Edition: Model Aviation - 2000/12
Page Numbers: 151, 152
,

Modeler's Mall

Manufacturers who wish to have their products considered for inclusion in this department should send information and a photo, if possible, to the editorial office of Model Aviation. These reviews are composed from such information and do not imply an endorsement of the products.

Kimbrough Products — RDS Couplers

Kimbrough Products 1322 Bell Ave. Unit 1-C, Tustin, CA 92780 Tel.: (800) 377-1597 (9 a.m.–3 p.m. PST) Web site: www.proptwisters.org/rds2/

Servo couplers for Harley Michaelis' Internal Rotary Drive System (RDS) have been upgraded to include two more servo adapters.

Now the couplers fit the following servos: Ace 8112; Airtronics standard size; Cirrus; OS-20/CS-21; Critter Bits; FMA 90/90/95/100 and 300 series; Futaba standard size; Hitec standard size (60/80/81/85/101, etc.); JR standard size; MPI MX-30; Multiplex; Volz; Alu-Star; and microsavers except for the ZIP.

Initial sales of RDS couplers were to radio control (RC) soaring pilots, then RC scale modelers learned about them, but there haven't been many sales to RC slope fliers.

Chuck Kimbrough has been flying a 48-inch Boomerang flying-wing in combat for more than a year using the internal RDS and has had no damage to the control linkage — the type that can occur in combat gliders that use vulnerable exposed control horns and rods.

He has also used the couplers in a 72-inch Mongo Jr. combat wing for approximately eight months, with the same positive results. Flying time that is not interrupted (when the lift is good) for control-linkage repairs is a big plus.

Each package contains two couplers and adapter sets, set screws, and instructions. RDS Part #500 can be ordered at your local hobby shop, or direct from Kimbrough Products for $5 per pair. There is a minimum order of $20 + $5 S&H.

Lew Engineering — RCJOY™ RC Transmitter Trainer Port

Lew Engineering 2035 El Cerrito Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90068 Tel.: (323) 876-7423 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.leweng.com

RCJOY is a radio control (RC) transmitter trainer port to Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. This product allows one to use a model-airplane RC transmitter as a joystick on any Windows 98 or Windows 2000 computer equipped with a USB port.

Features:

  • Works with Futaba-, Airtronics-, JR-, or Hitec PPM-capable transmitters supplied by the user.
  • Easy "plug and play" installation: connect one cable from the RC transmitter's trainer port to RCJOY, and the other cable from RCJOY to the computer's USB port.
  • RCJOY powers Futaba, Airtronics, or Hitec transmitters through the trainer-port cable, so the radio's batteries are not drained. JR transmitters are powered by their own internal batteries.
  • The transmitter's RF output is automatically disabled when used with RCJOY, preventing interference with other radios.
  • No special game or joystick port required; works with desktop and notebook computers, including "legacy free, USB only" PCs.
  • No special device drivers needed; RCJOY works with the USB drivers supplied with Windows 98 and 2000.
  • RCJOY includes one trainer-port interface cable to support one transmitter brand. Additional cables are available separately.

RCJOY is available for immediate delivery from Lew Engineering. Contact the company for more information.

Horizon Hobby — Robinson R22 Helicopter Kit

Horizon Hobby, Inc. 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign, IL 61822 Tel.: (217) 355-9511 Web site: www.horizonhobby.com

JR's Robinson R22 46 CCPM helicopter kit is the second in the JR semiscale series of helicopters, following the Ergo 30 CCPM SS Hughes/Schwitzer.

Features:

  • Same main rotor head, control system, tail rotor, and drivetrain as the Ergo 46 CCPM, with slightly different lower side frames for enhanced scale appearance.
  • Thrust bearings in the main rotor-blade grips for improved control precision.
  • White molded polyethylene fuselage and fairing with wire landing struts for realistic appearance, durability, and ease of maintenance.
  • Smoke-colored Lexan® front windscreen for a scale look.
  • Full decal set included for quick assembly; no painting required.

JR products are distributed exclusively by Horizon Hobby, Inc.

Composite Structures Technology — Carbon-Fiber Pushrods

Composite Structures Technology (The Composite Store) Box 622, Tehachapi, CA 93581 Order desk: (800) 338-1278 Web site: www.cstsales.com

These semiflexible carbon-fiber pushrods are durable and extremely flexible. Teflon® sheathing minimizes friction for the smoothest movement possible.

Advantages:

  • Remain stable during temperature changes, minimizing trim changes.

Kits:

  • .070- and .050-inch pushrod kits include four feet of Teflon® sheathing, four feet of carbon micro rod, 2-56 clevises, a threaded brass coupler, and assembly instructions.
  • .030-inch pushrod kit includes four feet of Teflon® sheathing and carbon micro rod only.
  • A .24-inch hollow-rod version is available for large scale models.

Prices range from $6 to $7. Contact your local hobby dealer or order direct from Composite Structures Technology.

Bob Fiorenze — T-38 Talon Kit

Bob Fiorenze 401 Westchester Dr., Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 Tel.: (407) 673-9080 Web site: www.rcaviation.com/fiorenze

The T-38 Talon kit features:

  • Epoxy-primed (white) fiberglass fuselage.
  • Large 11 x 19-inch premolded flanged hatch.
  • Panel lines, rivets, and access-panel details molded in.
  • Precut foam flying surfaces, fiberglass inlets and bifurcated exhaust duct, flying stab hardware, clear canopy, fiberglass canopy frame.
  • Three-views, plans, former templates, and a photo assembly instruction book.

T-38 specifications:

  • Wingspan: 48 inches
  • Length: 84 inches
  • Weight: 15–20 pounds
  • Engine: .91 or turbine

Send an SASE with $5.55 postage for T-38 information only. Send $3 for an illustrated catalog.

Horizon Hobby — Xtra Easy Trainer (Hangar 9 Ready-to-Fly)

The Xtra Easy Ready-to-Fly trainer (Hangar 9’s first) is fast and easy to assemble.

Highlights:

  • Assembly time advertised as “less than one hour”; Horizon’s test team completed assembly in 18 minutes, six seconds (including rubber-banding the wing). Only a Phillips™ screwdriver is needed.
  • Large size: 69-inch wingspan and 793 sq. in. wing area.
  • Well-suited for the installed MDS .40 Pro engine; increased wing area makes it slower and easier to fly and improves visibility.
  • Finished in high-visibility trim scheme: White, Deep Blue, Pearl Green, and Silver Goldberg UltraCote®.
  • Includes JR XF421EX computer radio with factory radio programming: correct servo directions and travel adjustments are preset for ideal flight training.
  • XF421EX features easy programming for servo-reversing, travel adjustment, subtrim, and two-model memory, making it easy to customize trim after training.
  • Available accessories include Photo Op, Drop Box, and Sailplane Launch.

Hangar 9 products are exclusively distributed by Horizon Hobby, Inc.

Leading Edge Model Aircraft — Phase 2 Airplane

Leading Edge Model Aircraft, Inc. 17 Boxwood Rd., Port Washington, NY Web site: www.leadingair.com Toll-free: (877) 431-1383 (Visa® and MasterCard™ accepted)

The Phase 2 forward-swept-wing aircraft has a symmetrical airfoil and is fully acrobatic.

Features:

  • Incredible control response; rolls as if on a wire without feeling “twitchy” or unstable.
  • Forward-swept wing provides great stability at low speeds.
  • New polycarbonate clear canopy; wing builds fast, straight, and true.

Specifications:

  • Wingspan: 65 inches
  • Overall length: 51 inches
  • Wing area: 704 square inches
  • Weight: approximately 120 ounces
  • Wing loading: 24.5 ounces/sq. ft.
  • Requires a .61 two-stroke engine and a four-channel radio.

Phase 2 can be ordered from Leading Edge Model Aircraft, Inc.’s web site or by calling the toll-free number above.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.