Pathfinder Motor

I've managed to get to the "choose motor" part of this plane's plans.
Opinions on the following would be appreciated:
Thunder Tiger Pro 46
HP 40
OS MAX 40 FP
Magnum 40
OS MAX 45 FSR
Magnum Pro 45
Thanks,
Norm

I use an OS LA 46 on my pathfinder. (Mine has a built up fuselage) It flies it nicely. The FP 40 would also work well as some of those other motors you mentioned. I like the 46 in mine, flies it really well.
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/15602f0d/bc/Control+Line+Airplane+pics/__hr_/Pathfinder.jpg?bcKCCj_AJZQ248Zi

If you can get past the sticker shock the RO-JETT 40 with muffler is a good choice.

Don't neglect the HP-40. They are great stunt engines!

By the way, the muffler for the modern Fox .40 fits quite nicely. A
couple local CL ers have been hesitant to fly their HP's because of
no mufflers until Bud Bodzioch showed up with an HP-powered stunter
with the Fox .40 muffler.

Mine is powered by a Randy Smith modified Magnum .40. It's a tad underpowered in the wind, but the thing works so well otherwise that I keep using it. I was entertaining a bigger venturi,. but cannot bring myself to fool with the motor. I have an LA .46 that I really should try, just for giggles.
The Pathfinder is a BIG airplane.....I would err to the side of power.

See Ya

I vote for the La 46. Even if you buy the rc version you can sell the carb, remote needle and muffler on ebay and turn around and buy a venturi and supertigre needle assembly and a good tongue muffler for what you get for the stock items. They run great out of the box.

Ya know, the guy listed motors...I would assume that he HAD them in his inventory and wished to learn which one to use.....not which was the ideal.

I have a Saab and a Chevy..... you guys would certainly suggest a Dodge? Sure, A ROJett would be nifty, or one of Len's .53's, or Randy's AeroTigers. That wasn't the question.

The Magnum that I use is essentially achievable at home, and is similar to the OS .40.

The H.P. might be a great choice....light and powerful. I believe that the FSR is overkill, and have no experience with the Mag. .45.

See Ya

>Don't neglect the HP-40. They are great stunt engines!
>

Depends on which one you have. The Silver Star can probably be run straight out-of-box. The Gold Cup probably needs special handling.

You want a neat run with a PathFinder? Try a stock OS 40 fp, or an La, and get one of Randy Smiths 40 size pipes. With a little jockying, the pipe will mount right to the bottom of the fuse. Set it up starting around 19 inches, and be amazed.

Of course, most Profile 40 contests won't allow a pipe. Wonder why though. On the other hand, a larger engine won't be allowed either.

I have run an OS .40 fp in all but one of the many PathFinders I've had. Most of these engines were slightly modified, but one I had ran well with a smaller venturii, a few extra head gaskets, and an 11-4 prop.

That sounds interesting but what do you use for a header on an LA 40? I thought about trying a pipe on my LA 46 powered profile Cardinal but didnt really know how to mount one on a side mounted engine on a profile.

Thanks

I got the header and pipe from Randy Smith. The header appeared to be about the same as what Macs supplies with their pipes.

The header mounts and heads straight back. There's enough flex in the coupler to allow the pipe mount to be positioned directly under the fuse. I used a Dave Brown pipe mount attached to the fuse.

Really worked well. But I had to take a hit when I entered it in Pro 40.

Saito 40 on my Pathfinder, like it a lot.
Allan Perret

Who doesn't allow pipes on profiles? I've been running piped .32's, .36's & FP .40's since the 1992 Nats! (On profiles) That's like saying you can't run a ST .46 in a nobler!

>Who doesn't allow pipes on profiles? I've been running piped
>.32's, .36's & FP .40's since the 1992 Nats! (On profiles)
>That's like saying you can't run a ST .46 in a nobler!
>
>Ward

Sorry Ward, you may have misunderstood my post. Of course you can run a pipe on a profile, but, several of the contests either have a point penalty, or simply do not allow pipes in the Profile 40 event.

Why this is done has often mistified me as I see the profile with a pipe as the best entry to tuned pipes available for pilots who want to try them out. I suppose that the desire is to keep the event simple, but with some of the competitors who fly the event nowadays, it's not really always geared to low timers. Allowing pipes might allow a low timer to get a better engine run that would boost him up the ladder.

Hope this clears up what I meant in my earlier post. I've found that a relativly stock fp and a pipe make a great combo on a profile.

Norm
I cut a half inch off the nose of my Pathfinder and installed a Saito 50. Very happy with it
Willis