Worth a Closer Look
Overcome the Fear of Flying
With the 40.25-inch-wingspan Hobbico Diablo, modelers can get into ducted-fan flight without fear. Sleek military styling gives this AeroCell-foam-constructed electric the look of a super-quick jet, but it actually has a trainer’s gentle characteristics. As aspiring pilots’ skills grow, the Diablo can grow with them—with an optional advanced wing and twin-ducted-fan unit that boosts speed and agility. The upgrades work with the four-channel Tactic radio, Li-Poly battery, and ESC that come with the basic RTF package.
The latest RealFlight RC simulator features the new InterLink Elite controller inspired by the popular digital-trim-equipped Futaba 6EX system. RealFlight is also Internet-ready, giving new and experienced pilots the chance to test—and improve—their skills against fliers around the globe. In addition, MA’s RC Scale Aerobatics columnist, John Glezellis, is featured as your personal flight instructor.
Get your feet wet before heading out to the lake. The RealFlight G4 features new aircraft and flying sites for a realistic float-flying experience. The splashes and smashes have been enhanced.
- Great Planes Model Distributors: Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826
- Tel.: (800) 637-7660
- Web site: www.greatplanes.com
Airtronics FHSS Radio System
Airtronics enters the spread-spectrum RC market with its new RDS8000. Like the RD8000, the RDS8000 has programming for aerobatic, sailplane, and rotary models. Everything the Airtronics name is known for in value and ease of use has been maintained, but now it has been enhanced with state-of-the-art spread-spectrum technology.
The full-range RDS8000 includes a lightweight eight-channel model 92824 receiver that is compact enough for park flyers; it has two antennas that stick out of the case, each just 8 inches long. The transmitter has enough memory for 10 models, and the LCD screen is large and easy to read.
- Global Hobby Distributors: 18480 Bandelier Cir., Fountain Valley, CA 92807
- Tel.: (714) 963-0329
- Web site: www.airtronics.net
Du-Bro’s New E-Spinners
A spinner adds that classy finishing touch to a model. Famous for its sturdy line of spinners for glow-powered engines, Du-Bro now offers super-lightweight plastic versions for electric-powered models. Three sizes and three colors are available. They are designed to fit most slow-flyer propellers and feature aluminum collets for 3mm motor shafts and a center screw to hold the spinner cone securely in place.
The available sizes are 1 1/4, 1 1/2, and 1 3/4 inches, and the colors are red, white, and black. Collet adapters are available separately to suit larger motor-shaft sizes.
- Du-Bro Products, Inc.: Box 815, Wauconda, IL 60084
- Tel.: (800) 848-9411
- Web site: www.dubro.com
Spares Worthy of Any Build
Rarely does an aircraft review include a glowing report about the accessories and hardware that come included. However, The World Models airplanes available from Airborne Models are renowned for that.
If you’ve ever owned an RC aircraft from The World Models and then needed a spare wing or tail, you have probably been comforted to find that even years after the airplane was released, Airborne Models still had replacement parts in stock or could special-order them quickly. That’s fantastic service.
These models come complete with accessories and covering that are often specially designed for them. Those items would make any aircraft better, and every hardware item on them is available separately for purchase.
- AirBorne Models, LLC: 2403 Research Dr., Livermore, CA 94550
- Tel.: (925) 371-0922
- Web site: www.airborne-models.com
Blade 400 and DX6i
If you cringe at the thought of ready-to-run models because of the poor equipment and accessories that are typically offered with them, Horizon Hobby will change that way of thinking. The E-flite Blade 400 is an RTF helicopter with bells and whistles, and it comes with an excellent radio into which many modelers would gladly program the rest of their RC fleet.
Flight-tested at the factory, the 3-D-ready, mini-size Blade 400 features a headlock gyro, digital servos, and push-pull CCPM mixing. There's no programming or setup to do; just charge the Li-Poly battery with the included charger and fly.
The Blade 400's transmitter is the icing on the cake; it's the new Spektrum DX6i. This new full-range, six-channel radio is basically the DSM2-equipped DX7 radio, minus the seventh channel. Onboard the helicopter is the solid yet lightweight AR6100e receiver.
The Spektrum DX6i system is also available separately. It features a new ergonomic case and easy-to-use programming scroll bar. The radio will be available in sets or just as a radio-and-receiver package.
- Horizon Hobby: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign, IL 61822
- Tel.: (800) 338-4639
- Web site: www.horizonhobby.com
P-51B Mustang ARF
The Sig P-51B is loaded with all the scale features a famous-warbird enthusiast could want: flaps, retracts, a molded canopy, a painted fiberglass cowl, and a complete Shangri-La decal set. The model is hand-built from balsa and plywood and is expertly finished in Sig AeroKote.
The P-51B's wingspan is almost 67 inches, and it flies great with a .90–1.00 cu. in. glow engine. The included spinner is scale in shape, and the provided mechanical retracts, which are exclusive to Sig, are the most reliable type the company could offer.
- Sig Manufacturing Company, Inc.: Box 520, Montezuma, IA 50171
- Tel.: (641) 623-5154
- Web site: www.sigmfg.com
Fast and Light Helicopter Package
Hitec introduces the new Heli Gyro Packs featuring the HG-5000 heading-hold gyro and digital tail-rotor servo. This high-performance combination is perfect for any 400- to 450-class electric-powered helicopter. The HG-5000 gyro is tiny—roughly 7/8 inch square and less than 1/2 inch tall—and it weighs a mere 0.35 ounce.
The standard gyro pack includes three HS-65HB servos for cyclic control and the new HG-5000 heading-lock gyro and HSG-5083MG digital tail-rotor servo, which offers a blinding transit speed of 0.07 second at 4.8 volts.
The Pro Gyro Pack includes three HS-5065MG digital servos for cyclic control (which have 10 more ounces of torque than the HS-65) and the HG-5000/HSG-5083MG combo.
- Hitec RCD USA, LLC: 1215 Paine St., Poway, CA 92064
- Tel.: (858) 748-6948
- Web site: www.hitecrcd.com
Micro Belt Sander
Nothing makes quick work of a sanding job like a belt sander. Proxxon now offers a powerful tool that is the perfect size for the aeromodeler. The sanding belt is located flush on the left side to allow surfaces to be sanded down to the corner.
A fine adjustment for the rollers prevents the belt from running off the side. It includes a spring-clamping system for easy replacement of belts without tools and is packed in a sturdy plastic carrying case with five each of the 120- and 240-grit sanding belts. The package also includes a screw clamp for stationary use.
This handy tool weighs just 1.54 pounds, and its housing is made from fiberglass-reinforced polyamide.
- Prox-Tech, Inc.: 2555 Tate Blvd. SE, Hickory, NC 28602
- Tel.: (828) 326-0326
- Web site: www.proxxon.com/us
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
