Connery

I maidened my Sig SE today and managed to get four flights on her. I have a OS .46LA in it with a 11X5 prop. It's flys well, but just doesn't have enough power. It's fine for now, but I know I need a bigger engine. But to get the most of of the .46LA what prop would be better? It's got the stock landing gear in it so I probably would be able to go up to a 12 but what about an 11X7? what that make much difference over the 11X5?

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Depends on what you mean by "more power". If you want to go faster then go with the higher pitch prop, 11x7 or even a 10x6. If you want more pull for vertical maneuvers then you need a lower pitch prop. 11x5 is good for that, or even a 10x4. I have an OS FX 46 in my Somethin Extra and I prop it with the 10x4. That prop gives it more than enough "oomph". IMHO going to a bigger engine is a waste, but then again I fly the plane and don't 3D.

Hope this helps.

MerlinL14

An 11x7 IMO is too much of a prop for the LA, try a 12x4.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

The problem with a 12" prop on the SE is you don't have much clearance to play with. Makes for chipped props on rough landings. IMHO.

Stick Jammer

Connery,
Forget the 11x7 with a .46LA, it'll fall flat on it's face with that much pitch. You can try an 11x4 but the lack of power is mostly due to your engine choice. Don't know what % of nitro fuel you're using but you could try increasing it slightly to get more power. A good .46 ball bearing engine would make a big difference over the bushed LA.

Backwing

My Feedback: (3)

I've been messing around with props on my 46 LA, and found a great match with an APC 10x7. The engine has been on 3 different planes, and that prop seems best, at least for me.
I've tried (all APC)12.25x3.75 = Way too much prop
11x6 = Just a bit too much prop for the LA
11x4 = Not bad, but didn't produce the results I was hoping for
10x7 = Seems like a good combo so far.

These were all using 10% fuel. I tried to run 15% and for some reason mine just will not run on 15%.
The 46LA is a great little engine, and certainly has it's place(some may say it belongs in the "round file"), but I wouldn't put it on anything over 5-5.5lbs.

twistr

My Feedback: (4)

I'm running a Saito 72 with a 13x6 prop on my SE. Ground clearance is non existant. I've gotta either ditch the stock landing gear/wheels, or prop down a size. It will take off fine but won't taxi on grass, and landing almost always kills it (on pavement runway). I flew mine 4 times today (only second time to have it out, maidened two weeks ago with two flights and a broken rudder for repairs). I really like it. It's quite a handfull though. Man that's a lot of throw!!!!

Connery

I might try the 10x4 but I don't want to go with a prop that is too small and over rev the engine and risk overheating. I'm already using 15% fuel and might try another bottle of 10% when this gallon is gone.

I really like the way the SE flys. Even on low rates it's very nimble. Much more aerobatic than my 4*40. Plus it slows down real good for perfectly smooth landings.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

I use a 10x4 on my SE with an OS 46 FX and I don't have any problems over-revving. Just run it a click or two on the rich side and you won't have any problems. You'll find with that prop that it'll pull through maneuvers a lot better. Overall I think that SE is a fantastic plane. I'm on my second one now. First one died from a dumb thumb, and I had 275 flights on it. I've got almost 200 on my second one already. It's really easy to build up an lot of flight time on this plane, because it's such a blast to fly.

twistr

My Feedback: (4)

Ken: What an awesome tribute. It must have taken hours to cover the plane like that. SImply beautiful!

jaka

Hi!
For a all high winged trainers and most low winged aerobatic models a 11x6 APC would be hard to beat.
Regards!
Jan K
Sweden

RichD

I changed the landing gear on mine, and used a 12.25 x 3.75 prop with a TT.46 engine.

Loved that combo.

Connery

Ken,

Your SE looks fantastic!!! Mine pales in comparison. I'm sure if I had an FX engine I'd be a lot happier, but all I have for it right now is an LA.

Daryl_y

On my SE I use an 11 x 4 on a OS .46SF It gives the plane decent speed and good vertical I got better performance with an 11 x 4 than I did with an 11 x 5. I tried a fun fly prop on it (12.25 x 3.75) but my engine would not run reliably with it. If you use a 10 x 7 your airspeed will be very fast, not exactly what you want on an SE.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

twistr,
Thanks. It's not really as difficult as it looks. There is an RCU member, Termagator, that did a very very good how-to on doing a plane like this. You can find it here:
[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_603331/anchors_603331/mpage_1/key_windex/anchor/tm.htm#603331[/link]

It looks a little hard at first, but after you get going it really is a breeze to do. The hardest part of mine was putting on all the stars on the bottom of the plane, the flag on the top was the easiest.

Give it a try, you'd be surprised how quickly you can get it.

britbrat

Backwing has it right.

With a .46 LA, a 10-4 would be suitable on a very lean, clean speed machine, but not on a general flyer -- not enough prop. An 11-6 on the other hand, is just a bit too much for an LA, and an 11-7 will be like an anchor. A 12-4 is also a bit too much prop for it. An 11-5 is more or less OK & a 10-6, or 10-7 are good. If you want vertical performance, an 11-4 is also good on that engine (but you wont get a lot of speed).

Connery

I'll grab a couple of 11x4's then and give them a try.

SwampFlier-RCU

Scimitar from Master Airscrew 10 x 7 or 11 x 6

And as somebody suggested keep your 46 LA a tad rich (two to three clicks from max rpm's) and they are sweet flying engines.