For a piped engine, The OS VF series comes to mind, as well as Randy's PA, and Richard's RO engines.

For 4 2 4 runs with current engines under $150.00, Enyas, OS .46, Magnum .36, and TT .42.

For the same kind of run, but costing over $150.00, The Stalker line of stunt engines, Randy's PA engines on a muffler, Richards also on a muffler.

Although they require an intake mod the Saito 30,40,56 & 62 are my favorites. Can be picked up for ~$150.00 new or low time if you watch the RC forums.

ST 46

Well you can't beat the B40 in my book. Unless you can't get one!

I have flown two, one in a Nobler, and the other in a Brodak P40 Arf, and in both cases, the engine provided plenty of power with no big effort on my part.

For the price it is a very good deal. But like I said, I am not sure if you can get one anymore.

you can check ebay, as some guys sell the 40s brand new.  I heard John was going to get the motors made from somebody else, but really don't have a clue beyond that.  I would love it if Brodak came out with a 60 rear exhaust, basically an ST 60 RE, that would be cool

I personally think the PA's are the worlds best stock 2 stroke stunt motors. I also feel that the Saito's are the worlds best 4 stroke stunt motors.

If you had me in a headlock and everything was getting dim pretty fast, I would possibly blurt out ST 46 as the best all time stock stunt motor.

Another real good motor could be the ST 60, which couldbe why that motor has won so many Nats.

Greetings all from a damp Charente in S.W.France.

So.... Which are the best 'stock' , i.e Un-Modified , Engines for stunt ?

   If you limit yourself to stock "consumer" motors (i.e. large production runs from a major manufacturer and available easily), it's a no-brainer - OS40VF. Runs dead-stock, setup is perfectly well-defined and repeatable, performance a match for just about anything in the typical 40-60 sized airplane. It's still the best place to start with piped engines since the setup is bulletproof even if you don't know what you are doing

   Semi-customs (PA, RO-Jett, Retro, Rustler, etc) - I obviously prefer the RO-Jett 61BSE. I can run anything I want and have access to anything I want or might decide to ask for, and that's my choice. I run mine essentially stock, never had either the 2006 NATs motor or the current engine apart or even had the head off. The only thing I have seen that seems a match overall is the David version of the PA75. For 4-2 break motors, the only thing in the ballpark is the Retro 60. It's like an ST60 that runs the way it was claimed to run but never did.

 I have fond memories of other engines like the Fox 35 and the ST46, but there's no way they stand up against any of the others from any objective standard. An Aero-tiger 36 is FAR better than either one, and is better than anything else you can get in that size as a 4-2 break motor. 

     If you don't mind building a small airplane, the 20FP runs as well as any of the others. It's obviously not going to make it in a 40-60 sized airplane, but almost anything that flew well with a Fox will fly better with a 20FP and, once again, the setup is dead simple (do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING aside from bolting it in) and dead repeatable.
 
    Brett

     

Anderson Spitfires, Orwicks, and Super Cyclone's.

If you are into running the pipe set-up, the stock TT .36 (square head) runs great on a Randy small 40 pipe!

BTW, I don't think I ever saw a "stock" ST .60!

W.

In my opinion, if you're going to go into high end competition with two-strokes, Randy Smith's engines are absolutely the best. I have seen many of them run, both the PAs and Aero Tigers and just just seem to perform flawlessly.

If you're into the more classic powerplants for your Nobler, Thunderbird, Ares, Argus and so forth, it's hard to beat the good old Fox 35 and Max-S 35 - completely stock

There are also two outstanding foreign engines that I do not recall being mentioned: The Super Tiger plain bearing baffle piston 35 and the Merco red head 35. Both of these engines are excellent when run stock.

Of course, there are the four-strokes: Again, here's my opinion: The three most important things to rememebr when choosing a four stroke are: SAITO, SAITO, SAITO! Any size - I've run/flown every one from the 30 up to the 91 and they're all great.

Bob Z.

  The Magum GP 42 is still available from Towers at a knock down price. OK you need a venturi and NVA, so the price is comparable to an LA46. I have two and they run much better than the LA46 and in my estimate they are more powerful. You get a far better engineered product that will outlast an LA46. The GP42 is a real wolf in sheep's clothing and only a few people realise this. My thanks to those people for having discovered it!
  The red head (or better still the orange head) Merco 35 and 29. The Mk1 Merco 60 with the light case is also an excellent engine. The ST 60 is a knock off of the original Merco 60!
  A friend of mine raves about the Merco 60 with the ABC liner. This is a Rustler product and uses the later old Merco crankcase. Its both very inexpensive and good! (Don't confuse this with the more expensive Rustler offering). Must get one of these before they are sold out!

Regards,

Andrew.