OK, I'm ready to knock my buddy out of the sky and we are looking for somewhat cheap planes in the 15-40 size or whatever you experienced nuts would recommend.

I have a 3-channel which should be more than good enough? but have no engine (execpt a TD 051) or airplane. What should I get from the engine or airplane standpoint? ARF? Spad? etc....

Let's Party!!!

The SPAD Flatbat is an excellent combat plane to begin with. There is also the SPAD HOR which is very sturdy for Combat, look at www.spadtothebone.com for the plans and get building!

A Magnum .15XL or OS 15LA with an 8x4 prop is a great combination for club combat. When you get into the larger engines like the .25 or .40, the speeds pickup and cause alot more damage when you midair.

For club stuff we use stock engines like the OS.40fp. Put that on a Predator and you should be OK. We have VERY little damage and the planes fly good even on a very windy day.
Contest combat is as followed.
The Big boys fly B class with up to .30 sized engines.
The Scale guys use engines up to .26
The slow combat guys use stock .15's
Club stuff is sling what you bring.

Hey Jimbo..saw your foam cutter!

Post a pic of a set of cores when you get a chance.

I'll do one better than that. I'll send you a free set if you want.

Whatcha building?? Is it the big Raptor??

No it's a 48" Raptor wing. I'll see if I can get some pics up. It's two kinds of foam, in three pieces.

get a OS 25 FX trust me, you will not regret getting it its an awesome engine!!

for weekly club combat, and I mean WEEKLY. I'd rather buy 2 Magnum .15xl's for $110 than 1 .25FX for $90

for RCCA competition, I'd recommend the .25FX hands down, but if your gonna be banging them up on a weekly basis, it helps to save money where you can.

Also, buy a 12 pack of the very cheap Tower Servos, you get the TS-53 for like $9 a piece.

There is just less damage with a 2lb plane flying a .15 then a 2.5 to 3lb plane flying a .25. Sorry jimbo, but I see this on a weekly basis, I'm not making this up...

Me too, Travis, Tony and I fly combat every weekend.

We've had trouble with the low end needle falling out of the Magnum.25's
The engines get a LOT of vibration on combat planes.

I have had to put a piece of large fuel tubing over both the low and high end needles. The low-end will creap out, as you have seen causing poor performance, and the high-end needle creaps out and leaks air. Fuel tubing fixes it up pretty well.

I have 2 rock solid Mag 15's, one pretty decent and a recently purchased one that will shake your fillings out, if you try to adjust the needle. It vibrates so bad, I can't keep mufflers on it, may need to send it back, just haven't.

With all that said, I'd fly combat with you guys, no matter what you brought!

Soon thojo, we're working on some slow .25 stuff.
OOps, I posted my engine comment to the wrong thread. It was about the Magnum.25 pro

We recommended cheap reliable .15LA's with 8x4 apc props for our combat league. I sure wouldn't call that combat slow but remember to build lite .

Basic box fuse plane with throttle airleron's and elevator, styro wing (about 3 ft). Made 'em cheap, ugly but visible (white solar film with large colored (blue, red orange etc) arrow type design on top.

Impact normally cost < $10 (Cdn) to repair

Get the cheapest servoes you can find and wrap the receiver good ( I made a styrofoam box and surrounded it with vibration foam. I used Hitec 555's for their size and protected them well; still the biggest thing in the plane )

A couple of guys had spads as well. Just so long as you have some fun with it :thumbup:

Bob

UMMMM
I fly combat every weekend through the hole year and also the Canadian winter that means that fly in minus 30 c temps and with 60 k wind..... now i fly with a 25 fx i have had no trouble with it since i bought it..... none at all !!!
so according to you guys this engine does not handle this?????lol

Trust me 25 fx is the top of the line engine....and also a WEEKLY ENGINE ...........

alll in good fun

I agree with Ace Bogie on the engine choice. For the price/power ratio, ease of use, depenability and sturdieness, the 25fx is the best choice. It's only drawback is the rear needle valve tends to break off in hard crashes. If you score the mounting arm about 3/4 of the way through it will break off in a way that doesn't damage the back plate and let's you re-mount it with a wire tie in a jiffy.