Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / May 2008

From the Eflite website, I gather that it's a 3 cell, 22 amp 1020 kV
motor.   Pretty much any motor that will handle 22A will handle 3 cells,
so look for a motor with 1000-1100 kV and >20A continuous current,
preferably one that doesn't weigh over 100g (the EFlite is quoted at
87g).  

Probably all the major motor companies (Hacker, Himaxx, Axi, Great
Planes, etc, will have something in that class.

Of those, you probably can't go wrong with Hacker, Himaxx, or Axi, but
they're not going to be any cheaper than the Eflite (frex, the Axi
2217/16 is $75 at Tower, or the Hacker A30-16M for $79 at Hobby People).  

There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the GP motors (afaik) but people
seem to have problems GP power handling, so if you go with a GP motor,
make sure it's rated for at least 30A.  The GP Rimfire 3536-1000 is a
little heavier than the Eflite (~100g), but it's $44 and would probably
work fine.

KMS has a comparable motor (2814/08, 980 kV) for the same price at Hobby
People.  I'm not a fan of the small, cheap KMS motors but the bigger ones
seem to be decent.  Like the Rimfire, it's a little heavier, but would
probably work fine.  

BP Hobbies (formerly Balsa Products) has a their A2814-8 for $30, it's
also ~100g and has more power handling than you need, but it's cheaper
than the others.  I'm operating another motor from that series (a
2908-10) and it's working just fine for me.  

Personally, I like cheap and I don't mind taking a few chances, so I'd
probably go with a Turnigy 2217 16 turn motor from Hobby City.  They're
startlingly cheap (~$18 for that motor) and I've liked the other Turnigys
I've used.  To be fair, though, the 2217 is from a different series than
the Turnigys I've used, so I can't vouch for it.  There's a Turnigy
35-30C that, according to the reviewers, can be pushed well over 20A, and
I *have* used motors from that series and I've liked them.  It's about
$20.  Uhhh . .  and neither of those Turnigys are in stock right now.  I
really avoid ordering things that aren't in stock, especially from Hobby
City.

So - after all that - are you looking for an alternative to the Eflite
because of the price, or you've had a problem with them, or it's just not
in stock, or what?

- Mark