Stalker Update – October 2016

     I’ve now been flying Stalker engines for about a year.  Below are my experiences and recommendations so far:

Stalker 40RE – I have this engine in my Stilares, which is essentially a reworked Nobler, which I designed in 1976, and was published in Model Airplane News in April ’77.  The original had a Fox .35.  This one weighs 45 ounces.
     The Stalker .40RE required a couple of .010” head shims to soften the power – the 2 cycle “break” was too strong!  The propeller is an 11 x 5 Brodak cut down to 10 1/4 inches.  It has always been run on 5% nitro Sig Champion fuel.
     This is a very clean, low-drag design, so it is/was essentially over-powered with a stock Stalker .40RE.  Conclusion – the engine can carry much more airplane, say up to 50 ounces and 600 plus square inches.  Very classic 4-2-4 run quality.

Stalker .46SE – I first put one of these on my 53 ounce, 575 square inch P-51C Profile designed by Pat Johnston.  Previous engine was a Double Star .54 turning a 12 x 6 Brodak prop.  This combination won many Profile events over a three year period.
     The Stalker .46SE was mounted by drilling new mounting holes and using threaded inserts.  With a tongue muffler (Brodak/Big Art muffler for an OS .35S) the balance point remained the same.  The tank is a 6 ounce Sullivan plastic, set up with two clunks, one for the feed, a shorter one for Uniflow venting.  The prop was the same Brodak 12 x 6 as used on the Double Star.
     The .46SE pulls the plane at the same power level as the Double Star .54.  There is, however, an “outside burp” on wingover pullouts and at the bottom of an outside square loop.  It keeps on running, but was a little unnerving on that first wingover!  I’ve learned to ignore it, and won Profile at the Spring Huntersville, N.C. meet in this configuration.
     I also have a Stalker .46SE in my 48 ounce Nakke (600 square inches) Classic model.  Based on my experience with the Stalker .40RE, I first added a couple of head shims to the .46.  Flying proved that this softened the power too much above 45 degrees, so they were removed.
Depending on the temperature, I’ve run both 5% and 10% nitro with excellent results.  Most recently, I won Nostalgia and Classic at the 85 degree Baton Rouge/Zachery, LA. Meet using 10% nitro Sig 4-stroke fuel (18% all synthetic oil) with an 11 x 6 Brodak prop.  I’m not finished trying props, and I felt the 11 x 6 didn’t load the engine quite enough.  I will try cut-down 12 x 6 props next.  The muffler is a Brodak/Big Art tongue with the holes drilled to 1/8 inch.  The plane would be nose heavy with the stock tube muffler, even though it is quite light.
Conclusion:  The Stalker .46SE is better on a non-profile model, but acceptable on a profile.  Power is on par, at least, with a Super Tigre .46 or an OS Max LA .46, with a very traditional run.

Stalker .76SE - I have this in an enlarged Stilares “look-alike” at 700 square inches and 70 ounces.  I’ve only just now started working with this one.  The prop is a Bolly (or Eather) four-blade 12 x 6 which pitches out true at 5 1/2 inches.  The lines are 65 feet, 018”.  The stock muffler is being used as it balances the plane properly.  Stock head spacing.  Fuel, so far, is 5% nitro Sig Champion as I cannot get a 5% nitro, full synthetic fuel.
     The engine pulls the plane effortlessly.  It takes a little under 7 ounces of fuel for the pattern.  The tank is an 8 ounce round Sullivan plastic set up “two clunk” style.
     I’m using the 4 blade props because the plane wouldn’t “look right” with taller landing gear.
Conclusion: Like the other engines, it has a classic 4-2-4 run quality.  Also, using the stock muffler, and 4 blade prop, it is very quiet for an engine this size.  I have no doubt the rear exhaust version would run exactly the same, and not have the muffler hanging out in the breeze.  If you need brute power, either .76 is a great choice.

Late Breaking News: Stalker has agreed to build .40 and .51side exhaust engines if there is enough interest.  These two engines, along with the .46, cover nearly all Classic and Nostalgia/70’s era designs with no need to modify for rear exhaust.

One other note: Use the “first digit” of the engine size as a guide for the tank size, IE, 4 ounces for the .40, 5 ounces for the .51, 6 ounces for the .61’s, and 7 ounces for the .76/.81, then add another 1/2 ounce for safety margin.  

 For additional information or if you wish to express your interest, you may contact Tom at 770 592-3279 or by mail at 315 Santa Anita Avenue, Woodstock, GA 30189, USA
                    
                                                                                                    

How does the muffler/header attach to the engine on the 40 RE.  A buddy of mine picked up one at Huntersville this weekend but is puzzled by the header/muffler setup.

Whereas the 51 screws on ( before nailing in the engine ) and wants a dowl from the rear bulkhead to catch the ole at the back, of the muffler .



Repeated 'G's might do something , if its not restrained, if youve got tight bottoms in the squares . 6 BA bolts are inadequate for a
S Tigre Silent Muffler . therefore and thus , the receptical in the rear of the muffler is for a restraint .On the Stalker .

So the RE 40 also requires a dowel from the rear former of the engine compartment to hold the muffler in position?

This is what I did on my Olympic/Stalker51.  Get rubber grommet to fit the muffler's rear stub.  Make aluminum bracket to fit the grommet from angle stock.

Maybe because he uses less muffler restriction?