BRING HOME THE EXCITEMENT OF SEFF
The Southeast Electric Flight Festival (SEFF) is always an enjoyable gathering for those who appreciate electric-powered aircraft. The Hodges Hobbies field is beautiful and the event draws a large number of pilots with a wide range of aircraft.
If you were lucky enough to attend or if you want to see what you missed, then SKS Video Productions has what you need with its SEFF 2013 coverage, available on DVD or Blu-ray. The running time is approximately 103 minutes and 113 minutes respectively.
The footage, shot from the ground and from some of the featured aircraft, is high quality. As with other SKS Video releases, interviews with the pilots of the featured aircraft are on the video so viewers can learn more about the incredible airplanes, helicopters, and multirotors.
More than 25 aircraft are documented, including Jason Cole’s P-47, Chris DeGraaff’s large 747, Peter Sripol’s amazing VTOL Trimera, Neal Davis’s 3-D quadcopter, Chris Blake’s flying Super Mario Cart, and Mike Fuller’s hydroplane.
Some of the exciting happenings at SEFF are included such as the warbird gaggle, float flying, night flying, and the ever-popular night bowling!
SKS brings the excitement to you in the comfort of your own home for $19.95 on DVD or $21.95 on Blu-ray, plus $6 shipping and handling.
SKS Video Productions: 85 Pine Rd., Abbottstown PA 17301; Tel.: (800) 988-6488; website: www.sksvideo.com
GLUE CADDY
Mark Freeland of Retro RC likes to come up with innovative products that are typically laser cut and put together with the help of your favorite glue. Now he is paying homage to the glue by making it the focus of his newest release: the Glue Caddy Kit!
Available in four configurations, Glue Caddy #1 is configured to hold three 1/2-ounce bottles of glue, accelerator, and a pill bottle in which to store the glue tips. Glue Caddy #2 holds three 1/2-ounce bottles, two one-ounce bottles, and accelerator. Glue Caddy #3 is set up for three 2-ounce bottles, two 1-ounce bottles, and accelerator.
Glue Caddy #4, our favorite, stores two 1/2-ounce bottles, two epoxy bottles, one accelerator, one pill bottle for tips and blades, and one hobby knife. We like this version because it will hold CA and epoxy together, as well as a hobby knife which is always handy to have when building.
As with all of Retro RC’s designs, the kits are laser cut and include instructions. You will likely find them to be the easiest kits you will ever build. They do a great job of keeping your glue together and organized and preventing the contents from being accidentally knocked over during use.
Retro RC; Box 193, Keego Harbor MI 48320; Tel.: (248) 212-9666; website: www.retrorc.com
BSI Foam-Cure @ $2.99-$4.99 + S&H from Bob Smith Industries Inc., 8060 Morro Rd., Atascadero CA 93422; Tel.: (805) 466-1717; website: www.bsi-inc.com.
Bob Smith Industries introduces Foam-Cure, a silicone-based adhesive that works well on all foams, especially EPP and Expanded Polyolefin (EPO) foam.
Unlike CA, it is not fast bonding, is more flexible, and cures crystal clear after 10 hours. Modelers also have the option to allow Foam-Cure to air dry for 5-10 minutes before joining parts together, so it will act as contact cement for fast initial tack.
Foam-Cure is available through hobby shops in a 1-ounce size (BSI-141) or 4-ounce size (BSI-142).
Heli-Max 1/43-scale Black Hawk Brushless Aerobatic Helicopter @ $299.99-$349.99 + S&H from Hobbico, 3002 N. Apollo Dr., Suite #1, Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; website: www.helimax-rc.com.
Only Heli-Max can bring to the hobby the spitting image of a Black Hawk helicopter as a fully assembled, brushless electric model complete with a four-blade, collective-pitch rotor head and variable-pitch tail rotor for outstanding aerobatics.
The Black Hawk features Triple Axis Gyro Stabilization (TAGS) for exceptionally stable flights. The helicopter’s nose is magnetic, making battery changes easy and quick. The scale detail is realistic, including exit door grabs, a detailed cockpit, engine intakes, and windshield wipers.
The RTF version requires eight AA batteries, while the Transmitter-Ready (Tx-R) version requires a six-channel, 2.4 GHz SLT helicopter transmitter or an AnyLink and compatible six-channel helicopter transmitter.
Both versions include TAGS, the installed motor, ESC, servos, SLT receiver, a 7.4-volt, 600 mAh LiPo battery, and a variable-rate balancing AC LiPo battery.
Zipper @ $109.99 + S&H from Hitec RCD, 12115 Paine St., Poway CA 92064; Tel.: (858) 748-8440; website: www.hitecrcd.com.
Made from durable EPO foam, the Zipper features aileron/elevator three-channel controls, a 2,500 Kv brushless outrunner motor, 10-amp ESC, and a 4 x 3 propeller. The 23.6-inch wingspan model also includes the assembled airframe and installed servos.
Hitec recommends the Hitec Optic 6 Sport transmitter, Hitec Minima 6L receiver, and a 400-450 mAh 11.1-volt LiPo battery.
Sailplane Carbon Launching Platform @ $139 + S&H from Esprit Model, 1240 Clearmont St. NE #12, Palm Bay FL 32905; Tel.: (321) 729-4287; website: www.espritmodel.com.
Esprit Model’s new sailplane-launching platform allows modelers to reach optimal thermal-hunting altitudes without the expense of a winch or the hassle of a hi-start.
Great for clubs that do not have the space for traditional sailplane launch systems, the platform mounts to a 70-inch or larger high-wing model and is made from a 6mm carbon-fiber and light-plywood sandwich.
Two side frames, four mounting L-brackets, two horizontal supports, one platform, three installation rods with nuts, and four installation bolts with nuts, are included.
A video and step-by-step installation guide is available on Esprit Model’s website.
C-Ray 180 PNP @ $99.99 + S&H from Horizon Hobby Inc., 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; www.e-fliterc.com.
The E-flite C-Ray 180 Plug-n-Play (PNP) flying wing is designed with simplicity in mind.
The lightweight Z-Foam construction makes it possible for the C-Ray to bounce back from crashes with minimal impact to its flying performance. The copious wing area increases stability. A large, magnetic hatch provides instant access, while a hand-launch grip doubles as a protective landing skid.
The C-Ray comes installed with a high-output, 180-size, 2,500 Kv brushless outrunner motor, a brushless 8-amp micro ESC, and flush-mounted 3-gram super sub-microservos. A full-color decal sheet is also included, providing multiple trim options.
A minimum four-channel transmitter with elevon mixing, minimum four-channel receiver, 7.4-volt 2S 430-450 mAh (20C minimum) LiPo flight battery, and a charger for the flight battery, are required to complete the C-Ray.
JR XG14 14-Channel DMSS Radio System @ $649.99 + S&H from JR Americas, Inc., Box 8757, Champaign IL 61826; email: [email protected]; website: www.jramericas.com.
Sporting 14 channels at an unbelievably affordable price, the new JR XG14 radio is the best choice for a professional class system.
Featuring a large, backlit screen, premium-grade gimbals with CNC-machined aluminum bases, and a lightweight transmitter design, the XG14 has a 30-model internal memory, with airplane, helicopter, and glider options, and an SD card slot for data sharing, storage, and updates.
Using specifically developed JR DMSS technology for a secure and reliable radio frequency link, the radio system offers an Intelligent Output System for enhanced control accuracy and advanced telemetry functions to display critical flight data when it’s needed the most. The XG14 is also JR’s first system to offer the new JR X Bus digital serial data communication technology, making it capable of connecting up to four servos per channel via the X Bus serial connector.
Programming is easy with the scroll bar and four push-button entry keys. The XG14 also features an eight-channel fail-safe, programmable throttle cut, two independent programmable timers, and a user-assigned switch function.
Included with the radio is the choice of one of four receivers, a 6.4-volt 1,400 mAh 2S LiFe transmitter battery pack, an NEC-A912 JR 9.0-volt power adapter, bind plug, and instruction manual.
Microaces Messerschmitt Bf109 E @ $53-$78.91 + S&H from Microaces; email: [email protected]; website: www.microaces.com.
Based on the E-4 variant White 8, flown by ace pilot Hans-Karl Mayer during the Battle of Britain, the Microaces Messerschmitt Bf109 E kit boasts down-to-the-rivets detail, realistic weathering, and near-scale performance.
Smaller and lighter weight than the Spitfire, but with a higher wing loading, the Bf109 E provides a different, but rewarding, flying experience. The removable undercarriage retains the character of the original aircraft. Landings and takeoffs form part of the experience of flying this aircraft.
The 1/24-scale model features a rugged airframe and components and authentic flight characteristics, with scale control surfaces and a clip-in, clip-out receiver mounting system.
A Spektrum AR6400, AR6410, AR6400L, or AR6410L receiver, DSM2-compatible four-plus-channel transmitter, and a minimum 300 mAh 1S 3.7-volt LiPo battery and compatible LiPo battery charger are required to fly the Bf109 E. The Microaces website provides an unparalleled amount of downloadable historical information about the full-scale airplane and the pilot who flew it.
Dual Servo Control Board and Servos @ $9.10-$31.60 + S&H from Micro-Mark; Tel.: (800) 225-1066; website: www.micromark.com.
The Dual Servo Control Board for animation, signals, switch machines, and more, has easy-to-use push buttons that program an action without using a computer!
End points and rotation speed can be set with the push buttons. Control one or two servos separately, together, in sequence, or back and forth. The actions can be controlled by toggle switches or by IRDOT circuitry (both sold separately). Screw terminals and plugs for soldering the wiring are included with the control board, as well as easy-to-follow instructions.
Select from three popular servo sizes: standard, miniature, or micro. Standard servos include five styles of horns (actuator arms), mounting hardware, and a 12-inch cable with a standard connector. Miniature servos include two horns, mounting hardware, and a 7-inch cable with standard connector. The microservos include four horns, mounting screws, and a four-inch cable with a standard connector.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
