As model pilots we spend much
time outside enjoying our hobby.
Sometimes, we take for granted things
such as protecting our eyes and skin.
Bruce Holden, of Zurich International,
shared the ndings of Dr. Steinberg, an
optometrist and avid RC enthusiast.
Dr. Steinberg made a signi cant
observation. He determined that of
his patients, RC pilots had a higher
occurrence of cataracts and other eye
ailments than he found in the general
population because we spend so much
time looking into the sky when ying.
When he himself developed premature
cataracts, he began sharing the message
of protecting our eyes with the help of a
good pair of sunglasses.
One option for sunglasses is Zurich
International, a company that has been
in existence since 1986. Many RC pilots
are familiar with the company’s line of
Extreme Glare Sunglasses—the rst of
which was designed to be worn over
prescription glasses, and later came
sunglasses for those who did not need
vision correction.
Although I had tried the sunglasses in
the past and was impressed, I was not a
fan of the large wraparound style that t
over my prescription glasses. The Pilot
style was more to my liking, but would
require me to wear contacts.
When I saw Bruce at his booth
at AMA Expo he shared with me
that I could now get Extreme Glare
Sunglasses in my choice of frames with
my prescription. I was amazed when he
challenged me to look into his halogen,
500-watt shop light and try to read the
writing on the aluminum re ector inside
the light.
Without sunglasses I couldn’t stand to
look into the light, but after trying the
Extreme Glare Sunglasses I was able to
look into the light and read what he had
written on the inside of the light in black
Sharpie.
After a trip to the eye doctor, I emailed
Bruce with my prescription and we
discussed his recommendation for frames
that would provide me wraparound
protection in a style I liked. Bruce
recommended the rose lenses because
they enhance colors. He also suggested
the blue tint on the outside since it
doesn’t affect vision and gives the glasses
a cool, modern look.
After settling on Serengeti frames,
my new prescription glasses arrived
in approximately two weeks. Since
receiving the sunglasses roughly a month
ago, I wear them anytime I am outdoors.
The lenses are not polarized, allowing
LED and LCD displays to be easily read,
which is great when trying to see your
transmitter!
The rose-colored lenses have de nitely
improved the color and de nition of my
aircraft while ying. I also appreciate
not having to put in my contacts when I
want to y!
The Zurich International website
provides useful information and Bruce
is happy to answer questions over the
telephone.
He frequently travels to RC events
and trade shows, allowing you to try
the sunglasses, and he will help you
determine the best pair for your needs.
Give them a try and see what you think;
I’m glad I did.
ZURICH INTERNATIONAL: SNOW LAKE PLACE,
ELK GROVE CA ; TEL.: ;
WEBSITE: WWW.EXTREMEGLARESUNGLASSES.COM
If you have been ying electricpowered
aircraft for several years, you
may remember when electric jets didn’t
y the way full-scale jets did. Their
brushed motors struggled to carry the
weight of their components, seemingly
on the edge of a stall for the ight’s
duration.
Fortunately, times have changed
and electric-powered jets capture the
performance and excitement of their
full-scale counterparts.
Great Planes has taken that same level
of power and excitement and condensed
it into a model that can be own
iwith the company’s F-86 Sabre
Micro EDF.
This well-detailed Micro F-86
model has nice scale details with
its molded-in panel lines, hatch
lines, machine gun ports, and a
pilot gure that can be painted and
installed.
It comes out of the box ready
for ight, and when combined with
the Tactic AnyLink 2.4 GHz Adapter,
it can be own with most Futaba, JR/
Spektrum, or Hitec radios. An RTF
version is also available and includes a
four-channel 2.4 GHz transmitter and
AA batteries.
Inside the box, that also doubles as a
carrying case, you will also nd a twocell
200 mAh battery, DC-powered
charger, plug-in wheels, unpainted foam
pilot gure, and the instruction manual.
The 2.35-ounce F-86 is powered by
an Ammo 11,500 kV brushless inrunner
with 30mm HyperFlow ducted fan
and 6-amp brushless ESC. It has fourchannel
control with aileron, elevator,
rudder, and throttle.
Ours was set up using a Futaba 8FG
and the Tactic AnyLink. Exponential
was used on the radio with 55% on the
rudder and elevator and 45% on the
ailerons.
The model has plug-in landing gear
allowing for rise-off-ground or handlaunch
departures. If you chose to
use the landing gear, point the model
directly into the wind. The manual
recommends allowing the model to
accelerate at full throttle for 30-40 feet
before allowing it to break ground, to
lessen any chance of a tip stall. We were
able to get airborne in approximately 30
feet without issue.
Hand launches should be made into
the wind with the wings level at an even
or slightly upward angle at full throttle.
Once in the air, the F-86 is a good
performer and is capable of a wide range
of aerobatic maneuvers. It also handles
amazing well in light winds. Flight
times range from four to six minutes,
depending on throttle usage.
While the undercambered airfoil
helps with landing, it is important to
keep the power on and air owing over
the control surfaces until touchdown.
The Micro F-86 Sabre EDF is a fun
little jet that will impress with its looks
on the ground and its performance in
the air.
HOBBICO: BOX , CHAMPAIGN IL ;
TEL.: ; WEBSITE:
WWW.GREATPLANES.COMndoors, at larger venues, and outdoors
BMJR Models, Box 1210, Sharpes
FL 32959; Tel.: (321) 537-1159;
website: www.bmjrmodels.com.
The rst Stunt Wing was built in
1955 by 22-year-old Harold “Red”
Reinhardt, to prove that ying wings
could y Precision Stunt. One of the
biggest issues of ying wings was the
tendency to stall; another was that
insuf cient wing area caused them to
be wide-turning and too fast for Stunt.
BMJR has reproduced this model
with simple, step-by-step construction.
A balanced elevator is employed to
overcome the stall tendencies, and the
resulting Stunt Wing is smooth and
stable, ying well in the wind and not
too fast for competition.
The Stunt Wing has a wingspan of
471/2 inches, with an area of 596 square
inches. BMJR’s rst prototype featured
an O.S. 35, with silk covering and dope
nish, and weighed 37 ounces. The
second prototype model sported a Fox
35 and was covered in Polyspan and
Klass Kote epoxy, with a ying weight
of 331/2 ounces.
Flyzone Calypso EP Glider @
$89.99-249.99 + S&H from Great
Planes Model Distributors, Box
9021, Champaign IL 61826; Tel.:
(800) 637-7660; website: www.
yzoneplanes.com.
The Flyzone Calypso EP Glider is
perfect as a rst electric Sailplane, yet
experienced glider pilots will enjoy it
for its wide range of capabilities and
options.
Made from AeroCell foam, the
Calypso is available in four versions:
fully equipped RTF, Transmitter-Ready
(Tx-R), Receiver-Ready (Rx-R), and
ARF. The Tx-R glider is installed with
an SLT receiver that can be controlled
with the AnyLink system, using nearly
any transmitter the modeler owns. The
ARF is the most affordable and can
be equipped with the pilot’s choice of
radio and motor.
All but the ARF feature a factoryinstalled
brushless power system. The
two-piece wing easily removes for
transport; independent aileron servos
allow mixing. Tightening one screw
with a screwdriver is all it takes for the
tail assembly and alignment.
Factory- nished in green and black
trim, this 73-inch wingspan model
includes a wheel, plus nose and tail
skid plates for grass or runway landings.
All models require a four- to vechannel
2.4 GHz radio.
SinBad the Sailor 36 RC and
ThinBad the Sailor FF Nostalgic
Gliders @ $43.99-49.99 + S&H
from Retro RC LLC, Box 193,
Keego Harbor MI 48320; Tel.: (248)
212-9666; website: www.retrorc.
us.com.
The 50-inch wingspan 1941 Berkley
SinBad the Sailor was the inspiration
behind two of Retro RC’s newest
nostalgic glider kits: the RC SinBad the
Sailor 36 and FF ThinBad the Sailor.
SinBad the Sailor 36 is simple to
construct with a built-up fuselage.
It can also be own as a FF model
because of the included auto rudder
mechanism. ThinBad the Sailor has a
5/8-inch thick pro le fuselage, making
it easier for a FF novice to build. It also
includes an Olive Oyl pilot for towline
and hi-start launches.
SinBad and ThinBad feature
removable tail groups and wing halves
joined with wire joiners. Each can be
broken down for storage into an 18- x
4- x 4-inch box.
The kits contain high-quality,
precision laser-cut, self-jigging balsa
parts, a complete hardware set, and
easy to follow, photo-illustrated
instructions. ThinBad includes two
sheets of colored Esaki tissue; SinBad
does not include covering. An e’Power
Pod is sold separately and transforms
SinBad into an AMA Park Pilot
Program-legal airplane.
X2-400 Two-Port Multicharger @
$189.99 + S&H from Hitec RCD,
12115 Paine St., Poway CA 92064;
Tel.: (858) 748-6948; website:
www.hitecrcd.com.
As the newest addition to the line
of Hitec Battery chargers, the X2-
400 Multicharger is microprocessor
controlled and capable of charging all
types of high-amperage batteries.
The two 400-watt power output
ports are identical, yet independent;
each charges up to 20 amps and
discharges at 0.1 to 5 amps. The perfect
solution for all common chemistries,
the X2-400 Multicharger can be used
with 1S to 6S Lithium batteries (LiPo,
LiFe, and Li-Ion), as well as 1- to 15-
cell NiCd/NiMH batteries and 2- to
20-volt lead acid packs.
Other features include an internal
cell balancer, high-contrast LCD
display, and important warning and
safety functions. The aluminum case is
designed for rapid heat dissipation.
B-17 Nine-O-Nine EPO ARF @
$349.99 + S&H from Hobby Lobby
International, 5614 Franklin Pike
Cir., Brentwood TN 37027; Tel.:
(866) 512-1444; website: www.
hobby-lobby.com.
Hobby Lobby’s B-17 Nine-O-Nine
EPO ARF is beautifully prepainted to
depict one of the most famous B-17s
of World War II, with end-of-the-war
markings that show the completion
of 140 bombing missions, all without
casualties to any crewmembers.
This 63-inch span model is
prefabricated, so only a few hours
of assembly are needed to make
the model ready to y. The photoillustrated
instructions give step-by-step
guidance, and complete information on
control throws and CG.
The airplane includes four 1350 Kv
brushless motors, four 30-amp ESCs
with nned heat sinks, counter-rotating
propellers, electronic servoless retracts,
and split aps. The split aps effectively
slow the model for nice landings, while
the wheels are large enough and the
suspension is robust enough for grass
eld ying.
Hobby Lobby recommends the use
of an external 6-amp BEC, rather than
using the BEC circuits of the 30-amp
ESCs. A six-channel radio system, 1800
to 2200 mAh 11.1-volt batteries, and a
LiPo battery charger are recommended.
E- ite Heli Brushless Outrunner
Motors @ $49.99-149.99 + S&H
from Horizon Hobby, Inc., 4105
Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL
61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639;
website: www.e- iterc.com.
Available in sizes for 450-, 550-,
600-, and 700-class helicopters, the
E- ite Brushless Outrunner Motors are
designed for maximum ef ciency and
high performance. Each is constructed
with high-quality sealed bearings,
hardened main shafts, and integrated
air ow cooling systems to promote
long motor life.
The dual-mounting pattern allows
the motors to be used in a wide variety
of helicopters and install easily. Quiet
and lightweight, they also have a
slotted eight-pole motor design.
Ideal for sport or 3-D ying, all
E- ite Brushless Outrunner Motors for
helicopters feature 4mm gold bullet
connectors.
BH Models Landscape 76-inch
26-30cc Gas ARF @ $459.99 +
S&H from Hobby People, 18480
Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley
CA 92708; Tel.: (800) 854-8471;
website: www.hobbypeople.net.
The BH Models Landscape is a
beautiful 76-inch semiscale ARF of
the full-scale Lancair. Perfect for 26cc
to 30cc gas engines, the Landscape
is handcrafted from wood sheet and
precision-placed formers.
The 13-pound aircraft features
a two-piece wing, tab/groove/pin
factory-installed hinges, molded wheel
pants and oleo strut nose gear. The
Oracover covering rivals berglass,
but is lightweight and repairable. The
BH Models Landscape requires a sixchannel
radio system and eight servos,
and is sold exclusively by Hobby
People.
Gaui X7 Helicopter Basic Kit @
$899 + S&H from Empire Hobby,
950 E. Baseline Ave., Unit 210,
Apache Junction AZ 85119; Tel.:
(480) 982-0909; website: www.
empirerc.com.
Empire Hobby is proud to announce
the newest helicopter in its line of
Gaui products: the Gaui X7.
The X7 features a stylishly designed
ybarless main rotor head and
swashplate that produces quicker
response and superior control
precision. The I-shaped structure and
CF mainframe result in high rigidity
for 3-D maneuvers. The CNC 6065
and 7075 aluminum parts offer
superior 3-D performance.
Equipped with a high-ef ciency,
heavy-duty, torque-tube-driven tail,
the X7 has excellent performance in
either high or low head speed. The
high modulus drive gears and bevel
gears can be compatible for upgrading
to an 800-class helicopter.
Delivered with the main frame,
integrated CNC servo and motor
mounts, a painted FRP canopy, and
a standard canopy protective cover,
the Gaui X7 basic kit is distributed
in the US exclusively through Empire
Hobby, and sold in hobby stores
nationwide.
