I am using an APC 17 x 6 pattern prop. Most use 16 x 8 or 15 x 10. A friend of mine in Miami has a Venus II and he recomended the 17 x 6. This prop holds the speed down and gives unlimited vertical. I love it.

I haven't tried a 17x6 yet, do you notice any left or right pull?

Nope, the plane shows no pulling tendencies.

great, I am going to give the 17x6 a try.

THat is what I have used....
That prop out pulls anything else on that engine....
Had a 16x8 xoar.... not even close to the apc 17x6
Mine was piped. Went like stink!..
The regular muffler didn't have the high end the pipe had, or the rpms...
Apparently it works well with it on std. muffler...

I wish I would have had video of it on my 69" yak....
Looked like a 50cc gas engine...

I had a dud os 1.20 ax, and it didn't do as well as I had hoped with that combo..
My replacement, was never flown with out the pipe...so I not sure how it worked
with out it...

I was happy with the 16x8. I didn't notice any acceleration or problems with down lines, and I liked the higher pitch to keep up line speed constant. I preferred a 10 pitch prop but the 15x10 wasn't a good match for the 120AX, though it was really nice on the 110FZ.

Joe- could you elaborate more on why you did not like the 15x10 prop. I am fiddling with different sizes to maybe control slow flight better and downlines, been using 16x8 myself your a couple years, just looking for some ideas or experiences with others.

thaks-
john

I felt that the engine took too long to spool up - speed came at a delay. The 16x8 was much more deliberate with better throttle control, and still good speed in verticals and wind. The YS turned the 15x10 with more torque, and thus much better throttle response. With the OS, I felt like I needed to rev up the engine before pulling into a vertical, whereas with the YS I just added throttle when I needed it.

The engine really spools up smoothly with the 17 x 6 prop. I don't see any negatives to this prop, but I am no expert for sure. I am having trim issues when the fuel gets low. I have never noticed trim changes on other airplanes as fuel is consumed. I sure do on this one. After I re-trim and land for refueling, I need most of the up elevator to break ground and a half stick of up for level flight. I am seriously thinking of moving the tank back and using a Perry pump. I have no radios in the area forward of that bulkhead that is just aft of the CG. My throttle servo is just aft of that. I could center the tank over the CG, but it would be much easier and less invasive to locate the back of the tank over the CG. I guess this would be an improvement over having it against the firewall. I was just trying to avoid a pump on my OS 120AX. What are other's thoughts?

I moved the tank back to the CG and added a pump on mine and was very happy with the results once I got it dialed in. I also have the battery at the very rear of the radio compartment and a couple of ounces of lead glued under the stab to get the balance point where I liked it.
I'd say go with the relocated tank and pump and come back here for advice if you have trouble getting it to work.

I guess my real question Strat is do I need to center the tank over the CG or is having the back of the tank at the CG okay?

I centered mine over the CG. I had to Dremel away a bit of a former and the radio mounting tray but it was no big deal.

Mount the tank at CG. You will have consistent feel all the time.

I just purchased a Venus II from a club member and I plan to start attempting to make it through the Sportsman sequence. I has a Saito 100 mounted up and the doesn't have the upline pull I thought it should have. So... I just pulled the trigger on a Saito 125. It is only 2 ounces heavier. I haven't read through and I am hoping that the 125 was a good choice for the Venus. I am also wondering what prop you guys would recommend I purchase.

Strat... are you a guitar man?

I just bought a Venus ll after hearing how great they fly....Mine will likely never fly.. This is the worst covering job I have ever seen on a arf. Even the Chinese sticky covering looked ok until you took it outside. I have 4 CMP arfs that I threw away the hardware,but it's easier to replace hardware than covering Expertly covered in Monocote my As..

I agree the cover job is awfully wrinkly....but the plane is such a sweet flyer, it won't matter.

Mine was awful also. I spent about 10 hours with a Monokote iron. I eventually got it near perfect. I had to use a heat gun in one hand and the iron in the other. I did burn through at 2 places. I bought a roll of the blue and used some white Ultracote that I had on hand to repair the burn throughs and recover the lower part of the wing lower fairing piece. It is great now.

I attempted to clean up the covering on mine also. The covering is only as good as the what its covering. I ordering a glass and paint video and I think I will attempt my first paint job on the fuse and recover the wing. My cowl color is way off. It looks pretty bad but no one can tell in the air and of course it doesn't affect how it flys. Good to see some activity in the thread... I thought it was dead.

Mine flies great, just like it is on a railroad track. Landings are easy, and maneuvers are so smooth it makes me look like I know what I am doing. I really noticed the difference in elevator trim from a full tank to a low fuel situation. I moved the tank back to the CG. My forward fuselage was empty anyway as I mounted the reciever and 2000mah 6 volt battery all the way back in the radio area. I just cut the forward floor off a bit and moved the throttle servo over a bit so the tube and rod were next to the tank. I used the tank provided, several feet of hose and a Perry Pump. My OS 120AX had a neat boss in the backplate that I drilled and tapped. Now it runs even smoother than it did and runs cleanly in all attitudes. Great plane, great engine.

I think you will be happy with a 14x10 APC pattern prop, and as already suggested the tank on CG and a pump, which for a 4-stroke is the Perry oscillating pump, VP-20 I think.

I thought this thread was dead too, glad it isnt becuz I still love the plane despite the countless, massive wrinkles in the covering. Tele1974: I have a 125 Saito in mine with a 16x6 MAS "K" prop and it works for me! I put the tank centered on the CG and running a Cline regulator. Mine was nose heavy becuz the engine, rubber mount, pitts muffler, bigger wheels, all added nose weight. I also only used one elevator servo in the tail, and since I am loath to ever add dead weight to balance my planes, I made a little tray to get the battery even further aft so the CG is spot on.

Is the Syssa to big for this one Moulder. No place for the pipe. Iam still trying to figuer out what pattern plane I am going to mount it in that isn't going to require a loan.
Iliked the speed of the 14x10 but it the 125 Saito just doesn't have enough torque to pull the upline with that prop. I went to a 15x8 and the rpm's went up to 9000. The uplines are okay now as longs as its spooled up. Its sluggish pulling out of a hover. (Yeah, I know)
My motor is still realitively new. I am only on the 3rd gallon and the last few flights to felt like it was starting to wake up. If thats possible with these motors. Maybe it was just getting lean.

I will move my tank back to the CG and install a pump when I get back from vacation. I am heading to the Wi Dells then to Dave Scotts school for the week. Should be a nice little vacation.

Zedhead, I see that you have you motor mounted vertical. I like it. What RPM's are you getting with that prop. How is the vertical pull with that prop?

Yes, the Syssa is too big for the Venus 2.

Might try to find a Northeast Aerodynamics Aquila. NE Aerodynamics recently went out of business, but maybe they have one or two left, and perhaps there are some floating around that are for sale.

I have seen the Syssa mounted in this model and it fits nicely (if some what tight!) with the stock muffler or a pipe. With a wingspan around 70 inches, it isn't a full 2-meter ship, but in the air it "presents" well and one would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. I have not seen it fly yet with the Syssa, but I have seen it get hauled around very nicely with an OS 1.20 2-stroke, so the Syssa would have gobs of power for the Aquila. Ed Alt has a Syssa mounted in an Aquila with a pipe, but I have not witnessed this one myself, but word is it has plenty of punch.

I just noticed that you lighten up you landing gear.  Great idea.

If anyone wants CF gear, give graphtechrc.com a shout. If you can find something that is close in size and shape of their molds, they will modify it to make you a gear set. I hate the crappy bendy aluminum gear that comes with the Venus planes.