by sunny on February 27, 2010
Just released early this year, the Hobby Lobby Super Scale F-16 looks like one mean RC plane. Massive and detailed, it's a gorgeous rendition of the legendary jet fighter currently serving in the military of over 25 countries.
It's an ARF, so it comes with most the parts you will need to take your plane to the skies and begin shooting down enemies. Okay, the latter will require plenty of imagination, but the flying part sounds like an absolute thrill. You'll need to add radio, servos and battery to get it up.
How big is the thing? If you have a kid in grade school, the Super Scale F-16 is probably bigger. With a flying weight of 35 oz, it has a 28.33-inch wingspan, 43.5-inch length and a total 160.75 square inches of wing area. Yep, it's huge.
The set comes with mostly injection-molded plastic parts (such as the inlet scoop, scale landing gear legs and wheels), some hard plastic components (fins and missiles) and plenty of articulated detail. Based on the photos, assembly may prove harder than Hobby Lobby makes it out to be. It looks worth it, though. Hardware details include pin-type hinges, engineered nose wheel steering and carbon rod reinforced wings.
Top features include a 2600 Kv Outrunner brushless motor, an 80mm-diameter ducted fan, 45-amp speed control and an eight-blade impeller. The canopy and the base form the battery hatch, which are held steadfastly in place by earth magnets, making access to the battery easy. For realistic enjoyment, the jet comes armed to the brim, with AGM missiles, AIM missiles and reserve drop fuel tanks.
While there's no mention of how it performs on the official site, the Hobby Lobby Super Scale F-16 looks way badass. Recommended for intermediate model pilots, price is an affordable $260.
Specifications:
Length: 43-1/2"
Wingspan: 28-1/3"
Flying Weight: 35 oz.
Motor: Outrunner Brushless (2600 Kv) Included in Kit
Ducted Fan: 80mm Ducted Fan with 8-blade impeller (Dynamically Balanced) Included in Kit
Speed Controller: 45A Programmable ESC pre-connected with Genuine Deans Ultra Conns
Type of Build: ARF - Almost Ready to Fly
Skill Level: Intermediate
by sunny on February 26, 2010
Looking for a nitro truggy that you can rip from the box and set on the tracks in no time? The Ofna Jammin X2-CRT isn't only ready to run, it's completely ready to race. Tough as nails and packing decent power, it's a guaranteed way to get beginners acclimated to the class.
Clad in a blazing red and white color scheme, the 1/8th scale vehicle does just enough in the attractiveness department. The paint job is excellent and the decorations are busy, but tastefully applied.
The Jammin X2-CRT runs on a Force .28 engine with Electric Shaft Starter. It's an intermediate engine - easy to tune and low-maintenance. While good enough for an RTR racer, it's still rightly considered a basher's engine. For an all-around truck aimed at intermediates and below, though, it fits the bill perfectly.
Ask anyone who's driven this model and they're likely to give the same impression - this is an extremely durable vehicle. Boasting all-aluminum parts, this thing can rumble with the best of them. During drives, the handling feels very aggressive while the long travel suspension soaks up everything smoothly. Compared to many similarly-priced truggies out there (e.g. the Muggy), the difference in quality of experience is night and day.
Notable features include a new composite carburator, 150cc fuel tank, big bore shocks, 7075 Billet hard anodized aluminum chassis and a responsive two-channel wheel-type radio system. Do note that you may want to replace the servos down the line for more serious racing - everything else seems for keeps.
Hands down, the Ofna Jammin X2-CRT RTR is one of the best bang-for-the-buck truggies out there. Definitely well-worth looking into for intermediate drivers and below.
Specifications
- Length: 20.2" (513mm)
- Width: 7.1" (180mm) ahead of rear wheels, narrowest point
- Width: 7.3" (186mm) at rear wheels, widest point
- Height: 4.7" (120mm)
- Chassis: CNC machined hard coated 7075 aluminum
- Drive: Four wheel shaft drive
- Radio: Ofna 2-channel 27MHz AM
- Engine: .28 cu in (4.6cc)
- Exhaust: Polished tuned pipe
- Fuel Tank: 5.1oz (150cc)
- Transmission: Single speed
OFNA Racing
by sunny on February 26, 2010
When it comes to indoor R/C helis, the E-Flite Blade series should be a familiar name. The latest to carry the line (their eight) is the Blade mSR, a single-rotor chopper that seeks to fill the gap between co-axial models and collective pitch machines.
Factory-assembled, it comes ready to fly, complete with a 2.4GHz radio and all the batteries you will need to quickly get in the air. While not the most spectacular-looking, it does have some nice lines. With options for appearance and performance enhancers, such as glow-in-the-dark blades and a tailfin, it should bring enough satisfying visuals.
The tiny E-Flite Blade mSR is actually quite the capable helicopter. Hovering is very stable, requiring just slightly more control than a co-axial machine. Beginner pilots shouldn't have a hard time working through this RC, especially after a few practice take-offs.
Despite weighing a mere ounce, it can do a lot. Forward flight is easy to handle, with speedy acceleration and an even faster quick stop at just the flick of a button. It's a fixed pitch heli, so don't expect much acrobatics - it's good enough for a trick or two, though.
Trawling the air around your house, you'll likely find it to be a very responsive and durable chopper. Sure, it's probably going to break if you step on it, but normal falls and running into obstacles should result in zero damage. Hard to believe with its flimsy-looking frame, but true.
New helicopter pilots looking for a fun, affordable machine should definitely consider the E-Flite Blade mSR RTF. It's a tiny bundle of fun with enough toughness to last you a long time.
Specifications
Rotor Diameter: 180mm (7.0in)
Length: 200mm (7.9in)
Height: 90mm (3.5in)
Weight: with battery 28g (1.0oz)
Motors: Main motor brushed coreless (1 installed)
Tail Motor Brushed micro coreless (1 installed)
by sunny on February 25, 2010
Based on the successful RC8 platform from Team Associated, the Factory Team RC8T is a 1/8th scale truggy with a reputation to live up to. The buggy version, which came out months before, was heavily-lauded and the company did take their sweet time entering the newer market.
Since it's sold as a kit, you'll have to build the vehicle yourself. The shocks, differentials and turnbuckles are, fortunately, already set up, saving some of the hassles you'll otherwise slave through. Assembly isn't that hard, but it isn't easy either. Expect to reserve a full workday for it (or more, if you're not used to kits).
Team Associated has said that the Factory Team RC8T is a full-blown race truggy out of the box and they aren't kidding. Suspension, with the new big bore shocks featuring 16mm six-hole pistons and 4mm gold shock shafts, worked wonders, absorbing problems in the tracks handily, making for very smooth driving. It clears jumps with ease and can adjust effectively even while in the air. Handling, with on and off power steering, is very precise. Out of corners, you can accelerate hard with 4.30:1 gear boxes that provide maximum punch.
The car is specially light and agile, making for good runtimes even with no further modifications. It exhibited decent durability too, with its milled 3mm hard-coated 7075 aluminum chassis, aluminum top plate and aluminum steering rack. Other notable high-performance features include aluminum wheel hexes, a full ball bearing drivetrain, two-piece split-center diff mounts, an innovative clutch design and the Free Float Caliper brake system.
Overall, the Team Associated Factory Team RC8T Truggy Kit is an excellent box, even over a year after its first release. It's easy to drive, follows movements accurately and is very friendly even with less-skilled drivers. A great buy for the $500-something marked down price (yes, it's the going price now).
Specifications:
- Scale: 1:8
- Power: Nitro
- Type: Off Road
- Length: 571.5mm
- Width: 419mm
- Weight: 3946 (no rec. pack or body)
- Wheelbase: 375mm
- Internal Gear Ratio: 4.3:1
- Drive: 4WD
by sunny on February 23, 2010
Slated for release in the Spring, the HPI Blitz ESE vows to take short course RC to the next level. Throwing in a ton of premium upgrades to the already impressive 2WD's stock chassis, this can make an excellent replacement for your worn-down Blitz or a powerful entry to the short course truck scene.
Available as a kit, you can let your creativeness shine through as you customize the included ATTK-10 clear body with a paint job of your choice. It comes with a set of graphic elements and official logos to help you out in decorating, as well.
The Blitz ESE boasts a stiffer composite main chassis that claims overall quicker response. Color coded performance parts (white, cool gray and warm gray) let you see high-response parts at a glance, apart from lending it a more attractive appearance. Of course, it's only likely to remain that way until the first time it tastes dirt, at which point it will have to say hello to your favorite scrub.
HPI wasn't short on superlatives when describing the release. Precise steering and cornering from the firm front and rear arms, tougher skid plates for aggressive take-offs and landings, firmer bumpers for stronger and a whole host of other tune-ups have been outlined that make it a potentially super fast ride.
You'll have to supply a lot of the parts for this kit, including the motor, batteries, servos, wheels and tires. This adds a laundry list of things for you to pick up, but allows for plenty of customization on actual racing abilities. Expect the HPI Racing Blitz ESE Kit around April for a $250 price.
[HPI Racing]
by sunny on February 23, 2010
Heroic World War II American fighter planes like the P-40 warbird received much fame and honor for serving their country during their time. While I'm not big on history, I know a badass-looking plane when I see one and the E-Flite P-40 Warhawk 300 just totally made me light up.
While available as kit, a lot of the stuff is pre-assembled anyway. As such, building one is largely a breeze. It doesn't require a lot of additional equipment to set up either - just put in two servos, ESC, battery and a receiver to round it off.
Clearly, the detailed aesthetic will be the first thing to draw you in with the P-40 Warhawk 300. The camouflage paint job, coupled with that angry shark face, are just downright gnarly. Kit comes with a display stand that lets you show off the sexy-looking air striker.
Weighing only 6.6 ounces with everything in place, you can imagine the speed at which it will be flying with a brushless 300 Outrunner motor. Not only is it fast, it can perform a lot of the stunts that you expect warbirds to do, provided it doesn't require a rudder (you can add one, though, as an aftermarket part). You'll really appreciate the aerodynamic lines when you see the plane fly without hitch in the face of a moderate breeze. Despite the size, it really does handle the outdoors well. In fact, this thing is so fast you should forget about using it indoors, lest you want to crash it every time down.
Many will buy the E-Flite P-40 Warhawk 300 for its decorative properties, only to be surprised by its actual power. This is one fast plane that only happens to be awesome-looking.
Specifications
Wingspan: 25.6"
Wing Area: 108 sq. in.
Flying Weight as tested: 6.6oz
Airfoil: Semi-symmetrical
Motor: Brushless 300 outrunner
Wingspan: 25.6"
Wing Area: 108 sq. in.
Flying Weight as tested: 6.6oz
Airfoil: Semi-symmetrical
Motor: Brushless 300 outrunner
by sunny on February 22, 2010
The Kyosho Inferno GT2 Corvette C6-R comes from the Inferno series, one of the best-selling RTR nitro kits of all time. That should say a lot about what this car is about and, I have to say, it's hard to be disappointed.
Like most of the Inferno line, the GT2 comes in different championship-winning bodies, including the Red Bull Audi D4, the McLaren F1 GTR and the Aston Martin DB9 Gulf. Why choose the Corvette C6-R? Sure, there's accounting for taste, but in my mind, it's easily the sexiest of the lot. The fully-licensed replica body is just downright grand.
A long wheelbase chassis provides the foundation for the car. Being stretched, in this case, allows for greater stability, which you will notice when performing neck-breaking runs and turns at high speed. The added length also enhances the look, leaving it more proportional.
The Inferno GT2 comes with a big 4.6cc (.28 c.i.) pull start engine. A pilot-type crankshaft allows the clutch to be perfectly aligned with the motor, producing more power, as well as allowing owners to easily slot in an aftermarket replacement engine. The 150cc fuel tank features a quick-fill spring-loaded top, allowing you to refill the tank while the engine is running. It can manage runtimes of up to 15 minutes, then top-up again without shutting off. Other notable features include durable double A-arm suspension (extreme durability), two-channel radio with high torque servos, double disc brakes and a smaller 34mm flywheel.
Based on the Pratt & Miller racer that ruled the GT1 roost of the LeMans/ALMS series, the Kyosho Inferno GT2 Corvette C6-R marries both aggressive looks and tight performance in a downright sleek package. It's big, it's sexy, it's powerful - just the way on-road racers should be.
Specifications:
- Length: 20.28 in. (515mm)
- Width: 12.2 in. (310mm)
- Height: 5.31 in. (135mm)
- Wheelbase: 14.17 in. (360mm)
- Tread (F/R): 10.31/10.43 in. (262/265mm)
- Tire size: 3.82x1.89 in. (97x48mm)
- Gear Ratio: 10.14:1/6.3:1 (1st/2nd)
- Weight: approx. 8 lbs. 1 oz. (3650g)
- Engine: GXR28SG
by sunny on February 22, 2010
Loved the price-to-performance ratio of the Phoenix ST? Meet its new iteration, which claims to raise "the benchmark of truck performance to a new level," the Thunder Tiger Phoenix ST II. Kinda hard to believe the "benchmark" part, knowing the company's penchant for pricing at the bargain basement level, though.
Available with a pre-mounted and pre-printed body, it comes in six different color schemes, so you'll have a good number of shells to choose from. Body appears to be glaringly plastic up close, so durability might be suspect. Regardless, it's a good-looking 1/10th scale stadium truck - from a safe distance.
The Phoenix ST II uses a molded composite chassis that the company bills as "high-tech." From what I've seen of the old ST, it did manage to demonstrate ample rigidity and strength, so you should expect the same here. It's supposed to weigh lighter than the chassis of most average race-level trucks of this size too. Battery placement is adjustable, allowing for a better center of gravity during drives.
Power is funneled by a factory-installed Super Sports 17T motor, which should deliver both a nice push and acceleration. It comes with an optimized front geometry for improved steering and better rigidity. Adjustable parts include the camber, squat, wheelbase, shock position, slipper clutch and servo saver assembly. Basically, a whole slew of tuning is allowed, despite the fact that it comes as a ready-to-run package. Other features include a 2.4:1 transmission ratio, quadra-symmetric suspension and an included ACE R/C Jaguar 2CH radio system.
If you're familiar with the ST, you know its selling point: capable performance at a dirt cheap price. Same should go for the Thunder Tiger Phoenix ST II, which is available (from some retailers) for as low as $99.95.
Specifications:
- Wheelbase(mm / in.): 10.98" (279 mm)
- Weight(g/ lbs.): 3.00 Lbs. (1361 g)
- Length(mm / in.) : 15.63" (397 mm)
- Width(mm / in.) : 12.32" (313 mm)
- Height(mm / in.): 6.10" (155 mm)
- Ground Clearance(mm / in.): 1.89" (48 mm)
US $159.99
