16 MODEL AVIATION
Futaba’s Advanced Spread Spectrum Technology (FASST) is
now available in a full-range aircraft system. The 6EX 2.4
GHz offers fail-safe programming through the
transmitter, as on conventional systems.
Its solid-state electronics feature a
“purpose-built” IC (Integrated Circuit)
chip—one that Futaba, with almost 15
years of experience and research-anddevelopment
in spread spectrum
technology—can provide.
The R606FS receiver is small and
weighs just 7 grams without the case,
so it’s perfect for park flyers. However,
that receiver is powerful enough for
Giant Scale airplanes too.
Those who have used the 6EX radio will find it familiar and learn
that the FASST-equipped version has been upgraded to include
helicopter programming.
The Futaba FASST system will have a street price of $219.99 and
include the 6EX transmitter; 9.6-volt, 600 mAh transmitter battery;
battery charger; R606FS receiver; switch harness; and neck strap.
Future 6EX FASST systems will include various servo packages that
will be suitable for the park flyer up to the precision aerobatics
enthusiast.
Great Planes Model Distributors: Box 9021, Champaign IL
61826; Tel.: (217) 398-3630; Web site: www.futabarc.com
Futaba FASST System
The Stingray is an agile,
fun park flyer that is durable
yet lightweight. It combines
thrilling high-speed
maneuverability with great slowspeed
handling to make it the perfect
practice model for “no-fear” aerobatics.
This electric-ducted-fan model can be
flown in tight fields. It is designed around the
Himax brushless RTR fan, the Castle Creations
Thunderbird-18 controller, and the Thunder Power 3S
910 Li-Poly battery.
The Stingray, which spans 31.5 inches, is a potent little package
of fun. A convenient underwing battery compartment allows ample
cooling and quick changes between flights. All components are
mounted for streamlined, high-performance flight.
Assembly time should take only three hours. The EPP foam can
be decorated using a variety of methods. The Stingray kit is
available for $129, with combo deals available from the TufFlight
Web site.
TufFlight Models: 5376 Amalfi Dr., Clay NY 13041; Tel.: (315)
698-8103; Web site: www.tufflight.com
TufFlight Stingray
E-Sky’s new Belt CP is the ultimate in its line of micro
helicopters and is offered as an ARF. All upgrade parts are
preinstalled, including the silver carbon-fiber frame, classic black
tailboom, blades,
paddles, and
fins. The head
mechanics include allmetal
parts, including the
swashplate and blade
grips.
This machine is designed to be as light as possible. It features an
oversized fiberglass canopy for great looks and durability, and it
Belt CP Carbon Edition
Worth a Closer Look
As seen at the 2007 WRAM Show held February 23-25, 2007, in White Plains NY
The Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX ARF is distributed exclusively
by Cermark as a collaborative effort with Top Gun Models (a CML
Distribution company in the United Kingdom).
For a model this size the Spitfire boasts a wide
range of scale details that didn’t turn it into a
handful in the air. It has a fiberglass fuselage
that is complete with a
molded fin, detailed
panel lines, rivets, and a
detachable flush-fitting
fiberglass cowl that is
prefinished with simulated
Merlin exhaust stacks.
The tailplane, rudder, and wings have built-up balsa construction.
The 71-inch-span wings are fitted for the air retracts included in the
kit. The wood surfaces are covered in UltraCote and custom-painted
in a three-color camouflage scheme that has a scale matte finish.
Other scale details include molded air intakes and radiators, 20mm
cannon, wheel-well inserts, and wheel doors. The wing area is a
generous 852 square inches. Expect the ready-to-fly weight to be 9-10
pounds with a .91 two-stroke, 1.20 four-stroke, or 26cc gas engine.
The introductory price is $399.95. Even better is the combo
package Cermark is offering for $599.95 that includes the new SPE-
26 gas engine, which is an excellent power selection for this model.
Cermark: 9830 Bell Ranch Dr., Santa Fe Springs CA 90670; Tel.:
(800) 704-6229; Web site: www.cermark.net
Cermark Spitfire
JTEC Radiowave is offering a
new line of instrument kits that is
scale in appearance. They are a
combination of color and blackand-
white, per full-scale scale
instrumentation. The new
instruments are replicas of those
found in most modern aircraft.
The kits are available in 1/7, 1/6,
1/5, 1/4, and Giant Scale (30-42%).
Each includes clear plastic Lexan
lens material for realism and
instructions for building a
complete custom instrument panel.
Each kit retails for $13.99 from your local hobby dealer.
JTEC Radiowave: Box 1847, Mooresville NC 28115; Tel.:
(704) 799-1658; Web site: www.jtecrc.com
Scale Instrument Kits
includes screened vents for increased motor cooling. It also has a beltdriven
tail rotor for smooth, vibration-free tail control.
The ARF package includes the assembled airframe only. The
builder must supply the servos, motor, and radio gear, all of which are
available from the BP Hobbies’ Web site. Replacement parts are
available and plentiful.
The Belt CP is available for $279.95 retail.
BP Hobbies LLC: 140 Ethel Rd. Suite J, Piscataway NJ 08854;
Tel.: (732) 287-3933; Web site: www.bphobbies.com
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June 2007 17
Worth a Closer Look
The RICCS Mirage 2000 brushless RTF
ducted-fan jet has a 25-inch wingspan,
measures 38.25 inches in length, and has
a 19-ounce flying weight. Its allmolded
bead-foam construction is
prepainted with accessories and
electronics preinstalled.
The radio is a fourchannel,
72 MHz
transmitter with a six-channel receiver. Three prewired 9-gram
servos control the elevons and the steerable nose wheel.
A 20-amp ESC and ducted-fan unit, with a powerful inrunner
brushless motor, is powered by the supplied three-cell Li-Poly
battery. A dedicated wall-plug-in Lithium battery charger is
included for charging at home.
The Mirage’s tricycle landing gear provides good ground
handling, and takeoffs from a smooth surface are quick. For $219
the model is smooth and can do fast axial rolls. Inverted flight is
easy, and the flight speed is moderate. The delta wing will slow
well for landing and remain stable. Flight times exceed 10 minutes.
Hobby Lobby: 5614 Franklin Pike Cir., Brentwood TN 37027;
Tel.: (615) 373-1444; Web site: www.hobby-lobby.com
Mirage 2000
See page 199 for submission guidelines
Innov8tive Designs offers “the total package” to the electricpower
modeler. The company carries the entire line of 22mm
Scorpion motors and the 11-, 15-, 25-, and 35-amp Scorpion
Commander ESCs.
The Scorpion outrunner motors and speed controls are neatly
packaged, with the flexible
wire leads already finished
with premium 3.5mm
gold-plated connectors.
You can tell that long life
is Innov8tive Designs’
intent with its products
when you observe such details as scooped air intakes machined into
the motor case and lightweight heat sinks on the speed controls.
Many more motor and speed-control sizes are on the way from
this company, as is a new line of Li-Poly batteries.
Innov8tive Designs: Box 2203, San Marcos CA 92079; E-mail:
[email protected]; Web site: www.innov8tive
designs.com
Kondor Model Products’
(KMP’s) new line of aircraft is
dedicated to discriminating
modelers who want a greatlooking
Scale aircraft that is
simplified for everyday flying.
The first aircraft in this series
are the Shorts Tucano and the
Christen Husky.
The limited-edition Tucano
is in the livery of the Royal Air Force 207 Squadron. This model
features a fiberglass fuselage and cowl and built-up balsa construction
covered with genuine UltraCote.
It has a wingspan of 65 inches and requires a 1.20 four-stroke
engine. The Tucano is retract ready, but retracts are not included. It
has a street price of $299.95.
The Husky is similar in
appearance and mission to the
Piper Super Cub. This KMP
re-creation is available for
$199.95.
The model features a
fiberglass cowl, built-up balsa
construction, and genuine
UltraCote covering. It spans
80 inches and requires a .91-1.20 four-stroke engine.
Kondor Model Products: 1224 Amber Dr., Thunder Bay ON P7B
6M5 Canada; Tel.: (888) 968-7251; Web site: www.kmp.ca
KMP Sport Series
Innov8tive Designs
Precision Cut Kits (PCK) owner Larry Katona now holds the
designs, copyrights, and manufacturing rights of Bob Ankne’s Pro
Craft Models. This addition to PCK will be marketed as “Pro-Line
Aerobatic Aircraft” and will be the exclusive distributor of these
high-quality build-ityourself
kits.
There will be 14
Scale Aerobatics
aircraft kits in this
line, including the
Pro-Line Aerobatic Aircraft
The popular Berg line by Castle Creations now includes a
seven-channel receiver with horizontal servo pins. The Berg 7P
Horizontal Pin version offers the same digital signal processing
and full range pilots have learned to
depend on, in a format that is
well suited for tight spaces
such as inside small
fuselages or on the sides of
foamies.
The receiver’s radio
frequency (RF) front end is a
high-quality, single-conversion
design, and then it takes the unique step of digitally processing that
output with a computer processor to guarantee rock-solid radio
reception and thoroughly filter out unwanted RF noise.
The new receiver is an incredibly small 1.50 x .82 x 0.50 inches
and weighs just .33 ounce (9 grams). The Berg 7P offers automatic
shift detection, so it is compatible with all popular radio brands
that transmit using 72 MHz PPM (Pulse Position Modulation)
signals.
Castle Creations Inc.: 235 S. Kansas Ave., Olathe KS 66061;
Tel.: (913) 390-6939; Web site: www.castlecreations.com MA
Berg 7 on the Side
Chipmunk, Ultimate, Extra, and CAP 232. Deluxe Kits will
contain all the wood, plans, building instructions, cowl, canopy,
wheel pants, and aluminum gear.
Wood Only Kits will include all the wood, plans, and building
instructions. Short Kits will include plans, building instructions,
and all template parts. Fuselage and wing replacement kits will be
available as well.
All accessories for the new line will be available, as will
support and accessories for the Pro-Craft and Ohio R/C Models
line. PCK is accepting orders for all its kits and expected to have
the full line in stock by the end of March.
Precision Cut Kits: 63 Carlton Ave., Ewing NJ 08618; Tel.:
(609) 538-1388; Web site: www.precisioncutkits.com
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