I searched and found a bit of info on the Fox .40 Stunt Delux, but I'd like a bit more info before I consider it for my recent project.

Anyone using one regularly?

Happy with it?

Pros & Cons.

Charles

If it's the one with the square hole for the venturi it's a vacuum leaking nightmare. The engine needs to be soap bubble tested and seal the leaks before installing it in a plane.

I have one from Lew Woolard that was installed in a Cardinal. It is a great running engine. Plenty of power and a nice 4-2 transition. It's was hard to screw up the run.

Don't expect a new one to run out of the box that way.

Mine doesn't leak and it has the stock gasket.

The LA.46 is a much better engine.

I don't have a Fox, but the LA 46 is certainly a good solid trouble-free engine -- it would be hard to find something better for a beginner pilot.

Lew Woolard is still active. It's hard to get a hold of him at times though.

Are you planning on getting the engine new from Fox?  Have you tried calling Fox to see if they even still have one in stock?  The firm rumor at this point is that Fox is out of the model airplane engine business, at least for the time being.

In stock form, most people here probably would not care for the Fox 40 delux on a CL stunt or sport model.  That's why there are so many recommendations to have a specialist like Lew Woolard rework the engine.  In general, it's still going to be a Fox engine, so expect slightly less refined machine work and finishing, and a longer break-in period before the engine comes into it's own.  I have one of Lew's Silver Fox 40s, a plain bearing lapped steel piston version, it's a good engine and I've used it a bit, but it's still not really broken in.  I would say that if you have to ask, you'd probably be happier with an OS engine.  There's a reason the LA 46 is so popular and the Fox 40 is, well, not so much...

One of the bad things about the Fox is the bench running time required to get it ready to fly. Fuel is kinda $$$ these days, if you haven't noticed. The other problem is whether you have a place to bench run engines without any noise complaints.

The nice thing about the .46LA is that you can generally run one tankful on the ground and fly it for tank #2. If it doesn't hold a steady setting on the 1st round, then reconsider...but I've run 3 NIB and flown the #2 run, one .46LA and two .25LA. Zero problems. After about 10 runs, the fuel consumption should be pretty well stabalized. This is not going to happen with the Fox, for sure.  Steve

A Fox ABC is not an OS ABC.  Fox's ABC piston and liner sets need almost as much work as their lapped steel sets.  I spent two days in the shop recently, cleaning up a Fox Mfg ABC piston and liner set for a Fox .35 stunt.  Out of the package it wouldn't even fit in an NOS Fox case, there were burs and flash on all the edges, and the wristpin clips weren't seated in their grooves.  I like Fox engines as much or more than the next guy, but I try to be realistic.  They're great if you want to tinker, but they're not the best in anything.  You have to have a good reason to use one, like brand loyalty or nostalgia.

Depends what your next project is.

If it is a delta Canard Triplane with a mid mounted pusher engine then no one will question it I am sure!

Chris,

Close buy no cigar. 

Just your typical 54" stunter with a single pushrod off the bellcrank and the use of lucky boxes. Should be called "Magic Boxes."

I set the model up with a OS LA 46.

Already done.

Good job. It really likes the APC 11.5 x 4 prop sometimes the 12.25 x 3.75.

Thanks,

I would like to run a wide three blade.