46s and a TT GP 61. All three engines are keepers. I also have the 46 LA mounted on a Nexstar. Its slightly underpowered, but with an 11X5 prop, it has no problem pulling the Nexstar off a grass field.

Brad

Well I have the .46LA, .46AX, TT .46, Evolution .46 and the TH .46.

The .46LA uses the bleed valve carburator which is not that great. It also is far less powerful than any of the others. Even O.S. rates it at 1.2bHP versus the 1.7bHP for the AX....

It does fly great in a .30 plane though which is where mine ended up... but there is no way for me to lean out the low end to where it should be, even after I've drilled out the bleed hole. It flies, but a bit too rich no matter what I do.


Now that O.S. has dropped the price of the AX .46, it would be my suggestion for a newbie.

I certain like all of the others for their specific strengths, but the AX is just so easy to get flying even compared to the supposidly (yeah right) newbie friendly pre-tuned Evolution .46... I'll call the latter newbie UN-friendly...

The TH .46 is a great bargain, but it needs a lot of work initially to get set up and like the TT could use a few gallons through it before it settles down. Once these do though... they have both been great for me.

The O.S. on the other hand, seemed to be fully broken in after 2-4 tank fulls. I flew it rich on the 2nd through 4th.

funny you should ask - I've got good and bad news here. The bad news - I just had a "significant training event" the other day. i.e. I rekitted my trainer. The good news is that I've already received my 2nd trainer and will begin the tail-dragger mods over the next several weeks. I'll get a few more "in-process" picts this time.

Essentially what we (notice not just I - my instructor gets all the credit here) was the following:
1. Seal up the nose wheel mounting and pushrod ports.
2. Mount some Four Star 40-ish looking landing gear ahead of the CG. Approximately in-line with the leading edge of the wing. Added copious amounts of ply here inside the fuse to reinforce the landing gear. This ended up being 2 blind nuts just ahead and 2 just behind the front former underneath the front of the wing.
3. Cut out a small amount of the leading edge of the elevator directly underneather the rudder.
4. Attach a tailwheel with a arm that leads up and follows the contour of the underside of the rudder. Sheathed this in fuel tubing and T-pinned the tubing to the bottom of the rudder. So the the tailwheel and rudder both are positioned by the existing rudder control / servo without adding additional control rods. Yes - that is lead weight.

I don't want to wander too far into "thread hijack land". Feel free to PM me with additional questions.