Worth a Closer Look
Mountain Models Magpie
Do you want a great trainer to use to learn how to fly RC? Take a look at the Magpie. It can be purchased as a SlowFlyer—with no ailerons—or as a Sport model—with ailerons. Either way, this is a great training airplane.
The Magpie kit contains everything needed to complete the model except epoxy and packing tape. Construction takes roughly 10 hours, allowing for glue drying time. The 17-page construction manual is well written and full of helpful photographs.
The two-piece EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam wing and fuselage are assembled with epoxy and made rigid with plastic straps. The fuselage and wing can be painted and covered with clear strapping tape or left unpainted and covered with colored tape.
The gray Depron tail pieces are reinforced with 2-inch packing tape. The ailerons on the Sport model and the elevators and rudder on both models are hinged with tape.
There are two laser-cut motor mounts: a stick type and an outrunner type. The stick mount fits perfectly, while the brushless mount—depending on the motor used—may require adjustment. Both mounts slide into a precut slot that sets right thrust and downthrust.
The landing-gear mount is also laser cut. The landing-gear wire must be formed and is attached to its mount with plastic straps. Epoxy is used to attach the assembly to the fuselage.
Motors from inexpensive RC Hot Deals types to E-flite’s 400 brushless are perfect for this airplane.
Students who have learned to fly using the Magpie report that it is stable, responds instantly, and is resistant to damage. It also flies well in a light breeze. Give it a try.
The Magpie SlowFlyer is $45 and the Magpie Sport is $47.
Mountain Models: Box 6815, Colorado Springs, CO 80934; Tel.: (719) 630-3186; Web site: www.mountainmodels.com
Park Flyer P-40 ARF
Stop! Don’t go away just because you read that this is a “Park Flyer.”
The Thunder Tiger P-40 Warhawk weighs only 15.5 ounces but is powered by an included, and powerful, 2928/09 outrunner motor. The attractive 34-inch wingspan model can be decorated in either Flying Tiger or US Army Air Forces colors.
This ARF “kit” includes the outrunner motor, a painted pilot, the motor mount, a spinner, the three-blade flying propeller, and a choice of wheels or faux retracts. The P-40 can be powered by either an eight-cell, 9.8-volt, 600 mAh NiMH battery or a three-cell, 11.1-volt, 1000 mAh Li-Poly battery.
Flying weight with the Li-Poly battery is 15.5 ounces, while the NiMH system increases the weight to 17.5 ounces. The Li-Poly turns the three-blade propeller at more than 6,300 rpm (tested).
That’s a lot of power for an all-foam park flyer that is this light. But then, this is a fighter airplane. Equipped with ailerons, this “Park Flyer” is really a “Park Fighter”—and an exciting one at that.
An ESC must be purchased separately. MA’s Sport Aviator (www.sportaviator.com) test model used an 18-amp ESC with a BEC, but you can use any ESC/BEC with a 12-amp or greater rating.
A radio system with three or more channels is required. The fully decorated Thunder Tiger P-40 sells for less than $140, even though it includes so many extras.
This exciting scale model qualifies for the new AMA Park Pilot Program (www.parkflyer.org) and is worth a much closer look.
Ace Hobby Distributors: 26021 Commercecenter, Lake Forest, CA 92630; Tel.: (949) 900-3300; Web site: www.acehobby.com
T-34 Mentor 25 ePTS RTF
If you want to learn the basics of RC but want a trainer that doesn’t look like a trainer, consider E-flite’s new T-34 PTS ARF.
PTS stands for Progressive Trainer System, which provides you with an airplane that will allow you to go from the training stage to aerobatics without upgrading or purchasing a new model. Even the equipment included with the T-34 is progressive, allowing you to advance in the electric-power hobby without buying more supplies.
This T-34 comes ready to fly—no building is required—and includes everything you’ll need to fly it. Among those items are the Spektrum DX6i radio system, E-flite Power 25 outrunner motor, 40-amp Pro SB ESC, Li-Poly charger, and Li-Poly battery.
The Mentor is Horizon Hobby’s first RTF electric-powered airplane to come equipped with Spektrum’s full-range DX6i 2.4 GHz DSM2 six-channel programmable aircraft radio system.
Besides providing freedom from frequency restrictions and interference, the DX6i features 10-model memory, a trainer system, dual rates, and easy programming with a unique rolling selector interface for airplanes and helicopters.
With all those features, the DX6i system will serve the student pilot well. It can be transferred into his or her second airplane, or even into helicopters.
T-34 Mentor 25 ePTS RTF specifications:
- Wingspan: 55 inches
- Length: 44 inches
- Wing area: 545 square inches
- Weight without battery: 4.4–4.5 pounds
- Weight with battery: 5.0–5.2 pounds
- Motor: 870 Kv Power 25 Brushless Outrunner (installed)
- ESC: 40-amp Brushless Pro SB (installed)
- Transmitter: Spektrum DX6i (included)
- Receiver: Spektrum six-channel AR6200 (installed)
- Battery: 3S 11.1-volt, 3200 mAh 15C Li-Poly (included)
- Charger: 3S Li-Poly balancing (included)
- Servos: four standard (installed)
- Propeller: 12 x 8E (included)
This model retails for $629.99 and has a street price of $449.99.
Horizon Hobby: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; Tel.: (217) 355-9511; Web site: www.e-fliterc.com
Worth a Closer Look
TEMCO TT-1 Pinto Book
Mark Frankel, a noted scale designer, builder, flier, and MA contributor (see his "State of the Sport: RC Scale" article in the April 2004 issue), has authored a book about the Navy's first primary jet trainer.
This book is an outgrowth of Mark's extensive research for a detailed 1/4-scale Pinto that will soon be developed. He acquired all the aircraft's original production drawings and manuals while interviewing numerous engineers and naval aviators who were connected with the aircraft.
The story that unfolds is fascinating. It tracks the Temco Aircraft Corporation's evolution and traces the Pinto from concept, through the Navy's evaluation, to the final cancellation of the all-jet training program. Although only 14 Pintos were delivered to the Navy, seven are still flying under civilian ownership. This book examines all of those in great detail.
The TT-1 appears to be a nearly perfect subject to model. It has beautiful proportions, a straight wing, adequate dihedral, and a wide landing-gear track that virtually assures great ground handling. Mark's 1/4-scale rendition might be highlighted in this column when it is marketed.
The Temco TT-1 Pinto is filled with excellent photos and illustrations from the technical manuals, as well as reproductions of factory blueprints. It retails for $17.95 and is available from most hobby dealers, or you can order it directly from the publisher.
Ginter Books: 1754 Warfield Cir., Simi Valley, CA 93063; Tel.: (805) 584-9732; Web site: www.ginterbooks.com
FlyCamOne
Is there an RC pilot who hasn't wondered what the airborne view would be from his or her aircraft as it danced among the clouds? Most of us have thought about taking videos and photographs from our airplanes, but until now it has been too expensive or a hassle to translate into reality. FlyCamOne from Hobby Lobby eliminates excuses.
Retailing for less than $100, this 1.5-ounce video/still camera fits anywhere (3.15 x 1.57 x 0.55 inches), has a pop-up lens to use if needed, and will take as many as 30 minutes of clear video.
FlyCamOne's 220 mAh Li-Poly battery charges from a computer through the USB cord. The 25 FPS video resolution is 640 x 480, while still-photo resolution is 1,280 x 1,024 (1.3 megapixels).
The camera records audio and is complete with an enclosed microphone. You will want to cover it with tape to reduce audio levels if you are not flying an electric-powered airplane.
FlyCamOne includes a USB cord, cushioned hook-and-loop pads, a separate mounting base equipped for external power if desired, and a small brace securing the pop-up lens at various angles. You must download operating software for your computer from a website, and the camera uses a 1–2 GB SD card (not included).
Mount FlyCamOne on a wing, inside the cockpit behind a clear windscreen, or anywhere else. It is small and light enough that many park flyers can carry it around their neighborhoods.
Go to MA's Sport Aviator online magazine for a detailed review.
Hobby Lobby International: 5614 Franklin Pike Cir., Brentwood, TN 37027; Tel.: (866) 933-5972; Web site: www.hobby-lobby.com
Top Flite Gold Edition P-51D Mustang ARF
Without a doubt, one of the most recognized aircraft of all time is the P-51D Mustang. Its graceful lines, powerful engine, and outstanding flight characteristics made it one of the best fighters of World War II.
If you've been thinking about getting a Mustang of your own, this ARF version of Hobbico's popular Gold Edition P-51D kit is worth a closer look.
This new offering features time-saving construction, resulting in a model that can be flight-ready in 18–25 hours.
This P-51 features interlocking parts for strength and a vacuum-formed cowl. The fiberglass cowl offers a true-to-scale chin cowl without the extra effort. Also included are preinstalled mechanical retracts, flaps that are already built into the ARF's wings, and an aluminum spinner.
This Mustang comes precovered in flat-finished MonoKote iron-on film, and it has a matching prepainted fiberglass cowl and prepainted spinner.
Gold Edition P-51D ARF specifications:
- Stock number: TOPA0950
- Wingspan: 64.5 inches
- Wing area: 721 square inches
- Weight: 8.75–10.0 pounds
- Wing loading: 28–32 ounces/square foot
- Length: 56 inches
- Engine: two-stroke .60–.91 cu. in. (10–15 cc) or four-stroke .91–1.20 cu. in. (15–20 cc)
- Radio: six channels with seven standard servos and one retract servo
This model retails for $379.99 and has a street price of $279.99.
Great Planes Model Distributors: Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826; Tel.: (800) 637-7660; Web site: www.top-flite.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
