Product Reviews
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September 29, 2014 93
Blade have always been known for producing high quality RC helicopters. While the majority of these models come ready-to-fly (RTF), today we wanted to look at two new helis at the opposite end of the spectrum. The 600 X and 550 X kits are great for pilots who want to build a heli to their own specifications. The great thing about these kits, though, is that they give you a very solid foundation for building this dream machine. Let's look at each kit in turn.
Blade 550 X
The 550 X is one of three helicopters to be found in Blade's Pro Series range. It is no surprise, therefore, that this model has been designed for peak performance. It comes with an E-Flite Heli 550-sized brushless motor. This 1360Kv outrunner gives you the power you need for extreme aerobatic performance. This is coupled with a 10-amp BEC, also from E-Flite. As for the rest, that's entirely up to you! You have the opportunity to add your own transmitter, receiver and other components to create a 550 X of your own. Once these components have been added, you can experience all that Blade has to offer. This helicopter has many appealing design features. For example, the flybarless head comes with direct-to-swash functionality and main frames made from carbon fibre. The head block is also made from carbon fibre and the swashplate is CNC-machined aluminium. It's these attributes that make the 550 X a true performer in the air.
Blade 600 X
If you are looking for something even larger, the Blade 600 X kit is a great choice. This helicopter comes with the same frame and rotor head used in the aforementioned 550 X, but is equipped with an E-Flite 700-size brushless motor. Blade have also equipped this model with 600mm Revolution main blades from carbon fibre. You will also receive 95mm Revolution tail blades. This is a great base upon which you can complete the 600 X. Some of its other features include triple ball bearing support with a 10mm steel main shaft and an integrated bearing block servo mount. The 600 X is, ultimately, one of Blade's finest. We hope this blog post has given you a taste of these exciting new RC helicopters. Be sure to stay tuned for new releases from Blade. Until then, the sky's the limit!
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September 19, 2014 80
We recently spoke about the range of ECX RC cars available at Modelflight in a buyer's guide we published a few weeks ago. In this same spirit, we wanted to talk about an equally popular car brand, renowned for making vehicles that are of great value for money. Carisma have a wide selection of remote control cars that can easily be driven by beginners. Much like ECX, though, a common Carisma conundrum is being spoilt for choice. Which Carisma car is right for me? In this blog post, we hope we can help you find the answer to that very question. We will discuss each Carisma car with regards to the kind of driving they are suited for. Let's begin by looking at some rally cars.
Rally Cars
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September 08, 2014 145
ECX have always had a great range of RC cars and trucks and as in any scenario when you are spoilt for choice, making a final decision can be difficult! Hence the reason why we have put together this buyer's guide for ECX remote control vehicles. We hope that it helps you narrow down your selection to help you find the perfect ECX car or truck to suit your needs.
For The Beginner
A great place to start with ECX remote control cars is the vehicle size. ECX cars come in two sizes: 1/10th- and 1/18th-scale, with the majority of their products falling in the first category. This is quite normal for most RC car brands; 1/10-scale is the standard size for most remote control vehicles. 1/18-scale cars certainly have their benefits, though. If you are looking for a great gift idea (especially for children), 1/18-scale RC cars are lots of fun. Their small size makes them easy to handle and it is quite feasible to drive them both outside and inside the house (without wreaking too much havoc)! ECX have two fantastic 1/18-scale cars that would make for great gift ideas (especially for Christmas).
The 1/18-scale Torment is a thrill to drive. It comes with four wheel drivetrain, oil-filled shocks and everything you require included in the box. It has a great short-course truck design with a striking trim scheme that will stand out wherever you go. It is powered by a Dynamite 380-sized brushed motor and comes with a 6-cell NiMH battery (a charger is also included).
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September 02, 2014 65
The Classic HobbyZone Corsair
You may have already heard of the F4U Corsair. It was one of the most distinguished military aircraft in the history of aviation, offering strong firepower and great versatility during World War II. Capturing the essence of this famed fighter, HobbyZone have created an RC version of this plane and we are pleased to announce that it is now available at Modelflight. At the core of this new model is Sensor-Assisted Flight Envelope (SAFE) Technology. SAFE has been used with great results in other models such as the Blade 350 QX and the HobbyZone Delta Ray. The Corsair is no different. SAFE will allow you to fly without fear of wind, turbulence or other factors in the environment. SAFE can work in the background to make adjustments as you fly, giving you a smooth flying experience.
This plane has a very appealing trim scheme, complete with scale military details. It is a true stand-out both in the air and on the ground. This plane
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August 29, 2014 45
The Pitts Hits the Target
The full-size Pitts Special 1S is an icon in the field of aerobatic planes and now you have the opportunity to fly this aerobatic wonder in the most accessible fashion! E-Flite have turned the aircraft into an ultra-micro model; maintaining its ability to perform stunning aerial feats, but in a size that allows you to fly in your own backyard. The Pitts S-1S RC plane handles very well, thanks to the in-built Artificial Stability - 3 aXis (AS3X) system which gives you both great stability when required and great agility when you need to perform at your peak. AS3X utilises multi-axis sensors and software to make attitude corrections in the event of turbulence, torque and tip stalls. This works subtly behind-the-scenes, so you will be able to maximise your flying efforts without fear.
This plane comes fully-assembled out of the box (the only thing you will need to supply is a suitable transmitter), so you will be able to get flying very quickly. Even
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August 25, 2014 81
Rock crawling is fast becoming one of the more popular means of driving RC trucks. It's easy to see why. The challenge of scrambling over large obstacles in your path makes rock crawling a really enjoyable activity for drivers of all ages and skill levels. At Modelflight, we are pleased to offer a range of RC cars and trucks that will cater to the rock crawler within you. In this blog post, we wanted to talk about that range of vehicles, covering cars and trucks from both Losi and Vaterra.
Losi Night Crawler
Let's start with one
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August 15, 2014 170
We have always been impressed with Vaterra's range of scale RC cars and there has often been a consistent theme running through this collection: American muscle cars. In this blog post, we wanted to showcase these cars in all their glory. Just for fun, we have also included a series images showing the original American car and Vaterra's RC version (pictured on the left and right respectively). Let's start our journey through time with some of the classic Vaterra models.
Classic RC Cars
A classic in every sense of the word, the original 1967 Ford Mustang was equipped with a 315hp V8 engine and has only grown more revered over time. Vaterra's answer to this beast of an RC car is as close as
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November 28, 2013 17Recently on Modelflight's YouTube channel, we added an unboxing and action video for the Vaterra Halix. If you haven't had a chance to watch this video yet, check it out below: You can see why we are so excited about the arrival of the Halix. With its innovative AVC Technology, driving this powerful car becomes much easier. As Matt demonstrated in the film, with the AVC technology turned off, it is difficult to maintain the direction of this RC truck on the dirt track. Admittedly, Matt is a better with RC planes and helicopters than cars, so a more experienced driver may be able to handle the powerful Halix through their developed skills. But for the beginner-to-intermediate driver, AVC Technology
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November 08, 2013 129Have you got the hang of a trainer RC model and feel like you are ready to step up to a more intermediate-level model? Congratulations, this is a great milestone in your journey as an RC pilot. Bear in mind, though, you are going to need a good radio to go with your next model. That's where we want to help. In this blog post, we will be reviewing and comparing some of the best radios for intermediate-level models to help you find the one that is right for you. What To Look For In Your First RC Radio There are several things you may want to consider when buying your first radio. Firstly, check to see that the radio you are looking at is compatible with the model you want to fly. Different remote control models come with different receivers, so make sure that the radio you are looking at works with the model in question. Secondly, think about whether you want a mode 1 or mode 2 transmitter. We wrote a blog post on the
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October 23, 2013 83It has been another busy few months for our fellow RC pilot, Chuck T. Seeker. Showcasing some of the latest remote control planes available from Modelflight, Chuck's YouTube channel has been a hub of activity recently. In this post, we wanted to bring you up to speed with three of Chuck's recent review and action videos. To begin with, Chuck produced this unboxing and review video for the HobbyZone Delta Ray. He also shows you how to assemble this beginner's RC plane. This is a great video from Chuck. You can see how the SAFE Technology in the