Large Model Association Forum

hi all

what are your thoughts on MVVS engines and bravheart engines ?

i have the possibility to own a 116cc mvvs or a braveheart 100cc?

thoughts please?

Have you Lost your last doorstop of the mackay, or do you have a bigger door to hold open......
Hope some one will tell you what they are like. One thing that I have always found, buy cheap and is probably not at good as a well know make. But you pay your money and take your choice
You could at least show us a photo of each so we can decide how bigger door they will hold open.

There is plenty of info out there, do some research, and form your own opinion,

After all the browsing of this and other forums, you still look at cheap and nasty engines as if they are the Holy Grail?
Job one: Put a Zenoah into that Greenley you have and learn to fly it until you are good enough to pass a Proficiency test.
Job two: I shall tell you about that one when you have done Job one.....

Bob Thompson1894 wrote:Job one: Put a Zenoah into that Greenley you have and learn to fly it until you are good enough to pass a Proficiency test.

heres your starting point Richard, then job two onwards, 'ZENOAH'. I've had a few cheep engines, done two dead stick landings at a major airshow within 5 minutes of each other, then put a Zenoah in the model after that.

In 20 years of running petrol engines, I have used 1 make of engine in models I have built for myself.......ZENOAH.

In all this time, how many dead sticks have I had?..........TWO (in 20 yrs of flying!!!!)

Cause of #1 - loose cylinder head bolt & blown head gasket. My fault for not carefully balancing the prop.

Cause of #2 - ran out of fuel in a fighter/bomber slot at Cosford 3-4 yrs ago after 25mins flat out on a ZG45 which drank a 32oz tank dry.

......they are by no means the most expensive engine out there. DA's and 3W etc.... are far more expensive, but they are different beasts offering more serious performance. For the models you're talking about, you don't need top end performance, you need user friendliness & reliability.......one make of engine will give you this year after year after year.

Buy cheap, buy twice.........you spends your money, you take your chances.

Richard I think it's time you listened to members with far more experience - like Phil I have run Zenoahs for over 20 years and there is no question for ease of handling ,reliability and robust construction there is no better engine.
Cheap alternatives are likely to lose you an airframe and possibly a lot more - go Zenoah and get some experience in.

My two pennorth

Pete

When you're having a walk along the flight line at any of the shows you go to just take notice of what engines are the most used, then base your choice on the answer you get.

Here is a piccie......

Well guys, while zenoha are fairly bullet proof, the question has not been answered, The engines Richard mentions, are certainly, from research i have done, are not too be dismissed lightly, Don your research Richard, i did,

Can I make a suggestion Richard, rather than buy one of the engines that you mentioned at the begining of this thread, go out and buy Daves yellow submarine, borrow the zenoah out of it to put into your greenly with a fairly fine pitch prop so as not to go too fast, fly the ass off it untill you can pass a proficency test then put the engine back into the yellow submarine and progress onto low wingers. Just my thoughts and cheeper than the engines you mentioned earlier.

hi all
thanks for the insight and yes zenoha are the bees nees and what most lma member would use

i ask the question about these engines stated, because i was wondering what

mvvs engines cheap no way they sell retail for nearly 1k, at that price i am up with the mid top range of engine, and the one i was being offered was £450 with little air time,

i was after alternative option and if anyone had own one, and had issue,

as alan said no one has answer the question just and yes alan i done my research so many different opinions be no real answers on issue found.

paul needham wrote:Can I make a suggestion Richard, rather than buy one of the engines that you mentioned at the begining of this thread, go out and buy Daves yellow submarine, borrow the zenoah out of it to put into your greenly with a fairly fine pitch prop so as not to go too fast, fly the ass off it untill you can pass a proficency test then put the engine back into the yellow submarine and progress onto low wingers. Just my thoughts and cheeper than the engines you mentioned earlier.

t240 on the build table

t180 nearly complete just got the electrics to sort

thanks paul for your comments

as i have said many times before, i prefer to build and let others fly for the time being

that is changing this year as join melton model club and there training scheme

i am also flying at middlwich club while i am living in crewe,

i get to field one or twice a week and fly for hr with the guys there

There is no disputing the legendary robustness of Zenoah converted weed whacker/ chainsaw engines even though I'm experiencing issues with two 38's and a 74 twin but I'm almost shocked at the negative attitude being directed towards the influx of affordable cheap and cheerful Chinese engine offerings. I've been thrashing the preverbial tits off a pair of CRRC Gf26 in my twin Otter for 5 years and counting now and the little buggers just keep coming back for more. I also have one in my Nieuport which has been through hell and back and flown a lifetime worth in just one season and that little CRRC engine has never missed a beat and the same goes for my CRRC GF26 powered DR1. I'm also running a pair of CRRC GF50i in my new OV Bronco and one in my Bigwig and I now also run the new cheapo Chinese AGM 30's which have thus far also proven to be as reliable and easy to start as any other electronic ignition equipped motor and I do ask a lot from my motors.

Although I like Zenoah engines for their general reliability and brutal simplicity I still think they very over priced for what is basically a converted weed whacker/ chainsaw engine.

In my experience the longevity of any petrol engine is more often determined by how soon and how hard it and the model it is strapped to eventually hits the deck or how little the model is actually flown rather length of service. Hard ground or tarmac shows no favour to either a Zenoah or Chinese motor but bearing in mind that we can buy almost three AGM 30 engines for the price of just one Zenoah G38 then I for one remain an adversary for these little Chinese gems. They really have opened up a whole new world of affordability, possibilites and accessibility to us all...So what shall we slag off next, oh I know, lets rubbish the influx of very affordable and also very well equipped Chinese radio control systems such as Turnigy X9R that are now giving Futaba and JR a good run for their money shall we.

But Paul, the engines Richards mentioned are far from cheapo imports, the MVVS engines have a lineage going back many years, the other one he mentions are getting good reviews over the pond, The only thing i ever get concerned about, are spares, i have not seen much in the way of spares back up for either of the engines mentioned in the UK,
I agree about the crrc series, cheap and cheerfull, and do the job, but, i refer to Richards opening question, and so far, its not been answered, and i dont think it can be, because no ones had experiance of them, so, the guys are offering guidance, based on accumulative knowledge of proven engines, and that, is generally Zenohas, they were there at the start, they will still be there at the finish

Fair comment Alan and I did go off topic a bit but there is an environment of unfair comparisons and bias advice given towards and between established and newer (cheaper) products. I'm old enough to remember when an OS 4 stroke and a computer radio were the preserve of the wealthy just like turbine engines are now. The China invasion into this hobby has been and thus remains a gift from the gods for thousands of model making folks like me and that is the message I wanted to get across. Basically, we really haven't had it so good and it just keeps getting better.

The point is, Paul, if Richard is ever to get actually flying a large model, then he needs to embrace the KISS theory and forget huge, expensive and complicated engines and start by walking, not running. He has spent the last two years jumping from one engine to another, twins now (!) and never actually getting anything airborne. As for cost, a second hand Z38 will not break the bank. He already has the model he needs, a Greenley, he just needs to de-clutter it. He certainly does not need flaps, aero tow, a drinks dispenser or anything. Just a 'large' model that flies....

He needs a yellow submarine! But really, what he needs is his question answering, and that will only be answered i think, by research, make your own mind up Richard, but be carefull you dont buy an Edsel

Certainly stirred some interest Richard.I think the real point is that as a learner looking at buying100 cc or bigger engines ,regardless of origin,is too big for a learner to handle .The model to cope with this size of engine demands an experienced flyer.
Good luck at Melton buy a reliable engine and get plenty of practise,a couple of years down the road before building mega models.

All the best

Pete

Peter Siggins wrote:Certainly stirred some interest Richard.I think the real point is that as a learner looking at buying100 cc or bigger engines ,regardless of origin,is too big for a learner to handle .The model to cope with this size of engine demands an experienced flyer.
Good luck at Melton buy a reliable engine and get plenty of practise,a couple of years down the road before building mega models.

All the best

Pete

mega builds and big build is what i like doing pete, i been building models most of my life, i love the challenge , and the problem solving, not everyone is a flyer, i love the build aspect, yes it would be nice to fly at some point but i will get there, for now i am going to keep building

sometime it nice to open a can of worms,

i wanted people opinions as the mvvs engines, i have read very good reviews, from what i have researched, i wanted to purchase the 116cc engine to put on the self for a while, at the end of this year i will be taking possession of 1.3 scale Cessna 182 kit requiring 100c - 120 cc engine

i have a plans for a 1/4 scale harvard in the next 2-3 years

but after i have finished my trainers, (t240 & t180), i still have to finish the beaver off, and the falcon bipe, just need engines for both but that will come, when the purse strings allow,

but for now KEEP BUILDING , chaps