|
Engine rating and quality
How would you guys rate Thunder Tiger, Magnum and OS engine?
From what I gather, the OS is like the Cadillac of engines. How well are Thunder Tiger and Magnum compared, or what would be the next best engine, next to OS? |
RE: Engine rating and quality
are you talking two stroke or four stroke?
Four stroke, YS is probably the "cadillac" Followed by Saito, then OS, IMO. Magnum is good for the money, but they are heavy, so their power to weight ratio isn't good. HOwever, all of my magnums have been very reliable. As for two strokes, I'd say the best is probably OS. Other than that, I own a couple of Evolution two strokes and I love them. Never owned a TT, but my brother has, and it was nothing but trouble as I remember. |
RE: Engine rating and quality
OS may not be the "Caddilac" of engines, it's more like a Volvo. Dependable, easy to start, and easy to maintain. I have several.. like around 8 of them. Three 1.20 AX's, two .75 AX's, one 50 FX, and two .46's and they all run very much the same... as I said, dependable and reliable, and all are easy to start.
Last Wednesday, I was at the field with my Skylark 70 with OS .75 AX engine. I had not run the engine for about three weeks. I fueled up the plane, primed it, then slapped the prop backwards. Two slaps with the chicken stick and it was running. That's a cold engine that had not been running for a few weeks. Every start after required one slap of the prop and it was running. Tuning was a snap. A simple run up to full throttle after it was running for a few minutes to warm it up, and a quick check of the mixture using the pinch test, and it was ready to fly. Landings were a breeze because the engine idled down as expected and, if I had to go around, which I did twice because I botched up the landing, the enigne transitioned from idle back to full throttle with no hesitation and no problems at all. I like my OS engines, obviously. I don't know anything about the Thunder Tiger engines so I can't really comment on them, but I've heard good things about them too. Oh, I also have an OS 1.60 FX but have not yet started it. But, I expect more of the same with that engine when I am ready to use it. CGr. |
RE: Engine rating and quality
No, OS is the Cadillac - YS is the Mercedes
Better performance, but costs more and requires more maintainance I have used TT, magnum and Evolution engines and I wouldn't hesitate to use any of them again. But OS would be my first choice |
RE: Engine rating and quality
I have O.S., TT, and Tower Hobbies engines. They all run great, but for overall reliability I have to go with the O.S. crowd.
Rufcut |
RE: Engine rating and quality
My experience with OS and TT Pro in the 46 size 2 stroke are they are of equal quality, ease of tuning ect...
4 stroke, OS, Magnum and Saito are equal I have all three and see no difference except price. |
RE: Engine rating and quality
It is all a matter of opinion. I have had a lot of engines to mess around with (long story) and I have found most of them to have good qualities. Recently I purchased 2 used K&B Sportsters and they impressed me greatly. The key is experimentation to find out what combination of fuel prop plug etc that your particualar engine responds to. On low nitro my Sporties are nothing to brag about but with high nitro and a big prop they shine!! I have a Magnum XL .46A that runs great on no nitro but I have other engines that would probably just sputter on it. I have had first hand experience with OS liner plating peeling but only one engine so I will not judge OS poorly since the 2 other OS engines I have run fine. My OS 46 LA was a dog but it was reliable. I recently purchased an ASP .12, nice engine, ball bearing crank and the works. I put on a 7X6 prop and it made OK power but nothing stellar, I switched to a medium plug, a 7X3 prop and some 15% nitro and "Hang on Martha " it cranked out power! Fuel makes a huge difference, I lean towards 20% all castor fuels in all my engines.
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
MinnFlyer, please. Lexus, not (gag) Mercedes:):eek:
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
I SAID they require more maintenance, didn't I? :D
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
From what i gather OS are made in Japan and Magnums are made in China
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
Minnflyer, where does saito fit in if OS is the cadillac?
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
ORIGINAL: danny31292 Minnflyer, where does saito fit in if OS is the cadillac? Ken |
RE: Engine rating and quality
Okay, we have a Cadillac and a Mercedes, what is the Mustang G.T. of glow engines? Cheap, fast, but nothing fancy?
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
A friend of mine works for Mercedes and I used to live there so I am very biased. [)]
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
I would say OS is a volvo. Nice and reliable. A saito would be more of a mercedes. Not necessarily a sports car but high performance. YS would be a ferrari. High performance, maintenance required but the best.
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
1 Attachment(s)
ORIGINAL: danny31292 Minnflyer, where does saito fit in if OS is the cadillac? |
RE: Engine rating and quality
I told ya not to ask!!!!!:D
Ken |
RE: Engine rating and quality
What would qualify as the AMC of engines?
For what it is worth, I have personally found that OS engines are excellent since they offer a great balance of reliability, ease of use, price and performance. In my opinion, they are the best value. Other engines may make a little more power or cost a little less but there is usually a trade off in user friendliness and reliability. That's not to say that other engines aren't good of course. |
RE: Engine rating and quality
Just leave all the K&B engines to me so the price will stay reasonable. :D
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
By the way, Sure I rib Saito just as a Chevy man would rip on Ford.
I have a few Saitos and they're great. I just find that since I don't fly 3-D, the weight savings doesn't mean squat to me (Since I usually have to add nose weight anyway) and I run 15% fuel - Saitos like 20 - 30% So as good as they are, they're just not my cup of tea |
RE: Engine rating and quality
My os two and fourstrokes run like a dream. But I learned they aren't the best for 3d. Instead of an os 46 I'd like to try a the lighter webra 50. Instead of my old os 91 fourstroke, I would love a saito 100.
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
So, I have narrowed it down to:
O.S. .46 AX Thunder Tiger PRO 46 BB ABC Evolution Engines .46NT Going to the flight park tonight and will be talking with the guys out there to see what wokes best for my area.... ie altitude, temp. etc... |
RE: Engine rating and quality
Thunder tiger or os. Toss up.
|
RE: Engine rating and quality
I have a number of O.S. Max (.40 LA, .46 FX, .46 FXi x 2) and Magnum (XLS .52A x 2, XL .52 RFS, XL .70 RFS) engines that are great engines. I also own or have flown Saito, Enya, Super Tigre (Italian and Chinese), JBA, GMS, MECOA, HB, and Evolution in various sizes and configurations.
That having been said, if I had to choose only one single brand of engine to fly, I'd choose Thunder Tiger. Thunder Tiger engines are powerful, easy to tune, reliable, durable, come with a great warranty, and offer a great value for your money. I own the GP-40, GP-61, Pro .46, and F-91s and across the board these are all terrific engines. The Thunder Tiger four stroke series (F-54s, F-75s, and F-91s) may be the best kept secret in the RC hobby today. These are each exemplary engines in their respective size range. The good news is I don't have to choose a single brand. I'm happy with every engine I own and I'll likely continue enjoying flying a wide variety of makes and models on my airplanes. As for engines I don't have, I'd love an excuse to try a K&B Screamin' .48 2-stroke or an Aviastar .53 2-stroke some time. I'd also like to buy a JBA .75 and tach it in direct comparison to a Tower Hobbies .75 and an O.S. Max .75 AX. I've never had the chance to try a Webra, Fox, or YS engine yet, either. With MDS out of the North American market, I don't know that anybody makes a bad glow engine anymore. I don't even know that MDS made a bad engine necessarily, but they were often accused of it. Each brand has its good points and bad points. Each brand has its own idiosyncracies with regard to fuel, plugs, and props. If you learn the basics of how to properly break in and tune an engine and then test its preferences for fuel, plugs, and props, you should be able to make any normally functioning glow engine run well. |
RE: Engine rating and quality
ORIGINAL: bigedmustafa I have a number of O.S. Max (.40 LA, .46 FX, .46 FXi x 2) and Magnum (XLS .52A x 2, XL .52 RFS, XL .70 RFS) engines that are great engines. I also own or have flown Saito, Enya, Super Tigre (Italian and Chinese), JBA, GMS, MECOA, HB, and Evolution in various sizes and configurations. That having been said, if I had to choose only one single brand of engine to fly, I'd choose Thunder Tiger. Thunder Tiger engines are powerful, easy to tune, reliable, durable, come with a great warranty, and offer a great value for your money. I own the GP-40, GP-61, Pro .46, and F-91s and across the board these are all terrific engines. The Thunder Tiger four stroke series (F-54s, F-75s, and F-91s) may be the best kept secret in the RC hobby today. These are each exemplary engines in their respective size range. The good news is I don't have to choose a single brand. I'm happy with every engine I own and I'll likely continue enjoying flying a wide variety of makes and models on my airplanes. As for engines I don't have, I'd love an excuse to try a K&B Screamin' .48 2-stroke or an Aviastar .53 2-stroke some time. I'd also like to buy a JBA .75 and tach it in direct comparison to a Tower Hobbies .75 and an O.S. Max .75 AX. I've never had the chance to try a Webra, Fox, or YS engine yet, either. With MDS out of the North American market, I don't know that anybody makes a bad glow engine anymore. I don't even know that MDS made a bad engine necessarily, but they were often accused of it. Each brand has its good points and bad points. Each brand has its own idiosyncracies with regard to fuel, plugs, and props. If you learn the basics of how to properly break in and tune an engine and then test its preferences for fuel, plugs, and props, you should be able to make any normally functioning glow engine run well. |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:42 PM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.