E-flite raises the bar with their first Platinum Series ARF; the legendary AT-6 Texan trainer used by the U.S., and its allies, from WWII through the late 1960s. The E-flite Platinum Series delivers superior, enhanced features and meticulous attention to detail...right out of the box! It features a level of scale detail that is exceptional for an ARF of this size. You get all this realism without having to spend weeks of building, covering and painting. Just about everything has been done for you before you even open the box. All that's left to do is a few hours of final assembly and radio installation. The electric power system will keep this beautifully appointed warbird trainer clean and vibration-free...one reliable flight after another.

For my complete review on RC Universe, go here.

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The new E-flite P-38/F-5E Lightning 400 ARF is a highly pre-assembled replica of an F-5E variant that served in the European theater during the invasion of Normandy. This long-range interceptor also earned popularity in the Pacific flying reconnaissance missions with specially equipped cameras. It includes many details like invasion stripes, cockpit details, appropriate squadron markings, removable drop tanks, counter-rotating props and spinners, functional scale elevator mass balances and much more!

The P-38 ARF has multiple easy-access magnetic hatches that allow you to get to the elevator and rudder servos as well as the nose hatch for quick access to the battery, ESC and receiver without the need for tools. The kit comes highly prefabricated with all parts factory painted, along with hinges and control surfaces installed, so you don't have to wait long to get flying. The wing panels slide easily in and out of the booms using the factory-installed carbon tube spars. Each panel is secured with just two wing screws making assembly easy. All that's left is about 2 to 4 hours of minor assembly and electronics installation to get flying, making this one of the most detailed and quickest to assemble P-38 models ever available.

For my complete review on RC Universe, go here.

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The Great Planes Combat Spitfire GP/EP ARF is "a sport warbird for everyone!" This is because it can be built up with either glow or electric power. When powered by a glow engine, it is AMA Event 750, Combat Class 2610 legal. This versatile MonoKote-covered, built-up balsa/ply ARF can be flown for sport-scale fun or compete in combat events. The flexible design of the Combat Spitfire also provides a choice of top or bottom aileron servo mounting and optional landing gear included in the almost-ready-to-fly kit.

For my complete review on RC Universe, go here.

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The Great Planes Fokker DR-1 EP ARF is a pre-built balsa and plywood R/C parkflyer version of the historic WWI Triplane. It takes advantage of technology breakthroughs in electric power for long flight times and maintenance-free operation. The quick build ARF is ready to fly in just a few hours of assembly time.

For my complete review on RC Universe, go here.

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Sometimes an opportunity to help someone comes along when you least expect it. For me, it all started one day at work last spring when I received an e-mail from a soldier in Iraq. The story reads as follows: Operation R/C

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World Models P-82 Twin Mustang

The World Models Manufacturing Company has re-created a scale version of the P-82 Twin Mustang meant for two .40-size glow engines.

The quick build ARF has the following features:

My conversion project will use two AXI 4120/14 outrunner motors with the radial mount set. Note that the less expensive AXI 2826/10 or /12 motor would also work well in converting this classic warbird to clean and quiet electric power. In either case, I choose the Jeti JESAP40P Advance PLUS 40 Amp Opto Brushless Controller.

For my complete conversion review on the World Models P-82, go here.

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Hangar 9 F4U Corsair

For my complete conversion review on the Hangar 9 Corsair, go here.

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Check out my review of the Alfa Model's F4U Corsair on RC Universe here.

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Check out my review of the Alfa Model's F4U Corsair on RC Universe here.

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Curtiss P-40N Warhawk ARF Scale Parkflyer

Check out my P-40 building and flying photos in the RC Universe thread here.

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Alfa Model's P-51 Mustang

Check out my review of the Alfa Model's P-51 on the E-Zone here.

My P-51 Power Setup:

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F6F Hellcat (Aerobatic WWII US Navy Fighter)

Grumman's famous WWII US Navy and Marine fighter available at Hobby Lobby.

Specifications:

At the 2002 NEAT Fair in New York, I bought the Gruman F6F Hellcat sold by Hobby Lobby after watching Mike Hines demo fly one. The kit is made by Scorpio in Italy.

I am extremely impressed with the kit. It's not often that I build a plane without reviewing it so i'm having a blast with this one. I have decided to eliminate the landing gear so that it looks more scale in the air. This also reduces the weight by 1.6oz.

By using the Wattage 10-cell 1100mAh NiMH pack instead of the 10-cell 1100mAh NiCd pack, I have also eliminated another 3oz. These cells can deliver up to 16amps which is perfect for the geared black long can Speed 400 power system. I am also using the MJ 4:1 ball bearing gearbox instead of the supplied bushing gearbox.

Here is a shot of my upgraded power system. It is a Graupner Speed 480 BB Race motor and an MJ 4:1 BB gearbox.

The stock gearbox that is included with the kit is the bushing version. In either case, the MJ gearbox does not require the motor to be run in the reverse direction so no re-timing is needed.

I cut the motor shaft back about 1/8" and scored both the shaft and inside wall of the pinion gear before CAing it together. I also used a CA Kicker accelerant to harden it fast.

Here is a shot of the Hellcat together with my RareBear for a size comparison. The RareBear is an indoor slowflyer and the Hellcat is a parkflyer. All the internal balsa formers and battery cage went together flawlessly.
 

I received my Wattage 10-cell 1100mAh NiMH (128552) 2/3A pack yesterday, and, to my surprise, it was already folded. It fits perfectly into the Hellcat's stock battery box too!

The pack weighs a mere 7.3oz with connector. The 10-cell 1100mAh NiCd equivalent weighs 9oz without connector. Both packs can deliver 16amps but it looks like you can reduce your model by a full 2oz using the NiMH pack.

I "ditched" the stock plastic pilot in favor of my spare .25-sized pilot figure from the old Kyosho Flash canopy kits.
Of course, it will be painted too.

The servos mount nicely into their bays and can slide either way for fine tuning the control surface before gluing.
The controls are pre-bent which makes assembly a snap!

The aileron servos are hidden in the wing and then normally covered with a plastic plate. I opted to simply re-use the foam cutout for covering the servo.

Another clean MJ gearbox mount. This one is the 4:1 ball bearing gearbox.

My Hellcat is RTF at 24.5oz compared to the stock 27oz weight.

With my 10-cell 1100mAh NiMH pack, Speed 480 BB Race motor, 4:1 MJ gearbox, and APC 10x7 slowflyer prop, I measured a current draw of 16amps. Just perfect for these cells and motor.
 

My maiden voyage at lunchtime was simply fantastic!

The Hellcat flew like a dream at 24.5oz and my added power from the Speed 480 BB Race motor worked great!

After seeing Mike Hines fly one at the NEAT Fair, I knew it would be a fun plane.

It was very stabile through any maneuver and belly landed softly in the grass. I kept the power on a bit until about 4' above the grass and shut it down. It kept gliding beautifully.

I may have to try this power system in my Tiger Diablo because the Hellcat had much more vertical authority. I can imagine what a brushless power system would do but I don't see a real need for it.

Now it's time to detail the ship.

One the left is a shot of my 2-blade APC 10x7 slowflyer prop that I am currently using on my Hellcat. It flies fantastic but the scale appearance of the prop is not the best.

On the right is the Flying Styro 3-blade prop from Hobby Lobby. It looks great! I need to get a bushing for it to fit properly on my collet prop adaptor and then i'll measure the current draw.

The 3-blade prop is a 9x7 and I believe it is the same one used with the Fantastic Models' Rare Bear.

This model looks very scale in the air without the landing gear. I can belly land it on grass or in the snow.

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