Here's an item or two from
the latest catalogues, magazine advertising or websites - not necessarily all new products
on the market, but items large and small that will be of
interest.
If you contact any supplier as a
result of reading this page, please be sure to mention ModelFlight.
This
Ikarus ECO 8 package deal now being distributed by JP looks like
a nice way in to electric helis. The ultra-light construction combined
with carefully selected materials is said to result in a very low weight
- essential for good electric helicopter flight. The moulded rotor head
is extremely light and strong. The main gear is single-stage and
therefore friction losses and play are reduced remarkably. The tail
rotor is driven by a low-loss kevlar-reinforced belt drive. Only three
shafts are turning, including main and taildrive. 14 different gear
ratios are possible for the main rotor, three for the tail rotor. The
ECO 8 employs a new control system philosophy - it can either be
controlled with a transmitter with built-in CCPM mixer control or you
can use any standard 4-channel transmitter and use the mechanical mixer
that comes with the kit. Ikarus claim that the ECO 8 is smooth and
stable yet responsive and is one of the finest training tools for
helicopters yet developed. If equipped with a hot motor and 16 cells,
the 3-D performance is said to be absolutely spectacular.
The package deal includes Eco 8 electric heli,
Sanyo 9·6V, 8 x N-1900SCR battery, GWS PG-03 Pico Piezo Gyro, Speed Ex
Peak Charger, GWS 8-channel 35 mhz FM Micro Rx, Ikarus Heli
Sport motor, Heli 4000 Speed Controller and 4 SuperTec Naro MAX/88
servos.
The standard retail price is £399.99 which saves
about £37 on the individual unit prices, but you're bound to be able to
do better than that through your model shop. Sussex Model Centre are
advertising the deal for £359.99, for example. Incidentally, there's a
good review of this model in the August 2000 issue of Model
Helicopter World.
The
Citabria was introduced in the 1960's by Champion Aircraft
Corporation as a sporty alternative for private pilots who wanted
something different than the all-metal nosewheel airplane. It is the
direct descendant of the Aeronca Champ and although its big
flat-bottomed wing makes it easy and gentle to fly, it is also fully
capable of handling aerobatics - a feature reflected in its name which
is 'airbatic' spelt backwards!
This 1/6th
scale model is from the SIG stable and claims the same flying
characteristics as the full-size machine. It boasts an exact scale
outline of a post-1974 Citabria. It is a rugged balsa/ply construction
job, features a one-piece wing design, precision die-cut formers and
ribs, moulded plastic cowling and wheel pants, formed aluminium landing
gear, authentic decals, full-size plans and 3-view drawing and a
photo-illustrated instruction book. It has a 69 ins wingspan, is 47 ins
long, suitable for ·35 - ·50 2-stroke or ·45 - ·61 4-stroke engines.
It weighs 7lbs, requires 4-channel radio and is said to be ideal for
Sunday flying or Sports Scale competition. Distributed in the UK by J
Perkins, the UK price is £104.99. I want to have a go at
building rather than assembling and am thinking seriously about this one
as my next model, but am not too sure if it might be too ambitious a
first-time build for me - your views would be appreciated!
Click on the post-box to e-mail me now!
This
Ikarus ECO 8 package deal now being distributed by JP looks like
a nice way in to electric helis. The ultra-light construction combined
with carefully selected materials is said to result in a very low weight
- essential for good electric helicopter flight. The moulded rotor head
is extremely light and strong. The main gear is single-stage and
therefore friction losses and play are reduced remarkably. The tail
rotor is driven by a low-loss kevlar-reinforced belt drive. Only three
shafts are turning, including main and taildrive. 14 different gear
ratios are possible for the main rotor, three for the tail rotor. The
ECO 8 employs a new control system philosophy - it can either be
controlled with a transmitter with built-in CCPM mixer control or you
can use any standard 4-channel transmitter and use the mechanical mixer
that comes with the kit. Ikarus claim that the ECO 8 is smooth and
stable yet responsive and is one of the finest training tools for
helicopters yet developed. If equipped with a hot motor and 16 cells,
the 3-D performance is said to be absolutely spectacular.
The
Citabria was introduced in the 1960's by Champion Aircraft
Corporation as a sporty alternative for private pilots who wanted
something different than the all-metal nosewheel airplane. It is the
direct descendant of the Aeronca Champ and although its big
flat-bottomed wing makes it easy and gentle to fly, it is also fully
capable of handling aerobatics - a feature reflected in its name which
is 'airbatic' spelt backwards!
