Engine recommendations.

Are there any recommendations for a good first engine? I think something in what used to be called a "sport" engine, and stout, because I'll probably do something unthinkable on my first time or two out. Will a .35-.45 size be sufficient for reasonable spirit, and did I mention, economical? (not costing an arm and a leg?) How about used engines,or is that a no-no?? Is there any advantage to an RC engine,like superior carburetion, smoother running,or something else? I just read a book about engines by two British fellows , and they recommended what looked to be a molded rubber finger protector for starting.I'd never seen one before. At the risk of being laughed from the board, it looked like a GOOD idea. I remember, and oooo did it smart!!

You can get a broad variety of suggestions. I have always liked Fox 35's for sport (well, that's sort of a lie -- I have liked them for that use for about 37 years now. When I first started actually flying without constant crashing, I disliked the looks of the Foxes and preferred Green Head Torps. But I was only 11 or 12 then, so what did I know?)

But I don't like small engines for beginning. They are far too temperamental to suit me, and too weak-running. The .09's and .10's are the smallest I can consider fully useful for learning. But slightly bigger planes do fly better than the semi-small ones that are a match to .10's.

Various .20's and .25's made in the image of OS Max engines are available at reasonable cost, and produce roughly the same power as the 29's and 35's of my own youth. But lots of used engines are being sold, and the old type stuff is much closer to what the designers of the available kits had it mind!

(There have been no new kit introductions from a "major producer" in the past 20 years or so of any C-L designs that match to "modern" engine technology. John Brodak and Eric Rule are selling some stunt kits, but those are for the most part planes and designs from the Classic and the Old Time Stunt eras.)

Get a Magnum .20 and a Sig Skyray 35. Both are sturdy & cheap. Get Brodak's catalog. You'll need it. Hobby shops carry very little C-L stuff.

See you on the circles!

(Quoting myself) > You can get a broad variety of suggestions.
>Get a Magnum .20 and a Sig Skyray 35. Both are sturdy & cheap.
>
Or get a Thunder Tiger 20 and a Brodak (CLC) Buster -- or get a Fox 35 with either one of those.

>Get Brodak's catalog. You'll need it. Hobby shops carry very
>little C-L stuff any more.
>
I decided that I should've said this in the first place. For the time being, unless you get it from someone you know personally, you probably should stick with new engines. Buying a used engine could cost you money that ends up being wasted when the purchase doesn't work out for you.
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The K.

When I start an engine I'm not familiar with, I wear a heavy leather glove, which has saved me a lot of blood. I tend to fly one or two engines at a time, so I become very familiar with the engines. Engines only bite if treated badly. I don't wear a glove anymore starting my Old K&B 40's because I've put a couple of thousand flights on them over the last four years or so and I've never been bitten. On the other hand, The other day, I should have had a glove on when my ED Racer that I had flown only 6 or 7 times bit me. Some engines start better by hitting the propeller rather than flipping it, and a glove is a good thing to have on.

If you know about engines, a used engine can be a real good deal. If you don't, get a new engine. Kiwi's comments above are good advice. What ever you get, fiddle with it until it works to suit you, then fly the hound out of it.