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All of the products reviewed here have been bought with my own money and nobody pays me for the time I spend writing these articles.
If you find any of this stuff useful and/or would like to see RCModelReviews continue to publish material like this then please consider making a small donation towards the operation of the site.
My Credentials
So who's doing this reviewing then?
Well I've been building and flying or driving radio controlled models for over 40 years and during that time I like to think I've built up a reasonable amount of knowledge.
I'm also a qualified electronics engineer who has worked in radio frequency, analog, digital systems and software for more than three decades. In fact I designed and built my first RC set back in 1969.
For the past nine years I've also been involved in the design and manufacture of some rather sophisticated engine technology and UAV flight control systems.
So, chances are I've been there, done that and have a huge pile of tee shirts to prove it.
Right now I'm heavily into 3D flying and enjoy all aspects of the RC hobby. I may be old but I don't feel it.
In the Pipeline
Here's just a little bit of what's to come on this site...
RC explained: Demystifying terms such as PCM, PPM dual conversion, single conversion, full-range etc., this feature will explain it all.
Cheap Chinese Engines: Just how good are those cheap Chinese glow and gas engines that sell for half the price of their "brand-name" equivalent? I put several to the test.
Build your own radio gear?: Back in the old days, building your own RC gear was not uncommon and now the arrival of 2.4GHz has made it practical again.
DIY: The $8 Lithium Transmitter Battery Project
A DIY PROJECT FOR THE FLYSKY 9X
Here's the DIY project that everyone's been waiting for...
Don't waste money (and power) on a 3S lipo for your 9X transmitter and don't put up with the frustration of NiMH batteries that go flat when you're not using them.
This DIY feature shows you where to buy the batteries and how to install them in your transmitter.
There's no safer, smarter, cheaper way to get a brilliant battery for your FlySky 9X radio!
EXCLUSIVE: Turnigy/Corona FHSS Fail
SALES HALTED
My goal with this website has always been to provide consumers with no-holds-barred objective reviews of RC products. My efforts in this regard has resulted in Corona and Hobby City pulling the flawed Turning/Corona 2.4GHz FHSS system from their shelves and suspending all future sales.
Find out what my testing uncovered.
Coming Soon: 9X Module Shootout
WHICH MODULE/RECEVER FOR THE TURNIGY 9X?
Which 2.4GHz module and receiver should you opt for if you're a Turnigy 9X owner? RCModelReviews checks out the two leading contenders: the original FlySky product or the rebranded Corona system.
There's not a lot of difference in price but the FlySky module is backwards compatible with the HK 6-channel receivers and so far has fewer critics than does the Corona FHSS system that Hobby King have attached their Turnigy brand to.
Find out how these two options stack up soon when they're both put to the test in an exclusive RCModelReviews shootout.
Latest news from the 2.4GHz RC market
KEEP UP WITH NEW PRODUCTS AND ISSUES
Hobby City starts shipping its Turnigy 9X radio and offers what appears to be a rebranded Corona module/receiver to go with it. They're now offering two RF module choices: a rebranded Corona FHSS system or the FlySky GFSK module that is compatible with their 4-channel 2.4GHz system. A review is coming soon!
How do RC servos work?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Here's some useful information that will show you what's inside your servos and how they work. Digital or standard? Metal or nylon gears? Cored or coreless? Here's were you'll find out what servo is best for your models.
Why you won't see me at RC Universe
WHEN SUSPENSION IS AN ENDORSEMENT
Regular RCU users who know me as XJet will find my account is now suspended.
It seems that the moderators there don't like people mentioning or linking to RCModelReviews (many references already deleted) and they don't like it when someone says anything bad (regardless of how true the criticism might be) about products from major vendors with big advertising budgets.
They also prefer all their reviews to be absolutely "positive", perhaps a reward for those expensive banner ads for the very same products that appear on their pages.
And that's kind of why I started this site in the first place, isn't it?
So, if you want the real facts about products then just come here.
And, pretty soon you'll find that you can also discuss those products right here without fear of moderators deleting your posts because they're a criticism and without being banned for your honesty.
Review: HobbyKing's $30 2.4GHz Radio
HOBBY KING 2.4, BARGAIN OR LEMON?
How can the Chinese make a 2.4GHz radio set and retail it for under $30?
Right now I'm testing the HK 2.4GHz radio system to see if it's worth buying. Early signs are good and if it lives up to its promise, systems like this could spell the end to old faithfuls like the Futaba SkySport 4.
One thing I've already discovered is that the receiver for this radio will bind with the iMax 9X.
Read the full review here.
Consumer Alert: Vigor VS2 servos
IF YOU HAVE THESE SERVOS YOU MUST READ THIS!
The Vigor VS2 servo offers exceptional value to those on a budget but during RCModelReviews testing a nasty design fault was discovered.
2.4GHZ Teething Troubles Bite Many Users
CAN ANYONE MAKE A 2.4GHZ SYSTEM THAT WORKS PROPERLY?
It's now been well over a year since the first 2.4GHz RC systems began appearing on the market and now they're rapidly overtaking our older FM and PCM systems.
However, like all new technology, the spread spectrum systems have not been without their fair share of problems.
Check on the current state of affairs - compare the problems that manufacturers have encountered and how they've fixed them up (or in some cases have just ignored them).
At Last, a use for those TowerPro MG995 servos
MAKE YOUR OWN DIGITAL SERVO
Do you have some of those absolutely awful TowerPro MG995 servos laying around? Do you want to put them to good use?
Well here's a DIY project that will show you how to transplant the heart of the MG995 into almost any other standard-sized servo with remarkable results.
The MG995 digital servo amp isn't too bad and it can really pep-up an otherwise pretty ordinary standard servo. What's more, the resulting digital servo will have cost you less than almost any other digital servo on the market today.
Are nitro supplies drying up?
THE LOOMING NITRO FUEL CRISIS
Check out the latest news on rumors that a world nitromethane shortage may push the price of model fuel through the roof or even make some hi-nitro blends unobtainable.
Want to build your own 2.4GHz RC system?
AN RCMODELREVIEWS.COM DIY PROJECT
Have you ever wanted to build your own radio control system for model aircraft, boats or cars?
Well RCModelReviews.com is planning a project that you might be very interested in. Here's a chance to learn more about how modern RC systems work while enjoying the satisfaction of using equipment you built yourself.
Welcome
WHAT'S THIS SITE ALL ABOUT?
Welcome to RCModelReviews, a site that I hope will bring a breath of
fresh air to the whole subject of finding what's good and what's
not so good in the radio controlled model marketplace.
Of course there are plenty of magazines and other websites that review the latest and greatest products on the market but you may have already noticed that they seldom have a bad thing to say. Just why is that?
One of the problems is that these other review sources often rely on advertisers to pay the bills and more often than not, those who are given "free stuff" to play with find it very hard to voice their real criticisms, out of some sense of gratefullness or obligation.
Well that's not the way it works here.
On review pages, Google chooses the ads and places them, I exercise no control over who advertises here and so am under no pressure to say nice things about any product or supplier because I don't know who'll be appearing in a related ad-spot.
What's more, virtually all of the stuff I test has been bought and paid for with my own hard-earned cash and if it's not, I'll declare that fact in the review.
I call a spade a spade and am beholding to nobody. If something's good then I'll say so but if it sucks, I'll say that too.
And now for some news and reviews...
How it works: The Good Oil
MODEL GLOW/NITRO ENGINE OILS EXPLAINED
The oil you (or your fuel maker) uses is critical to the long-life and performance of your engines. But do you know the difference between castor and synthetic? And which is best for your engine?
This feature will tell you all you ever wanted to know about model engine oils and a lot more. If you don't know your PAG from your ester then you really need to read this.
Special Offer: 2.4GHz Spectrum Analyzer
THE NEXT BATCH OF THESE DEVICES IS COMING SOON
I've already made one batch of these spectrum analyzers which are specifically designed for use by RC model fliers and now I'm preparing to make more. This is done pretty much on a cost-recovery basis so the pricing is dependent on how many people are interested.
If you're worried about how much 2.4GHz interference there is at your field or if you want to find out why you're getting unexplained lockouts/crashes on 2.4GHz then this device can be invaluable.
Review: The $80 Radar Speed Gun
HOW WELL DOES IT WORK ON MODELS?
Model fliers can often be heard arguing over just how fast their planes are but unless you've got some way of accurately reading the spead, it's probably just vague guess-work.
But now there are cheap radar guns coming on the market, can these be put to use checking the speeds of regular model airplanes?
Over what range will they work? Are they accurate? Are they worth the money?. Read the review and find out.
Review: iMax 9X 2.4GHz RC system
CAN A CHEAP CHINESE 2.4GHZ RADIO REALLY WORK?
Big-name 2.4GHz radios can cost a fortune so how does this upstart out of China compare to systems costing two or three times as much?
An exclusive "world-first" review of the iMax 9X 2.4GHz radio.
Battery Indicators
REVIEW: CHEAP INSURANCE OR FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY?
They're cheap, they're pretty and they are supposed to make it easy
to see when your batteries are getting low. But do they really work
as well as claimed?
Or can they lul you into a false sense of security by saying your battery is still good when it's almost exhausted?
I put the Hextronic battery indicator to the test.
If you found this information useful then please consider making a small donation towards the operation of this website.
Fresh Articles:
The Blog
Updated: 23 June 2009
Here's a blog that will keep you informed just what's going on behind
the scenes at RC Model Reviews and also tells you a little more about
myself.
How servos work
Useful information on what's inside your servos and how they work.
The Good Oil
Important facts you should know about the oils that are used in our model engine fuels.
Heads-Up: 2.4GHz RC systems tested
How well do five different 2.4GHz systems stack up when hit by interference? The answers are here, with more to come.
Review: Bushnell's $80 Speed Gun
Yes it does work on model airplanes but there are some limitations involved with this bargain-basement radar speed gun.
Review: TowerPro MG995 servo
These are possibly the world's worst servos, find out exactly why you should avoid these boat-anchors at any cost.
Review: SK90
It's cheap but can it really stack up against other glow engines in the .90 market? Find out in this review.
Review: iMax 9X 2.4GHz radio
How does this cheap 9-channel 2.4GHz radio system perform when compared to big-name systems that can cost two or three times as much? Have the Chinese finally developed a real contender with the iMax 9X?
2.4GHz Explained
Does all this 2.4GHz stuff have your head spinning?
I've done my best to demystify the whole subject so if you feel like a bit of learning, this is the stuff for you!
Fix That Engine!
How can you tell when your engine needs new bearings? Who has the best prices and service on replacements? Just how do you change them? Get all that information and watch a great video tutorial anyone can follow.
Chinese Servos - How do they stack up?
The Chinese are now churning out a huge number of very reasonably priced no-name servos. But are they any good?
Baffled by batteries?
Nicad, NiMH, Li-Ion, LiPoly, LiFePO4, A123... the range of different
battery types has never been greater. So how do they differ and
what type should you be using?
Possibly useful: