Worth a Closer Look
In each installment of "Worth a Closer Look" we do our best to bring you new and exciting products from our industry. These write-ups are not press releases, but are actually minireviews written by the Model Aviation staff. In each instance the product or service is actually built, tested, flown, used, etc., to give you a firsthand account of how it performs.
We have found some of these items on our own, but many have been brought to our attention from outside sources. If you have a product or service that you feel might be "worth a closer look," contact Model Aviation Aeromodeling Editor Bob Hunt:
- Tel.: (610) 614-1747
- E-mail: closerlook@airbornemedia.com
Electro Caddy
Why drag your big, bulky field box out to the park when you're flying electric? One of the great elements of park flying is its convenience. To keep it simple, Du-Bro Products has designed a new type of field bag. Although it may look like a camera bag, Du-Bro has made some customized adjustments to hold your gear better than any camera bag.
The Electro Caddy features three exterior Velcro-sealed pockets for all your field tools, battery packs, extra propellers, adhesives, etc. The dual-zipper closure gives you easy access to the main compartment, and the shoulder strap is adjustable to fit anyone. Inside there is a sewn-in divider to keep your transmitter, 12-volt battery, and charger separate and in place. It even has a convenient antenna holder right on the cover.
This handy field bag has an attractive two-tone design and is available in blue/black and red/black. It retails for $29.99.
Du-Bro:
- Address: Box 815, Wauconda, IL 60084
- Tel.: (800) 848-9411
- Fax: (847) 526-1604
- Web site: www.dubro.com
Alpha RTF
When it comes to giving beginners the most successful introduction to the fun and exciting world of model flight, Hangar 9's newest trainer is an interesting take on Ready-to-Fly.
At the heart of the Alpha's simplicity is the new Evolution Trainer Power System (see last month's "Worth a Closer Look" for details). Other advantages of the Alpha are that it comes preassembled with a JR Quattro radio system, and it's preinstalled! The only assembly left is to join the wing halves, attach the tail surfaces and landing gear, and you're ready to charge, fuel, and fly!
The Alpha takes less than one hour to go from box to ready to fly. It has a wingspan of 63 inches, a wing area of 710 square inches, a length of 52 1/2 inches, and a weight of 5 1/4 pounds.
Horizon Hobby Distributors:
- Address: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign, IL 61822
- Tel.: (800) 338-4639
- Web site: www.horizonhobby.com
da Vinci Static Models
As interesting as it is educational, the Imagination Factory's museum-quality recreation of Leonardo da Vinci's early vision of vertical flight—the Aerial Screw—is available in an easy-to-build, die-cut wooden model kit. The kit includes die-cut mahogany, dowels, cedar parts, cotton fabric, a display stand, and a detailed, fully illustrated instruction manual. Once finished, the Aerial Screw is 8 1/2 inches high and takes less than 10 hours to complete.
Another offering is a far more complex model of da Vinci's Flying Machine. This historically accurate recreation was modeled from the original drawings as well as a full-scale sculpture in the Museum of Science in Boston. It features hand-cut and selected materials, detailed instructions, and a full-color poster. The kit's wingspan is just under 24 inches.
- Aerial Screw: $32.95
- Flying Machine: $109.95
If you're looking for something a bit different to build this winter, consider these museum-quality kits from the Imagination Factory. Some of its other reproductions include a Gutenberg press, da Vinci's tank, and the Wright brothers' kite of 1899.
Imagination Factory Co., da Vinci division:
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- Tel.: (800) 424-8521
- Web site: www.davincistore.com
1/4-Scale Piper Super Cub
For more than 50 years, Piper's venerable Super Cub has flown thrill seekers off the beaten path to exciting destinations. Hangar 9 has captured the spirit of this classic bush plane in a fast-building scale model that is an exciting departure from the usual Almost Ready-to-Fly (ARF) Cubs.
The model comes out of the box 90% built and covered in a great-looking trim scheme of durable WorldTex fabric. The painted fiberglass wheel pants and cowling add to the kit's impressive realism.
However, looks aren't the only thing that sets the Hangar 9 Super Cub apart from the pack; scale flaps give it spine-tingling short-field performance and unbelievable slow-speed stability.
The Super Cub has a wingspan of 100 inches, and at 1/4 scale is IMAA (International Miniature Aerobatic Club)-legal. It has a length of 62 1/4 inches and a wing area of 1,294 square inches. The recommended engine is a .61–1.48 two-stroke, a 100–180 four-stroke, or a Zenoah G-23.
The Hangar 9 Super Cub ARF has a street price of $449.99.
Horizon Hobby Distributors:
- Address: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign, IL 61822
- Tel.: (800) 338-4639
- Web site: www.horizonhobby.com
RealFlight Add-Ons Volume 4
If you've explored the aircraft and flying-site options of Add-Ons volumes 1, 2, and 3, you might wonder what Great Planes could possibly come up with next.
How about a simulated Harrier VTOL—with "jump jets" that stir up dust and dirt during powerful vertical liftoffs just like the full-scale airplane? It's just one of the aircraft options available in RealFlight Add-Ons Volume 4!
You'll also be able to fly Kyosho's newest helicopter—the Caliber 30—and more than a dozen other models that cover the spectrum of RC aviation, from sailplanes such as the Spectra Select to the Tutor park flyer, Germany's Ju 87 Stuka dive-bomber, and more.
New flying sites have been added too. There's a rock-rimmed lake that hosts an RC club, or models can even catapult off the deck of a battleship!
RealFlight Add-Ons Volume 4 has a street price of $29.99.
Great Planes Model Distributors:
- Address: Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826-9021
- Tel.: (800) 682-8948
- Web site: www.greatplanes.com
Zenoah G-26
Ever since its introduction, the Zenoah G-23 has consistently been the two-stroke gasoline engine for 1.20-size models. With the new G-26, Zenoah ups the performance ante by a good 800 rpm. Best of all, this extra "oomph" comes with a minimal weight penalty (two ounces to be exact) and next to no change in mounting dimensions.
Basically, almost anywhere a G-23 fits, the bigger-bore G-26 fits also.
If you're looking to spice up the performance of your 1.20-size model and you prefer the convenience and clean operation of gasoline engines, the Zenoah G-26 might be the engine for you.
- Displacement: 25.4 cc
- Weight: 59 ounces
- Example performance: 8,000 rpm with a 16 x 8 APC propeller
- Street price: $299.99
Horizon Hobby Distributors:
- Address: 4105 Fieldstone Rd., Champaign, IL 61822
- Tel.: (800) 338-4639
- Web site: www.horizonhobby.com
Snowbird Skis
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Don't limit your glow models or park flyers to only three seasons of flying. Du-Bro's Snowbird Skis will keep you airborne through the heart of the winter.
The skis are vacuum-formed from ABS material with two runners on each ski for excellent tracking through the snow. Each ski also includes a spring system to allow for flex on takeoffs and landings, yet remain in a positive position while in flight.
Du-Bro's Snowbird Skis mount on your aircraft in minutes.
- Glow-powered models: main skis $19.99, nose ski $10.99
- Park-flyer skis: $9.99
Du-Bro:
- Address: Box 815, Wauconda, IL 60084
- Tel.: (800) 848-9411
- Fax: (847) 526-1604
- Web site: www.dubro.com
Model Highlights
- Larry Sutherland built a fine S.E.5a from a Duncan Hutson kit. It's powered by a YS 120 and is finished with Floquil paints.
- Frank Banks built a Ziroli P-38L, and John Mota flew it in Team Scale. It has twin Zenoah G-45s and hydraulic brakes.
- Vern Ahlberg's WACO YMF-5 has a MacMinarelli engine. It was built from a Peter Barth kit available from Proctor Enterprises.
- Mel Santmyers built a classic 1/5-scale Stinson SR-9 from a TopFlite kit. It is powered by a US 41 engine.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
