Hi all I'm a beginner to the field of RC airplanes and am in the processing my very 1st trainer.
An experienced flyer at my local hobby club suggested i buy the OS .46 AX engine.This costs 140 $. Can you suggest an alternate to this model, as the price is a bit on the higher side for me. Please suggest an engine that is as good as this one in terms of performance (and any other specs). Please keep in mind that this will be my first Airplane.

Magnum 46. On sale now for $59.99. Great running engine.


http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/210756.asp

+1 for the magnum .46 Great and powerful engine. After it is broken in, it runs as well as any other in my fleet.
Curtis

Don't buy an OS that will wear out in a few years, or a Magnum that will wear out in even less time. Buy an engine that may last a lifetime. A Fox .45. If you call they will sell for 40% less than listed, and if you have a worn out engine they may trade it and give you 50% off. At 40% off the 45 will cost $105.57.

http://www.foxmanufacturing.com/inde...5a804437cb3fd6

When I started...I knew nothing. (not so sure that I've improved much)...

A friend gave me a used Tower .46. The pros at the club, and I, screwed around with that engine trying to keep it going. After buying an electric starter; glow igniter; batteries and all sorts of crap..inlcuding a too big trainer plane that needed a .46 fuel engiine...I finally said, screw fuel-power and went back to electric.

A year later, I bought an OS .46 AX. Started the first time...ran great...even after I nose dived in a number of times. I cleaned the mud out...and she started right back up, every time. I've had other engines since...NONE worked so well as the OS out of the box. It STILL is my #1 confidence engine.

Make sure your first engine is a very easy to run; reliable one...or you can lose interest real fast. Rich

Have you already got a plane picked out for your engine? For a complete beginner, your best deal may come as a complete, ready-to-fly (RTF) package, which includes a plane, engine, and radio. Something like a Tower Trainer:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXCXF4**&P=0

Or a Hangar 9 Alpha 40:

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN4400

Might give you the best bang for your buck. Some may try to steer you to a more expensive radio and engine that you can re-use in the future, but I am more a believer in buying the first plane as economically as possible, and getting the upgraded radio and engine for your next plane.

Good luck

Ive had an OS 46ax and Super Tiger 45. OS was easy to get in the air out of the box. The ST required serious break-in on the ground, but the power was amazing.

I liked them both. If its your first engine, maybe get the OS so it doesnt become frustrating as you learn to deal with glow engines. Look in the classifieds for a lightly used engine. I recently sold my 46ax, well cared for, and lightly used for $100. Maybe you can find something similar.

If you've never worked or tuned Nitro Engines, I'd highly suggest you get the O.S. It costs a little more, but there's nothing more frustrating then getting to the field and not being able to fly because you bought a cheap engine and can't get it tuned correctly. Nothing is as easy to get up and running as an O.S. If you are a beginner, I'd suggest starting with an O.S. and then once you have some experience tuning engines, trying some different brands. You can find used O.S engines on the cheap in craigslist or ebay.

If you can't stomach the price of a new .46 AX, you'll find the Thunder Tiger Pro .46 to be just as easy to tune, just as powerful, just as reliable, and it comes with a better warranty. Long time RCU posters in the Glow Engines forum also report that the Pro .46 will considerably outlast the .46 AX as well, running twice as long before needing a new piston and sleeve. The Thunder Tiger Pro .46 typically sells for around $95.

I also like the Magnum XLS .46A, and think it is a terrific bargain at $59.99. I'm not sure it's quite as powerful as the Pro .46 or .46 AX, but it is very close. It is also easy to tune, easy to break in, and dead solid reliable.

I'd suggest either the Magnum .46 or the Thunder Tiger, both mentioned above. After about 2 tanks of break in the Thunder Tiger is very easy to tune. Just don't hammer it for a couple more tanks of flying and you should be good to go.

I have 3 Magnums that I've bought used and all have been exceptional.

That said, you can't go wrong with an O.S. if you are willing to spend the money.

I've flown with several engines, including Super Tigre, OS, and Evolution. Of the three, the OS engines were far superior in reliability, starting, ease of tuning, and endurance. They were also great in the power department, although there are some that have more. But, that's always a give-and-take situation in that they may not last as long as an OS.

I still have my first OS engine and it runs just fine. I have three OS 1.20 AX's, two OS .75 AX's, several OS 46's, and an OS 50. All run great. I'd never own anything else.

There was a posting a short time ago about selecting a radio. The choices were give, the usual, but one person made a statement that makes perfect sense to me. Buy what you need, and what performs for you, but consider the future and if you will have to buy another because the one you originally bought wasn't good enough for future uses.

Stick with OS engines. You'll never regret it.

CGr.

Which often translates to....

Go ahead and pay more now, it may save you MUCH more in the long run!

Newbies often think things are too expensive when they start out.

If you get really hooked into this hobby, you'll be kicking yourself later.
Of course your wallet will be considerably thinner in the future too!

Very true!

Thundertiger is a great engine, I have several. But the service is almost nonexistant. You may never be able to get warranty work, or it will take 8 month's to get it back as I did. So I no longer buy or recommend TT.

I've had great luck with my Super Tigre G45. Lots of power and almost half the price of the OS. Its been dead nuts reliable.

Wow, I'm surprised to hear you say that, Sport_Pilot. I'd be the first to admit that Ace Hobby (the North American distribution arm of Thunder Tiger) isn't the most responsive hobby distributor by any means. I've never had a bad experience with them from a warranty or service standpoint, though.

I had a brand new GP-42 break a connecting rod or pin on its first tank of fuel early last fall. I mailed it off with a copy of my receipt and I had the engine back in hand within about two weeks without any hassle at all.

ForktailedDevil38 - Super Tigre engines are terrific, but I haven't found them to be quite as user friendly as O.S. Max or Thunder Tiger. The exhaust gasket shipped with the engine should be thrown away and not used. I also learned to double nut my exhaust manifold bolts in addition to thread locking them.

One of the differences between a top quality engine like O.S. Max, Enya, or Thunder Tiger versus budget brands like Super Tigre, GMS, or Aviastar is that the expensive engines tend to stay screwed together better. The budget engines need to be checked more often for loose exhaust hardware, cylinder head bolts, or back plate bolts.

I've gotten terrific performance and reliability from all of these brands, but I would tend to favor the premium brands for a cowled installation or any airframe where checking these areas isn't easy to do on a regular basis.

All you need is the OS .40LA plain bushed engine, half the money ...easiset to use/tune....my favorite engine...I do have a .46AX and it does run well.....but I got it used.....yet another aspect you should look at...any swap meets over your way?....Rog
My personal take is at least in the radio area,,you should get all you can afford at least 6-7 channels....

I was going to suggest this. The .46LA anyway, since they quit selling the .40LA a couple of years back. I have two .46LA's and they are good, reliable engines and put out plenty of power for a trainer. The problem with them is that they are now selling for like $85, which is much more than a Magnum, ST, or GMS which will put out much more power. This is almost as much as a Thunder Tiger Pro.

I do love my .46LA's and they are very good on fuel and easy to start, but I think the price has just gotten way too high for this engine.

I don't even own a Magnum 2 stroke and I would suggest it. What a bargain.-BW

Thunder Tiger GP42 , best kept secret in model aviation. Reliable , powerful but not too powerful and cheap. If you overpower your trainer it will most likely cause you problems. If you nose dive your brand new $$$ engine into the gravel then you are going to cry a lot harder than if you did it to a cheaper engine. When you move up to a faster plane get a bigger better engine and leave the easy to tune inexpensive one on your trainer for the future.

I've got mostly OS 2 strokes and I've been pleased with them, but they are rather pricey. Several of my buds have been trying the GMS engines with good results for half the price.

Ok. I am going to offer you some advice here. I too am on a budget and I have been in this hobby since 1984. Here is my 2 cents worth. You will hear all different kinds of opinions here. Here is mine.
1. Bar none the best lasting engine and lasting quality is the O.S. series. You do not have to buy the 40 or 45 AX series. They have more to offer in this size, take a look at the LA,FP or ABC versions. Might check RCuniverse classifieds for these or a good local hobby shop that sells new/old stock engines.

2. Super Tigre (Italy) if you can find an Italian made Super Tigre like the GS-.40. This is a ringed engine and is a powerhouse. it is sometimes tempermental to tune but once dialed in, it is very reliable and will give you years of great service.

3. Magnum pretty good engine, reliable and not too expensive. Good on power.

Thereare numerous others out there that are pretty good.You have the Fox, K&B, Royal etc. Bottom line is, itall boils down to what you can afford and what you can find that is quality. Dont be afraid of an engine that has been used, but be cautious of bent cranks and burnt or worn out cylinders due towrecks orpure negligence. If you are going to buy a used engine pull the muffler off and look at the cylinder. It needs to be just showingsome signs of a brownish color on the side of the piston. If it is black or there are severe scratches on the cylinder wall, put it down and move on.Rotate the prop and feel the bearings turning as you turn the propellor through. It shuold feel smooth, if it feels gritty or rough as you turn the prop through the bearings are worn and need replacement. Look inside the carb venturi and see if the spray bar is straight and look around the crankcase where the carb bolts are holding the carb in. Make sure there are no cracks around that area. If there are it more than likely has been in a crash. These are just a few visual inspections you can do to ensure you are buying quality instead of someone else's junk.

Do some research on the RCU forums. Here is an excellent link for you go there and you will see that it is an excellent source for some of your questions you may have.

www.masportaviator.com

If I can help you with any questions feel free to e-mail me.

Good luck
Glenn
[email protected]

MAGNUM XL 46 VERY GOOD ENGINE EASY TO TUNE PRICE IS RIGHT

Thunder Tiger GP-42 Bushing Engine - 64.99

Thunder Tiger Pro-46 Ball Bearing Engine - 84.99

Precision Aero
www.precision-aero.com

I recommend that you talk to your instructor and get his advice on the engine to get. After all, he will likely be helping you set up and tune the engine, and it will be his time that is taken up if you have problems with the engine. It would be good to choose an engine that he is happy with.