Worth a Closer Look
Air Gauges
These high-quality, dime-size gauges allow you to quickly check the integrity of your model’s air systems. The dials register up to 150 pounds per square inch (psi) in 10-pound increments and are perfect for retract and brake tank pressure readings.
A laser-cut 1/8" plywood board provides a convenient way to mount the gauges by hand, threading the boss into accurately cut holes. Factory-installed barbed brass nipples hold the air line securely to the backside of the gauges.
A pack of two air gauges contains:
- Two gauges
- Two T fittings
- One mounting plate
Price: $36.95.
Bob Violett Models, Inc. 3481 SR 419, Winter Springs, FL 32708 Tel.: (407) 327-6333; Fax: (407) 327-5020 Web site: www.bvmjets.com
RCV 58
RCV Model Engines has been producing unique four-stroke power plants for some time. You may have seen the company’s in-line, rotating-cylinder horizontal designs; now it has introduced a new engine that looks typical but has a few twists.
The first thing you might notice is the RCV 58’s compact size—especially the height. It is a bit shorter than a Saito 56 (from Horizon Hobby) because it lacks overhead valves.
The RCV four-stroke has only one more moving component than a two-stroke engine: the rotating cylinder itself. The cylinder is suspended between two bearings, allowing it to rotate freely around the piston; the piston and crank are entirely conventional. A gear formed around the base of the cylinder meshes with a gear on the crank. As the piston reciprocates and the crank turns, the cylinder rotates around the piston.
At the top end of the rotating cylinder is a port leading to the combustion chamber. This is surrounded by a fixed timing ring with three radially arranged ports: inlet, ignition, and exhaust. This simple valve arrangement serves the combustion chamber as the engine goes through the conventional four strokes: induction, compression, power, and exhaust.
The carburetor is rear-mounted and features a two-needle, rotating-barrel design. Ignition is achieved through a standard four-stroke glow plug exposed only once during each complete cycle.
The RCV 58 packs a great deal of technology into a small package. Its small size allows it to fit into tight-fitting cowls while swinging an 11" x 7" propeller. This engine retails for $189.
RCV Engines Ltd. 4 Haviland Rd., Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7RF, UK Tel.: +44 1202 877044; Fax: +44 1202 871836 Web site: www.rcvengines.com
RC Smoke
If you want to add smoke to your model, RC Smoke is quick and easy and can be used on any aircraft, regardless of the power plant—even electrics.
RCsmoke.com offers a complete range of nontoxic smoke products for skywriting. The smoke cartridge can be activated during flight by an electric start fuse kit that the company supplies, or ignited before takeoff by match or lighter flame. The onboard electric kit requires a 9-volt battery for power.
RC Smoke is available in white, red, blue, green, orange, and yellow. Each color comes in two sizes: three- or four-minute burn time. Two mounting kits let you attach the cartridge(s) to the model’s wingtip(s) or belly.
Prices:
- $16 for a three-minute five-pack
- $30 for a four-minute five-pack
Regin HVAC Products, Inc. 273 Canal St., Suite 222, Shelton, CT 06484 Tel.: (203) 922-0033 Web site: www.rcsmoke.com
Aerobird Challenger
"Worth a Closer Look" has featured a few versions of this HobbyZone design distributed by Horizon Hobby, including the Aerobird RTF (Ready to Fly) and the Fighterbird. These were evolutionary advancements in the Aerobird line. The new Aerobird Challenger gives you all the features of the previous models in a complete RTF package.
The Aerobird Challenger takes less than five minutes to put together. Included in the box:
- Transmitter (with eight AA alkaline batteries included)
- Flight-pack battery (six-cell, 7.2V, 900 mAh NiMH)
- DC quick charger
- Instructions
To assemble the model:
- Push the main gear into the fuselage.
- Install the tail wheel with two thumbscrews.
- Rubber-band the wing into position.
- Insert the battery under the black canopy latch.
When finished, you have a 42-inch wingspan model that weighs 17 ounces.
The Aerobird Challenger's Multi-Model flight-control software gives you two ways to fly:
- Sport Mode: smooth, stable handling using HobbyZone's Flight Trak control system with added pitch control—good for learning.
- Pro Mode: unlocked after mastering Sport Mode, provides enhanced V-tail maneuverability for aerobatics or aerial combat.
You can expect flight times of roughly 15 minutes with the supplied battery, though actual time depends on throttle use. The manual cites a radio range of up to 2,500 feet.
Horizon offers two add-on packages that use the Aerobird’s X-Port technology. Both snap into the bottom of the fuselage and plug into a side socket:
- Sonic Combat Module: emits a sonic "blast" effective to about 80 feet. To score a hit, get within 80 feet of another Sonic-equipped airplane, lock onto its tail, and fire. When hit, the victim's module emits a high-pitched tone and disables the motor for 10 seconds (directional control remains).
- Aerial Drop Module (ADM): uses an electromagnetic release mechanism to drop a streamer bomb or parachute (both included).
Prices:
- Aerobird Challenger RTF: $149.99
- Sonic Combat Module: $29.99 (sold separately)
- Aerial Drop Module (ADM): $29.99 (sold separately)
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.
