HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

I HAVE A 40 CLASS HIGH WING TRAINER, IT SEEMS TO BE GROSSLY UNDERPOWERED ON TAKEOFF. Do you think it is worth the money and the trouble of changing the engine to a .46 size that I could later put in whatever I build? Secondly which is better of the 3 engines I am looking at the Thunder Tiger .46, the evolution .46, or my choice the OS.46AX? Any help would be appreciated and thanks in advance for all responses.
Mike[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Mike,

The OS .46AX is hard to beat! Yes, its more expensive but well worth the value.

I'm assuming that you most likely have a .40 on your trainer. Most trainers are not so great on takeoff performance, but fly pretty well once off the ground. What may help you is using a different prop that allows more RPM during the takeoff roll which should help takeoff performance. We need to know facts more like what engine and what prop you are presently using.

Maybe you can continue to use your current engine and put your money into your new setup.

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

magnum makes a nice 46 that is less $$$ than the others. I have several magnums and like them all.

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Forgot to add if you are flying off a grass runway it really increases takeoff roll especially if its not mowed short enough.

Adding larger tires often will help improve takeoff roll. I generally have all my students change their stock tires due to our grass field as it really improves takeoff run.

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Thanks Steve, I am running the OS .40LA now and I am running a 10x6 prop. I have tried a 11x5 plastic prop as well. Everything I read says to run the 10x6 up to the 11x5. It does fly after take off. I can fly right at half throttle as long as the wind is not very strong. It just seems like it is working way to hard to attain lift off. What I was thinking was I could put the OS .46AX on this plane and then switch back when I build my next plane so it would be broken in. I have been flying heli's and new to the planes so not sure if that would be to much for the high wing trainer. Thank you very much for the response. Mike

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

I should have read my post I guess it would fly after take off huh!!!! LOL I meant it flys fine after I get it in the air, LOL I will try the bigger tires I am flying a superstar 40 HKII so what size tires would you recomend? Thanks again MIke

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Mike,
You'll do fine with the 40. Since you said that it flies fine once it's in the air then I would suggest leaving the 40 on the trainer and saving the 46 for your next plane. This way you can just leave the trainer together after you move up. Trust me, it's nice to keep your trainer around and go back and fly it occasionally!!!

Ken

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Thanks Ken how is the weather in Okla? If it is like it is here it going to be 100 tomorrow. Whew that to hot for me that's why I left OKC. LOL Is there a tire I should use for the grass field that wont add to much weight? I made a bone head move Tuesday and let it run out of gas on me and I was a little high approching the runway. I did land but I broke my wodden blade do to no more runway!!!! I guess I was lucky I did no damage to the plane!!!! I will make sure I keep an eye on the time nest trip. I took your advice and got a guy to buddy box me the first few flights. He said I was doing great so I took it up solo a few times and then I was all alone when I ran out of fuel. Thanks for all your help. Mike

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

I have 3" wheels on my Tiger 2 for taking off from rough grass. I think 2 3/4" wheels would have probably been more than enough, but I like the cartoonish profile the big 3" wheels give the plane.

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Mike,
The forecast is for 105 tomorrow. It's supposed to be 100 by 10 am!!! [X(]

You're not too far from where my mom lives (Sedalia, MO.), and from what she's telling me you guys are pretty hot up there too!!! The heat usually doesn't bother me too much, but it's been really bad this year because the humidity has been so much higher than normal! [:@]

Ken

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Mike,
Newbies have a tendancy to get dazzled by the more experienced pilots and their over-engined planes jumping off of the runway.
Head out to the airport someday and watch the full scale pilots take off. They use a lot of the runway.
Your takeoffs are very scale like. Accept the realities of the laws of physics and enjoy your flight.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Ken, Yea your mom lives about 30 to 40 minutes from my house. I live about 7 miles off of 50 hwy which runs right into Sedalia. It is close to 100 today and suppose to be 100 the next 3 or 4 days, with a heat index in the 115 to 120 range. Yuck. The humitidy kills me. I have had 14 joint surgeries and I have arthritis from it and the heavy air just kills me and of course I am approching 49 yrs young next month so that does not help LOL. Anyway thanks for the help and have a great day. Keep em airborn. Mike[sm=shades_smile.gif]

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

KW you are probably right! I know when I have enough power with the heli's but I have not figured out the planes quite yet. I will though!!!! Thanks I am going to try changing the wheels to see if it rolls better and let her be. It does fine once I am airborn so I am just happy to get it up and back down in one piece, (LOL) I was not sure if I was going to like the planes or not after flying the heli's for a while but just as much fun just different that's all. Both are a blast just a funny thing my wallet keeps getting thiner and thiner. LOL later and thanks again for the advise.
Mike[:-]

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Thanks I will try the bigger wheels and they might go good with me I probably look cartoonish trying to stay upright. LOL Have a great day. and thanks again
Mike[X(]

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

As has already been said bigger wheels probably will be the answer. You failed to state the size and weight of your plane and whether it's a tail dragger or trike. Trikes are particularly difficult in grass. Any of the 3 motors you chose are close to equal but if you went to the OS 46 ( (FX) that would be a lot better motor and of course more expensive. I have used them all and really like the Revelution a lot. It idles better than any and has power as well. Also I might add in this hobby what you buy usually lasts a long time so my opinion is don't go for saving a couple bucks in long run you come out ahead. Especially true with the radio portion.Each of us learn by experience and I have had 55 years of experience in RC and have often made wrong choices.

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Mike,

Theres another factor here that no one has mentioned:eek: DENSITY ALTITUDE! its summer time and its hot which raises the "Density Altitude" making your airplanes performance a lot less than it would be if it were cooler. In other words if your flying strip is at a 1000ft above sea level the effective altitude might be maybe say 3000' on very hot day. Density altitude effects performance drastically with full scale aircraft the same is true with models. Get a cool morning in the fall of the year you've got a lot more power. You may want to try a 10X5 pitch prop it may help, but only use full power for takeoffs and go arounds.

Heres a link that you can read about Density Altitude.......

http://www.mountainflying.com/densityalt.htm

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

I have a .40 La on avistar, ace-40, 4*, duraplane, eagle II. It did fine on all those models.
I can't imagine your trainer being heavier than a duraplane.

Yes, you can tell your wife/gf/other half it's under power. :)

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Tedmo, thanks yea I have the spectrum radio. I have a futaba for the airplane but in the next plane I will set it up with my Spectrum system which is the 2.4 so I dont have to worry about interference. I have been flying heli's for a while just new to the planes. I run jr servos in my heli and I really like them a lot so I will probably use them when I get ready to build a plane. Right now my plane is just a Hobbico HKII trainer so I will leave the radio gear thats in it there because I probably wont have it all that long. I may keep it to go with the new plane I build just for fun or to help someone else one of these days. LOL because right now I would be no help on the plane's heli's maybe but not the planes. Anyway thanks for the advice. I am running the OS .40 LA right now so when I buy a new plane I am leaning towards the OS .46 AX if I stay with a 40 size. I have heard good things about the revolution though thats why I asked. Mike

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Thanks Steve yep it is hot here right now close to a 100 degrees yuck, I will try the 10x5 prop as well I think it is just the takeoff part it flys fine once I am airborn just seems like it takes a long time to get her off the ground but it is a grass field and it was kinda damp the morning I flew, so all those things could make a difference I guess. Anyway what a geat hobby I have to say I am addicted like a bad drug. I have had 5 helis and now the plane all in a years time. My buddy said I picked up the heli really quick so I will take his work for it. I really enjoy building them as well and it seems I am pretty good at setting up the heli's. My blade 400 will hold steady with no input once I get her in a hover, so I am hoping I enjoy building the planes just as much. Thanks everyone for the advice and the help, thats what I love about this forum. It seems some of the LHS are kinda rude about stuff which makes no sense to me but hey who am I just a paying customer right. LOL Later all
Mike

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Both the OS and the Thunder Tiger are fine engines. You can't go wrong with either one. The EVO engines are a mixed bag. Some run great and some can never be adjusted to run well. And they are not a bargain price engine either so why take a chance?? I bought one to try and it just sits on my bench now. [8D]

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

EVO hands DOWN

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Thanks, my understanding is the OS has a bit more HP than the thundertiger? Mike

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

you cant go wrong with an OS46ax, it runs great straight out of the box. the others run great also but ususally need alot of breakin time and fine tuning

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

If I go with the os46ax am I going to need to add some weight to the tail to balance it or will it be fine as is. I am buying an 46ax off of eaby for another project but in the mean time I want to break it in on the trainer. I will just have to be carefull not to overpower the trainer with the bigger motor. I also bought some bigger wheels today to try tomorrow. I got some 2 3/4 inch wheel so try on the grass field. The new motor wont be here for a week or so so stuck with the one I have for now. I am also trying to figure out what plane I want to build next. I saw a hanger 9 plane online that looked really sweet that I might try. I am thinking I might want to build something from scratch as well. Any idea's.
Thanks Mike
Man this hobby is addicting, I thought golf was bad but this is crazy. I am building some helis to sale to try and make some of my money back. LOL I have gotten pretty proficient at the heli building.

RE: HELP ENGINE DECISSION!!!!
 

Extra 260 is the one I am looking at.