by sunny on March 6, 2010
The RC10T4 platform has belted out numerous national championships (seven, to be exact), and with the Team Associated RC10T4.1, the company has brought the same fetching engineering qualities into an off-road racing truck. While featuring many parts right out of the RC10T4 Team kit, it adds a new 2.4 GHz XP3-SS 3-Channel radio system and SHV1504 MG metal gear steering servo.
Available as a ready to run vehicle, it features an Interceptor-T polycarbonate body that's completely finished out of the box. The paint scheme and decals are very appealing, making for an attractive-looking truck that you won't be ashamed to show off, whether in your friends' backyards or around the tracks.
Molded composite chassis with set screw antenna tube lock serves as the RC10T4.1’s foundation and base. According to Team Associated, the strategically-placed chassis components allow for optimal center of gravity, providing the truck with good stability and maneuverability while driving.
A factory-installed Reedy 3300kV brushless motor should give this truck ample power for casual races, which they paired with an XP SC450-BL brushless ESC. The 2.6:1 ratio gearbox comes with sealed gear differential, dual-sided adjustable slipper clutch and rubber-sealed ball bearings. Other notable features include a battery strap with twist-lock thumb knobs, rugged steel turnbuckles and aluminum shock bodies with molded pre-load clips.
If you're in the market for a fully-assembled truck with a championship pedigree, the Team Associated RC10T4.1 RTR sounds like an awesome pick. Released just at the start of the year, it's priced rather fairly at $399.
Specifications
Scale: 1:10
Power : Electric
Length: 390mm
Width: 316mm
Track: 270mm
Weight: 1756g
Wheelbase: 288mm
Internal Gear Ratio: 2.6:1
Drive: 2WD
by sunny on March 5, 2010
Like the Blade mCX series of products? Then you're likely to enjoy this fun twist on the traditional heli: the E-flite Blade mCX Tandem Rescue. Designed for beginner pilots, it comes in RTF mode out of the box, requiring no setup or assembly.
It sports a realistic-looking body that's been pre-painted, complete with sticker designs and decals, based on Canadian rescue flyers. Both the landing gear and the included LED navigation lights does plenty to add even more depth to the realism. Built mainly for indoor entertainment, it weighs a light two ounces and comes with dual 7.5-inch rotors.
Package includes the Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM2 transmitter, which allows full four-channel control that eliminate frequency restrictions (an absolute novice pilot's dream). The coaxial, counter rotating rotor heads work great to provide much-needed stability for the lightweight rescue heli, apart from being just a thrill to watch. Other notable features include a 5-in-1 control unit and around eight minutes of flight time on a single charge (charge time is approximately 30 minutes).
Sticking strictly with the default settings, flight was great, making the Blade mCX Tandem Rescue an excellent machine for its target beginner audience. Since it's a rescue heli, you'll probably use it in mock scenarios that involve tight spaces and plenty of hovering, two things it manages rather handily.
Despite the tandem blades, it flies just as easy and fun as other products in the Blade mCX line. It can also be used for outdoors, too, although make sure there's very low to no wind. The heli is exceptionally light and it's just going to have a hard time making it in very open spaces.
In a nutshell: it's a very fun RC heli that pilots of any skill level can enjoy.
Specifications
Main Rotor Diameter: 7.5" (190mm)
Gross Weight: 2.1oz (60 g)
Length: 15.5" (394mm)
Radio: 4-channel 2.4GHz w/Spektrum DSM2 technology (included)
Recommended Battery: 3.7V 250mAh Li-Po battery (included)(EFLB2501S)
Experience Level: Beginner
Recommended Environment: Indoor
Assembly Required: None
by sunny on March 4, 2010
Van's RV-9 kit plane has gained huge popularity with its easy-to-pilot and relaxed operations. If you're a fan of that "everyday use" capability, you'll probably appreciate the E-Flite RV-9 450, a park flyer reproduction of the acclaimed hobby plane.
The 50-inch wingspan model retains the scale lines of the original, making it a real looker out in the field. Overall performance is excellent - light weight, stable flight and very sporty characteristics.
Assembly should take intermediate (read: some familiarity with plane kits) hobbyists around five hours to complete. Those more experienced with kits should put this together easily. Majority of the hardware comes with the box, although you'll need quite a few additions too, including a 450- to 480-sized brushless motor, a 4- or 5-channel radio, 4 or 5 servos, prop, speed control and battery.
Takeoffs are very easy to do with the RV-9 450. Like its real-life counterpart, it's very maneuverable, able to take on even small spaces. Hovering is very smooth and slow flights take almost no work, with the plane exhibiting admirable stability. Because of its size and general design, it looks gorgeous in the air as well.
Unlike the full-scale version though (as far as I know), this performs stunts very capably - spins, hammerheads and other 3D movements are handled well. In fact, the generous elevator and rudder ensures it can do pretty much any aerobatic maneuver you can imagine throwing it into.
Packed with surprising performance (I really thought this was all about fun, relaxed cruising), the E-Flite RV-9 450 turned out to be an impressive park flyer. Paired with authentic scale looks and relatively accessible assembly, this is an absolute winner in my book.
Specifications
Wingspan:50.0 in (1270mm)
Overall Length:38.0 in (920mm)
Wing Area:385 sq in (24.8 sq dm)
Flying Weight:3640 oz (10201135 g)
Trim Scheme Colors:Hanger 9® UltraCote® Bright Yellow (HANU872); Deep Blue (HANU873); Black (HANU874); True Red (HANU866)
Experience Level:Intermediate
Recommended Environment:Outdoor
by sunny on March 3, 2010
Here's something new for fans of older racers to watch out for: an upcoming Tamiya model of the 1971 East African Safari Rally superstar, the Nissan Datsun 240Z. If you're not familiar with that 6,200 km race, the #11 240Z basically took it all - Overall Victory, Class Victory, Team Victory and Manufacturers Championship, along with the hearts of every spectator looking on.
The Tamiya RC Datsun 240Z Rally Version is a 1/10th scale model that revives the legendary vehicle that both Herrman and Schuller drove during that period. Reproduction looks very good from the photos, managing to produce a really cool-looking vehicle that will continue to turn heads even to this day.
Available as a kit, the package includes a polycarbonate body (with bundled, non-applied stickers and masking seals), all the molded resin exterior components in the photo (including the front/rear bumpers, hood spotlights sans the LEDs and light cases), black offset wheels and Rally Block tires. A Type 540 motor and a TEU-104BK ESC comes with the box as well, although you'll have to purchase the 2-channel R/C system, battery pack and charger separately.
Not much info on the chassis, along with the rest of the parts, so it's best to wait for more details before deciding on this one. While I doubt this can stand up to HPI's awesome Cup Racer version of the same vehicle, the Tamiya RC Datsun 240Z Rally Car is easily the better-looking one. The scale reproduction is just hot. There's no exact availability date, although pre-orders are priced between $220 and $250.
by sunny on March 3, 2010
Model planes are great. Radio-controlled jets, on the other hand, are just another bundle of awesome. Parkzone's entry into the mainstream EDF market has shown up in the form of the Habu EDF Jet, a full-throttle performer that comes with the company's usual Bind-N-Fly style.
Forget high speeds. This thing can cut through air like a bullet and pairs it with full-house aerobatics that's just downright thrilling. Despite that, it can be very forgiving too, making it perfect for intermediate pilots with a thirst for excitement.
The Parkzone Habu EDF comes with everything you need to assemble your flyer, other than a full range Spektrum DSM2 aircraft transmitter. While assembly isn't a breeze (that's mostly because I really suck at building stuff), the 36-page manual was very helpful, being chockful of photos and step-by-step instructions. By the way, you can fly this with or without landing gear - the latter, of course, offering the fastest speeds for the jet.
With the recommended 3200mAh battery, flight time lasted up to 10 minutes, which is pretty good. The top-end speed was downright whack (faster than anything we've seen from Parkzone), all while showing excellent stability. You can climb way up high with this thing without encountering any issues. It performed stunts very well, although we'd recommend the aerobatics for more advanced pilots, as the speed can get daunting for less-experienced ones.
Overall, the ParkZone Habu EDF BNF is a great value, being able to fly exceptionally well out of the box. Assembly is easier than we expected, construction quality is topnotch and it clears a wide range of speeds with no trouble.
Specifications
Wingspan: 36.3 in (920 mm)
Overall Length: 43.3 in (1100 mm)
Flying Weight: 2.8 lb (1300 g)
Motor Size: E-flite BL15 DF 3200Kv six-pole brushless inrunner (installed)
Radio: AR500 2.4GHz 5-channel Sport DSM2 (installed)
Servos: 5 total, 3 digital metal-geared (nose steering, rudder, elevator), 2 standard (aileron)(installed)
Trim Scheme Colors: Silver foam with electric blue and yellow
CG (center of gravity): Approximately 4 inches from leading edge of wing at root
Speed Control : E-flite 60A Switch-Mode BEC brushless (installed)
Recommended Battery: E-flite 4S 3200mAh 30C Li-Po (included)
Controls: Aileron, Elevator, Rudder, Throttle
by sunny on March 2, 2010
Billed as a "buggy for everyone," the LRP Blast BX S10 doesn't purport itself to be a world beater. With a slew of nice features and good looks, though, the 1/10th scale should make an excellent basher, as well as a competitive entry-level racer.
Physically, we love the airbrushed looks of this fully-mounted, pre-decorated RTR based on the pictures. Sure, there's not much originality to the body (honestly, it looks like a Chinese rip-off of a Japanese import), but both the wind tunnel- optimized body shell and high-downforce wing appear well-executed.
On paper, this sounds mighty impressive - steel differential gears, steel pinion and crown gear, big bore alloy shocks with adjusters, roll bars and more. It's a mighty tough off-road vehicle, indeed. The news release claims sensational driving performance, impressive quickness and superb handling, which, from the specs, does sound like it can deliver rather handily. Other notable features include a Type 540 motor, VTEC high-grip tires, digital LRP speed control and (supposedly extra-strong) LRP steering servo.
Everything pretty much comes with the package, so you can haul it right out of the box and start bashing. While LRP claims this can do quite well on low-end competition circuits too (it satisfies all requirements for the 1/10th electric category), it should be prudent to look towards the company's numerous option parts (particularly those intended for the S10 Sport and Pro variants) for better results.
For an entry-level buggy, though, the LRP Blast BX S10 sounds like a real...uhm...blast. Considering it comes as a true RTR (complete with radio, speed control, motor, batteries and charger), it is quite the bargain, priced at just under $200 with most retailers.
by sunny on March 1, 2010
A favorite among airshow fans during the 1960s, the The Great Planes Zlin Z-526 Akrobat resurrects the popular Czech plane in all its flying glory. Like its full-scale inspiration, the single-seater model is designed for one thing: to thrill audiences with its sporty aerobatic prowess.
While putting ARFs together is always daunting, this particular plane was engineered for convenient assembly. Note the difference between "convenient" and "easy." This is, by no means, a breeze, but it could have been harder. For our purposes, we used a 4-stroke .52 engine, although you do get a wide choice for the kit (2-strokes and Outrunner brushless are also accepted).
The Great Planes Zlin Z-526 Akrobat is a roughly 1/7th scale, so it's quite a big plane (58-inch wingspan). That makes it perfect for outdoor aerial shows, since people on the ground can spot its on-air antics easily.
Up in the air, the good looks pave the way for even better flight. The plane is absolutely fast and smooth. Crank the left stick forward and you'll see it streak like a straight-aimed missile. Handling shows a lot of neutral tendencies, so there's plenty of room to innovate for aerobatic flyers. It's not as precise as 3D competitors would probably hope for, though, so keep that in mind.
Seldom do you find a Zlin plane modeled. It's especially rare to see one with full aerobatic qualities as Great Planes has done with Zlin Z-526 Akrobat. Throw in the not-so-difficult assembly plus excellent flight speed, and it's an easy call if you're ever considering getting one. Yep, get it now.
Specifications
Wingspan: 58 in (1470 mm)
Wing Area: 633 in² (40.9 dm²)
Weight: 6-6.75 lb (2695-3005 g)
Wing Loading: 22-24 oz/ft² (66-74 g/dm²)
Length: 52 in (1320 mm)
Requires: 4-5 channel radio w/4-5 servos; 2-stroke .46-.55 cu in (7.5-9.0 cc) or 4-stroke .52-.70 cu in (8.5-11.5 cc) engine; OR RimFire? 42-60-480kV outrunner brushless motor, 60A brushless ESC & (2) 11.1V 3200mAh 20C LiPo batteries
by sunny on March 1, 2010
If you've been shopping for an eight-scale buggy, you must have come across the Tamiya TRF801X, the company's competition-level off-road kit. While we have heard some complaints about it (mostly the heft), our own experience was actually very satisfying.
There isn't much to distinguish it in the looks department, although we found it to be an attractive ride all the same. Building does require some amount of time (designed for advanced hobbyists, beginners will definitely find the manual a little lacking), although the decision to bundle screws with the parts that use them made sorting through the pile a heck of a lot easier (thanks for that, Tamiya).
Equipped with an anodized duralumin chassis and enclosed by a tough body shell, the TRF801X fosters dependable strength all while offering good mobility. It does feel a little hefty (while driving) compared to other top players in the class, which actually helps with stability, although it's nowhere near "tank-like" as some people have described.
Overall vehicle performance is great. The drivetrain is very smooth (Mugen-like quality), the acceleration is downright quick and handling is very forgiving. Driving it against other buggies, you'll notice the car practically saving itself while everyone else's vehicles are tipping over during corners and rough patches of ground. Jumps are a little harder, though, because of the weight, which tends to result in its falling nose-down a little more than other models in the same class. You should be able to iron it out with a little tuning, so give it time - this is the kind of ride that grows on you.
The Tamiya TRF801X 1/8 Off Road Competition Buggy is easily one of the best vehicles in its class. Like all top-of-the-line performers, it requires a little getting used to. The time you put in should be worth it, though.
Tamiya TRF801X Specifications:
Wheelbase: 320-327mm
Length: 495mm
Width: 307mm
Gear ratio: 11.34:1
Kit/RTR: Kit
Experience Level: Advanced
Items Needed for Completion:
- .21 Off Road Nitro Engine
- Tuned Exhaust System
- 2 Channel Radio System & 8AA Batteries
- High Torque Steering & Brake Servo's (2)
- 6V Receiver Battery
- Glow Driver
- Starter Box & Batteries
- Nitro Fuel & Fuel Bottle
- Paint for Body
- Charger for Reciever Pack & Starter Box Batteries
- Tires & Tire Glue
US $179.99
