14 MODEL AVIATION
Worth a Closer Look
The Twin Stick
combines the Ugly
Stick’s tried-and-true
classic 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 and 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 the single engine, so two .25s
or lightweight .40s are all the aircraft needs for power. Heavier
engines make the model overly nose-heavy and the extra power is
wasted.
Generous-size control
surfaces complement the Twin
Stick. Four standard servos
manage the elevator, rudder, and
each aileron half, while two
miniservos fit better in the space
provided for the throttle control.
The engines fit best if
mounted on their side. 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 its
throttle servos 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 thrustline requires a small amount of
elevator trim to be set 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
Cedar Hobbies Twin Stick .40
The RC Micro World online magazine is
all about small remote-controlled model
aircraft and the people who build or buy
and fly them. The people are of all ages,
from youngsters to senior citizens,
and are all over the world. They
are involved because they enjoy
the fun, the challenge, and the
satisfaction they gain from
participating, whether
as individuals or as
part of a group.
The models may
be powered or nonpowered (gliders) and may be flown indoors
or outdoors. The variety of aircraft designs is so great that
practically any interest can be accommodated. The models have
a truly universal appeal that has increased this activity from
hundreds a few years ago to thousands now.
This Cloud 9 monthly newsletter is dedicated to the
wonderful world of the smallest model aircraft: those weighing
no more than 6 ounces and using no more than 30 watts if
powered by electric motors.
A subscription only costs $2 per issue; annual subscriptions
are available. Free trial issues are available, as are feature
articles to show you how being a regular subscriber will help
you enjoy this hobby even more.
Cloud 9 Micro RC: 4326 Andes Dr., Fairfax VA 22030; Tel.:
(703) 273-0607; Web site: www.cloud9rc.com
World of Micro RC
Every aeromodeling
enthusiast owes it to himself or
herself to attend the greatest
scale-modeling event in the
world: Top Gun. Only Wildberry
Productions can bring this grand
competition to the screen in a
manner that comes close to how
it all happens.
In a production directed by
David Quint, find out how the
world’s greatest Scale modeler is
crowned at the Top Gun
Invitational. You’ll also get
hours of behind-the-scenes
footage inside high-ranking
competitors’ workshops, a
Modeling Gone Hollywood
guided tour of Bob Violett Models, and discover how expert
modelers made this feature-length film’s production even more
special.
This is modeling cinematography as never before seen. The two-
DVD set has a run time
exceeding two hours.
Electric Flight School is a
feature-length production that
can be described as National
Lampoon meets the Electric
Tournament of Champions (ETOC).
The 105-minute main
feature is about having fun
with model airplanes, the
outrageous potential they have
for fun, and how it is possible
for anyone to do.
David Quint pointed his
cameras as some of the best
RC pilots in the country and
leading experts in today’s
technology educated three
lovely students on how to put
the moves on electric-powered
aircraft. The second DVD in the set goes deep into the technical
aspects of choosing a power system, trimming an E-TOC foamie for
optimal performance, and much more.
Each highly entertaining two-disc set is filmed entirely in high
definition and packed with must-see bonus features for $29.95 plus
shipping and handling direct from Wild Berry Productions.
Wild Berry Productions LLC: 3609 S. Wadsworth Suite 255,
Denver CO 80235; Tel.: (866) 393-1592; Web site: www.wild
berryproductions.com
08sig1.QXD 6/22/07 11:52 AM Page 14
The DN Power Micro-
Controlled Li-Poly/Li-Ion
Parallel Charger is like no other
serial charging/balancer setup 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 them separately. There is also a general
charge port a 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
into 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 its
user disconnects the pack. A protective circuit guards against
inadvertently connecting the battery in reverse. Also, if the cell
voltage measures below 2.7, it’s regarded as damaged and its charge
cycle will be canceled; likewise if the
voltage measures higher than 4.2.
The compact DN Power Spirit
Parallel Charger uses LEDs to
indicate charge status and input.
You won’t forget what the LEDs
mean because the code is clearly
printed on the case.
This charger’s output is 0.3-2.1
amps, selectable in 0.3-amp increments. As does its four-cell brother,
it works through the JST balance connector on the battery 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 wire
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
12mm: the same as the stock
Blade CX pack.
XUS HOBBY: 2385
Lindaire Dr., San Jose CA
95128; Tel.: (408) 504-9005;
Web site: www.xushobby.com MA
August 2007 15
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 strut.
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
impossible to break.
Gorilla Gear is available in
tall (same as the stock-height TRex)
or a lighter short/low-profile type. The secret is in the high-strength
flexible polymer from which the struts are made.
Indestructible Helicopter Parts
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 it takes
from the user, and a field box’s expected life is almost shorter than
that of the average model.
The Nitro Power Station is compact and looks ultramodern. The
low-profile, broad-base blueprint is less likely to tip over in the car
while in 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.
Everything needed to start a glow-fuel-powered airplane is
designed into the Nitro Power Station, but the owner will have to
supply a 7-amp, 12-volt battery; electric starter; and plug igniter.
Included with the completely wired and ready-to-go Nitro Power
Station is Slimline’s 12-volt fuel pump, which comes plumbed with
large silicone fuel tubing and attached to a Slimline leak-free
aluminum fuel-bottle cap.
Inside the easy-to-clean and ergonomically molded plastic
assembly is an incorporated digital control/microprocessor-based
power panel to command all the Nitro Power Station’s features.
Even though this control center has a pulse-driven glow-plug driver
with an LED for Good/Fair/Poor condition indicators and automatic
battery-voltage compensation, on top of the box, in a convenient
storage location, is a Pulse Drive Glow Igniter charger that is linked
to LED charging/full indicators and an automatic shutoff on the
control center.
Every time the control center is turned on, it does an automatic
self-diagnostic to show that all the 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
and 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
Slimline’s Nitro Caddy
Worth a Closer Look
See page 191 for submission guidelines
XUS HOBBY’s Li-Poly Latest
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, insane 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
08sig1.QXD 6/22/07 12:38 PM Page 15