Author: J. Haught
Edition: Model Aviation - 1997/08
Page Numbers: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
,
,
,
,
,
,

Toledo 1997: New Products

Jim Haught

The 43rd Annual Toledo Radio Control Exposition was held April 4–6 at the SeaGate Center, Toledo, Ohio. As has been the case in recent years, this report focuses on new products—items released at the Toledo show or whose release is imminent.

Note: See Del Ellis' "RC Jets" column in this issue for the latest in ducted fans and turbines.

Although there was plenty of new merchandise to see at Toledo, there were fewer total new products than in past years. A number of manufacturers, both large and small, were holding steady with their product lines or were anticipating releases in the latter part of 1997.

Here's a sampling of what we found:

Great Planes (Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826)

  • New 60-size F-4 Phantom II semiscale sport model kit.
  • Wingspan: 50 inches.
  • Weight: 8-1/2 to 9-1/2 pounds with four-channel radio.
  • Intended for modelers with some kit-building experience.
  • Described by Lanier's Bubba Spivey as "the coolest model at the show."

Lanier (Box 458, Oakwood, GA 30566)

  • Latest release: Extra 325 for .19–.32 two-stroke engines.
  • Designed by Rich Uravitch.
  • Laser-cut kit with 47-1/2-inch wingspan.
  • Weight: 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 pounds with standard servos.

John Helgesen — Pro-Cub

  • Profile version of the Cub for .32–.46 two-stroke engines.
  • For four-channel radios.
  • Weight: 4 to 5 pounds.
  • Wing area: 688 square inches.

ElectroDynamics (31185 Schoolcraft Rd., Livonia, MI 48150)

  • EDR-105 Onboard Battery Monitor:
  • Monitors receiver battery packs and alerts whenever voltage drops below a preset level.
  • Five LEDs show battery voltage in 0.5V increments.
  • 6V five-cell receiver packs also available.
  • EDR-103 Super Glowlite:
  • Available for multi-cylinder engines.
  • One version handles 3–5 cylinder engines; another handles 7-cylinder engines.
  • 4400 mAh Ni-Cd pack can light five glow plugs; 7000 mAh pack will light plugs on a seven-cylinder engine.
  • Futaba/JR-compatible system and servo connectors plug into the provided circuits.

Acme Aircrafts (61501 N. Ridge Trail, Washington, MI 48094)

  • New RC hand-launched glider kit: Tantrum.
  • V-tail model with sheeted white foam cores, Kevlar pod, and fiberglass boom.
  • Weight: 10–11 ounces.
  • Airfoil: SD 7037 variation.
  • Double- or triple-taper wing options available.

Hitec RCD Inc. (10729 Wheatlands Ave., Suite C, Santee, CA 92071)

  • Two new ball-bearing servos:
  • HS-85BB Mighty Micro Servo:
  • Torque: 44.8 in/oz.
  • Speed: 0.14 sec/60°.
  • Dimensions: 1.1 x 0.5 x 1.1 inches.
  • Weight: 0.7 ounces.
  • HS-225BB Mighty Mini:
  • Torque: 65.8 in/oz.
  • Speed: 0.11 sec/60°.
  • Dimensions: 1.3 x 0.6 x 1.3 inches.
  • Weight: 1.1 ounces.
  • Optional metal gear available.

Windsor Propeller (3219 Monier Circle, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742)

  • New series of three-bladed Master Airscrew propellers.
  • Currently available sizes: 11 x 8, 12 x 6, and 13 x 8.
  • Other sizes in development with diameters between 10 and 16 inches and pitches between 6 and 10 inches.
  • Suggested two-blade-to-three-blade conversion rule: decrease diameter by 1 inch and increase pitch by 1 inch.

Carl Goldberg Models — Air Wings (4734 West Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60651)

  • Air Wings series: all-balsa Free Flight gliders and rubber-powered models.
  • Three skill-level series available.
  • Primarily profile versions of military aircraft, plus Berlin and Gulf War sets.

Sullivan Products (1 North Haven St., Baltimore, MD 21224)

  • Genesis inflight generator system:
  • Keeps receiver batteries charged in flight.
  • Can recharge a separate battery pack.
  • Supplies current for receiver and servos when the engine runs above idle.
  • Can operate Genesis accessories.
  • Latest accessory: S667 Landing Lights package.
  • Previously released accessories include navigation lights and a simulated strobe light.

Lite Machines (1291 Cumberland Ave., West Lafayette, IN 47906)

  • Switched to NorVel Vmax-6 engine for its popular 100+ helicopter.
  • Engine: .061 two-stroke with Schnuerle porting.
  • Intended to be run on 15–25% nitro for this application.

Four Pi Inc. (4944 N. Orange Ave., Norridge, IL 60656)

  • Profile Stand-Off Scale P-47:
  • Wingspan: 52 inches.
  • Wing area: 788 square inches.
  • Power: .28–.45 two-stroke.
  • Weight: 48–56 ounces.

ViaGrafix Corp. (1 American Way, Pryor, OK 74361)

  • Released DesignCAD 97, a 2D/3D CAD system for Windows 95 and Windows NT.
  • Advances in customization.
  • Internet-ready.
  • Improved user interface and expanded HELP.
  • Free tech support: (800) 233-3223.
  • 1997 version of ModelCAD is also available.
  • Plans for an upgrade to the Wingmaster wing-design software.

Bob Smith Industries (8060 Morro Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422)

  • Solved packaging difficulties for new cyanoacrylate gel.
  • Product expected to be ready for release this fall.

Miller RC Products (159 Greene St., Kenwood, CA 95452)

  • Working on a new starter for six-cubic-inch engines and up. Working title: "Brutus."
  • Production of the company's 1/2A starter put on hold due to problems obtaining motors from Mabuchi (high minimum quantities). Alternate sources are being explored.

Bob Banka — Scale Model Research (3114 Yukon Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626)

  • No specific new releases announced, but many projects in progress:
  • A stack of some 5,000 three-views.
  • Many Foto Paaks.
  • "170 rolls of film from Oshkosh alone."
  • Bob was headed to Sun 'n' Fun after the Toledo show to gather more documentation.

The 1998 RC Expo is scheduled for April 3–5 at the SeaGate Center.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.