engine for ARF Super Clown

[Steve Kientz]

My nephew(11 yrs old) won a ARF Super Clown in a giveaway at our flying field last summer. He hasn't flown other than 1/2a (a few times).Would a OS 15 LAS power this plane? I know it recommends .19 to .35 but it needs to be docile as possible to start with.i have a .25 for later once he has some confidence.

Thanks
Steve

[Joe Messinger]

I don't have a Super Clown but upon my "reentry" to CL flying about three years ago, I tried a Ringmaster powered by an Enya .19.  I struggled trying to control the plane.  Because of the lack of adequate speed and power the plane was difficult to handle.  Any breeze caused the Ringmaster to flutter and line tension was poor.  Basic maneuvers like wing overs and inside loops resulted in, at least, partial stalls.

I replaced the .19 with a Brodak .25.  The plane was much easier to fly and my learning curve improved dramatically.  With 57' lines, a 9X5 prop and a needle setting on the rich side, the plane was not uncomfortably fast and flew much better.  After that, I switched to a 9X6 prop, leaned out the engine run and the plane performed basic maneuvers quite well.

Just my opinion but I believe an under powered plane is more difficult to fly. 

Joe

[Steve Kientz]

Thanks Joe. i was leaning towards a .25(GMS),but didn't want to get him in over his head.i have a Skyray 35 with a GMS .25 (running rich ,10x4 prop) that is enough for me ,but our c/l veterans at our field still make it look easy.

[Bob Zambelli]

Steve - the Brodak .25 is a great engine for the Clown.

Simple, easy to use and backed up by an excellent warrantee.

So far, everyone I know who has tried one really likes it.

Bob Z.

[john e. holliday]

As stated go with the 25 size engine.  You can control speed with the prop and needle valve.  My grandaughter has taken over my Brodak Mauler with Brodak 25.  She was flying my ARF Flite Streak with LA 25.  I have even let her have the handle on my bigger planes also.  Her sister has soloed on a Flying Clown with Fox 15.  One step grand son has flown our Class II Goodyear after getting quite good with a 1/2A Mouse Racer.  If you son is not afraid of the airplane let him try it.   DOC Holliday

[Ken Deboy]

Steve, Joe is correct. Underpowered airplanes are harder to fly. I relpaced the LA 25 on my Skyray with a smaller engine. Before the engine swap the plane could fly most of the pattern (but not with me on the handle ), lap times about 4.9 - 5 seconds, pretty comfortable. After swapping to the smaller engine, plane wouldn't ROG so had to be hand launched, even mild climbs and dives were scary, had to concentrate just to keep it flying straight and level, 6 second lap times. I think you'll be much happier with a 25.

cheers,
Ken

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi

I recently built a Super Clown kit and put an OS 25LAS in it.  I ended up using a 10x5 wood prop with 55' lines. It flies great, not too fast and doesnt pull too hard.  My daughter Kayla (a 13 year old) flies it no worries. As others have mentioned, you can control the speed using prop size and pitch as well as running the engine rich.

Cheers

[Louis Rankin]

Brodak 25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Oh yer I meant to say also, if I had the money I would buy a Brodak .25 and use it instead of an OS 25 LA.  The Brodak is obviously a much better engine. :-) I only paid about $30 for the OS 25 off ebay. Brodak 25s are around $100

[Joe Messinger]

The Brodak .25 is a great, sweet running engine.  OS .25 engines are fine but the Brodak .25 was built from the beginning as a CL engine. It takes a little time to break a new one in but once that's done it performs wonderfully.

Brodak has a new plane in the works (Cardinette) which is a smaller version of the Cardinal. Bob Z. did the design work on the plane.  I saw Bob fly the prototype with a Brodak .25 and it was quite impressive!

Brodak .25 engines are in stock and are available now.  Hopefully, the Brodak .40 engines will be back in production soon.

Regards,

Joe

[brucefinley]

Don't buy the Brodak .25.  I already have one and want to get more!!!!!!!!!!!!!  More for me!

[Bob Reeves]

  Kinda have to forgive all the guys that are touting the Brodak 25. Bad part is once you do get one and run it you will find yourself telling others "get a Brodak 25"..

[Roger Vizioli]

What Bob R. said!    

[john e. holliday]

I was going to say go to the bay.  There have been several brand new ones on there.  But, then again don't go there as then I won't get them at starting bid.  But, in reaality there are a lot of good 25 size engines out there.  You just have to learn to run them.  I still say anybody that can make a Fox run can run anything.  DOC Holliday

[Warren Leadbeatter]

The "Cardinette" sounds interesting... can you tell us more?  When is it coming out?

[Joe Messinger]

Warren,

I sent you a PM but in case others are interested:  I'm not sure just when the Cardinette will be available.  Bob Zambelli will know the particulars. Perhaps he will respond if he sees the question.

The prototype has a built up fuselage and, I assume, the production model will be a built up fuselage also.

Joe

[Phil Bare]

I was going to say go to the bay.  There have been several brand new ones on there.  But, then again don't go there as then I won't get them at starting bid.  But, in reaality there are a lot of good 25 size engines out there.  You just have to learn to run them.  I still say anybody that can make a Fox run can run anything.  DOC Holliday

Phil thinks..........ya just gotta be smarter n a Fox..........:-)  I have bunches of Fox engines and they all run well.... Fox .25 on my FS arf is perfect....Building a Tarus for an Eagle 3....Fox .25 on my Ringmaster is great, building a bipe called the Hot Foot for a Fox .59........ But I also have Forsters, McCoys, Vecos, K&Bs, Enyas, OSs, Irvins,, STs, and O & Rs.......OK Cubs Cox and a Magnum.....:-) If it has compression and fuel, it,ll run when ya put the fire too it.....except for maybe a GHQ..... but there is even a guy making pistons for GHQs so mebbe even they will run now days..
But no matter what engine one happens to have, learn its traits and run it with in its parameters and it will do what it was made to do.........even those heavy and overly expensive 4 strokers......

[Steve Kientz]

Thanks for all the advice. I ordered a GMS .25 Sunday(along with 2 GMS .32 for myself).Am sure the Brodaks are great engines,but some of our club memebers have experience with the GMS(R/C fliers).
Steve

[Bob Disharoon]

Anyone mention an older fox 35?....cheep on the bay