Will glow return
 

Any thoughts on glow coming back? I fly at 3 clubs and there are still quite a few glow heads. Of course lots of electric, some big gassers and a few turbines. I fly glow and electric and prefer glow. My fuel of choice is S&W, a local company. Great fuel.

Bill

Really who knows? I'd like to think it will but a lot depends on the younger generation taking an interest in it. There are so many other things that interest kids these days many that are tied to a cellphone.

every several years in northern california there is a new hobby store built that is selling 2 new lines of glow engines if that would help or count.

The heyday of glow has come and gone. The electric foamies that are currently surging dont seem to attract the long term hobby interest . The buy it and fly it , narrow interest aspect is more fad-like. Not an broad interest like the older , imagine it, design it, build it, fly it hobby.

Culture shift, demand for gratification and move on. The hobby itself seems to be fading fast.. Glad to have been here to live its golden age, sorry to see people walking away from it. As with so many other things.

It's hard to get glow fuel locally and when you can find it its quite pricey, 150 member club and there's probably only a handful of glow flyers

So true,

If glow power were no longer an option I would simply walk away from whatever was left.
The hobby is also about the people you share it with . I have little in common with the new fly it out of the box type.

Compared to the effort invested in designing and building a plane, even a kit built plane; Obtaining fuel is minor. For a person who pulls their latest creation out of a box and flies minutes later, fuel must be a near insurmountable problem.

A trip to the flying field thirty years ago was an event in itself. Loads of real creativity, Real builders who could truly appreciate those efforts as well.
The fuel? No problem. Never will be.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...f69a79e02d.jpg

It seems like the car guys rc and full scale will always help fuel availability. My problem will be lack of spares. If I bend a crankshaft on my Super Tigre 2300 I'll be hunting through ebay for a replacement. All of the low end glow engine companies are just gone except OS. I love the smell and experience of flying glow but maybe not enough to pay for YS, Saito, Rossi, and the like. Even OS is pretty pricey for what you get. For glow to make a big comeback we need some good value choices in my opinion......

Not going to happen.
With fewer users, diminished demand, the Economy of Scale factor is going away.

Gas and electric are getting better and cheaper. Glow is not. And honestly I don't miss the mess with glow.

David

Well cheaper anyhow. "Better" has is a bit more subjective. The number of good model builders is slipping.
I don't mind cleaning a plane worth cleaning. Don't miss electrics, built my first electric 25 years ago. Never missed a single one since.

I hope so
 

I started out on foam and electric. Now that I can fly and land without destroying the plane(most of the time) I’ve started with glow. I have acquired several glow powered planes and flown a couple of them. I have an Aeronca with a Magnum .26 4 stroke, a Tower Trainer that started with a Super Tiger 46 and Now has a Magnum .52 4 stroke. So far those are my favorites to fly. I can charge my Life receiver battery faster than a couple Lipos add fuel and fly for longer than I would with a stack of batteries. Yes I have to wipe the plan down afterwards but paper towels are cheap and glow sounds and smells better than battery. Still working my way up to my 1.20 powered Corsair

Congratulations! I sure wish there were a lot more like you.
There is so much more to this hobby than stick time. Fliers are a dime a dozen.
The well versed, complete modeler is fading fast.
The hobby at one time required a lot more of it participants. Those who took up the hobby understood that before they became involved. The typical RCer of today's major tool is a credit card. Programming their microprocessor radio , charging a LiPo and picking out the gyro is about the most difficult tasks they undertake.

I hope it returns, but I'm not holding my breath for that. It is dying. The only way to keep it alive is with demand - people building kits or assembling ARF's, and buying glow engines for them. I am now in the middle of building my 3rd kit in 7 months, so I am trying to do my part to keep the hobby alive.

Unfortunately, .25-size glow engines have gotten very difficult to find, and the kit I wanted to build (Uravich 52" OV-10 Bronco short kit) needed 2 of those, and I was unable to find a matching pair that was not at an astronomical price, so I chose instead to build an electric Parkflyer Plastics OV-10 short kit. I would much prefer glow, as I love real machines (engines more than motors), and electric planes just don't have the sound and "feel" for me. Not that they are lacking in performance. I take the cost of glow fuel, the mess and cleanup as just a "cost of doing business" when you get real sound and more authentic flying.

I agree about the "instant gratification" angle killing this hobby. The same people that don't want to build a kit don't change their own oil on their automobiles, mow their own grass or fix things on their vehicles and houses. Self-sufficiency and independence has withered down to just a few people here & there, these days. I refuse to pay someone to do something that I am capable of doing myself. I even dislike ARF's, and will always choose a kit instead, if I have the choice.

I love this hobby, and have for over 35 years. I want to keep doing this hobby until I am no longer able to stand on my own two feet. I love aircraft. I love flying. I love building. I hate seeing this hobby dying.

There - I'm done rambling. For now. :D

glow engines are little breathing, living works of art

Jim

Glow...please return..

Some people say that they don't like the mess of glow. Well I can't deal with charging and messing with batteries all the time. I have had some smaller electric planes. There just not the same as glow for me. I do have some small electric helicopters which are good with the electric. If it gets to where I can't get fuel I'll make my own or switch to gasoline.

I see a lot of people who have trouble turning glow engines and choose the right prop to make a glow run good. If done correctly glow is very dependable. I can see where people that don't or can't develop the skills to make a glow run good would get up set with them.

In the last few years we have had three major LiPo fires in this area that I know of. Two, I know the people involved personally, ALL resulted in a MAJOR clean up. Not talking a simple wipe down of a toy plane. More like demolition and rebuilding an entire house, loss of cars etc. Nice plane lost at the field last year too, not the first one either.

Cleanup, of glow fuel, no problem.

Asking if glow will be coming back is like asking if auto companies will start to build cars with 1950 level of technology again, while there are a lot of people that like and own
50's era cars the majority of people like the new technology a lot more. The same can be said for our hobby people like the the new tech a lot more and companies will
build what sales and the there is little demand for glow engines.

Started with glow in late 90', difficult not reliable considering I was beginner, late 2000 restart with electric.

Then, I was able after 2010 to run a glow engine, may be because of the reliability of the fuel today, I mean I can't compare a run with my used 1985 os25max in 1999 with a run yesterday with a gms 47, so I presume the fuel is 100 times better, and may be I am a little bit better to set and feel my engine.

If you consider a glow is alive, a glow can be stored years an years even the fuel with no incidence, cost 35euros here to get 5L, 4sT or 2sT, screaming like a rocket, unlimited flight time at field, and most important compared with gas is the size, no real challenger in the 25 to 70 size, you can put in your trunk easely without dismounting.

If you consider electric is too easy no challenge, tasty as driving a nissan leaf, autonomy is only the lipo you get ( compared with 5L no chance ), dying with the time ( your lipo is reduced after 1 year ) and the covid doesn't help, etc.

For my glider lipo is ok, for the rest, glow glow glow, the main problem now is to find brand new cheap engine as asp factory is closed, hopefully we can stil find for less than 40euros somes almost new engine on ebay and else, because people choose lipo or gas.

Not to mention that "return" is a nearly moronic term as glow never left in the first place.

True that it never left, but it is dying, sadly. I am trying to do my part to keep it alive. The problem is, I have already built all of the glow kits that are reasonably attainable and that I would want to own. There is nothing left that I want, that I can get, reasonably (and I'm not paying absurd prices on fleabay for older kits). That leave scratch-building, for me. And then I have to select the plane based on the glow engine that I can find for it, because the variety of glow engine supplies is also dwindling away.

Jesse,
How do you obtain your VP Racing 5-gallon cans? I tried to purchase VP Racing nitromethane from a local dealer and the shipping cost was prohibitive.

just buy fuel from Red Max, in quarts shipping is not that bad. they have been around a long time.

Jim

Guess there is no need to answer.
Red Max, there you have it.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...82824c1b2.jpeg
Or I will just send you a PM

Jesse,
Yes, please send me a PM. I am interested in VP Racing 50/50 nitromethane/methanol in 5 gallon cans. I blend my own fuel.

What I find very hard to believe are any individuals that were once glow aficionados and now claim to be converts to the electric scene. I got my start with glow and it has always been a constant, mainstream, unceasing form of modeling, and continues to be for me - to this day. Hoarding of glow support equipment and accessories began long ago as the landscape morphed to what it is today.

Beginning in '08, the electric craze with reasonably new, high energy density, Lipo technology got my attention and was being pushed by one of the big three conglomerates. I gave it a try - even have a few - and have concluded that there is no apparent sense of satisfaction derived from the electric experience at the end of a flight. Its like there is an essential - je-ne-sais-quoi - missing from the electric experience that only comes from burning fuel. Like having sex without release or trying an O'doul's at a beer tasting party - it just doesn't satisfy the same way glow will. Along with electric power association seems to come all the stability augmentation and gyro sensor assisted flight systems which beckons one to ask: what's the point? Its nearing full autonomy now. That's no challenge and no fun in my book. Just like flying the stimulator at home - why even bother going to the flying field? Don't miss-understand me - yes, you can develop and improve your flying skills. However, its a means to an end - there is just no heart and soul with electrics. If battery energy density tech is even to improve five-fold, I'll still stick with glow as long as I can keep it going.

...Look at driving a car in today's world - all the high-tech gadgetry takes all the fun out of it for me anymore too. I used to enjoy driving a car; not anymore though. Push button starts, CVT, automatic wipers, lights that turn themselves off, touch screen radios with annoying, boot time lags, TPS, back-up cameras, self-parking systems, clocks that can't be set without resorting to the owner's manual that's on a disk, systems that are so sophisticated service requires replacement of modules rather than fixing what is broken. It used to be fun to get in a car, pull out the choke, step on the clutch, insert and twist the key while stepping on the gas, watch for coolant temp to rise before pushing in the choke, releasing the hand brake and using the clutch and gas pedals to "H" through the gears, and even use a manually operated hand-crank to roll down the window...

Back to model aviating:

What about noise and smoke? Isn't part of the fun supposed to be realism and the operation of a fuel-to-noise-and-smoke generator? Electrics are just too dainty, clean, and quiet to exude any form of fun factor. Another thing that bothers me when operating an electric model, particularly when taxiing, is that anytime the throttle stick is pulled all the way back, the motor quits. You can't just restart with a glow-driver and hand flips. Compression is nonexistent and the only thing you might be able to "feel" might be cogging torque from the magnets. No needle valve to twist either; at least some of the early brushed motors had a timing screw you could adjust - but not anymore. Nope. No fun. Sorry, not impressed.

I rather enjoy licking the chicken fat off my glow-powered models following a day of flying at the field but loathe putting the un-flown Lipos back on storage charge at home because of an underwhelming, apathetic state toward electric power -

Dang it, man. You said it in a way that I couldn't, and conveyed my thoughts precisely.

I like the analogies. There is just no "feel" to flying electric. As a parallel, kind of like imaginary sex vs real sex.

And to me, screwing with batteries, like remembering to charge all of them in time to go to the flying field, and having to storage charge them after getting home is much more of a PITA than wiping off exhaust residue and cranking a fuel pump handle.

Wiping off exhaust residue and cranking a fuel handle is kind of like sweet-talking her prior, and holding her afterward. ;)

edited: There is no afterglow, in which to bask, while taxiing back from an electric flight.

Well I'm another one siding with you regarding glow power. I've enjoyed flying those tiny helicopters and slow flyers powered by batteries but agree that there is a certain magic to a smooth running glow engine. There are countless beautiful videos shot from modern day electric drones. But what is missing from all of these?

Sound!

Because who would want to listen to the whine of four screaming vacuum cleaners?

30 years ago I bravely installed my 8mm Sony camcorder behind the windshield of my 1/4 scale Cub powered by the delightful OS Pegasus engine.

Watching that video today with the sound on to me makes all of the difference. It's like being in a real airplane.

So I'm one more that hasn't yet given up on glow.

Technology? Just fly your computer simulator

Fender started making electric plank guitars before I was born. Martin had been making old technology acoustic guitars long before that.

.

Martin still makes and sells acoustics and many of us still buy and play them.

Foamy flyers are the guys who play recorded music.
Model builders learn to and play the actual instruments.

if you look on RCG you will see many glow engine sell daily. people still love them little monsters

Jim

oops, I forgot>
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...7e54aef406.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...88c28ef6f4.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...d9e8c65cbb.jpg

One thing i'm sure of is that glow will not be making a come back as it is a outdated technology but I think that between the few new engines still available and a lot of used engines available there will be plenty
of engines to go around for a long time.

"Come back" ??? Glow hasn't gone away."Technology" has simply dumbed down the hobby over all The hobby itself is diminishing.
The original , powered RC planes were gaspoline powered, The on board ignition batteries, coils wires and spark plugs were replaced by glow plugs and methanol 70 years ago. Now people are going back to spark fired gaspoline fueled engines....OLD technology aside from the CDI which is actually rather old as well. The engines themselves are changed very little, no rocket science there.

The new operators are dependent on having most everything made for them rather than posessing the knowledge and skill sets to design and build a large percentage of what they put into the air. What was once a lifetime hobby of learning and productive achievment is mow just a consumer activity that fails to garner the commitment it once held.

Naw, it isn't technology on the part of the toy operator anyhow.

I know a guy that has ben flying for years and years. he has over 200 glow engines and will buy more

Jim

Hey Jim, Any interest in a real decent K&B .65 Sportster ?

Gary, if you find a K&B 61 Twister with the Tuned Muffler for a good price I may buy that

Jim

How bout a Italian made Super Tigre X-61 Rear Exhaust, Front Intake ABC ?
Or a Webra 61 ABC Speed?
Also a nee in box OS 61 RF ABC?
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...02db986fc8.jpg

you know that Webra must be a nice engine, but I don't have a rear exhaust plane for it

thank you for the offer !!!

Jim

Side exhaust then? Got that covered too!

Glow engines do have character:)
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...8cf6a31b0a.jpg

The K&B .65 Target Drone engine
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...b51ba47e16.jpg