Worth a Closer Look - 2007/07
1/3 Scale Nieuport 17 and 1/4 Scale Spad 13
The Nieuport is not a true biplane; it is a “sesquiplane” (one-and-a-half wing) configuration, which combines a biplane’s strength and maneuverability with a monoplane’s speed to create one of the most successful fighters of World War I. This was demonstrated in the movie Flyboys.
The Nieuport 17 has a top wingspan of 107.375 inches and a wing area of 2,775 square inches. Its overall weight is expected to be 26–30 pounds with a 40–50cc gas engine or a 2.4–3.0 cu. in. glow engine. Its fuselage length is 82 inches. The kit price is $538.95.
The Spad 13 features a scale exhaust system, screen-covered side access panels, and radiator screen and shutters—everything that makes a Spad a Spad. Also included are scale machine-gun installations (machine guns sold separately), louver panels, and valve-cover blisters. The Spad has a wingspan of 79.25 inches and an area of 2,180 square inches. The fuselage length is 61.25 inches, and the expected weight is 20–22 pounds with a 25–35cc gas engine or a 1.50–1.80 cu. in. glow engine. The kit price is $349.95; orders are being taken now.
- Balsa USA: Box 164, Marinette, WI 54143
Tel.: (800) 225-7287 Web site: www.balsausa.com
Loc8tor Plus
Attach a small tag to your model airplane, and you will be able to find it in high grass, soybean fields, corn fields, or trees and brush. You can also mark and easily locate keys, day planners, cell phones, purses, and other valuables. The handheld unit directs, by sound and visual cues, you to the misplaced item. The Plus unit can be set to activate by sound alert and vibration if an item goes outside the preset area.
The small 5-gram tags can be easily attached to nearly anything with the enclosed ring and elastic cord or the enclosed double-stick adhesive. The effective distance is nearly 600 feet line of sight outdoors. Normal construction is invisible to the Loc8tor. Concrete and steel naturally limit the effective distance.
- Loc8tor Pack: $99.99 (comes with two tags)
- Loc8tor Plus Pack: $169.99 (comes with three tags and one Panic Tag)
- ASB Technology Loc8torus: Tel.: (215) 579-0334
E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.loc8torus.com
Merlin Glow Plugs
Years of experience have made the Merlin line of glow plugs respected among car, boat, and aircraft glow-engine users. Designed and manufactured to high standards, the line offers almost 20 plugs to suit the needs of any glow-fuel-burning engine. A Merlin plug’s average life span is more than 2 gallons of fuel.
Merlin plugs are now easier to identify with a color-coding system: blue indicates a cold plug, green is medium heat, and red-coded plugs are hot types designed for lower-nitromethane fuels. Heavy-Duty and Extra Heavy-Duty plugs are designed for high-rpm applications such as cars, ducted fans, or Pylon Racing engines. All Merlin plugs use a glass insulator to protect the element and ensure long life.
- Merlin Glow Plugs Inc.: Box 1036, Crown Point, IN 46308
Tel.: (708) 246-3730 Web site: www.merlinglowplugs.com
Small Batch Epoxy Scale Kit
West System Inc.’s new scale is configured especially for measuring small amounts of epoxy. It allows accurate dispensation of as few as several drops for small projects to as much as 4 fluid ounces when calculating additive percentages, and it can be used to check the accuracy of dispensing pump sets.
This digital, precalibrated, 0.1- to 150.0-gram scale comes with isolated batteries installed and a full two-year limited warranty. Structured within a sturdy 5 x 3 x 3/4-inch case, this go-anywhere unit fits nicely into a shirt or jacket pocket.
The durable, sensitive scale is presented as part of a “starter” kit comprising sealable dispensing bottles, mixing sticks, chenille pipe cleaners, and two sizes of small plastic cups. It is available for $37.95.
- CST—The Composites Store, Inc.: Box 622, Tehachapi, CA 93581
Tel.: (800) 338-1278 Web site: www.cstsales.com
Sullivan Onboard Glow Plug Driver
This new product offers the operator quick and easy one-button programming or automatic operation. The engine’s glow plug can receive power at any throttle setting, and that set point is stored in memory until it is changed.
The green status LED indicates activity, and burned-out plugs are identified by flashing on the panel. The unit doesn’t require a Y-harness; just plug its leads into the throttle servo and to any 1.2- to 12.0-volt battery.
The Onboard Glow Plug Driver weighs only 34 grams and is easy to install. Units are available for single- or twin-cylinder applications. Availability was expected by late May.
- Sullivan Products: 1 N. Haven St., Baltimore, MD 21224
Tel.: (410) 732-3500 Web site: www.sullivanproducts.com
Ziroli Giant P-47D ARF
Robart Manufacturing will soon offer an ARF version of the Top Gun–qualified P-47D Thunderbolt. This heavy metal giant has a long list of features that put it squarely in the category of Masters quality. The all-composite model will have surface detail complete with rivets and access panels. The landing gear will be from Robart, a name renowned for quality.
The 1/5-scale P-47D model has a wingspan of 92 inches and a length of 79 inches. At Toledo the prototype had yet to be weighed, but the production version is expected to be at least a pound lighter than the average built-up model constructed from Ziroli plans.
Recommended power is a 3.7 cu. in. gas engine. Two paint schemes will be available: the one shown and all silver. More information will be available on the Web site.
- Robart Manufacturing: Box 1247, Saint Charles, IL 60174
Tel.: (877) 584-7616 Web site: www.robart.com
Leon’s Spider
This charge plug adapts to practically any battery lead. The latest version is made with a longer lead, so it’s more convenient to use with today’s chargers and battery safety containers.
The Spider comes completely assembled with gold-plated plugs throughout. The 3.5mm banana plugs fit most chargers, and the junction sleeve is molded in place to insulate the connection.
Six outputs are installed, including:
- a female JST plug
- a male Ultra “T” (with safety cap)
- a Futaba receiver female plug (will also fit the standard UNI plug)
- a Futaba transmitter plug (not for use with JR transmitters)
- two blank leads the user may customize
This version of the Spider can handle 1.5 amps of continuous current. A heavy-duty version was expected to be released in early summer that will handle heavier current loads and include popular battery plugs such as those from Multiplex, Deans, and Anderson.
- Shulman Aviation: 1140 Citrus Oaks Run, Winter Springs, FL 32708
Tel.: (407) 359-1020 Web site: www.shulmanaviation.com
Flit Home Flyer
This true home flyer is innovative, durable, affordable, fun, and ready to fly. The Phase 3 Flit has a tiny 14-inch wingspan, weighs less than 6 grams, and uses tiny magnets to retain the wing and locate the tail surfaces. Assembly takes only a minute, and this model can be flown in the tiniest spaces.
The Flit features a powerful geared micro motor and featherweight carbon-fiber propeller. The control system is a three-channel, proportional, infrared controller with built-in flight-battery recharger, aluminum carrying case, and tiny 30 mAh Li-Poly battery.
Expect the street price to be $139.99 direct or from your local hobby shop. With a flying speed as low as 1.5 mph, the Flit is perfect for flying in homes, gymnasiums, schools, or even the office.
- Hobby People: 18480 Bandilier Cir., Fountain Valley, CA 92807
Tel.: (800) 854-8471 Web site: www.hobbypeople.net
The DA-85 Is Here
This long-awaited, greatly rumored new single-cylinder engine has finally been released.
The new Desert Aircraft engine isn’t half of the widely popular DA-150; it has a displacement of 85cc, which makes it a new engine. Test pilots have noted that vibration from this power plant is nearly nonexistent and that it will turn a 27 x 10 Mejzlik propeller at 6,300 rpm. That’s 100cc twin-engine performance! Desert Aircraft has developed a mass-balanced crank that makes the DA-85 extremely smooth.
Expect this engine to be available in early summer. Pricing has yet to be determined, so keep checking the Internet and your local hobby dealer for more information.
- Desert Aircraft: 1815 S Research Loop, Tucson, AZ 85710
Tel.: (520) 722-0607 Web site: www.desertaircraft.com
Dragonus II N-PLUS
The Dragonus is a Speed 400–class helicopter with CCPM (collective cyclic pitch mixing) for precise control. It has a main rotor diameter of 28.5 inches and an overall length of 26 inches. At 8.25 inches high, it has a flying weight of 27.5 ounces.
The kit has a rigid, lightweight aluminum frame, CNC metal and precision-molded plastic parts. Its step-by-step assembly is easy, thanks to the packaged parts in separate numbered and lettered bags. The manual’s exploded-view drawings show every part.
The rotor head is “programmable”; you can mechanically set it to one of three settings. The mildest is good for initial setup and general flying. On the most sensitive setting the control is instantaneous—great for radical 3-D flying. The parts’ fit and finish is excellent, with no slop in any of the control linkages.
A powerful 300-plus-watt brushless outrunner motor and three pinions (13-, 14-, and 15-tooth) are included. The blades are wood covered with heat-shrink film. The canopy is white plastic and can be painted. Flight time exceeds 10 minutes.
- Kit price: $158
- Hobby Lobby: 5614 Franklin Pike Cir., Brentwood, TN 37027
Tel.: (615) 373-1444 Web site: www.hobby-lobby.com
Worth a Closer Look
2.4 GHz systems are the hottest category in RC. Following are spread spectrum products that are worth a closer look. They can be expected to be available by early summer.
Futaba 2.4 GHz FASST Systems
Futaba’s new 12FG radio combines the unmatched precision of 2048 resolution with the groundbreaking advantages of Futaba’s proven FASST (Futaba Advanced Spread Spectrum Technology) 2.4 GHz system. This radio is for discerning RC pilots who insist on state-of-the-art features and functions for the most precise control imaginable.
The advantage of FASST Futaba 2.4 GHz systems is that they use Constant Channel Shifting. The frequency shifts every 2 milliseconds, so there are no signal conflicts or interruptions. If the receiver notices a problem with the data coming into one antenna, it rapidly switches to the other, looking for the sharpest signal. Futaba uses custom IC (integrated circuit) chips that have been designed specifically for radio control.
Futaba 2.4 GHz FASST systems leave the factory already linked. Once linked, the receiver will recognize and respond only to that transmitter. Binding more receivers is no problem; the linking process is simple. Just push a button on the receiver.
The 12FG radio comes with the R6014FS 14-channel receiver; the first single-unit spread spectrum receiver to offer more than eight channels. The transmitter features quad-bearing gimbals, SD Card data storage and transfer (SD card sold separately), preprogrammed mixes, servo grouping, 30-model memory, and more.
If you are happy with your current Futaba system, the company has three new module/receiver sets that can be retrofitted to the 7U, 8U, 9C, 9Z, 12Z, and 14MZ systems. Simply plug them in and start enjoying all the benefits spread spectrum technology has to offer without having to invest in a new transmitter. These “made-for” components fit cleanly and are free of wires and cables.
- For the 7U, 8U, 9C, and 9Z systems: set includes a TM-7 module and a 7-gram R607FS receiver.
- An eight-channel set is available for the 9C and 9Z systems.
- For 14MZ users: a module-and-receiver set that allows full use of the transmitter’s 14 channels.
The small, powerful 2.4 GHz FASST R606FS and R607FS receivers for flight systems can control Giant Scale models as easily as park flyers and weigh a scant 7 grams without the case. Futaba’s receivers boast higher sensitivity for less unwanted interference.
Soon to come is a dedicated 7C seven-channel radio system that fits squarely in the middle ground in computer radios. It will offer much of the 9C’s setup versatility matched to four-channel ease of use.
All the Futaba FASST components will be available separately or as sets. Check a local hobby retailer for pricing and availability. All items were due in stock by early summer.
- Great Planes Model Distributors: Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826
Tel.: (217) 398-8970 Web site: http://2.4gigahertz
Worth a Closer Look
JR 2.4 GHz Spektrum Systems
JR has two new pro-class, programmable aircraft systems: the nine-channel X9303 2.4, coming this summer, and the 12-channel 12X, scheduled for the fall. Both will feature all the software sophistication for which JR is known and the no-pins, no-crystals, no-glitches convenience and security of proven Spektrum DSM2 2.4 GHz technology.
The unique chip that is the basis for Spektrum’s 2.4 GHz technology was developed specifically for RC by an avid aircraft modeler who wanted to create a robust, ultra-reliable RF link immune to glitches and interference. This chip, combined with Spektrum’s patent-pending DSM/DSM2 protocols and the built-in redundancy of DuaLink, is the technology JR is proud to adopt.
If you already own a Spektrum-brand radio system, both new systems will work with any DSM receivers you already have, including the AR6000, AR6100, AR7000, and AR9000. When the time comes to move up to more channels, you’ll be set.
The JR R921 full-range receiver can be used with any type and size of aircraft. It combines a main receiver connected by a 6-inch lead to a smaller remote receiver, the combination of which offers superior path diversity.
The DuaLink dual-path redundancy technology and the fact that each of the two receivers is mounted in a slightly different location exposes each to a different RF environment and creates a bulletproof RF link in all conditions. You can even add a second remote receiver if you think the application calls for it.
Spektrum’s new Aircraft Module Systems provide everything necessary to equip a seven- or eight-channel Futaba module-based aircraft system and a seven- or nine-channel JR module-based transmitter with DSM2 spread spectrum protocol. Each Aircraft Module System includes:
- a DSM2 module
- an AR7000 or AR9000 DSM2 receiver
- a 2.4 GHz transmitter antenna system
- a Bind Plug for “binding” more DSM2 receivers to that transmitter
- a detailed user guide
Spektrum’s Flight Log is compatible with Spektrum AR9000 receivers and can be used to measure the radio link’s performance. The Flight Log displays overall RF link performance and the individual internal and external receivers’ link data. It also displays receiver voltage.
ParkZone’s new RTF Cessna 210 Centurion is a microsize replica of the general-aviation classic that can be flown practically anywhere—inside or outside. With a 15-inch wingspan and weighing only 18 grams, it is extremely lightweight and unbelievably maneuverable. It has more than enough power to perform loops and tail slides.
The Centurion uses 2.4 GHz radio control, so it can be flown without worry of interference. It even includes a display stand with a built-in charger.
- Horizon Hobby, Inc.: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign, IL 61822
Tel.: (217) 352-1913 Web site: www.horizonhobby.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
