Which .46 to buy?

If your plane can handle a .52, I bought a Magnum 52 XLS a few months a go - it's very powerful and behaves superbly, and I don't think it's much heaver than a .46

You would be hard-pressed to find a better engine for your dollar than the Thunder Tiger .46. The GMS .47 has more power but may be a little more difficult to tune.

Can't comment on prices due to local variations but.

This is probably the best 46 engine around. Highest reputation manufacturer, best quality/precision, best power. You pay for it but it's an investment that will last forever.

A friend has a few of these. They definitely make the power and seem very reliable. Cheaper than an OS engine but probably going to last almost as long. If anything, they are a bit heavier than the AX from memory (not to mention the massive tubular muffler). Advertised outputs are only a fraction lower than the OS AX. Read some complaints about air bleed problems stopping you from cutting the engine, which would explain what I've seen BUT this is only a criticism for idle cut....

There was one at the field last weekend. It was new and didn't sound like it was properly tuned or run in. Alas we never got to see how it performed as radio problems caused the first flight to turn into a lawn dart (hard clay, not much left).

Never seen one locally, not surprising seeing I'm not in the US.

Funny that I've never seen a Magnum 2 stroke in action, the four strokes are very popular though. If the 2 strokes are anything like the 4 strokes for price/quality/power it would definitely be worth a look.

Who?

Heard of these, never seen one, supposed to be a performance engine isn't it?

These used to have a good following but I've never seen one. Some claim they are very good engines (MDS that is) but no-one seems to own one.

If I was just going to fly a forty sized model and wasn't out for the nth degree of power, I would consider the Super Tigre GS40. It was on sale at Tower last week for $49.95.

If I was looking for an engine that would pull a model straight up (6 lbs. or less) without overheating and sagging, I would buy the Enya .45CX. Never tried the 50CX, but I don't think it could do the magic thing that the .45CX does in heat management. This engine pulls like a bear, is easy to handle and produces gobs of power when it counts - straight up. Don't be afraid to lean this one out a bit further than other engines. The aluminum liner and piston expand at the same rate and allow for this little bit of extra lean mixture flying. Do not do this with other engines. They will melt.

If you are fixated on buying a .46 and you want a really inexpensive, sweet and powerful engine, buy the Thunder Tiger .46 Pro. I have also heard good things about the Magnum .52. Of course, there is always the venerable OS. It is hard to go wrong with an OS.

Ed Cregger

I have one of the Tower Hobby .46s and it is a monster. Makes great power, idles great, and turns a 11X6 prop at 11,500 when set on rich side of max by a couple clicks. Be warned though, there are posts on rcuniverse that these engines come half great and the other half not so great. With Tower Hobbies return policy, you can be assured you will get a good engine if the first is bad.

Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not so great) words of knowledge:

A lot will depend on how experienced you are with tuning engines and putting up with their "idiosyncrasies".

For someone who is not that experienced OR does not want to put up with the aggravation of "playing" with the engine EVERY time or almost every time they go to fly I would suggest the following:

OS 46 AX, Thunder Tiger PRO or Evolution 46.

I have personal experience with these engines and can state they are VERY user friendly. 99% of them will run great right out of the box and have excellent power. They require MINIMAL fiddling with to get to run properly, and once setup to run properly RARELY require any additional fiddling with.

Super Tiger and Magnum engines are reported to be pretty good and have minimal problems. Be advised that Super Tiger engines do require a noticeably longer break in time than other engines.

Megatech and MDS engines I would avoid like the plague. The 2 most common nicknames for the MDS engines (in the 46 - 61 size ) are "Mostly Don't Start" and "Many Dead Sticks". I suggest doing a search on RC Universe on these engines if you are considering getting one. The large MDS engines (1.48 and up ) are allegedly good though. FWIW - The Megatech engines are reported to be in the same category as the MDS.

The Tower engines (made by GMS for Tower ) are very powerful, however, they have a VERY long and well documented history of air leaks from the carb, back plate, needle valve and front bearings. There are also numerous reported cases of poor transition. Apparently it is a "crap shoot" with them. If you get a good one, it is a fantastic engine, if not, it is a headache. The 2 I had had MAJOR problems shutting down with the transmitter. The BEST I was ever able to get was that the engine would continue to run for 30 - 45 seconds after you shut it down with the transmitter.

Except for the Tower engines, I have no experience with the GMS engines. They are SUPPOSED to use a different carb than the Tower engines though.

Hope this helps.

Steve,

My experience (albeit limited)... An OS .46 AX was purchased last year for my LT-40. After a gallon though it I find: it works; it is reliable. It has lots of power and transitions nicely. I do not have to fiddle with it when I go flying. Break-in was easy as was initial setup (low idle did need adjustment). Deadsticks are uncommon (happened once; my fault; fuel line had popped off). To me, the price differential was minor (my cost was $100 at LHS). Standard prop is an APC 11x6; fuel is Red Max 10%. For me this engine was a very good choice. Bruce

The Thunder Tiger Pro .46 is outstanding!!

Look for a MECOA ad. They have the K&B line plus they sell MECOA engines. They have a .46 for $69.99 and if you have an old clunker of an engine to send in for a trade in they'll take another $20 off that. $49.99 for a good engine is a deal.

My recommendations based on over 20 years of experience. Not in any particular order.

OS Super Tiger Webra Thunder Tiger Pro

Dr.1

My recommendations based on over 20 years of experience. Not in any particular order.

OS Super Tiger Webra Thunder Tiger Pro

Dr.1

Steve -

Your list didn't include the Webra .50. It should - best sport engine in the class, so not surprising that it's pricey. Well worth it though.

Abel

sleeves. But I hear the Thunder tiger .46 is a good choice . Poking around a bit here's what I've found available...

$110 O.S. 46 ABL AX $65 GMS .47 ABC BB $150 Super Tigre 45 ABC $75 Tower Hobbies .46 ABC BB $75 Magnum XLS .46 A $90 Evolution .46 NT BB $75 Megatech M4 ABC (unk if BB or not) $80 MDS .48 FS Pro (I've heard these called "Mostly Dead Stick")

Any and all comments or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks, Stev

-- freddy warbir

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Thunder Tiger Pro. I have had a few of the other mentioned engines.

Some were good to great runners, some were not. For the price, can no beat the TTP

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" snipped-for-privacy@aol.com" wrote in news:1116395983.865856.243190 @f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

Okay, from my experience -

As others have said, you can't go wrong with the OS. I have a .46AX that's still in the box because the .46FX it was supposed to replace just keeps going and going . . . Unfortunately, of course, the OS is never a bargain.

No personal experience with the GMS; I've heard generally good things about them although evidently there's some concern about how long they last.

ST is good; from what I've seen of the Tower, it looked like a very good deal.

For the Magnums - historically, sometimes you get a great Magnum engine, sometimes you don't. I like their .15s, but the group I was with certainly had mixed experiences with their .40s. If you're going to have only one engine, I probably wouldn't go with the Magnum, but if you're going to have a few, then you can sometimes get great deals on the Magnum engines and it may be worth a try.

No experience with the Evolution or Megatech.

For MDS - very controversial - as the saying goes, "Some swear by them, some swear at them."

Now, there are two missing from your list. First is Thunder Tiger, and I concur with the others about Thunder Tiger; my experience with them has been very good. Of course, they're less common, so parts may be hard to find. Same with some of the others, of course.

Second, I've never had a bad Enya engine. Currently I have an Enya .50SS and it seems to pull as well as my OS .46FX, and the SS isn't even the best Enya. Unfortunately, they're getting harder to find, and they're not bargains, either.

So, if you're flying without much help, then If money isn't a factor, I'd say OS, then TT If money is a factor I'd say Thunder Tiger, then OS anyway. If money is *really* a factor, I'd probably still say Thunder Tiger first, but then ST (you know, Tower has that ST GS.45 ABC engine for $65), then Tower, then Magnum.

Now, if you're flying with a few other guys who have a lot of experience, you're probably better off going with their recommendation. They'll be better at handling engines they know, of course. Otherwise, they'll blame every engine problem on you for picking the obviously wrong engine.

Just my thoughts. Your mileage may vary.

The OS is extremly user friendly and makes good power. A friend has the Evolution and it runs really nice and also has decent power.

I have seen most of the others in action - not quite as reliable - not quite as good quality.

TT Pro .46

I concur with the many retail outlets such as Great Planes/Tower Hobbies own

FWIW Mr. Kaz Mihara.left O.S. soon after Futaba bought the O.S. brand.

regards Alan T. Alan's Hobby, Model & RC Web Links