What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I am about to build a Tiger 60 kit, and I need some help on picking an engine.
I am thinking about fabricating a cowl for the kit, so i will probably have to invert the engine or turn it sideways.

I am looking at 4 strokes:

Magnum XL-91RFS 4-Stroke - $200
O.S. FS-91 II Surpass - $250
Saito 91 Special AAC w/Muffler: K - $265
Saito 100 FA-AAC w/Muffler: QQ - $280
(any reason to go with golden knight other than looks?)

This will be my first 4 stroke. I am looking for durability, reliability, and user friendliness.

Any reason to go 2 stroke?

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I've always been very partial to OS engines, and I do have several of the 91 Surpass engines. They are a fantastic engine and I highly recommend it.

Ken

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

The Tiger .60 often comes out a bit tail heavy, so a heavier engine will not only be less expensive, but it may help you balance the plane better. You mentioned that you are looking for durability, reliability, and user friendliness. I'd recommend that you strongly consider the outstanding Thunder Tiger F-91s for your engine selection.

The TT F-91s has a reputation for outstanding power as well as terrific durability and reliability. The only knock against the F-91s that typically comes up is that it weighs a few ounces more than comparable models from other manufacturers. In the case of the Tiger .60, the weight of TT F-91s is a virtue that will make it easier to balance your plane.

Don't let the $184.00 selling price at http://www.radicalrc.com fool you, either. The TT F-91s comes with a full three-year factory warranty.

http://www.thundertiger-europe.com/u.../509801_01.jpg

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I'm in the process of (slowly...) building a T-60 myself ([link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4997091/anchors_4997091/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#4997091]see my build thread[/link]) and am building it with an inverted and cowled Saito .82
I believe that this will be an adequate engine, but if I hadn't received the engine for the price I paid and had to buy an engine outright, I would probably have gone with either the Saito or OS .91. I know several flyers who use Magnums with no complaints. The Saito 100 is probably more then necessary for the T-60 and I personally see no value whatsoever to paying extra for the GK. In fact, they wind up looking terrible when the black starts coming off the case...

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I had a Magnum 90 RFS in a BTE Venture 60, which is similar size/weight/aerodynamics with a Tiger 60. It flew the V60 with all the authority you'd want, produced lots of power, idled reliably, and would do any /loop/roll/spin combination I could dream up. I have no doubt that the Saito/OS engines produce a tiny bit more power, and are physically more attractive, but I think you'll do very well with the Magnum (or TT) 90, and have $50 more in your wallet.

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

OS 91 Surpass would be my pick, but for the price, the TT above would also be a consideration.

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

Any of these engines better for sideways or inverted mounting?
The TT engine look appealing, anyone else have any comments on it?
No one really saying anything about Saito. Too expensive for what you get?

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I fly my TT F-91s side mounted on my Ace Staudacher S-300, see picture below. There shouldn't be a significant difference between any of the brands that you're considering with regard to running well mounted sideways or inverted.

As for the Saito engines, Saito makes a wonderful engine, but they're lightweight for their displacement. A Saito engine will make balancing your Tiger .60 more difficult.

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I posted photos of my Tiger 60 with an almost inverted engine and built up cowl over on the Kit Building forum just the other day. Here's the [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4997091/mpage_11/tm.htm#]link[/link]. I put an OS .75 in her. Earlier in that thread you'll see where I had one I put a Tower .75 in. She flew great with the TH .75. Unfortunately, I crashed on maiden, repairer her, then about six flights later, snapped the tail off and she nosed in hard from about 300' in the air. The tail was compromised in the fist flight and didn't get a strong enough rebuild. The reason I'm using the new engine is that I hosed up the carb when cleaning it up and couldn't get a replacement. (I've since bought another brand replacement, but already had purchased the OS.)

There are a lot of alterations earlier in the thread you might want to consider.


Tom

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I'd suggest you not go smaller than the 91FS.

I flew mine first with an OS61FX (2 stroke) and it flew ok. I swapped in an OS75AX and it flew better.

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I would go off your list and put a 1.25 Saito. Same size as the 1.00 weight more power. From your list the 1.00 would be my pic. When I buy an engine I assume it will outlast the airframe. This is why I would go 1.25.

David

BTW the Golden Knight is the same engine with powder coat.

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

So it sounds like most people are saying most of the engine are very similar and to go with the cheaper ones

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

Sounds like: Pick your engine, but don't choose less than a 91 for it. I flew mine with a SuperTigre 75 on it, and it was great. I have a Saito 91 on my Venture 60, and it does fine. Now that I have time on it, I could go with the 100.

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

Should I go inverted or sideways with the engine for the tiger 60?

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

If you go inverted the ground clearence will be marginal. I would go stock or side mount. Or consider a 3/4 mount. The head would line up with the right bottom corner of the fuse and the muffler would line up with the left.

David

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

A couple of other thngs to be aware of if you decide to go inverted:

1) You may want to install the fuel tank lower in the fuselage. The carb on the inverted engine will be below the centerline of the tank, which could lead to fuel siphoning down through the carb. This could cause flooding/hydrolock when starting and/or running rich at idle. Since you're building a kit, changing the tank location is easier than if it was an ARF.

2) Starting an inverted engine is more of a pain than an upright/side mounted engine. You can't easily see the glow plug when the plane is resting on its landing gear, so connecting the glow starter can be harder, and getting it off means you're reaching under the plane with restricted clearance, etc, while the prop is turning. You might consider the use of a remote glow connector, or putting a glow driver on the engine. The glow driver might also help with low speed operation if the fuel siphoning problem mentioned above rears its head. But there goes the $50 you saved with a TT or Magnum.

3) But the good news... sideways or inverted, you can build a cowl for the Tiger and it'll look really good!

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

Just mount the engine in its normal upright position. I had a OS 91 Surpass II on one and loved it and a MVVS .61 2-stroke that was plenty of power but too light. a ThunderTiger is about right for the weight/ power Saito and OS you'll need a little nose weight, but the Tiger flies so well that the weight is undetectable. Consider a tail dragger configuration .
Mike

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I believe the OS 91 Surpass at Tower Hobbies will have a price increase (July 1 or 2) from $249 up to $299. Actually, almost everything is going up in July.

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

Actually, most everything from Hobbico has already gone up.

Ken

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

Just got a great deal on a brand new Thunder Tiger .91 4 stroke.
Now i just have to decide how i want to mount it. sideways, 3/4, inverted....

RE: What engine for Tiger 60 kit
 

I had an OS 91 4-stroke on my tiger 60 and didn't like it. I stuck a Super Tigre 90 2-stroke on it and what a difference it made. But, the 4 stroke is fine if all you want to do is putt around a bit and do some mild aerobatics.

Cut a big hole in the top of your cowl and mount your engine upright.