Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

I have been flying 40 - 60 size planes for around 5 years now and I am really intrigued about these conversion engines.
I am having a hard time justifying $250-+ ARF just so I can slap a converted engine on it.
I was looking at a Jerry's Big Boy (stick- fun fly) but it seems that that plane doesn't need such a powerhouse.
I have also been eyeballing the larger Bridi kits but I have no build experience as I have only flown ARF's.
Does anyone have any ideas for an inexpensive ARF that I could put say a ……Brillelli 25cc GT on?

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

My minimum recommendation for a gas conversion plane is 1000 square inches of wing area at around 10 lbs., or larger. I've done a lot of searching myself, and I don't think you will find an ARF for less than $200.00 or so.

Good "knock around" planes:

Hangar 9 Ultra Lite Stick 120
Great Planes Giant Big Stik

The only way to get in cheaper would be to build a kit, and even at that I question if it would really be cheaper once you count the glue, covering, wheels, hardware, etc.

However, it's a blast. The bigger planes really do fly much better!!

AV8TOR

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

How is the throttle response on most of these engines? Are they peppy like 2 strokes? With the correct prop of course.
I know with my weed eater I just put gas in it and go.
What sort of maintenance is really required?
I see a lot of Ryobi engines selling for very cheap prices on the internet that are already converted. Are the Ryobi good converted engines?

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

I can custom build a Ryan's Rebel for $225.00 ask AV8TOR about it I built one for his brother

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Yeah, the Ryans Rebel is a good plane and would be nice to start out with. My brothers came out really nice!

The engines have great throttle response, (I love "jazzing" mine... vroom, vroom), and the maintenance is less than with a normal two or four stroke glow motor. Also, they don't blow oil all over the plane, so post flight cleanup is almost nothing!

Ryobi is a good motor, and there are many more.

Aeronut builds the Ryans Rebel with a Ryobi. Shoot him a pm about it!

Here's a pic of my brother and his. (He is 6' 2" tall and 240 lbs.)

Good luck,
AV8TOR

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

I have seen this plane before. Is it available as an ARF now also? I know I have seen it somewhere for sale. Thank you for the offer aero nut. This plane needs a larger 38 - 40 cc engine right? I think for now I am going to make baby steps and shoot for a 25 cc size plane.

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Aeronut sells it as an ARF. He custom builds them. He can sell it to you with an already converted Ryobi (31cc) for a great price. It would fly on a good 25cc engine as well.

AV8TOR

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

I just realized that the plane that I have seen at my field was a Road Runner http://www.funflyplanes.com/ARF.htm

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

RCBOZO

The roadrunner can fly very well on a G-26 engine. But at $299.00 it will be a little pricey. I have a Brillelli 25cc GT engine and I fly it on a Great Planes Giant Big Stik. I has every bit as much power as a G-26 and cost only $155.00 plus shipping. It will spin a APC 17x6 prop at 8800RPM and produce 14lbs of thrust. It would be the best low cost engine in my opinion fot that plane. Scott at brillelli cannot be bet when is comes to supporting his customers. He makes sure you are happy. Here is a link that shows a test run of the RPM readings I am getting on this little engine.:D

http://media.putfile.com/Brillelli-2...ngine-Test-Run
http://media.putfile.com/Brillelli-2...iant-Big-Stick

My Giant Big Stick weigh's 13lbs 5oz total. It has a 80" wing with 1520 sq in wing area. I am still in the testing stage, but you well see this might be just the engine you have been looking for. Scott also sells this engine with EI and the weight comes down to less than 3lbs. The cost with EI is only $265.00. Check Brillelli out at www.scottelingson.com

Good luck and remember to keep having Fun.:D

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

For cheap, try swap meets. $100 buys a lot there

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

The Ryan's Rebel flys extremelly great with the ryobi 31CC and if you run it with the GAS/Glow fuel mix you'll take alot of weight from the nose and boost the power it will trun an 18x6W APC prop at about 8100-8200 rpms on a glow plug without the magneto ignition.

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

What piece of power equiptment is this "Brillelli" engine out of? Thanks Capt,n

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

I take it you are comfortable buying a used, i.e. "reconditioned" core engine?

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Glowplugboy

I have been very pleased with this engine and if it is a recondition engine that does not matter. In my opinion his support of his product is better than anything I have ever received for OS, Super Tiger, Zenoah, or any other name brand engine company. I have had questions and he is always ready to help with the answers. Where else can you go and talk to the man who has produced the engine. I understand these engines where designed for another use. But this Brillelli engine has the same power as my friends G-26 and at half the price and even with the magneto it is 2oz litter than the G-26. So I guess my answer is yes!:D

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

jstanton I wanted to make sure that everyone had the correct website address for the Brillelli engines.

http://www.scottellingson.com/index.htm

The Toledo Weak Signals is coming up in a month. I will keep my eyes open for a suitable 3D airframe!

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

RCBOZO

Yep that looks like to correct web address for Brillelli Model Aircraft Engines. I have made plans to go to the Toledo RC Show next month. It is 680 miles from Memphis so I can only be there on Saturday. I hope to see Scott there. He is going to be show off some of his new engines. Maybe we can setup a time and meet. I would like to know what type of plane and engine you decided on?

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Jim I am only 30 miles from the SeaGate Center but I find the crowds much tamer on Friday. Since it is spring break for my kids, I just so happen to have off that week!

My biggest problem is that I am supposed to be saving up for our Vacation and if I have too much money left over I might be sleeping on the couch for a few weeks;)

I really like building planes late at night anyway. I hope I can find something in the Swap Shop for a steal so I can afford one of Scott's engines;)

Is Scott going to have a booth? I will have to stop by and have a look at his stuff! My wife is just learning to fly RC and she has a couple 1/4 scale planes waiting for her to master the trainer. Maybe I can talk her into letting me get something bigger. LOL

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

RCBozo

Yes Scott is going to have a booth. Will you just be going on Friday only? I will be driving up to Toledo tahe day. My wife will be comin with me and I think she wants to make sure I don't get carried away with buying anything. :eek: I hope you can get want you are looking for.

Thanks

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

I will be escorted by my wife also, it is funny how she never brings the check book with her![:@] We might bring our 8 year old son as well, he has never been to the show.

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

The 25cc engines I sell are brand new, not reconditioned. They are from new Toro trimmer power heads. The only run time on them is when they were test run at the factory, and when I test run them once converted. You can't even buy a recon Toro trimmer as far as I know.

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

I have seen plenty of recon Ryobi and Poulan but never Toro.

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Scott,

Thanks for adding this information to this discussion. I will help others out a lot when is comes to knowing about your engines.;)

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Scott were are you going to be at the Toledo Show?

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

I will be in the swap shop area. I will be in a room were a local Hobby Shop sets up. I have never been there before so I can't say exactly were. It should be a lot of fun. I hope to run into a few of the people that bought our engines. I know I will see Jim. That will be the best part of it. Meeting some of the people I have had the pleasure to deal with. I can't wait :) Plus Mark, my partner in this, never gets to talk to anyone. I always do that. It will be nice for him too.

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Scott earlier in this post aero nut mentioned something about running a Ryobi with out magneto with glow plug on a Gas/Glow mixture. Have you had any chance for experimenting with your engine with anything like this?

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

I actually did that on a Poulan 42cc. It ran perfect. I used 1 gallon of 20% nitro car fuel and 2 gallons of pure methenol. It worked out to just under 7% nitro and 5% oil. It ran very good. Power was the same as on gas. I just ran it a couple times to experiment. I never flew the engine. I have heard that if you mount them inverted they can kill when the throttle is applied if you don't use onboard glow, but I had mine upright and there was no problem with that.

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Check out this thread: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_12...page_19/tm.htm

We are having a lot of fun, and success, with glow plugs and a gas/glow mixture in various engines.

AV8TOR

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

another sorce for inexpensive arf airframes ak-models they have a 72 inch giles 202 for aprox. $165.00 +shipping i have the yak 54 glass fuse looks very nice (ryobi 31cc) . they are actually china models my yak looks awsome. cant wait to finish it
fjh5

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Gotta find it again...I found a engine outlet on a website. They had Red Max saws and blowers...ect. You could buy a complete piece of equipment for around $169 that had a 23cc Zenoah engine. Also there was a 25.6 or 26cc engine was listed also. I will look into it more. Capt,n;)

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

go to www.davesmotors.com they have the zenohas or zenohas look alike in a long block or complete engine version

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

FJH5

I have been looking at AK-Models and I have been thinking about the Yak-54 for my 42cc with ei that I got off of Scott Ellingson. Will that engine work on the Yak-54 airframe. I was thinking it my be to big for it. I think the Yak-54 calls for a 140 4-stroke and the 42cc seams to fit best in a 180-4 stroke size airframe. I was hoping that with the round cowl the 42cc would fit. What do you think?:eek:

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

is there a web site for the AK-models?

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Yes there is. Here his his site. www.ak-models.com

Here has some very nice models at very good prices.

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Found this! :D
The brand-new 2005 Zenoah G260RC engine is a 25.4cc (34mm bore, 28mm stroke) performance machine. The engine features a stronger intake manifold for better thermal isolation, a red silicone spark plug cap, new blue gaskets, wider intake and exhaust ports, a lighter 34mm piston and thinner ring for reduced reciprocating mass, and improved transfer port matching between cases and cylinder. This engine offers serious performance. It features a 4 transfer port 34mm cylinder, Walbro WT-603 carburetor (15.88mm bore, 12.7mm venturi, independent high and low jets) in your choice of linkage configuration, lighter flywheel, re-designed "hemi"-style combustion chamber, and full-circle crankshaft. Includes installation instructions. Engine is available in complete form, or you can choose purchase the engine without the carb assembly, airfilter, or muffler if you already have these parts and don't need them.
If you will be using this engine for scooters: Select the DDM heavy-duty carburetor linkage + swivel (option bc110).
If you will be using this engine for R/C: Select the stock Zenoah carburetor linkage (option bc260).
For Scooters: Top speed for this engine with a stock .625 size drive spindle is approx 27 mph. Larger spindles will be faster. Fits Sport, Liquimatic, Bigfoot, X-ped, Super X-ped, Super Bigfoot, Go-Quad, Super Go-Quad, and Homebuilders Kit. Also fits GSR25, GSR26R, GSR29R, Quad 25, and Quad 30 when used together with 54mm clutch assembly.
For R/C: Fits a wide variety of R/C cars, planes, boats, and helicopters.

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

The G260RC is a beautiful engine :)

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

the yak 54 is for up to a 160 2stroke 140 four stroke i was going to go with a 180 magnum but want to do gas
fj5

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Hey RCBOZO, check this out for an inexpensive alternative to getting into gas

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_36...tm.htm#3696930

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

Hey jpr73c,

That is a great looking bird! I have several friends that fly SPAD but I have not warmed up to it yet. What did it cost you to build your wing and fuse?

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

RCBOZO

I have less than $40 in the build ( about half of that is the landing gear and wheels):D

A Ryobi or any conversion would work great on this plane - not 3D, but its a great sport plane and takes a lot of the "pucker" factor away.:)

Also check out www.crazyherb.com for another alternative. I prefer the coro though!!!!!

RE: Inexpensive options for an ARF w/ conversion engine.
 

here is a plane i toyed with using for a cheap gasser
http://morrishobbies.com/product_inf...8b68ac85e60272

the wing area is good for the weight and it has an 80 inch wing span. dont know how cheap you wanted.