Worth a Closer Look
Aero Base Display Models
We ran across a unique series of small display models at the International Model and Hobby Expo last September. These exquisitely detailed replicas of legendary aircraft are manufactured by Aero Base and distributed by Great Planes.
Most Aero Base kits fit neatly in the palm of your hand. Their detail is amazing. You might think you need specialized tools, but assembly is easy and requires only a hobby knife, tweezers, and a few drops of cyanoacrylate glue (CyA).
Scale parts are photo-etched onto one small plate of finished metal (brass, copper, nickel/silver, or stainless steel), ready to be removed with a hobby knife. The wings are etched as a single piece, and you can create a realistic 3-D airfoil simply by twisting the ribs with tweezers.
One-piece fuselages bend easily into shape, and elevators and rudders slide into place and are secured with small drops of CyA adhesive.
Currently there are 16 kits of popular aircraft in sizes ranging from the 1.6-inch-span Wright Baby Racer to the 9.2-inch-long Graf Zeppelin. All include nameplates, and almost all come with a handsome black display base.
Aero Base kits range in price from $9.99 to $109.99.
- Great Planes Model Distributors
Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826-9021 Tel.: (800) 682-8948 Web site: www.bestrc.com/aerobase/index.html
Transmitter Stand
If you're new to radio control, you may not realize that some early transmitters had one feature that is lacking on most of today's models: a sturdy, folding stand.
Madison Components has released a new transmitter stand that is different from most other aftermarket stands; this one is made from .187-inch-diameter metal.
Weighing less than 2 ounces, the stand will raise your transmitter 3.5 inches off the ground. It quickly attaches to any transmitter with a metal handle (this is not for plastic handles) using two screws. Once attached, the stand swivels so that it will fold up against the back of the transmitter's case when you're ready to fly.
The ends of the stand have a rubber coating to protect your transmitter's finish from scratches.
Madison Components' transmitter stand retails for $9.99.
- Madison Components, Inc.
1059 Valley Crest Dr., Birmingham, AL 35226 Tel.: (205) 985-4040 Fax: (205) 985-9466 Web site: www.qualityrcproducts.com
Access Panels
Whether you're building from a kit or scratch-building, chances are you've needed a removable hatch to make access easier.
J&B Access Panels has introduced a new series of CNC (computer numeric control)-cut panels for a variety of purposes. As shown in the photos, we used a Standard Servo Panel to add an aileron servo to a built-up wing.
Each kit comes complete with precut plywood parts and holddown screws. Each access panel requires a bit of assembly (and trimming), but when you're finished you'll have everything needed to quickly add a panel into your model.
J&B access panels range in price from $4 to $7.
- J&B Access Panels
1115 Cleveland Ave., Glasgow, KY 42141 Tel.: (270) 651-9166 Web site: www.jbaccesspanels.com
Fighterbird
It would be hard to dispute the impact HobbyZone's Firebird Ready-to-Fly (RTF) kits have had on exposing thousands to radio-control aviation. Now the ever-evolving lineup includes a twist: the Fighterbird.
At first glance this model looks like HobbyZone's Firebird II, except that it's gray instead of yellow. Many things are similar: the same pusher-propeller configuration, tail-dragger landing gear, one-piece wing, battery pack, and V-tail.
However, the Fighterbird has a unique trick up its sleeve—or to be more accurate, under its fuselage. This kit includes an interactive combat system that snaps onto the bottom of the fuselage. With this new pod, up to six Fighterbird pilots can engage in aerial "combat," shooting each other down in what could best be described as aerial "laser tag."
Horizon Hobby sent us two Fighterbirds so we could put them to the test. As with the Firebird, the Fighterbirds come 99.9% assembled. To finish one takes approximately 10 minutes, which includes applying the stickers.
The package includes:
- Two-stick radio
- Charger (DC-only)
- Battery pack
- Instruction manual
- Instructional videotape
Our first thought was, how are we going to tell these models apart when they're in the air? Horizon was one step ahead of us; each Fighterbird comes with two sets of decals. Our case included the "Chomp" and "USAF" schemes. Other schemes are available, depending on the frequency of the Fighterbird you purchase.
The kit includes a DC-only charger which takes roughly 45 minutes to completely charge the pack. Although an AC/DC version would be nicer, this charger performed fine. If you put the battery on charge right after you open the kit, it should be ready to go by the time you're finished watching the video and assembling the model.
Control of the Fighterbird is the same as in previous versions. The right stick controls the V-tail's "ruddervators," allowing turns left and right. The left stick controls power. Applying full power will make the airplane climb, cutting power will make the airplane lose altitude, and using power anywhere in between will hold the airplane at altitude. Although this isn't the most precise control system available, it does a good job when combined with the wing's inherent stability.
Push the left stick full down and the pod fires, emitting a loud tone.
The heart of this new model is the under-fuselage combat pod. It sends and receives signals similar to a television remote control. The manual claims a range up to 50 feet; our review models were effective to approximately 40 feet.
After a quick range check, we launched our two Fighterbirds for the first sortie. Both pilots agreed to gain sufficient altitude before engaging because once the combat pod detects a "hit," it shuts down the motor for 10 seconds. All other functions continue to work, but the model will be descending. We'd like to see this downtime cut to five seconds for safety reasons (or at least be adjustable). It's possible for inexperienced pilots to find themselves in trouble if they're faced with 10 seconds of unpowered flight, especially when they're not ready for it.
Until you feel comfortable flying the Fighterbird, we strongly advise that you don't "engage" at any less than 200 feet. This will give you sufficient room to maneuver and recover during the downtime.
With the exception of the combat pod's beeping when firing and registering hits, the models are very quiet, so they won't disturb neighbors when flown at soccer fields, schoolyards, or parks.
However, don't confuse these models with backyard or indoor flyers. Although this is a low-speed version of combat, it does require at minimum a soccer field and light winds (less than 7 mph) for safe flying.
Our dogfighting duo had approximately 15 minutes of fighting time, each registering hits on the other. These models are a lot of fun and a good way to blow off the day's frustrations.
Horizon offers replacement parts—an optional 8.4-volt (900 mAh) battery and other options—available separately.
The Fighterbird has a street price of $149.99.
- Horizon Hobby Distributors
4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign, IL 61822 Tel.: (800) 338-4639 Web site: www.horizonhobby.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
