Worth a Closer Look
Adjustable Wing Caddy
If your model’s wing panels have ever floated around in the back of your vehicle on the way to your flying site, this product may be for you.
This unit can be made to fit different-size wings by adjusting the length of the pipe that joins the two end units before gluing the caddy. All parts are padded with foam pipe wrap to protect your wing panels from damage.
To use the caddy, insert your wing panels’ LEs down and servo linkages facing out. Twist the end units until the uprights touch the wings, thus securing them in place.
Aviation Concepts: (631) 610-5169; Web site: www.hangtimes.com
Ultrafly F-16 Foam Jet
Ultrafly’s newest addition to its electric-powered lineup of quality foam aircraft is this replica of the F-16.
Decals are included for recreating the exciting US Air Force Thunderbirds trim scheme or modelers can use acrylic paints for a customized look.
Construction consists of molded, dense, smooth-surface foam and a low number of interlocking parts, a one-piece wing, and a high-impact plastic nose cone for extra protection. The clear Lexan belly pan also adds protection during landings, along with more safety during hand launching.
There are two versions of the F-16: one with a Falcon 400 brushed motor and the other with a 32-kilovolt (kV) brushless motor and 3:1 gearbox.
The F-16 has a wingspan of 25 inches, a wing area of 139.5 square inches, and a flying weight of 21 ounces.
Required are a four-channel radio with three microservos, an ESC (200-amp minimum), and a 10-cell NiMH (3S 11.1-volt, 1200 mAh Li-Poly) battery.
The F-16 with Falcon 400 motor has a street price of $69.99, and the F-16 with the 32 kV brushless motor has a street price of $139.99.
Tower Hobbies: Box 9078, Champaign IL 61826; Tel.: (800) 637-6050; Web site: www.towerhobbies.com
ParkZone P-51D RTF
The North American P-51D Mustang—the most successful fighter of World War II—still thrills thousands today in air shows and air races around the world. Now you can experience Mustang thrills on a smaller scale with this fully aerobatic, charged-and-fly reproduction.
Getting this model airborne is simple. Attach the wing and tail, connect the battery to the charger, and you can be flying it in as few as 40 minutes.
Once in the air, you can choose between two flight modes with the flip of a transmitter switch. Mode “A” limits the amount of control-surface travel for transitioning pilots, so maneuvers are smooth and manageable. Mode “B” grants an experienced pilot maximum control-surface movement for high-energy Mustang maneuvers such as Loops, Victory Rolls, Cuban Eights, and more.
Prolific park flying fans will be pleased to know that the Mustang’s receiver/ESC module and two servos can be removed and used in other Speed 370- or 400-class electric-powered aircraft. These include V-tails and delta wings, thanks to selectable control mixing in the receiver.
The receiver comes equipped with an X-Port connector, and the speed control’s automatic cutoff can be adjusted to work with three-cell Li-Poly packs.
The P-51 has a wingspan of 39.5 inches, a length of 34 inches, and weighs 29 ounces ready to fly. Power comes from a 480 motor with gearbox (included) and a nine-cell, 10.8-volt, 1000 mAh NiMH battery (also included). A proportional three-channel FM radio and DC peak-detection charger round out the package for a retail price of $179.99.
Horizon Hobby Distributors: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign IL 61822; Tel.: (800) 338-4639; Web site: www.horizonhobby.com
Push-Pull Electric Power System
Many of the top pilots are using variable-pitch electric propellers, and now this hardware is available for the rest of us. With the latest PPS-4D propeller from Ikarus, you can even fly your model backward. This innovative propeller allows flight maneuvers you may have not even thought about.
This system can be retrofitted to most any Shock Flyer or other 3-D foamie model. However, you will need an additional servo to control the propeller pitch.
The Ikarus S2 brushless motor and PPS-4D propeller set retails for $129.
Ikarus USA: (239) 690-0003; Web site: www.ikarus-modellbau.de/onlineshop/usa/index.php
Evolution Gas Engines
Giant Scale pilots can now experience the ease and efficiency of this brand with its new line of gas engines. Each is purpose-built for model airplanes with new porting technology and a new electronic ignition system that provides the no-fuss flying for which Evolution’s glow engines are famous.
Each power plant is compatible with existing mounts and features ball-bearing-supported crankshafts. These engines also come equipped with Walbro carburetors that have been preset at the factory, so you can spend more of your first flight flying instead of fiddling. Everything needed for installation is included.
Evolution 26GT specifications: displacement, 1.55 cu. in. (25.5cc); bore, 1.30 inches (33.0mm); stroke, 1.17 inches (30.1mm); weight, 32.8 ounces (930 grams); propeller range, 16 x 8-18 x 8; rpm range, 1,400-9,500.
Evolution 35GT specifications: displacement, 2.15 cu. in. (35.2cc); bore, 1.39 inches (35.5mm); stroke, 1.38 inches (35.2mm); weight, 52.0 ounces (1,474 grams); propeller range, 18 x 8-21 x 10; rpm range, 1,400-9,000.
Evolution 58GX specifications: displacement, 3.6 cu. in. (58.2cc); bore, 1.65 inches (42mm); stroke, 1.65 inches (42mm); weight, 64.42 ounces (1,820 grams); propeller range, 22 x 10-26 x 10; rpm range, 1,000-7,500.
The Evolution 26GT has a retail price of $399.99, the 35GT retails for $449.99, and the 58GX retails for $599.99.
Perma-Grit Tools DVD
If you haven’t been using Perma-Grit tools for your model building, you’ve been making things difficult for yourself in the shop! These tungsten-carbide, abrasive-surfaced tools are rugged, extremely long-lasting, and incredibly versatile. The tungsten carbide is actually welded to the surface of the tools.
In this program, master modeler and full-scale-airplane builder Ian Richardson gives a complete explanation of the wide variety of Perma-Grit tool types and what each one is typically used for in the model-building process.
He starts with the Perma-Grit “wallet” of flat shapes that include a straight flat, a concave shape, a convex shape, an angle tool, and round tools of various diameters. These implements are available separately, but we suggest that you buy them all in a set; eventually you will find a need for each of them.
Next Ian covers the wide selection of Perma-Grit sanding blocks. They are rigid aluminum extrusions that have flat Perma-Grit surfaced strips attached via a strong adhesive. The blocks have two parallel surfaces, and each surface is fitted with a different grit Perma-Grit strip.
These tools can be used as normal sanding blocks or turned on their edges to make right-angle sanders that are extremely useful in performing important modeling jobs, such as turning sheet-balsa edges before gluing them together into wing skins. Several lengths of blocks are available, and there is also a type that has a bevel to allow you to access hard-to-reach areas.
Two sizes of needle files are available with the Perma-Grit coating, and there is a riffler-type set with bent ends that is handy for sanding intricate shapes on cowlings and other multicontoured model surfaces.
A complete selection of Perma-Grit rotary files is available, and they have 1/8-inch shanks to allow them to be used with standard modeling power hand tools. This set includes a narrow cone shape, a standard-type drum shape with grit on the end (and the sides), a pancake shape, and a small countersink shape.
Ian also shows some Perma-Grit specialty tools, including hacksaw blades, cutting disks, and three spar-slot cutting tools.
Most Perma-Grit tools are available in two roughnesses. The coarse version is comparable to 180-grit sandpaper, and the fine version is equivalent to 320-grit sandpaper.
One of the most fascinating parts of the DVD was Ian’s demonstration of how easy it is to clean Perma-Grit tools. He uses paint stripper to soften any areas that are clogged from sanding wet epoxy, and then he uses a stiff scrub brush to force the clogs out of the grit. A quick washing with hot soap and water brings the tool back to like-new condition.
This program runs 30 minutes and has terrific production values. You will learn all you need to know to start effectively incorporating Perma-Grit tools into your modeling.
The Perma-Grit Tools DVD is priced at $18.99 plus $7.50 shipping and handling. If you purchase $75 worth of Perma-Grit tools from Bob Violett Models at one time, the DVD is included free!
Bob Violett Models: 170 State Rd. 419, Winter Springs FL 32708; Tel.: (407) 327-6333; Fax: (407) 327-5020; Web site: www.bvmjets.com
In each installment of “Worth a Closer Look” we do our best to bring you new and exciting products from our industry. These write-ups are not press releases, but are actually minireviews written by the Model Aviation staff. In each instance the product or service is actually built, tested, flown, used, etc. to give you a firsthand account of how it performs.
We have found some of these items on our own, but many have been brought to our attention from outside sources. If you have a product or service that you feel might be “worth a closer look,” contact Model Aviation Associate Editor Michael Ramsey at (765) 287-1256, ext. 223, or send an E-mail to [email protected].
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
