Product Spotlight-2013/03

16 Model Aviation MARCH 2013 www.ModelAviation.com
JR NEX E6-550
HELI COMBO
Roth Heyes helped us with the review
of the JR NEX E6-550. Here is what he
had to say:
The convenience of the smaller
electric machines fi ts easily into my
chaotic lifestyle, but my experience so
far has shown that bigger helicopters can
offer greater performance. Larger helis
also demand a greater investment. What
if you want to take your helicopter fl ying
to the next level, but want to do it in
a practical way without sacrifi cing any
quality or fl ight fulfi llment?
The JR NEX E6-550 seems to be
the answer—even better, it’s the heli
experience I never knew I wanted. You
get many of the practical benefi ts that
smaller electric helis enjoy, such as using
a popular battery that I happen to have
for other aircraft, and from what I’ve
learned it has the 3-D performance
many rave about having in their 600- or
700-class helicopter.
On the same LiPo battery investment,
I can fl y the JR NEX E6-550 twice
doing 3-D and big maneuvers that
compare equally on a hard-core 3-D
playground with the larger helis. It feels
as though my investment in a highquality
helicopter is paying me back
with performance that’s really making a
difference in my skills as an RC pilot.
Like most popular large-class electric
helicopters, the E6-550 is equipped with
a torque-tube-driven tail with dualbearing
support. JR engineering comes
into play where this machine starts to
stand out. Upon a lightweight carbonfi
ber frame are all-metal fl ybarless
TONI’S COVERING
IRON SOCK
Treat your covering iron and covering
to some tender loving care with Toni’s
Covering Iron Sock. The sock is made
from a double layer of T-shirt material
and supports a large cord drawstring,
making it easy to tie onto your iron.
To install it on your iron, simply lay
your iron in the middle of the sock, pull
the drawstrings over the handle, and tie
a bow. You are then ready to cover. Keep
in mind that when using a sock, you will
REVIEWS
REVIEWS
mechanics that feature 140° CCPM
mixing, which offers the smoothest
control possible.
The servo mounting system is unique
and delivers the greatest possible
mechanical advantage—optimum
geometry with the setup ease of Sub-
Trim Free (STF) adjustment. The main
frame is designed to accommodate a
wide range of 6S LiPo fl ight pack sizes
from 2,600 up to 5,000-mAh capacities,
which can probably suit nearly any
budget, fl ight time, or performance
requirement.
If you’ve built a few helicopters
in the past, then you’ve learned that
performance has much to do with
the radio, servos, power system, and
fl ybarless gyro installed. This is where
JR breaks new ground and takes away
the guesswork of building a highperformance
helicopter by offering a
combo package.
You can buy the JR E6-550 as a kit
with only the carbon main and tail rotor
blades if you want; however, to enjoy
the outstanding fl ight experience I did,
then you need to get the JR E6-550
combo package complete with a highspeed
brushless outrunner motor, fully
programmed 75-amp ESC, triple-axes
gyros system (also preprogrammed),
three digital fl ybarless servos, and the
popular G3500 mini tail rotor servo.
Every bolt, every anodized metal
part, every wire and gear—genuine JR
quality! All I had to provide was my
radio and battery. The helicopter was
simple to assemble. JR’s reputation for
engineering and quality stands strong in
my book.
Read the full review, see all of the
photos, and watch the fl ight video online
at www.ModelAviation.com.
Horizon Hobby, Inc.: 4105 Fieldstone
Rd., Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800)
338-4639; website: www.jrhelis.com
have to slightly increase the temperature
of the iron. Price $5, postage included.
Toni Smith: 2416 Carina Terrace,
Acworth GA 30101; Tel. (770) 917-
4928; email: [email protected]
www.ModelAviation.com March 2013 Model Aviation 17
SKS VIDEO Reviews
OFFERINGS
Gathering of Eagles
SKS Video Productions got in on the
action during the Gathering of Eagles
held at the Georgia Model Aviators
club near Ball Ground, Georgia. This
November 2012 memorial event
celebrated the life of modeler Dino
DiGiorgio Sr., the founder of the
World Miniature Warbird Association
(WMWA).
CDed by Rex Briant, this beautiful
flying site was flooded with warbirds
during the three-day event.
Highlights include Pedro Sanchez
flying his B-25, Gale Throne’s
Balsa USA D.VII, Patrick Ash’s
Fw-190 (cover shot), and personal
interviews with each pilot telling
you more about the airplanes and
components involved in making
an eye-catching warbird. A special
feature is an interview with Dino
DiGiorgio, sharing memories of
his father and some history of the
WMWA.
A look at this 96-minute video
quickly serves as inspiration for a
new modeling project. A variety
of World War I and II models are
only a DVD menu away. Could
a warbird be in your future?
How about a trip to the 2013
Gathering of Eagles?
Monster Planes
In October 2012, thousands
of spectators from across North
America arrived at Paradise Field
in Lakeland, Florida, to watch as pilots
flew huge RC airplanes at the 2012
Monster Planes USA event.
John Burdin guides us through the
annual event in a 69-minute video. He
highlights the facilities, vendors, and the
gathering, but quickly steps aside to let
the monster-size aircraft become the
stars of the show. Ten pilots and their
monster aircraft are featured during the
three-day event.
Brian O’Meara kicks off the program
with his giant 100-plus-pound Republic
P-47 Thunderbolt. Other aircraft
including Rich Uravitch’s 109-inch
OV-10 Bronco, Rei Gonzalez’s superfast
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom,
Ray Prossen’s rotary-engine 40% Waco,
and Arnold Marcus’s F8F Bearcat,
which graces the cover of the video. As
standard with SKS Video Productions’
event coverage, viewers can enjoy the
video from the beginning or randomly
select pilots through the main menu.
IRCHA
In August of 2012, The Academy
of Model Aeronautics hosted the
world’s largest helicopter event at the
International Aeromodeling Center. You
don’t have to make the trip to Muncie,
Indiana, to enjoy the camaraderie, the
fantastic helicopters, and the amazing
flying of the 2012 International Radio
Controlled Helicopter Association
(IRCHA) Jamboree.
This 100-minute DVD, hosted by the
well-known and fun-loving “Pinion,”
features new product debuts and
highlights some of the most stunning
machines at IRCHA 2012 including 3-D
and Scale models, antiques, and even
turbine-propelled helicopters!
The informal interviews with the
helicopters’ owners and pilots give you
a behind-the-scenes peek at the unique
characteristics of each aircraft and let
you learn more about the people who
built them.
If you missed IRCHA 2012, then
you also missed amazing noon
demonstrations flown by some of the
world’s top RC helicopter pilots. This
DVD takes viewers to the edge of the
flightline to observe some of the most
awesome flying you’ve ever seen.
SKS Video Productions’ approach to
event coverage provides a first-person
perspective and brings the excitement of
the world’s largest helicopter event into
your living room!
Warbirds Over Delaware
Take a trip to the beautiful
Lums Pond State Park in Bear,
Delaware, without leaving the
comfort of your home! This lovely
site is the venue of the Delaware
R/C Club’s 21st annual Warbirds
Over Delaware air show, which
is featured in a 106-minute
film produced by SKS Video
Productions.
Enjoy interviews with many
warbird pilots from across the
country and listen to them
provide an overview of the aircraft
they flew at the July 11-15, 2012,
event. Those featured include
2012 “Mr. Top Gun” Dave Wigley
and his S.E.5a, Charles Kellogg
and his six-seat Skyraider, and Bob
Underwood and his F6 Hellcat.
Feel the thrill as each engine is
fired up and the majestic aircraft
take to the sky.
This video also features the popular
warbirds noontime demonstration
during which several airplanes fly at
once.
Hear interviews with some of the
vendors, which make you feel as though
you are watching the show from a lawn
chair near the flightline rather than your
recliner.
Each release is available on DVD and
Blu-ray at a cost of $19.95 for the DVD
and $22.95 for Blu-ray.
SKS Video: 85 Pine Rd., Abbottstown
PA 17301; Tel. (800) 988-6488; website:
www.sksvideo.com
DJI Innovations Phantom RTF
Quadcopter @ $679.99 + S&H
from Atlanta Hobby, 6110
Parkway North Dr., Cumming
GA 30040; Tel.: (678) 513-4450;
website: www.atlantahobby.com.
Multirotors are exploding into the
hobby, and Atlanta Hobby is excited
to offer the new DJI Phantom, an RTF
quadcopter with a highly integrated
design.
Complete with its own dedicated 2.4
GHz transmitter, batteries, and charger,
the Phantom includes the NAZA-M
autopilot fl ight control system along
with a built-in GPS satellite module.
Everything is preinstalled, including the
GoPro camera mount and high-intensity
LED lights that automatically come on
when the motors are armed.
The all-in-one
design of the
Phantom also
features Intelligent
Orientation
Control via a threeway
switch, Course
Lock and Home
Lock, and enhanced failsafe and lowvoltage
protection with Return to Home
and auto landing, as well as intelligent
motor arming for safety.
The Phantom’s compact design
makes transporting it a breeze. The
multiple fl ight modes of Manual, Atti,
and GPS Atti make fl ight operation and
orientation stable and easy.
Jeti Spin Pro
80/100/160-
amp SHED
ESCs with
5-amp BEC
@ $120-$175
+ S&H from
Esprit Model,
1240 Clearmont
St. NE #12, Palm Bay FL 32905;
Tel.: (321) 729-4287; website:
www.espritmodel.com.
The new Jeti Spin Pro 80-amp, 100-
amp, and 160-amp Slim/Hotliner/
Electric Ducted Fan (SHED) ESCs are
designed to be excellent solutions for
narrow fuselages. Used on airplanes,
sailplanes, fi xed-pitch, or 3-D
helicopters, these ESCs are good for up
to eight servos and include a 5-amp, 5.5-
volt switching BEC.
The Spin Pro SHED ESCs are fully
programmable without a computer by
using the included Spin Box. The datalogging
function allows the modeler
to check and fi ne-tune setups, with
readings for peak controller temperature,
maximum current, minimum current,
rpm, motor runtime, and many other
parameters recorded and viewed on the
Spin Box after a fl ight. Adjustments can
easily be made with immediate results.
Jeti Spin Pro SHED ESCs come
with a two-year warranty and 50%
replacement policy.
Venom Stronghold Solo Battery
Charging Containment System @
$59.99 + S&H from Venom, 14028
N. Ohio St., Rathdrum ID 83858;
Tel.: (800) 705-0620; website:
www.venom-group.com.
Venom introduces the Stronghold
Solo Battery Charging Containment
System, designed to make battery
charging safer and give the modeler
peace of mind.
Minimizing potential damage, the
heavy-duty stamped aluminum box
features a hinged lid with a shatterproof
polycarbonate window designed to help
contain fi re and gases by dissipating
pressures at a controlled rate. Rated for
LiPo batteries up to 60 watt-hours, the
Stronghold Solo comes with a long lead
balance block, allowing for seamless
operation with a charger.
With an
aluminum carrying
handle and snap
latch, the Stronghold Solo is made to
use on the go and makes a great battery
case. Reusable, it does not require
replacement as does a LiPo charge sack.
MicroLux Resistance Soldering
Unit @ $169.95 + S&H from
Micro-Mark, Tel.: (800) 225-1066;
website: www.micromark.com.
The new MicroLux Resistance
Soldering Unit from Micro-Mark is easy
to use, generating heat only at the joint.
Parts that have already been soldered
won’t fall off when adding new ones.
With the ground clip connected,
the carbon electrode on the tip of the
handpiece is placed in contact with the
part to be soldered, and the foot switch
is stepped on. The transformer passes
a safe, low-voltage electrical current
through the part, heating it to soldering
temperature in seconds. The solder is
applied and the foot switch is released,
instantly cooling the tool. The result is a
strong, durable joint.
The unit includes a 63-watt
three-
transformer, concentrating heat at the
joint and heating larger work than will a
conventional soldering iron at the same
power. Dual-power outputs for heavy or
lightweight parts, a handpiece, six carbon
electrodes, a ground lead, on/off foot
switch, and instructions are also included.
Blade 550 X helicopter @ $639.99
+ S&H from Horizon Hobby, Inc.,
4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign
IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639;
website: www.bladehelis.com.
Horizon Hobby and Blade Helicopters
are proud to unveil the first professionallevel
helicopter kit designed from nose
to tail with advanced, professional pilots
in mind.
The Blade 550 X kit comes ready
to assemble with an included E-flite
Heli 550 1360 Kv brushless outrunner
motor, E-flite 130-amp ESC, and E-flite
10-amp BEC. Revolution flybarless
550mm carbon-fiber main blades and
a prepainted fiberglass canopy are also
included.
Key features on the 550 X include
a direct-to-swash, flybarless head
design, carbon-fiber main frames, and a
torque-tube-driven tail with aluminum
tailboom and case. The aluminum
head block and aluminum swashplate
are both CNC machined, while the
10mm solid steel main shaft is triple
ball-bearing supported. The 550 X also
features an integrated bearing block
servo mount design, dual-point tail pitch
slider, and balanced tail grips.
A six-plus-channel radio with
helicopter programming is required, as is
a six-plus-channel receiver, three cyclic
servos, one tail servo, and a 6S 5000 to
6000 mAh 30C LiPo battery.
H4 DC/DC Multicharger @ $249.99
+ S&H from Hitec RCD, 12115 Paine
St., Poway CA 92064; Tel.: (858) 748-
6948; website: hitecrcd.com.
Hitec RCD introduces its newest
battery charger: the H4 DC/DC
Multicharger. This four-port, computercontrolled
charger is sleek with an
aluminum design, and features an easyto-
read backlit graphic display.
Each of the 120-watt ports with
LiPo cell-balancing circuits is capable
of delivering up to 8 amps of charging
power. Independent charging channels
can be paired to provide 240-watt
charge ports, or two 120-watt ports with
a single 240-watt port.
Compatible with all common battery
types including LiPo, NiCd, NiMH, and
lead acid, the H4 provides versatility,
reliability, safety, upgradeable firmware,
and PC-interface capability using the
HPP-22 PC Interface.
Great Planes Proud Bird EF1
Sport Racer ARF @ $149.99 +
S&H from Great Planes Model
Manufacturing Company, 3002
N. Apollo Dr., Suite 1, Champaign
IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 637-7660;
website: www.greatplanes.com.
The Great Planes Proud Bird EF1 was
designed by Pylon racer Jim Allen, with
both the competitive EF1 racer and the
sport pilot in mind. Capable of speeds
of more than 100 mph, it also handles
sport aerobatics exceptionally well.
Assembly is easy with a low parts
count. The all-wood, built-up airframe is
enhanced by a fiberglass cowl and wheel
pants, with an all-white MonoKote
finish, allowing the modeler to create
his or her own custom trim scheme. The
canopy hatch is magnetically installed,
with a large compartment to fit the
required 11.1 to 14.8-volt, 2200 to
2600-mAh LiPo battery.
The Proud Bird can be equipped
with a .15 to .25 brushless motor, and
requires a four-channel radio with three
micro servos and a 47 to 75-amp ESC.
ZTW Land Power Brushless Air/
Heli ESC @ $31.99-$99.99 + S&H
from Altitude Hobbies, 1630
Sagewood Dr., Fort Collins CO
80525; Tel.: (970) 412-7303; website:
www.altitudehobbies.com.
Based upon the popular ZTW A-series
controllers, the new ZTW Land Power
ESCs are sold exclusively through
Altitude Hobbies, and feature many
improvements.
The Land Power airplane and
helicopter brushless ESCs utilize nextgeneration
microprocessor technology
and new programming features such as
an adjustable BEC output voltage.
The larger, high-power, 6-amp
SBEC has been specifically designed
for extreme aerobatics, eliminating the
possibility of unwanted shutdowns, and
is capable of supporting continuous,
simultaneous multiple servo operations
that are typically found in CCPMequipped
3-D helis.
With larger heatsink for optimum
heat distribution, safety thermal
overload protection, auto throttle
shutdown, and power arming protection,
the Land Power ESCs are available in
sizes ranging from 45 to 155 amps, as
well as high-voltage 12s OPTO models.