Worth a Closer Look
Cedar Hobbies Twin Stick .40
The Twin Stick combines the Ugly Stick’s tried-and-true reliability with the twin-engine RC model’s rising popularity. This model is reminiscent of the old Midwest Twin Stick, but instead of a kit it’s provided as an economical ARF.
The Twin Stick is a stout, smooth sport model with a 65.6-inch wingspan and an overall length of 48 inches. The airframe is built from laser-cut balsa and light plywood.
The engines stick out from the wings and are located in approximately the same location as on a single-engine model, so two .25-size engines or lightweight .40 engines are all the aircraft needs for power. Heavier engines make the model overly nose-heavy and the extra power is wasted. The engines fit best if mounted on their sides.
Generous-size control surfaces complement the Twin Stick. Four standard servos manage the elevator, rudder, and each aileron half, while two mini servos fit better in the space provided for throttle control. The parts fit is good and the hardware is adequate. The instruction manual leaves something to be desired in clarity, but the information is accurate overall.
Our finished test model had a ready-to-fly weight of slightly more than 6.5 pounds dry with O.S. .40 FP engines up front and a square, four-cell battery pack at the back end of the radio compartment. The radio was programmed with flaperons, and the throttle servos were on separate channels so they could be properly mixed and synchronized.
The Twin Stick has tons of power with sport 40-size engines. The aluminum landing gear is somewhat soft for the fully fueled 7-pound aircraft. The high thrust line requires a small amount of elevator trim for a hands-free cruise.
The airframe is robust, and the Twin Stick .40 is a real bargain for $125 plus shipping and handling.
Cedar Hobbies: 7902 Bobwhite St., Brookshire, TX 77423; Tel.: (832) 202-7343; Web site: www.cedarhobbies.net
Slimline's Nitro Caddy
When shopping for a new flight box, consider the material from which the "box" is made.
We paint and protect our aircraft from the caustic fuel that can rot and weaken the wood and finish. Those protective measures have worked after considerable effort, but eventually the oil, alcohol, and nitromethane find their way into the construction and destroy it.
It's the same with our flight boxes. Built from wood, they are susceptible to the same corrosive effects from the fuel they transfer to and from the aircraft—and maybe more so because a 1-gallon fuel container stores a given amount of fuel 24/7. Add to that the beating a field box takes from the user, and a field box's expected life is often shorter than that of the average model.
The Nitro Power Station is compact and looks ultramodern. The low-profile, broad-base design is less likely to tip over in the car during transport. This product will take a beating even if it is slammed to the ground or slides around in the back of a car trunk, thanks to its thick, high-strength plastic frame.
Included and required:
- Included: Slimline's 12-volt fuel pump (plumbed with large silicone fuel tubing) and a leak-free aluminum fuel-bottle cap; fully wired, ready-to-go power panel.
- Owner-supplied: 7-amp, 12-volt battery; electric starter; and plug igniter.
Inside the easy-to-clean, ergonomically molded plastic assembly is an incorporated digital control/microprocessor-based power panel to command all the Nitro Power Station's features. This control center has a pulse-driven glow-plug driver with an LED Good/Fair/Poor indicator and automatic battery-voltage compensation. On top of the box, in a convenient storage location, is a Pulse Drive Glow Igniter charger linked to LED charging/full indicators and an automatic shutoff on the control center.
Every time the control center is turned on, it runs an automatic self-diagnostic to show that all indicators—such as those for the Full-Off-Empty pump switch—are in working order. The control center even has reverse-polarity protection and a convenient ATO fuse on the front of the panel.
The Nitro Power Station comes fully assembled for $134.99 plus shipping and handling. With a standard Sullivan electric starter, a plug igniter, and a full gallon of fuel, the steel-tube handle with foam-rubber grip keeps the weight balanced and easy to carry.
Slimline Products: Box 3295, Scottsdale, AZ 85271; Tel.: (480) 967-5053; Web site: www.slimlineproducts.com
Indestructible Helicopter Parts
If the landing gear under your helicopter isn't up to the task, the result will be more damage to your machine than just a broken skid. New Gorilla Gear from RC Hover is an indestructible landing gear that includes struts to fit the T-Rex, Shogun, MX400, and others. It is virtually impossible to break.
Gorilla Gear is available in tall (same as the stock-height T-Rex) or a lighter short/low-profile type. The secret is in the high-strength flexible polymer from which the struts are made.
The basic kit includes two struts and hardware, which is suitable to use with the original metal skids. Choose from black or high-visibility yellow, green, or orange gear.
Also available are Gorilla PRO-grammable Paddles and Gorilla Pro Tail Blades. Both have the performance of Gorilla Gear and are available in three colors.
The PRO-grammable paddle will fit the T-Rex 450 but is designed with a new, thicker airfoil for increased controllability. The optional paddle weight (included) adds stability for a smoother feel in flight. Reduce or remove the weight for extremely fast, aggressive 3-D cyclic. The weight can be sized to suit the pilot's taste.
Gorilla Gear is available for $18.95 for the short or tall version. Gorilla Pro Tail Blades are $7.99, and the PRO-grammable Paddles are $14.99. Buy all three at once and get a special combo price.
RC Hover's Hobby Stop: Foxfield Plaza, 369 Central St., Foxboro, MA 02035; Tel.: (508) 549-9959; Web site: www.rchover.com
XUS HOBBY's Li-Poly Latest
The DN Power Micro-Controlled Li-Poly/Li-Ion Parallel Charger is like no other parallel charging/balancer set on the market. This more efficient unit's LCD shows each cell's voltage via four separated internal microcomputers that charge a 1S–4S battery while charging each cell separately. There is also a general charge port the user may customize to suit other charge leads.
Just three buttons control the charge features, and four output leads are included to connect a one-, two-, three-, or four-cell battery to its appropriate JST balance connector. The 12-volt charger has an output from 0.2 to 2.0 amps in 0.2-amp steps.
A loud alarm sounds when the overall pack capacity has reached 90% and every minute thereafter until a full charge is reached and the user disconnects the pack. A protective circuit guards against inadvertently connecting the battery in reverse. Also, if a cell voltage measures below 2.7 V it's regarded as damaged and its charge cycle will be canceled; likewise if the voltage measures higher than 4.2 V.
The compact DN Power Spirit Parallel Charger uses LEDs to indicate charge status and input; the LED code is clearly printed on the case. This charger's output is 0.3–2.1 amps, selectable in 0.3-amp increments. As with its four-cell brother, it works through the JST balance connector and charges each cell individually with reverse-charge protection.
These metal-cased units have internal fans to keep their electronics cool. Their heavy-duty wire leads are high-strand-count copper with silicone insulation.
Fly the popular E-flite Blade CX helicopter with a DN Power 10C 900 mAh, 7.4-volt (2S) pack ($19.95 plus shipping and handling) and gain one to two minutes of flight time. This battery weighs 1.5 ounces and its dimensions are 65 x 25 x 12 mm—the same as the stock Blade CX pack.
XUS HOBBY: 2385 Lindarie Dr., San Jose, CA 95128; Tel.: (408) 504-9005; Web site: www.xushobby.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
