I have an opportunity to get a Sig rascal 110 with a converted weed eater motor. This will be my first GAS airplane. I need some suggestions for field support equipment.

The first thing I will need is a gas can and fuel pump. I have used the Dave Brown 6 shooter for my glow fuel and have been very happy with it. Do they make a gas version that straps to a 2.5 gal gas can? I have yet to find an electric pup that I am happy with.

Are there gas can conversion kits available with fittings, tubing, pump and the yellow plugs to replace the filler spout?

What more should I consider getting ?

Do I need to fly with at least a pcm receiver or will a ppm work?

There is a gasoline version of the Six Shooter: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXB889&P=7

I have one of these too and I really like it: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXRRD0&P=ML The can is just a Blitz brand 1 gallon gasoline container. I bought a spare at the local hardware store so I have a back-up gallon of gas ready to go when the other runs out.

The great thing about gasoline is that you really don't need to haul around a lot of extra stuff. You might want to pick up some tygon fuel tubing to carry in your flight box since it does get hard and brittle after a while. Maybe a spare spark plug might be a good idea too although I've never had to change or clean one at the field. You'll need some oil to mix with the gas too but you might already have that if you own a weed wacker or chainsaw.

Depending on the ignition system on the engine, I imagine your receiver should work fine. Make sure it is mounted a good distance from the engine and be sure to range test it. If you don't get any radio interference form the engine then fly and have fun.

I'm thinking of going gas myself and so far what I've come up with is
for your fuel can/pump you can go with something like this http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=603303


as long as you don't go metal to metal on the throttle linkeage at the carb and place your reciever as far away from it, the reciever doesn't make much difference

I'm still researching other "stuff" needed

Sounds like the plane has already been set up. We were using PPM for a very long time before PCM or 2.4 ever came along so no real problems there, just keep everything as far away from the engine as you can. I just buy things like alcohol or acetone in one gallon cans and save them, they have the bigger cap on them. I just make up my own lid with two brass tubes soldered into it for the pick up and out flow. The only difference between a six shooter for gas is the tube inside the pump, they sell a kit for both gas or glow. I just use a hand crank glow pump for mine, nothing inside the pump that gas attacks. Tygon gas line is a must. Not a lot in the way of field equipment needed. Think of it as just another brush cutter. If you go into the gas engine forum you can get a lot more detailed information if you need it.

Hmm, no one's mentioned bringing a shovel and a jumbo sized gunny sack?

Good luck with the gas setup. There are just a few things to keep in mind. first, with gas, there is alot less stuff to haul around. Field equipment is as simple as fueling system, plug wrench, spare plug and thats it.

One thing to keep in mind is that gasoline fumes are much worse than glow fuel so a good sealed fuel container is important for me. Otherwise your car will smell like gas. I'm running a 46cc and I use a one gallon container and is plenty adequate. I usually have 5 flights each day and fill the container every fith or sixth time heading out to the field. I use one like this and with it's o-ringed fittings it keeps fumes to a minimum.



Another concern is securing the plane during startup. There are all kinds of contraptions for this but I use a tiedown strap around the tail.

All in all you will find gas is much easier and less of an hastle than glow. Have fun and be safe!

Ok, before we go any further here, nobody's mentioned the one "must have" item:



Gasoline is considerably easier to ignite, often with considerably more dangerous consequences, than glow fuel. Please have a suitable fire extinguisher on hand whenever working with gas-fueld RC engines.

And please actually have it on hand...not just 'somewhere in the trailer/truck/car", or "forgot it back in the shop". And please actually check it regularly, to make sure it's charged and ready to go.

I know, I know...I'm being the stick in the mud safety nazi here...but this is one of those things that lack of attention to can cause HUGE heartache for a GREATMANY people (like...an entire RC club), and it's so simple and inexpensive to take care of.

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Beyond that *heh*

I prefer to have 2 fuel cans. One small one with my fuel pump on it, easy to carry around the pits/flight line, and then a larger one kept in the trailer with my "fuel supply". That's just preference though, obviously so long as the fuel pump is gas ready, then whatever works for you works for you.

I find myself, after a few years of doing gassers, always carrying a quart of preferred oil with me...since, inevitably, if you don't, you'll run out of fuel, and while there's a handy gas station just up the road...they don't have BrandX 2-stroke oil! So, toss a quart or so somewhere in the vehicle just in case.

Also, I highly suggest using a sharpie to LABEL your fuel cans. I can't count the number of times I've not been sure if that can in the shop had the "airplane gas", with the expensive oil at the perfect ratio, or the "trimmer gas" with the cheap oil at whatever ratio looked good, or the lawnmower gas with no oil! Labeling the cans "Plane Fuel : 93 Octane 32:1" or whatever solved that problem.

Finally, along the same lines as what ndb8fxe said, gas fumes are more dangerous than glow/nitro for several reasons. So, whatever vehicle you're carrying planes in, do give some consideration to proper ventilation, or plugging exhaust pipes or capping carbs, etc. Obviously, this will all depend on the nature of your specific situation, but do at least keep it in mind and give the issue due attention.

Gboulton
I guess no one mentioned the extinguisher because it should be part of every ones field equipment all ready. One question. Will an extinguisher for gas work with a lipo or is the idea to extinguish the grass around the lipo and let the battery burn its self out? We are getting more and more airplanes with lipo's flying at our location.

Ndb8fex
That's a good looking set up. Is the the entire setup available from from MPI or just the pump?

Good point. I simply consider them far more "necessary" when moving from low to gas. Glow fuel is awfully difficult to ignite, and takes almost apurposefulact to do so. gasoline is, obviously, far morevolatile.

Put another way, "accidents" are a heck of a lot more likely with gas.

Great point.

Any ABC fire extinguisher will suffice for both roles.

FWIW, firefighter friend says you should never try to extinguish the 'collateral" damage....far too much surface area. Always use the extinguisher as designed, aimed at the base of the fire. He went on to say that a bucket of sand wouldn't be a bad idea for any club as well, specifically for extinguishing LiPos.

I got the whole setup from my LHS as is(it is very simular to the one shown, but not exactly). The downside was that it cost around $50 which I thought was way expensive. I forget the brand name it was sold under, but the fuel line has a nozzle w/ an o-ring that "snaps" down into the container thus keeping the vapors down. It came with the MPI pump which works well. I'm sure one could get the parts and build one for less.



One note about the fire extinguisher: My understanding is that it won't help a lipo fire, I don't have any experience with an actual lipo fire, but thats what I've been told.

I fly at a field with tons of gas( a buch of 40%ers), and turbine stuff. The only ones I ever see bring a fire extinguisher are the turbine guys. I never really gave it a second thought, but now that it's been brought to my attention a fire extinguisher should be standard equipment. Thanks for the heads up!

Probably right. I have two mounted in my garage and there are several at the field.

I carry one when I run my weed wacker and leaf blower cant be too safe lol. You will love going gas but one tidbit of info I had a good 25cc converted gas engine on a 25% cub it put out 8 lbs of thrust (weeeeek!) I took it off and put ona Zenoah G26 went to 15lbs of thrust, almost twice the power. I guess you get what you pay for.

You have been told incorrectly.

A FF friend of mine just (as in, about 5 minutes ago) confirmed for me the following:

"Either an ABC or CO2 extinguisher will take care of a LiPo fire. ABC is probably preferable, since it will extinguish a larger range of fires, will control re-ignition better, and is less expensive."

He went on to say that the major 'downside" to an ABC extinguisher was the horrendous mess they make...but in our case, likely outdoors or in a shop, we're probably not too concerned.


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Okay, I'll have to do some research. My previous understanding was that LiPo batteries have metalic lithium which would require a class D fire extinguisher the same way magnesium does. Lithium Ion batteries do not have metalic lithium and can be extinguished with ABC, so I wonder if that's what you FF friend has in mind. I'll go and do some learning and if I can add something useful I will.