With all the mods people have tried. Has anyone tried with an engine, say from an rc car, ?? Some of them use small motors like a .10 maybe this would work when the crutch is modified. They already have a heat sink and a clutch set up for the cars hummmm. I wonder, wish I could just run to the hobby shop now to look them over.. Let me know folks... Alan

Alan: I think this is an idea worth trying if one had the extra cash to invest. However a car engine has that big heatsink on it because there isn't much air flowing across it. The problems that you might run into is that you need a motor with an rpm range that will work with the 'chopper. If not you will be forced to try to mach the head speed by changing gears in it. As I mentioned about the head of the car engine, a chopper has much more air flow to the head which will make the engine run cold and might not have the same amount of power in the air as it does in a car.
Dan

Dan, makes sence and if someone had the money to play with or maybe went from rc cars to heli and had extra parts it might be worth trying. Some one could gow with a bigger motor for more torque then change to bigger grips but then maybe less stable. See lots to try I on one hand don't have alot of extra cash to experiment so I had asked if anyone had already done so. It might be worth an after market seller to try this as it seems alot of people are having power trouble with the norvel. Any way it was a thought. I guess I will have to wait for my vmax 7.. Alan

Alan, it is my intention to try this. A Traxxas Rustler or TMax clutch bell meshes with the main rotor gear perfectly. The gear pitch is the same. The problem is the stock crutch. As it is there isn't room to mount a .10 or .12 size engine. I have an O.S. CV12 engine that runs but needs to be rebuilt. I have started an aluminum crutch with enough room to mount the engine. There are a lot of issues but it is possible to do it. Right now though, I'm enjoying flying too much. This is my rainy, snowy and windy day project so it will be a while. A cv12 produces .56hp and is rated at 30,000 rpm. It weighs much more than a vmax7. The rpms could be brought under contol any number of ways. The center of gravity would have to be fixed. The larger heat sink would be an advantage I would think, but O.S. engines run cool anyway. If you wanted to skip the crutch part you could look at "the man from moon" crutch. He's already mounted a .15 size airplane engine on it but it ran hot (see what I mean about the large heat sinks of r.c. car engines). I predict my trial runs will be sometime late winter or early spring. My r.c. start was in 1/10 scale racing and I still race today (Losi rules!). But I just love the helis. It's the most challenging/rewarding/fun hobby I've ever tried.
Mark

See Mark this is what i've been talking about you have the motors to eye up. Now does this motor with the right clutch set up, start with a pull cord or starter ?? This would make a diff. I do believe that the larger heat sink would be good this is why I suggested rc car motors as apossed to rc plane. I know the o.s. motors are very reliable and long lasting. If this v-7 motor takes too much time to come in I will try this car engine set up any way it's a great thought. Alan

Alan, it would be easier to use the "pull start" system. I have a pull start assembly but all my car engines are currently box started. It isn't a problem to install the start assembly on the engine. I don't like the pull start but if you don't use it you will have to design a way to use the hand starter. That would not be too difficult but it is just one more thing to have to worry about. You will need to use the Traxxas flywheel and clutch set up. I have been told by a friend that he thinks Associated clutches are the same pitch as Traxxas so there may be more options. It will take the smallest teeth count bell you can buy because of the rpms. 30,000 rpm is too much. You could limit throttle position and/or set the engine too "rich" to slow it down. It is even possible that you would need the rpms because of the engine's weight. The more I think about it the more I want to get back at it but right now I just don't have the time. If there is spare time after work I must fly......Mark

Thanx again Mark, I wll see how long this v-7 takes. I am a little worried about the v-7 now that the v-6 let me down . Alan