Anyone else think this forum is getting less and less useful?
Three out of four posts involve one or the other Chinese engines, most about either how great they are ( from the dealers) or why won't a $250 POS run like a $500 engine.
This forum was once full of useful info about care and feeding of gas engines, opinions on performance and quality, and informed discussions.
Now I just scan down the list, disregarding the obvious self-serving, the uninformed or ill informed and the don't know their *** from a hole in the ground posts.
That leaves about 25%.
My suggestion is to set up a specific forum for Chinese engines for those interested in them.
Just frustration I guess!

Larry

You have so much company where this sort of thinking is concerned that you might be quite surprised. So many of the Forum's hobby stalwarts who use to post here regularly have gone missing, and my guess it's for the very same reason you mentioned, or one of a very similar nature .... such a pity as they had so much to offer.

Karol

And I've noticed that "Antique" seems to be MIA lately...
Just curious about that!
M

"Friends Don't Let Friends Fly Chinese"

It could be that in most cases gas engines are used on "giant scale" or at least larger than your typical electric or glow airframe. The amount of participation from this demographic has, for the most part, long left RCU. Just go to the Giant Scale forum and look at the number of participants and the level of expertise of those who do participate.

Other sites, whose links would be censored if I typed them here, have stepped up and filled in the gap.

Well gee let's see, "Please resist the urge to curse, flame, degrade, insult," the only thing left out is to embarrass someone.

It isn't just this forum... it's all over: Scale, warbirds, Q&amp;A, pattern. It's very quiet.<div>These RC chat forums ain't what they used to be... I GREAT source of info, amusement, politics, anger. Just brilliant!</div><div>Not anymore... dull &amp; censored. </div>

I follow several other sites and reduced post counts appear to be a general pattern. Frankly the answers given here on RCU are often of a better quality and in more depth than what appears on some of those other sites. At least here brand loyalties are still under check where on some of the other sites, if it ain't DA it ain't worth flying ..... and they won't let you forget it!!

If there is a problem it would be burn out from some of the regular posters who are still here. You don't see the in depth answers that were once so common. My guess is that most assume the poster of a question should do some research on their own when a suggestion is given.

There is still plenty of talent here to answer questions. W8YE, Pe and a few others could handle the question load by themselves if necessary. The point .... questions still get answered when asked.

I don't miss the verbal wars and constant snipping that went on when TOM was here though I do miss his expertise.

Another thought ..... most of the engines we buy are really quite reliable these days. Yes, I know there are exceptions but you can pretty well go out and buy one of the more common engines and be successful with it. The Rcexl ignition helps here as they are very reliable which helps even some of the lower quality engines run ... at least for awhile until some other problem pops up. Anyway, fewer problems = fewer questions for the forums.

I don't see any problem with this forum.
i can estimate that 80% off our engines comes from the far east so what?
some of them are good some even better and they are not as expensive like other brand names.
i had a DA-50 new and it was a bad engine i sold the engine after 1 month my DLE-55 and my DM and the DLA engines are great no problems
at all i can buy 2 engines at the same price as the DA.
the parts are cheap try to buy MVVS or 3W or DA parts you will see what i am saying.
i got many useful  advices from this forum and i grateful to all the fellers that responded to me.

god bless you all
and pease on earth

ilan

You ask, so my vote: I think you're wrong regarding the usefulness of this forum.

My guess is if you did set up a separate forums many/most of the regulars would be posting on both? Personally, I don't care for the "us" vs. "them" mentality, let alone the logic behind having separate sites. It wasn't THAT long ago, when I was making the switch over to gas (after a 15 year hiatus from RC), that I was posting what could be described as a little less than informed (dumb *****) posts? Isn't that what this place should be about? An information source? A place to bounce different ideas around?

I also feel that these Chinese engines are very likely largely responsible for a huge resurgence within the hobby as more and more figure out they can purchase and fly gassers pretty darn reasonably compared to even 120 powered planes of even 5 years ago. As these "Chinese" engines get cheaper, more reliable, and smaller, what do you think that's going to do to the hobby?

You hit the nail right on the head. I been reading this forum for about two or three years and this crap needs to stop. If you cannot replay to a question how ever dumb stupid you think it might be, instead of insulting, or adding a smart arse comment , simply don't answer it. Thats why for the last three years I just sit and read , most of the time. And watch the so called pro's pic at people , and then maybe ad some help to the post.

ahicks, I had a gentleman come out to the field about two month's ago. He used to fly but had to leave for a while. Now he's back and was ready to get started again but had one problem. He's now on a fixed income and could not afford what he was use to engine wise. Said he has several nice plane's but no engines. After conversing with him a little I showed him a 26cc that's in my Waco. Then I told him he could buy two of these for one OS120. He bought one and I tuned, timed, and broke it in. He's back and running gas. And totally enjoying himself at a ripe old age of 76.
That's what it is all about no matter what brand.

Good story and a great deal of truth there.
First and foremost, weare in this hobby to enjoy ourselves, no matter the brand or $$$$ spent.

I'd like to rate this post 5 stars

Perhaps everyone is flying?

Perhaps it took the "stalwarts" leaving to get the point across that if proper research is done before asking a question you would receive a better, and more informed answer from a better, and more informed question.

The Pamster
AMA 202345

All is not Lost...it is a matter of how you read. Instead of looking at the Left side of the web page, look at the right side columb of people who do post good data and "click" on the name. Up will come all of the postings he made. Click as many as you want to recieve...and then start reading all the "good " stuff. Do not bother or waste time with other guys who just like to blow smoke!!!! Capt,n

Here should be a good example.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/sear...rs&amp;top=100

OK, I have a question for all the gas wise men. I'm about to buy a used plane. The engine is 3W. Is it Chinese? Is it good? Any weaknesses? It would be my first gasser, currently I have glow and electrics

The 3W is not a china made engine. They are said to be pretty good engines. Read more input...that way you can make a better choice if needed. Capt,n

I believe they are German made. Very good engines. Weekness, pricey.

http://www.3w-modellmotoren.com/engl...toren_com.html

The Pamster
AMA 202345

china engines ill never buy again i got a 15 gas engine from hobby king on the 3rd flip it froze up sent it back onweek after i got it that was 4 months ago and 125emails asking where my engine is no help from them. i think they got my money and dont give a darn about the americans allen

3W are good engines and like posted above are made in Germany, Only draw back is the cost of replacement parts.

I have a 150 that is over 15 years old and still going strong.

Milton

I tell you what...BadAzzMaxx...knows his engines. You can take that to the bank. So does Antique and Bill Carpenter...the master who developed CH ignitions. Capt,n

Yipiiiiii, good news. I'm going for it

I have seen peoples advise being completley dis-credited by others with downright bad advise. The problem is that the person asking the questions will gravitate to the answer that is the easiest solution or what they wanted to hear in the first place. Sometimes the correct answer is not the easiest solution. A good example is when I took a fair amount of time to explain setting up throttle servo/linkage. It was pointed out very quickly and rudely that my method was wrong although I have been a competitive IMAC pilot for 13 years. For the most part I have stopped advising here because it seems everytime I do I step on the toes of a self proclaimed big fish.