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Speed,Combat,Scale,Racing => Rat Racing and Team Racing => Topic started by: Balsa Butcher on November 07, 2010, 08:15:50 PM
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I am building a SS Rat as a side project this winter. Is there any consensus as to which of these engines has an advantage over the other or are they pretty much equal? Thanks in advance. The pic is of my current racer, my long-time pit man will not miss hot-starting its Fox .35. 8)
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I've run both and they're both pretty good. Some people will say that the FP is better, but that's just sour grapes 'cus you can still buy a new LA and FP's are an aftermarket item.
If you go with an LA you can still easily get parts from Tower to keep it top notch.
Also, the two engines fit the same mount, so can always swap out later.
In Michigan, Ontario, and Carmichaels, the LA 25 is THE legal engine (at least of the two on your menu).
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Look at the GMS 25 have heard good reports off the west coast about these engines and it probably has the same mount pattern as the other two. y1
Scott
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I beleive in the land down under the Brodak .25 is the engine of choice for racing. H^^
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Thanks for the input all. I think I'll just look around for a good LA or FP 25. I'll post a pic when project is complete. 8)
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Have to agree about the BRODAK. If you have to use the OS, the FP would probably be a better choice than the LA. I believe the FP has a boost port the LA doesn't. The down under stuff is usually "well tweaked" and not really quite kosher for SSR.
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Hi Pete
For the SSR event, I would definitely go with the Brodak .25 with venturi enlarged to 5/16 or .312" and an APC 8x5 Sport Prop. I have used the LA 25, the FP 25 and the Brodak in SSR. The Brodak has it all over the others because it's AAC P/L allows better hot re-starts than the LA and FP's ABN P/L's.
If you do go with the Brodak, break it in with fast 2 cycle runs (not lean) about 10 @30secs each with complete cool down after each. Do NOT break it in running a slobbering rich 4 cycle, this will accelerate wear on the P/L fit, and detract from it's re-starting abilities.
Good Luck with your SSR Project.
Les Akre
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Thanks for that Les, I will definitely consider it. I have had good luck with Brodak 40's. One of our club fliers uses a Brodak .25 as a race engine but it did not seem competitive with the OS engines, however I don't know the venturi size, prop, or how it was broken in. Overall, I'm inclined to go with the FP to start with at least as I have a lot of experience with those engines (35s and 40s anyway) and am familiar with their idiosyncrasies. 8)
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Pete,
The FP runs pretty strong. Paired up with a good plane and good restarts/pitting, you are in the race. The GMS is not legal for NCLRA SSR if it has ball bearings. Go for anything that will give you one flip restarts every time.
Dave "McSlow" Hull
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Thanks for that Les, I will definitely consider it. I have had good luck with Brodak 40's. One of our club fliers uses a Brodak .25 as a race engine but it did not seem competitive with the OS engines, however I don't know the venturi size, prop, or how it was broken in. Overall, I'm inclined to go with the FP to start with at least as I have a lot of experience with those engines (35s and 40s anyway) and am familiar with their idiosyncrasies. 8)
A stock B25 venturi is TINY! The one from the 40 fits right in, but a custom one with a bore of around 5/16 is a good place to start as noted by Les. Ditto on the one flip starts, that's practice. Adding an exhaust prime tube would be desireable, but if attached to the engine, as is routinely done, probably wouldn't be legal.
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Update: Picked up a nice, used FP-25 on "da-bay" for a good price. Shy Fox 'bout 3/4 complete. Thanks for a great design Dave. 8)
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I too have the plans for the Shy-Fox. Need to decide which engine as I have a Fox .25, LA .25 and an FP .25. Now where's the pictures? H^^
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Most likely "runner" of what you have is going to be the FP. However, I do believe that the B25 has all the fast times across the country lately.
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Hey Pete - I'm right there with you, got a SuperFly 1/2 framed in the hotel and a good running .25 FP in the garage back home that will be ready to do battle sometime after Christmas!
You Coming down on Sat for the Meeting / Lunch? Hope to see you there.
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Uhh, not going to be at the meeting tomorrow...you guys have fun. I'll take you up on the after Christmas battle though. 8)
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Hi Pete,
Where do you race?
I fly in Alameda and remember seeing you at our field once. Would you be interested in bringing your gang down to Alameda for some SSR fun?
Anybody who is interested in SSR, Formula Unlimited, or 1/2A or 1cc. racing in the SF Bay area, let's talk.
Randy
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Hey, Randy! How about bringing the SSR and FU to Cabin Fever in March?
Bill
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Hi Bill,
That sounds like a guaranteed good time. I just can't afford the travel right now.
Anyway, when it somes to keeping in top tune, there's no substitute for lots of local racing.
We, BP Racing, sold our best equipment to Adrian Land. He's a candidate for the Cabin Fever.
Randy
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Hey Randy, local now means Albuquerque, and that's 130 miles away. We have competed in the carrier and possibly stunt circles at more than one WAM contest. I used to visit the Alameda circle regularly. My SSR pursuits are strictly "local", you Nor-Cal guys are way too fast for me. %^