What is this engine good for??

[Jim Oliver]

Hey guys,

I find myself with a NIB Norvel AME .15 control line engine.

What's it good for---besides maybe a small race plane???

Thanks,
Jim

[Leester]

Brodak has the Flite Streak Trainer,Jr. Lightining Streak,Flying Clown,Circus Prince and get another one for the twin engine F7F Grumman Tigercat.

[Brett Buck]

Hey guys,

I find myself with a NIB Norvel AME .15 control line engine.

   

     It would probably be very good for a Ringmaster (full-sized). 8.5-4 prop or so, 58-60 foot lines.

      Brett

[Clint Ormosen]

   

     It would probably be very good for a Ringmaster (full-sized). 8.5-4 prop or so, 58-60 foot lines.

      Brett

........but don't build that Ringmaster from a Sterling kit, otherwise all you're going to have is a winged tether car.

[Brett Buck]

........but don't build that Ringmaster from a Sterling kit, otherwise all you're going to have is a winged tether car.

   I don't know about that. We (my hot-shot buddies and I) used to think the same thing.  But  the triggering incident in the "small stock engine" experiment was a guy showing up at the old Napa field with a box-stock kit Ringmaster, complete with full opaque dope finish, powered by a 15FP. After getting the handle set to give about +-15 degrees elevator motion with full up and down wrist motion, it flew just fine. In fact it was so good that David and I both agreed it was the best-flying Ringmaster we had ever flown. Full patterns in decent wind were no problem, and the controllability was excellent. In fact, this was one of the few Ringmasters around here that David *hasn't* crashed at some point.  It was miraculously better than any Fox 29/OS30/Fox 35 powered Ring I had flown up to that point. Far from perfect, but way better than average.

    As far as I can tell, a modern pretty strong 15 is the prime choice for a Ringmaster. A Veco 19 or 20FP will work, but you have to continually fight the tendency to excess speed. With the 15, you just crank it up and let it go, and it will be brik but flyable, and can't run away because it's already pegged out. Making it lighter will certainly help but even a stocker can fly reasonably well with a strong 15. An LA is probably not enough to make it work, but the Norvel ought to be pretty strong.

    Brett

[Neal Beekman]

ARF Flite Streak , Mine flies great on 52' lines. Or a real light Ringmaster.

[Terry Bolin]

Don't miss a good chance! Build a Jr. Nobler and you won't be sorry!
Terry

[wwwarbird]

Brodak Super Clown, with flaps.

[Ward Van Duzer]

Years ago when I came back to the hobby, I bought an airplane from Dick Sarpolus called "The Pretender". It was (I believe larger than a Ring), A full flapped profile powered by a Fox .19. The referance was to an airplane that pretended to be a full sized .35 stunter. I flew the pants off that thing for years with that old .19. I believe I have seen Black Hawk, or some such other company with a kit of it.

W.

[George]

Peacemaker...either one.

George

[Clint Ormosen]

   I don't know about that. We (my hot-shot buddies and I) used to think the same thing.  But  the triggering incident in the "small stock engine" experiment was a guy showing up at the old Napa field with a box-stock kit Ringmaster, complete with full opaque dope finish, powered by a 15FP. After getting the handle set to give about +-15 degrees elevator motion with full up and down wrist motion, it flew just fine. In fact it was so good that David and I both agreed it was the best-flying Ringmaster we had ever flown. Full patterns in decent wind were no problem, and the controllability was excellent. In fact, this was one of the few Ringmasters around here that David *hasn't* crashed at some point.  It was miraculously better than any Fox 29/OS30/Fox 35 powered Ring I had flown up to that point. Far from perfect, but way better than average.

    As far as I can tell, a modern pretty strong 15 is the prime choice for a Ringmaster. A Veco 19 or 20FP will work, but you have to continually fight the tendency to excess speed. With the 15, you just crank it up and let it go, and it will be brik but flyable, and can't run away because it's already pegged out. Making it lighter will certainly help but even a stocker can fly reasonably well with a strong 15. An LA is probably not enough to make it work, but the Norvel ought to be pretty strong.

    Brett

You might be right. In my life I've built only two Ringmasters (three if you count the Jr. version). The first one was built when I was about 14. In those days I only owned three engines, a Fox 35, McCoy 19RH, and an OS 20-S. I elected to put the OS 20 on the Ring thinking that it was the way to go. The plane barely got off the ground after a 3/4 lap rollout. It would sustain level flight but nothing over about 20 ft. That's all it would do. Prop was probably a 9-4 plastic TF. Don't know about the weight of the plane but it was a stock Sterling kit built with Ambroid, MonoKote wings, and doped fuse and tail (no silkspan). I destroyed the model forcing it into a loop. That same OS 20 was great power for a Jr Flite Streak.
 That Norvel 15 has more power than my OS did, but I'm still a little wary about small engines on Sterling Rings. I just didn't want Jim to be in the same boat I was.

[Jim Oliver]

Best used for class A free flight on a Midi Pearl. Send it to me and I'll demonstrate it for you. 

Ty,

You're on------
What's your address?

Jim

[Bill Ervin]

Jim, if you're in the mood to tinker with something out of the ordinary the Norvel 15 is considered by some of the diesel guys as one of the best candidates for conversion.  Some guys over at RCU are even doing successful experiments using NO ether fuel mixes.  Warning, this is a SUPER long thread but it also includes some interesting links to videos on Youtube showing this particular engine running on, among other things, vegetable oil.  Kinda neat stuff but, like I said, you'll have to be in a tinkering mood.

 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4561055/tm.htm

Bill

[Brett Buck]

That Norvel 15 has more power than my OS did, but I'm still a little wary about small engines on Sterling Rings. I just didn't want Jim to be in the same boat I was.

    Oh, of course. I understand the concern. I had a OS-20-s and 25-s (20-s was my first new "big" engine) and they weren't nearly as strong as a Fox 35. Without having tested it personally, I have no idea of the Norvel is as strong as a 15FP, but I suspect they are in the same ballpark. If it will get 11,000 RPM in a wet 2 and an 8.5-4 or 9-4 APC it will fly a Ringmaster pretty well. My comment was just that the idea of a 15 in a Ringmaster is not intrinsically unworkable. A Fox 15 slantplug, no way, a 15FP = nearly a best case, and probably my preferred choice.

     Brett

[dave siegler]

This is easy, get a russian F2D airplane and put it on that.  I will be a little slower than a real F2d but buckets of fun.  F2d RTF is about $50.

Dave

[Leonard Rennick]

I have to agree with Dave I have several of these combinations. This is a hard combination to beat for pure fun. Engine is easy to start, 1 to 2 flips is normal the ARF F2D's are almost indestructible.

Leonard

[Jim Oliver]

Thanks for all the replies.

Ty Marcucci is the new owner; he will demonstrate this fine engine on a free flight model.

Jim 

[Clint Ormosen]

    Oh, of course. I understand the concern. I had a OS-20-s and 25-s (20-s was my first new "big" engine) and they weren't nearly as strong as a Fox 35.

     Brett

That's funny. The OS 20-s was my first new "big" engine as well. Still have it too.