I just purchased an ace 4-120 Bipe plane. It is kit bashed so it's an Ultimate. Does anyone know what size gas motor would work well for this plane? The plane came with everything accept the motor and reciever.
Also I paid $450 for the plane. Does anyone know If I got a good deal? It's in great shape and has only been flown by veteran fliers. I am new to big planes so I really dont know what I have.
Thanks!

I had a Ace 4-40 and it was designed for a 40 four cycle.
Hence the name 4-120.
I would suggest a 120 for cycle.
Saw one fly at IDA GROVE Iowa home of Byrons Originals, many years ago (1986), flew nice, but no speed demon.
Depending on what engine you use.

.....maybe a RCS140, 3w24, roto35. Only prob is that for those size planes sometimes the gas engines are too heavy with the ignition and battery to be really worth it. You could make it fit, but the weight of those engines compared to a Saito 120 or 150 could be too much for the aircraft to be fun or easy to fly cause of the higher wing loading. Balance could be an issue too...

Tim

I had an Ace 4-120 monowing for my first gasser years ago. Stuck a G38 on the nose of it . Sure was fun until I forgot to plug the ailerons in.[:@] Tough way to learn a lesson.....but.........I DID learn it. I balanced it with the elevator servo's in the tail and rudder on pull-pull I believe. Seeing how there are all the light weight 50cc engines now, I think I would go that route....DA50, ZDZ 50, BME44 or the 50, Sachs 3.2.

there's a fellow in the groups flying one with a G-62 !!!!! A ST-4500 on gas is going in mine !

[:-]

Just happen to have the RCM issue that kit bash appeared in. Article shows a ST 3000 with servos in front on push rods. Price is what you are happy with. Good luck, red

Hi Jim,
The 4-120 Ultimate does have a G-62. A guy name Archie sold me the plane but I have to remove the motor and give it back to him. He told me it was overpowered so I am trying to find a good motor that will work for the plane. I got a lot of info on this forum so I will be looking.
Did you say you have the same plane?
Thanks
Darren

I've had the kit, the mod plans, the canopy and the aluminum gear since about 1 month of the publication..... maybe 1993? Was gonna put in a ST3000 but have since decided to go for the 4500.... since the 4500 is a bit chunky, I might shorten the nose by about an inch.... all I need is the time to work on it !!

[:-]

I just started reworking one of these old Ace Ultimates. It has a A&M Aircraft gasser on it. Trying to figure out what size (cc) the motor is so I can find a true turn spinner for it.. I think it is a 2.0, not sure though..JG

I have one..A friend built two, gave me one..He cut 3" of each wing tip for a faster roll rate after flying it stock first...It flew fine with a stock G38 for power...Mine is still hanging up waiting for servos...

Here is a pic of mine, weighting in at 15 lbs.

Kind of a stretch but, I recently came across the old ACE SeaMaster 120 kit and when I was going thru the blueprints I quickly realized that I also had a set of plans for the 4-120 Bipe, now all I need is a manual. Would anyone be willing to sell or even copy this manual? I will need one for a complete build. Thanks

Shane

I'll say a G62 overpowers it. I have a 4-120 Bipe that I built back in the early '90s. It was originally powered by a Conley 1.20 DOHC engine. The Conley became a collector's item so I sold it and the bipe now has a Saito 1.50 in it. The 4-120 Bipe was designed for the 1.20 glow 4-strokes of the time. All of the 4 dash models were designed for 4-stroke engines. My first was the 4-40 monoplane. The bipe is a *****cat to fly with a big 4-stroke and sounds sooo sweet, yet it will do any non-3D maneuver you're up to. The model truly loses its character with a 2-stroke on the nose. It just ain't the same.

CR

Hay dex, what's with the links between the upper and lower ailerons? Don't you have a servo in each wing? Pretty model anyway. Mine is yellow wings and tailfeathers, dark blue fuse. Covered with Solartex.

CR

Hi Shane,

I might still have the manual for the bipe; I know I still have the plans. Are you going to build that Seamaster 120? If not, what'll you take for the kit? I'd like to have it if I can afford it.

Email me at [email protected]

Thanks,

CR

Charley,

actually I am gonna build the SeaMaster. Been wanting a seaplane and this was unusual and rare. Fits me good, so to speak. lol PLus it was only $50, retired guy clearing out his stuff.

Shane

The links are to move the top alierons by the lower powered ones. Only need two servo's in the bottom wing.

That's what I figured. I built mine stock, with a servo in each wing, no interplane struts. Kind of a toss up as to which was easier, more effective.

CR

Lucky &%$*@. That' sort of stuff never happens to me.

I'll look for the bipe instructions.

CR

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Just copies would be fine if it isn't much trouble.

Charley, I usually don't get lucky either. But I will keep you in mind if anything changes.


Shane

Guy @ my field is flying his on a ST3000 - plenty of power, and the plane seems to fly very well on it - but it glides like a brick. Thankfully he's only had to dead-stick once this season.

I'd go 38-40cc on it given the weight of the current crop of lightweight gassers available.

I've been doing alot of research on this plane (not much much info around) and what I could find talks alot about how it has the bad yaw tendancy. Not knowing anything about seaplanes or this one in particular I think I'm going to go a little smaller to start. It's been mentioned elsewhere that the yaw may be related to too much motor, over-torqueing the pylon and twisting it too one side slightly. It's not proven but it seemed to haunt some of the guys that were using larger motors. The motor they use for reference on the plans is the OS 1.20 (surpass I believe) 4-stroker which wieghed around 30oz. I think I'm going to use the new Evo. 26GT2 on it. This way I get a good range of prop availability as it can only spin up to an 18" prop due to clearance, and it doesn't weight that much more.

Funny you mention it falls like a brick, I've seen a couple videos from this year that had the seamaster in them and one glided very nicely and the other, like a rock. lol Wonder if the incendence has alot to do with that? I have a 4* 60 that I build from a kit, it has a RCV .91CD on it and it does the same, the more you cut the power the faster it falls. Not sure if it's the motor as it weighs alittle more than other 90 size motors or the incedence, didn't pay attention to it when building. First build, was just happy it flew..

ST3000, that's Super Tiger isn't it? No comments from the peanut gallery, hehe I'm still learning..


Shane

Ahh- I didn't read closely enough to see that this thread had jumped from the Ace 4-120 bipe to a different plane (might want to edit the title if it's going to be discussing a different kit.). My post was in reference to the 4-120. And yes ST3000 is the Super Tigre 3000

My bad..


Shane

I'm running a mac 32 in my ace.