"Sorry my post should have read without exception not 'with' exception oops!!. 46LAs have got to be about one of the most flexible basic stunt engine out there. I have 6 of them and all perform the same - excellent just excellent. "
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I've had similar experiences with the LA 46. I currently own 3. Two are in ARF Noblers and one in a Sterling Skylark copy. The newest one (about 8 hours total run time) is a little tighter and slightly more powerful than the other 2, but all run very well.
It is an excellent entry level and general purpose stunt engine and I often recommend it as such to other fliers. I'd even say its a couple of notches above that and can give engines costing 3 or 4 times as much a run for their money!
One feature I really like is the easy starting. One or two finger chokes to prime it, then a few flips and its running. Starting in one or two flips is common. I stooge fly a lot and cannot be unhooking the stooge and inverting the model for starting (I often see this done with some other engines).
One might suspect a strong .46 would be too much for a "Nobler size" model, but it isn't. My benchmark fuel is 7.5% nitro, 10% castor and 10% Klotz (blended Sig fuels) with a Sig GP-003 plug and Zinger 11 X 5 prop. All have the traditional "forward mounted" needle valve assembly. Once I "needle" it, speed can be changed by an increase or decrease in nitro %, often without tweaking the needle. In the Noblers it runs the pattern on a 4.5 oz. tank with many laps to spare.
High quality, reliability, good stunt power, readily available engines and parts, no rework needed and the price is right. What more could you ask for? How about a rear exhaust version with header muffler and built in "stinger" (exhaust diverter) for around $139.50. That would be sooo cool.
I suspect the LA .46 would fly a larger and heavier model competitively and have been "tempted" to try one in an ARF SV-11. Has anyone done that yet (so I don't have to!)? Local fliers have install them in three ARF Scores and I got to fly all of those models once, under ideal conditions. I limited stunts to loops, lazy eights and inverted flight. These were all stock Scores and weighted around 69 +/- 2 ounces. The engine pulled them surprisingly well (on 10% to 15% nitro), though it was probably hitting its limit with the Score. Something in between the Nobler and Score in size and weight should be a perfect match. Regards, EWP
Topic: Legacy 40 and OS 46LA (Read 1877 times)
