For my second plane i ordered a sig Four Star 60 kit which i am currently building. Ive read alot of reviews about the four star and it seems that alot of people are using extra power with .75 two strokes or 1.00 four strokes. Im not sure that making a hotrod out of this plane is the best idea for me since im trying to use it as a low wing trainer. Any suggestions on a great reliable engine that will allow the plane to still preform easily enough for me to fly are greatly appreiated, as i have no idea what to get. If anyone thinks that i should follow in with the croud and get a larger engine im still open to that idea as well.


searching by myself these are possible engines i have come across:

OS 65 LA
OS 61 FX
Tower 61 and 75
HP Gold Cup 61
GMS 61 and 75

i already have a os 65 la on my trainer and am very impressed with its reliabilty and ease of use. I would use that engine just for the sake of saving money, but my dad is learning to fly too, and doesnt want me to use that engine (hes not as good as me )

Thanks

Mike

use either the tower .75 or a thunder tiger .60
after that you'll never go back to O.S.
Keep it a 2stroke to keep it simple

Excellent choice for a second plane!

I once put one together with a Saito 100 and it was a great combo. Certainly no lack of power and very maneuverable, but also very forgiving. The downside is that you have to go through the Saito break-in and setup learning curve. For a second plane I would recommend a Saito only if you have plenty of experienced help.

You'll never go wrong with OS. Pretty near 20 years experience tells me that in the long run you do get what you pay for. Quality engines like OS, Enya, Webra and Saito tend to require less fussing with and provide better long term reliability. If you're not particularly worried about those qualities then go ahead and buy a Thunder Tiger, ASP or Magnum.

My Four Star 60 is powered with an Enya 90 FS. It is a wonderful combination - power, grace and even a bit of attitude. My brother used a pumped OS 61SF on his but he also clipped 2 wing bays off each panel so it would be hard to make a direct comparision between 2 and 4 stroke flight performance, but I will say this, much less needle tweeking with a 4 stroke. Once they're set they're pretty much set.

I might have a misconception about planes, but i was leaning torwards a two stroke because it would keep the plane lighter... and therefore (this might be where im wrong) make it alot easier to land and such. I have an OS and have to admit that it seems to run extrememly well, and it has been extrememly reliable, never died in the air on me, and has never needed any needle valve adjustment. If someone can vouge that what i have experenced on my first OS wont happen if i buy a thunder tiger ill definitly buy an OS.

Thanks,

Mike

swarr665

Any engine between a 60 and a 90 will do a good job. From what I have seen a two stroke Will usually be lighter although not always. The engine size will not make it eaiser or harder to land. That's what the left stick is for reduce the throttle and slow it down if it's still to fast extend your landing pattern and try again. I had a 4*60 that I put a supertiger .75 on ( easy now rock throwing is not allowed) and it flew like a *****cat. with a 12/8 prop and landed as slow as my Sig lt-40. This will probably get some people excited but here's the truth. Os Supertiger Thundertiger Magnum Are brand names just like ford chey chrysler. Best advice I can give you is buy what you can afford and break it in properly and you should not have a problem.. Now Do a search here and other places there are many engine brands and types and YES there are some paper weights no one really wants. Four strokes cost more to start with but supposedly use less fuel. Four strokes are generally heavier. They also are a bit more difficult to setup. The biggest comment I hear is they sound great. Sound dosen't make the plane fly.

Good luck let us know what you decide.

egor

Saito 4 strokers are actually quite light for thier size. Sometimes lighter then thier 2 stroke bretheren. You get more torque with a 4 stroke than a 2 stroke. This means you can swing a bigger prop. You get more pulling power quicker than a 2 stroke. Kinda like the difference between a big and small block V-8. The 2 stroke has more horsepower. It usually will fly faster than a 4 stroke. They need rpm's to make torque. Hence the rep of 4 strokers having more power.

I agree with several posters. Buy the engine that you like. Most engines out there are just fine. Supertiger's are real cheap these days. Tower is discounting them a good bit. Thunder Tiger's are supossed to be godd. I like Irvine's myself. I also like MVVS. I would not hesitate to reccomend the TT Pro or the ST in your list. Good luck with whatever one you end up with.

Mark Shuman

If you're buying a new engine, the Tower 75 or the GMS 76 or even the ST G90 are all excellent products, more than enough power, priced reasonably, easy to set up, break in, tune and fly. ThunderTiger & Magnum also work well, although TT service in my experience has been sub-par. My personal feeling is that OS is over-priced, and that they have been coasting on their reputation for the last few years. 60 size engines for a new purchase are more or less obsolete, since the 75's are the same crankcase bored out for more power with less weight. Now is a good a time to learn that you don't zoom around at full throttle all the time anyway. Use half to 2/3 throttle for level flight, full throttle for vertical climbing, and throttle back to idle whenever you have the nose pointed at the ground.

If you don't mind the added complexity--and cost, I think the Saito 91 is perfect for this model--A) because it's light (always compare 4-stroke with light muffler to 2-stroke with heavy muffler); B) it has great low-end torque, well suited for this type of model; C) it runs inverted no problem; D) I love the chug-chug sound--even if it has nothing to do with flight performance, how it sounds does matter to some folks. But I like a smooth running 2-stroke just as well, and they are less complicated. No valve adjustments to fool around with. Most of my 4-strokes don't require a lot of attention, but a few do.

I have HB and HP engines, like them well enough, but don't think I'd buy anything new that is not currently popular, mainly because it helps so much to swap tips and seek advice here on RCU.

I FLY A 4 STAR 60, I HAVE A THUNDER TIGER 91 4/S IN IT. PLENTY OF POWER WHEN NEEDED AND IF YOU USE THROTTLE MANAGMENT WHEN FLYING YOU WILL BE FIND. ALSO FITS NICELY AND C.GS GREAT.

i used an os 61fx with a bolly clubman 12.5 x 6 prop i think that is a good combination.

I won a Four Star 60 kit and Super Tigre 60 Engine at our Club Christmas party a couple of years back. I too use this plane as a low wing trainer and I have to say that I really like the combination, I find that flying at half throttle provides me plenty of power to do simple maneuvers and I can still power up for impressive flybys. In either case I would suggest the .60 size engine as a good compliment for learning to fly low wings and getting introduced to simple aerobatics.

I flew my fourstar with an Irvine Q72. Excellent engine, excellent performance. Now it has two OS LA 40's after a switch failure resulted in a serious nose job. Think about setting the engine as low in the fuselage ( low thrust line) as possible. Remember, the carb jet should be as close to inline with the centerline of the tank as possible or just a tad above. On my first fourstar ( a fourty with a Fox fifty) this helped with consistency with the fuel feed.

I have been flying my 4* with an OS91 Surpass engine and really like the power and reliability. I am like others though, I am not stuck so much on one single brand. Use what works for you and fits your budget.

I used the four star .60 as my first low wing and its alot easier than a trainer to fly. I started with a Super Tigre .75. Does everything very well, but verticle is not unlimited. My third plane was a Vectorflight 58 in exctra 300s with aSuperTigre .90. Absolutely unlimited verticle. I like that so much i just got a Super Tigre .90 for the Four Star and am awaiting its first flight with this combination. I also did the rudder mod often discussed on the forums, (one inch added rudder width and one inch counterbalance on top). Knife edge has absolutely no tendencies to go anywhere but straight. Very nice.

bob branch

I put together a 4-star 60 ARF for my brothers second plane. We used a Saito 1.00 that was waiting to go in another plane. I'd say it is a great combo. The darn thing will take off in about 6 feet and climb straight up. We propped it with an APC 15x6 and she comes in so slow you could catch it. I love just doing touch and go's for a whole tank, it lands so nice. With the 1.00 you could definitely fly this plane too fast, but just use your throttle, that is what it is for... :0. If you feel like spending the cash go with the Saito. Take care of the engine and you can use it in a whole host of other models too (one is going in my Top-Flight Sea Fury).

Scott.

I want to vote!

I'll say..........ummmm.......................61 FX!

My .02 worth...I've flown my 4*60 for over a year now (not continuously!), & it's pulled around by a Saito .91. Engine fired the 1st time I turned it over, & has NEVER quit in the air. Sounds like a farmer driving a John Deere around at our field; I love that 4 stroke sound! When other pilots have their 2 strokes in the air at the same time, I can't hear mine; it's that quiet. BTW, as light as the Saito is, the added weight of a 4 stroke helps out on a 4*60...I built mine light, & would have needed more lead up front with a 2 stroke; at least the Saito is useful ballast. Just MHO. -Daniel

Hi guys,

I've been flying a Four Star 60 for about a year and a half with about 320 flights logged.
Every flight was with a SuperTiger G-90. WHAT A COMBINATION !!!!!!!
Unlimited vertical. Sport flying at about 60% throttle.

Just a really fine flying aircarft and a super performing engine at a moderate price.

WRB-(Tri-County Barnstormers)

All great engine recommendations. My 2 cents -- Tower .75 for power and price just can't be beat! I have a Super Sportster 60 with a Tower .75. About 100 or so flights on it. Other than an occassional click-click on the needle (probably needs to be cleaned) about every 20 flights. She just runs and runs. It turns a 12x8 at about 15,500 and can start with a flip. She has survived a wicked crash that tore the muffler off and broke off half of the rear muffler mount. Drilled and re-tapped. After dis-assemblying to remove the 1/2lb of top soil she ate it didn't even phase her (that was after about 10 flights -- and I know -- you're supposed to throttle back if your going to hit, but at 90MPH there just wasn't time).

I also have had good luck with Super Tigre and am still out on an SK50 (lots of power but low RPMs for a 2-Stroke). We have lots of guys at the field who fly nothing but OS. They are certainly great engines. But when an OS .61FX is $169.99 and the Tower .75 is $94.99 and is 0.6oz ligter with 0.3 BHP more power???? Well I'd rather spend that $75 on something else.

It is a misconception that 4-strokes are heavy. A Saito, OS, Magnum .91 4-stroke is lighter than any of the popular .61/.75/.91 2-strokes engines. The Thunder Tiger .91FS weighs the same as the 2-strokes.

Your OS .91FX/Magnum .91XLS/OS .61FX and most of the other .61-.91 size 2-stroke engines weigh 25-26 ounces. I have , or have had, OS .91FX, Magnum .91XLS & OS .61SF and they all were about 25.5 ounces.

The Magnum .91FS, an OS .91 clone, weighs 22.5 oz.
The Saito .91 weighs 19.7 oz.

These are with mufflers, prop washer & nut, everything that came with the engine that you need on it to fly. The weights were taken on a digital scale.

I believe that the 4stroke is heavier myth is just that... The OS 61 FX weights 23.6 OZ with muffler and the Magnum 91 4 Stroke weighs 22.3 oz with muffler.

I would go with a MAgnum 91 RFS (4 stroke). I've got two and a buddy has one in a 4*60 - it's a great combo.

Agreed with the misconception issue on 4-strokes and weight. Usually, a 4-Stroke of similar output (60 2-Stroke -- 90 4-Stroke) are going to weigh about the same. 4-Strokes usually have a much smaller muffler than the 2-strokes. Some 2-Stroke mufflers are really heavy like Super Tigre. The issue with 4-strokes is more on height than anything else.

Comparision:

Tower .75
2.2 BHP at 15,600rpm
23oz w/muffler
3.6" length (backplate to drive washer)
1.63" width (exclude flanges)
4.0" height
$94.99

OS 91
1.6 BHP at 11,000rpm
24.2oz w/muffler
3.6" length (backplate to drive washer)
1.68" width (exclude flanges)
4.88" height
$279.99

2-Stroke advantages:
A little simpler though not much -- don't have to worry about valves or timing
More power for weight (but you have to be up in the RPM band)
Cheaper -- a lot

4-Stroke advantages:
Sounds sooooooo good.
More low end power and bigger props
Much more fuel effecient (over the life of the engine may even save hundreds of $$$ when you are paying $15/gallon)

Most my club are either/or types. We have about 100 members and its split about 60/40. The 60 -- 2-Stroke guys fly only 2-Strokes and the 40 -- 4-Stoke guys fly only 4s even in little planes. You'll get an all day argument if you between these groups if you ask which is better. My opinion is if its 90+ and you want it to sound good and spin a big prop then 4-Stroke it. If its really big go with gas. If its 60 or smaller and your looking to save money up front then 2-Stroke.