New kid on the block

[Mark Godfrey]

Hi guys. Building my first stunt model after 40 years of flying control line.
I have decided on a Brodak Sea Hurricane as a first plane because I don't build real pretty like.
The motor I am using is a NIB OS 40 VF that I had laying around and will match it to a 40 size Magic muffler.
Can someone tell me what props the OS likes to turn and on what fuel.
Thanks for your time.
Mark

(I looked but couldn't find a beginners corner to post this in)

[Clint Ormosen]

Hi there, Mark!

You picked a fine model to start stunt with. Simple design that flies very well. With 40 years in the hobby you should no problem fitting the Hurricane together. Lots of good info and people on this site to help you along should you have a question.

About your engine, though. You're sure it's a VF? The 40VF might not be the most suitable choice for a smaller profile stunter. It's been used very successfully in larger models when combined with a header and tuned pipe. It's kinda heavy, too, when compared to some other .35-.46 engines. For your model I'd go with a simpler setup. Fox 35, Brodak 40, and OS 46LA are three that come to mind.

[Howard Rush]

Where do you live, Mark?

[Mark Godfrey]

Thanks Howard.
I have an OS 46 fp or what ever it is.
Thanks for the tip on the motor, I am only using it because I have always wanted to run it.
It will only run a little pipe (magic muffler).
I've had good results with muffler before, I figure I could always go to longer lines if its too fast.

I live in NSW Australia Howard.
A little farming community called Maitland at the bottom of the Hunter Valley, the best wine producing area in Australia.
Cheers
Mark

[Scott Richlen]

Mark:

Make sure you build it light (I know: duh!  It's a stunt-ship!)  But I have a flying buddy who built his a bit over-weight (got carried away with the paint) and he was disappointed with it.  If I remember correctly, the airfoil is a bit thin so the plane needs to be light.

Try to find an OS LA-46 for it.  There isn't a lot required to getting it set up correctly and there is a lot of info on StuntHanger about that.

Scott

[RknRusty]

Hi Mark welcome to StuntHangar. And also to the sport of Stunt, a great exercise in patience and determination. And concentration. It's that last part that challenges me the most. Hope you'll keep us posted on your progress, both with your build and your flying.
Rusty... still looking like a beginner some days, other days there might be hope after all.

[Mike Griffin]

Welcome Mark and hello.

[RC Storick]

Welcome, Any questions just ask many here to answer them

[Motorman]

What kind of CL did you fly for 40 years?



MM

[Geoff Goodworth]

At 480 sq in, is Mark's Hurricane a suitable candidate for an FP 25?

[Mark Godfrey]

Thank you for the welcome guys.
Surely an OS46 LA will be just as powerful as an OS 40 VF?

For 40 years I have been flying racing, mainly Goodyear, Classic B Team Race, Open Rat and a little bit of combat.

In the last couple of months our club has started a club comp where there is 3 events on the one day.
Stunt, Diesel Goodyear and Combat.
You are allowed any model for stunt, a diesel powered GY model that does 27seconds for 10 laps or more and a slow combat model.
You fly the pattern and get scored.
You race and get a time.
You combat and get a placing.

At the end of the day you get 5 points for entering each event and the higher you place the more points you get.
There is a BBQ lunch and a drink all provided for the $6.00 entry fee.
At the end of the year all the points are accumulated and the first 3 fliers receive a prize. This year there are 3 motors up for grabs.

So what we have seen is better mixture of fliers turning up on the day. Instead on one flier like myself just flying racing and going home everyone is having a go at the different disciplines and its a lot of fun.
Watching a Stunt pilot landing a GY model is fun......they make beautiful greasy landing BUT miss the pits by about 3/4 of a lap.
Racing pilots don't make good combat pilots they get used to going in one direction.
Combat pilots test the judges flying the schedule in less than 4 mins.

All in all its a great day out and it brings everyone together.

This why I am now having a go at flying stunt because I have found it quite relaxing.

Cheers guys and thanks for the advice.

Mark

[Tim Wescott]

Surely an OS46 LA will be just as powerful as an OS 40 VF?

I looked on the OS site and couldn't find specifications for the 40VF.  But if you assume that the 40VF is roughly the same performance as the 46AX, then you see that the 46AX (and 46FX for that matter) has 1.65 horsepower (actually pferdstarken, but who's counting languages?) vs. the 46 LA's 1.2 (bhp -- thank you, OS, for being consistent).

So no, an OS 46LA probably isn't as powerful as a 40VF.

More importantly, the OS 46LA is possibly the easiest big stunt engine to use (the 20 FP is easier, but it's little).  Take it out of the box, bolt it on the plane, use it.  Oh -- I forgot the important modifications: DON'T CHANGE NUTHIN'!  (Unless you're just dying to have a conventional needle valve -- then change that).

The important part of a stunt engine's run isn't the maximum power it can develop -- it's when it develops power, and how.  For that, a bone-stock 46LA will do you quite well.

[Brian Massey]

Welcome! I'm sure your plane will be "pretty" enough. As for power, while the LA 46 is a fantastic unit, a stock Brodak 40 is much lighter, and has a great stunt run.

Brian

[Howard Rush]

The .40VF is an extinct and wonderful stunt engine which works with a tuned pipe.  You can sell it for enough to buy several .46 LAs. 

[Tim Wescott]

DON'T CHANGE NUTHIN'!

I overstated that.  You probably want a conventional needle valve, and you may want to mess around with the effective venturi diameter.

If you have a stock OS 46LA, the thing to do is to use the smaller of the two venturis that come with it (if there are two), then add layers of nylon net material to the venturi until the engine run is correct.  Be sure to ask the nice sales lady in the lingerie department which color she thinks will best compliment your eyes.

I agree with Howard.  I was going to try to con you into trading me straight across for one LA 46, but I've never been good at that sort of thing.

[Mark Godfrey]

Thanks guys.
Did I mention it rained here yesterday but I didn't come down in that rain? 
In 40 years I have amassed a few engines, the 40VF still New In Box being one that I have had for about 30 years.
I have a 46 so I will get that out and see what I think.
Maybe keep the 40VF for something a bit bigger.

Thanks.

Mark

[Dane Martin]

At 480 sq in, is Mark's Hurricane a suitable candidate for an FP 25?

i thought about this question also. but as comparison, lots of guys fly ringmasters on a .25 fp or la and that's 380 squares. so at 480, built light, sure. a 25 might be ok. but a 46 can be tuned and the right lineset would probably be pretty neato

[Mark Godfrey]

I am currently flying a Ringmaster with an Enya 29 black plastic sq venturi and that seems to rotate at about the right speed for me on 60ft lines.

[Tim Wescott]

Did I mention it rained here yesterday but I didn't come down in that rain? 

OK, that must be an Australianism.  Whazzit mean?

[Randy Cuberly]

OK, that must be an Australianism.  Whazzit mean?

Tim,
I think it's sorta like saying I didn't just fall off the turnip truck...or I wasn't born yesterday!

I would make a comment about the VF40.  I've owned and used several of them in 650 sq in stunters.  They weigh over 12 oz and for stunt purposes produce .60 size power.

They run in a much higher RPM range than the LA46 or typical conventional stunt engines.  They have much larger ports and much "higher" exhaust port timing than most conventional stunt engines.  They are nearly always used in conjunction with a tuned pipe run in a longer head pipe configuration to act as a sort of tuned "throttle"  Running the pipe longer than conventional tuned pipe arrangements allows the pipe to produce power but regulates the maximum RPM at which it will do so.  The header and pipe also adds anothe 2 to 3 oz of weight to the set-up.  It also requires some knowledge of how to tune the set-up to get the whole thing to work right.  It's not really difficult but does require experience and knowledge to get the thing to work right.

As stated above by several folks, you would probably be far better to use an LA 46 which is a very easy engine to live with and produces very good "stunt" power without any "fiddleing" required.

Also I would recommend a different airplane to get back to flying the pattern...My choice would be a "Pathfinder".  Easy build, great forgiving, easy flier, that is also one of the best of the breed!

Welcome to Stunt Hanger and best of luck in your endeavor.

Randy Cuberly

[Mark Godfrey]

OK, that must be an Australianism.  Whazzit mean?

The saying is, "I didn't come down in the last shower of rain"
It means I am not as gullible as you think I am.

This was in regards to the, "I will swap you an OS 46 for your NIB 40VF.

Cheers
M

[Mark Godfrey]

Thanks Randy.
Every thing you said makes sense to me. I didn't realise that they made that much power. Yes they do weigh in at 330g as compared to 270 for the LA46.
Never heard of a Pathfinder so I will have to look that one up.

Is the Pathfinder a suitable model for the VF40? If not what would be?

Thanks for the info, I will put the 46 in the Hurricane then.

Regards
Mark

[john e. holliday]

I myself have the Brodak Sea Hurricane hanging in the shop.  Power is OS Max .35 with Big Art muffler strap on.  Great combination now that I have the tank mounted in the right position.  Kept going lean on inverted flight.   Like the other warbird series it is a great flier for the design.   I just need to fly it more. 

Build it straight and light plus go with the LA .46.   Prop it to fly to your satisfaction.