Jason Merkle
Senior Heliman
Location: Champaign, IL
| Domlou -
Yes, there will be a Quick-E electric version! The prototype is in the works, and they should have it flying between March and May I believe. Irwin at HHI told me that so its definitely gonna be happening 
As for a .21, why? I have a LOT of experience with RC car engines - more than I care to admit - from working at a hobby shop for the last 5 years which sells mostly RC cars (I dont like cars, but I get stuck working on them...). The craze is take a T-Maxx with a .15 and add a .21, or 24.7 or whatever they do. I did that - a conversion and put an OS .21 RG in place of the wimpy .15 the T-Maxx used to come with. the result? The same top speed, but more bottom end torque. Not even more midrange, just more bottom end. LOTS more fuel consumption, er, and lots more broken tranny parts
Ive seen just about every make and model of a .21 in various cars. The ONLY truly powerful ones are the RB and Sirio engines as Anthony has suggested. For $300+ a pop, I dont think so! No to mention, the power/torque band on these motors is STILL not good for a heli!
Did you guys know JR makes a drag heli built for the top-of-the-line OS .21 car motor? One of our locals has it and it rips!!! But, if you try to use a throttle curve and fly aerobatics, youre wasting your time. It simply is NOT goog for anything other than spooling up to full speed and ripping!
The .15CV line of engines is different. For those who dont know, the .15CV IS a car engine. They simply added a remote needle, different carb and smaller head and now there is an airplane version LUCKILY, the .15CV engines DO have excellent upper end ranges in power - and STILL carry a lot of low end punch! By far, its one of the best overall engines in its class for power, weight, reliability and parts support. They designed the heli around this engine, and it was one of the best choices they could make!
If you put a .21 in this heli, I doubt youd ever get it to run right. A .21 need nearly twice the cooling, and I dont think there is THAT much room for a large cooling fan and shroud - let alone the room to fit most of the .21s. Have you guys seen the size difference of a .21 to most .12/.15 car engines? Some "small block" .21s might fit, but they ALL are wimps and dogs. Most car engine brands (OFNA, SH, XTM, etc) that have these small and big block .21s have HORRIBLE reputations for being finicky, running hot, etc, etc. Some of the cheaper and wimpier ones run well, but you dont have the balls.
As for an engine upgrade - I think the new 2.5CC (Basically a .15) engine from the T-Maxx and other Traxxas cars is the ticket! Even MORE power than the OS .15, but it still have bottom end, mid range and top end performance that blows away the competition. Theyve only been out a few months, but every one Ive seen is POWERFUL, easy to tune and stayed consistent. If you chopped down the tall car engine head a bit, there is no reason why it wouldnt fit in place of the OS .15
Jason |
But something to defitnetly look forward to buying..
