Worth a Closer Look
Nemesis 3D-II
Models that are suitable for performing 3-D-type flying in limited spaces are becoming more and more popular. For people who are interested in the flying qualities of a built-up, symmetrical-airfoil wing, Model Airplane Engineering (MAE) offers the Nemesis 3D-II. This laser-cut balsa kit has performance, lightness, and strength designed in.
Building this model is a pleasure. You quickly begin to appreciate the structural design as each piece finds its place in the assembly. From opening the bag to having the airplane ready to cover will require approximately two hours.
With a wingspan of 27 inches and an area of 200 square inches, the Nemesis 3D-II offers full 3-D-type flying on brushed or brushless motors. Depending on power and equipment choices, flying weight falls in the 4.5- to 6.5-ounce range. With a two-cell Li-Poly battery pack (2S) and a brushed motor mated to a GWS gear set, the Nemesis 3D-II will do all extreme maneuvers including hovering. There are setups for indoor 3-D flying as well.
To add even more zip to the model’s performance, you can install one of the small external-rotor brushless motors, such as the Nippy or the PJS 300. MAE offers a laser-cut plywood motor mount for external-rotor motors that allows the same GWS-style mount to be used. This makes it easy to get into 3-D flying at a low cost and then move up in performance as your skill set advances.
MAE also offers a landing-gear option for the kit, which is priced at $43.95.
- Manufacturer: Model Airplane Engineering (MAE)
- Address: 5001 Bainbridge Ct., Lilburn, GA 30047
- Tel.: (770) 925-8326
- Web site: www.m-a-e.com
Ultrafly Electric ARFs
These lightweight foam models feature the easy assembly of other park flyers, but their performance and scale looks set them apart. The secret? Instead of designing the model and then trying to find a motor to fit it, Ultrafly develops a power system first and then matches the airplane design that is best suited for it. The result: airplanes that fly as great as they look, in a variety of flying-skill levels that will appeal to almost everyone. They will even fly in winds of up to 10 mph.
The Cessna comes with two wings; one offers docile, trainer-like flight for building a beginner’s confidence, and the other allows aerobatics to be performed after experience is gained.
The low-wing PC9-400 is stable at low speeds but is capable of thrilling aerial maneuvers. The BAe Hawk is a pusher-prop-design jet for those with a need for all-out speed.
Each model features a Speed 400 motor with smaller-diameter windings that enable it to handle higher voltages and amps. That translates into more power and more capacity. The included gearbox comes with four spur gears and brass pinions, providing modelers with a much larger range of gear ratios than other airplanes do.
- Cessna 182
- Wingspan: 43 inches
- Wing area: 323 square inches
- Ready-to-fly weight: 27 ounces
- Street price: $84.99
- BAe Hawk
- Wingspan: 28.3 inches
- Wing area: 152 square inches
- Ready-to-fly weight: 21 ounces
- Street price: $79.99
- PC9-400
- Wingspan: 32 inches
- Wing area: 195 square inches
- Ready-to-fly weight: 19 ounces
- Street price: $79.99
- Distributor: Great Planes Model Distributors
- Address: Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826
- Tel.: (800) 682-8948
- Web site: www.hobbico.com
Hobbico Circle Cutter
This new tool makes cutting precision circles as simple as using a compass. Replaceable blades are held in place by a locking thumbscrew, and they rotate around the stylus to cut perfect circles every time. The top scale measures radius, and the bottom scale indicates diameter and adjusts from 10 mm to 150 mm. The Circle Cutter is ideal for a wide variety of craft and hobby projects. It can be used to cut paper, thin plastic, Lexan, card stock, film, photos, masking material, and much more.
This tool has a street price of $6.29 and comes with six extra blades and two pencil leads stored in a compartment on the cutter. Six more blades and two pencil leads are available separately.
- Distributor: Great Planes Model Distributors
- Address: Box 9021, Champaign, IL 61826
- Tel.: (800) 682-8948
- Web site: www.hobbico.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
