Is this a good combo?

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

I have a Sig Akromaster and a McCoy .19  My wife wants a trainer/fun flier and Iwas wondering if this was a good combo for that.  I don't want her turning too fast as she has a bad back.  Any help, as always, greatly appreciated.

[Russell Shaffer]

I flew one with a Fox 19.  You need to do something to prevent extreme nose heaviness.  With a 9-4 prop and 60 foot lines it won't be too bad.  I would also go with the extended wing option - my 19 powered one was built to the plans and could have used some help. It didn't really have a takeoff run, just jumped into the air. 

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

So the McCoy .19 will make it to fast/squirrelly for learning then?

[Terrence Durrill]

I have a Sig Akromaster which was given to me several years ago by a mother who was cleaning out her son's room after he went off to college.  It was originally built 15 or 20 years ago and was in bad shape (and no engine or tank).  The rudder was replaced (since it was gone) and I installed a balsa canopy.  I recovered it with red transparent Monokote and rebuilt the front end.  Luckily, the original builder had choosen the extended wing option, which I would have done myself.  This particular airplane is extremely light and I will be flying it with an almost new Fox .15x which I got off of Ebay (in fact, I have 8 of them from Ebay).  The lines will be .012 and 52 feet long.  I am also using a standard Perfect 2 oz tank, and a Master Airscrew 8/4 prop.  Fuel will be 10% nitro/29% castor oil.  Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to fly it yet, so no flight report is available.......I think this is a good combination and expect good results.  Oh yeah, I have two more Sig Akromaster kits on the shelf,..............just in case!.......TDurrill      

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

Please let me know how she does.

[Bob Kruger]

So the McCoy .19 will make it to fast/squirrelly for learning then?

Actually, it will make it nose heavy, which will "deaden" the controls.  Not necessarily a bad thing if you are a beginner flyer. 

The old magic combination for me years ago with the Akromaster was the plain bearing OS Max 15 or the really old Fox 15 running an 8-4 or 8-5 on a ragged two stroke using 52' lines.  I would bet that the now discontinued (but can still be found) OS FL 10 would also be a good fit, and with much less vibration due to its ABN piston/sleeve construction.

Bob

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

You know, now that you guys mention it, I had a friend years ago that had one with an old slant plug Fox .15.  I guess I got to start saving my pennies again! LOL  How much are old Fox .15's going for these days?  And no....I won't use ebay....burned once, twice shy.

[Chucky]

IMHO, the Sig Akromaster's, as kitted, is small for a .15.  One of the best flying one's I've seen was built by a friend who kept the stock moments and wing size, made the flaps active, and powers it with an OS FP .09 with no muffler.  It's a very capable stunter that turns on a time.  Opinions vary on the need for active flaps, but I've not seen one that turns better.  The McCoy .19 is probably way too much motor for for this little plane due to its weight.  If SIG didn't use such heavy wood in their kits, this one could easily be powered with an .061.  Despite the lack of a muffler, I'd expect it to come out severly nose heavy with a .19.  A much better plane for your McCoy would be a GMA Peacemaker profile.  Easy to build and actually built for this size motor.  Unfortunately,  there aren't many true .19 size models in production today and you'd probably have to build the Peacemaker from plans.

[Steve Helmick]

How about a "Fancherized Akromaster"? Extend the wing (use the spars, LE & TE at full length instead of trimmed, and add a few ribs) and extend the tail moment 2". Fixed flaps should be fine.

Remember that speed can be adjusted best with propeller pitch and diameter. Pitch adjusts speed, while diameter adjusts load on the engine. When I had a McCoy RH .19, early in high skool, I liked a Tornado 9-4 on it. A Master Airscrewed 9-4 or 10-4 might work ok, but the 10" may need trimming the diameter some.

How's the snow?   Steve

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

Hey Steve....snow is doing fine, 2 feet deep and hard packed! LOL  Should be flying by the middle of May.

[George]

Glenn,

In my opinion it is not a good match for your intended purpose. If I remember correctly, plans for the Akromaster show a slant plug Fox .15 with no muffler. Something of that power and weight category would be fine. Vintage engines of that era include the baffle Fox .15, Enya .15, steel fin Max .15 (I, II, or III), etc.

The last Akromaster I built had a TT .10 (w/muffler) and I built it with extended wings.

If you want to use the McCoy .19, you might consider putting it in a Skyray 35 or Flite Streak and flying it on 52' X .012 lines.

I'm not sure if there are kits available, but as someone mentioned, the profile Peacemaker would be an ideal match. It's similar to and sized between the Flite Streak and the Flite Streak Jr.

Good luck whichever way you decide.

George

[john e. holliday]

Go with the McCoy .19 unless you have something else.  Move it back on the fuse a little by notching it out a little.  For learning you want a small tank any way.   A low pitch prop and slightly rich setting will get her going.   My oldest Daughter built her Akromaster and I let her use my Medallion .15 with 1 ounce tank.  She hasn't flown it in years.  It is built box stock with Monokote covering.  I sprayed the epoxy on the fuse for her. 

[Russell Shaffer]

Yes, do set the 19 back as far as you can.

[kenneth cook]

           I was given a Akromaster that had a Mccoy.19 installed in it. The fuse was stock and the engine was placed normally within it. All in all it flew quite well. It had 1 ounce of tailweight on the back of the fuse. I had another with a Enya.15 on it as well. I think both of those engines weigh about the same due to the Enya muffler. The Mccoy flew the plane much better. The Mccoy .19 is just one loud engine though. I was using a 8x6 Master Airscrew on the Mccoy which is why I felt the plane flew better as opposed to the 7x6 on the Enya. The Enya didn't like a 8 inch prop. The plane wasn't fast at all as most would think it would be. The plane just flew a nice steady run and is quite aerobatic. I believe its just too heavy but it did work and well. The main drawback is that the Mccoy has a wide beam spacing , so if you decide to go with a smaller powerplant your going to have to do some surgery. Ken

[Bill Little]

Hi Glenn,

At first glance I would say NO to the McCoy .19, the Akromaster would be a better plane with a smaller engine. 

BUT!  Use the LE and TE at full length (you have to cut them down per the plans, but don't) and put the McCoy .19 on it.  Why? Because the plane my oldest son first looped, did lazy 8s, and flew inverted was an Akromaster with a McCoy .19.  I saw Tommy Luper fly a pretty darn good, complete, pattern with the same plane.  Plus, you already HAVE the McCoy .19.  Run it on the rich side with plenty of castor, of course, and a 9-4 or 9-5 prop.  It's kinda like putting a PA .75 in a Trivial Pursuit (which is done all the  time).

Big Bear

[DanielGelinas]

Hi all,

I ordered an acromaster from sshobbies a few months ago for the brodak .15.
From what I read afterwards, on the forums, was to get a bigger plane for the B15, or, get a smaller engine for the akro.
So I bought a ringmaster 307 from Pat Johnston for the B15...And...I got a OSLA.10 for the akro, which I plan to use w/o the muffler. The LA.10 is just about as heavy as the B15
Anyways, has anyone had any experience running the LA.10 w/o muffler? Any issues running modern engines w/o the muffler, apart from noise

Thanks,

-Danny 

[john e. holliday]

Leave the muffler on the engine.   Your ears and neighbors will thank you for it.