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Raging Rotors: Time to Join the Collective…
Now, I may not be a cybernetic organism, and you won’t hear me say ‘Resistance is Futile’ all THAT often, but there reaches a point in every RC helicopter pilot’s evolution where the BIG step is made: going for collective pitch aircraft and starting the path towards complete 3D control of their aircraft. An email crossed my desk from a reader (Thanks, [...]
Review: Simplecopter Mini Tricopter 250mm
Hey guys, 3DBill here with another fun multirotor kit to review! This year the mini quad class really exploded but this isn’t another quad from the average consumer hobby brand: it’s the Simplecopter Mini Tricopter. See my setup as well as my impressions of this small class aircraft after the jump…
- 10/21/2014
- 3:06 pm
- rc helicopter
Reviews - By: Big Squid Staff
Unboxing: Ares Advantage Optim 80
Hot off of the delivery truck, aka Brian’s car, is the newest endeavor in a collective pitch (full 3D Capable) helicopter from Ares Advantage of the Firelands Group: the Optim 80 CP. I am excited to review this Ready to Fly helicopter and test my flight skills on this new design and stabilization system. The full review will be ready in the coming weeks, but for now enjoy [...]
- 10/20/2014
- 6:17 pm
- rc helicopter
Unboxing - By: Big Squid Staff
Raging Rotors: Holy Helicopter Kit, Batman!
Another week, another fun installment of Raging Rotors! Granted I’m not bringing atomic batteries to power, but I have a project that I have been working on since IRCHA this past August. As I mentioned, I did acquire a SAB Heli Division Goblin 570 helicopter kit and have been diligently working on it in my free time. I have to say, it has [...]
Unboxing the Dromida Kodo from Hobbico!
The quadcopters from Dromida just keep coming, and just off the truck and on the shelves of local hobby shops is the Kodo, a new flipping, camera touting, bug-looking quadcopter. This quad can flip, take pictures and video, and can be picked up for only $60. I know we gave at least one away at iHobby, but now I get my own to [...]
- 10/13/2014
- 3:36 pm
- rc helicopter
Unboxing - By: Big Squid Staff
Blade Teams with Castle on New 180CFX
Right on the heels of the PicoQX, Blade Helicopters from Horizon Hobby adds a new member to their team: Castle Creations! Featuring a specially designed Talon ESC, Blade has taken the design of the 300 CFX and the size of the 130X to create the all new collective pitch (3D stunt) 180 CFX helicopter. I got to see a prototype fly in September, and I cannot wait [...]
- 10/9/2014
- 8:56 am
- New Products
rc helicopter - By: Big Squid Staff
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Dromida Ominus Quadcopter from Hobbico – Review
The quadcopter market, as I mentioned earlier, is continuing to grow. I can’t help but note my surprise when Dromida announced they were expanding from 1/18 scale RC cars to joining the multirotor world. Enter the Ominus, a brushed 238mm sized quadcopter with full stabilization and flip capabilities. Is it as tough as the box says? Will it survive the Tomato Treatment? [...]
- 10/8/2014
- 4:16 pm
- rc helicopter
Reviews - By: Big Squid Staff
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Raging Rotors: Like Being Attacked by Mosquitos
Hello all! First of all, iHobby was surely entertaining, and I had a great time bashing with the crew as one of two pilots representing BSRC. Those Dromida Ominus (or is it Omini?) sure took a beating, especially with Cubby behind the controls. Side note: apparently I shall hereby be called Kevin Hot Sauce. Please forward all questions to Tim, as I have [...]
- 10/8/2014
- 1:13 pm
- Columns
rc helicopter - By: Big Squid Staff
Raging Rotors: What Happens at iHobby…
So it is iHobby week, and Cubby has already covered his reasons why you should be going to Schaumburg, Illinois this weekend. I promise not to be a broken record, but Wait, there’s more! Last year’s iHobby was my first time attending; both as a patron and as a hobby shop employee. I am hoping this year is just as good as last [...]
New experiences await with the Leap 3D Quadcopter
Trailing my build of the Invertix400, our friends at HRP have announced the details on the soon-to-ship Leap 3D Quadcopter. This quad is an almost ready to fly (ARF) and features an auto stabilization for all quad orientations (since it can sustain inverted flight), as well as a bail-out feature for beginner 3D pilots. Other features include:*Powerful 3D fixed pitch quad-copter utilizing bi-directional brushless motors. *Bail-out, [...]
Raging Rotors: The Battle for Shelf Space
In this installment of Raging Rotors, I cannot help but take a look at the dilemma starting to plague hobby shop owners nationwide, including mine: market saturation. The multirotor market has exploded, providing customers numerous options for aircraft at every size level. The other side of that explosion is that many shops have to pick and choose what goes on to [...]
Raging Rotors Road Trip: Horizon Hobby
Hey guys, sorry for the missing a post last week, but I got an opportunity to visit the team over at Horizon Hobby for a couple days to try out products, see coming releases, and discuss the hobby industry in general with owners of Horizon Certified Partner hobby shops (to which I am a member of one). It was an fun few days, so [...]
- 9/23/2014
- 5:33 pm
- Columns
- By: Big Squid Staff
Unboxing: Dromida Ominus Quadcopter
I was lucky to get a new toy from our friends over at Hobbico: the newest addition to the Dromida by Revell line, the Ominus Quadcopter RTF. This quadcopter is built to be tough and the beating review is in process, but for now enjoy these unboxing pictures! #gallery-11 { margin: auto; } #gallery-11 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-11 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-11 .gallery-caption [...]
- 9/22/2014
- 2:38 pm
- rc helicopter
Unboxing - By: Big Squid Staff
Event Coverage: Suburban Aeroclub of Chicago Helicopter Fun …
Last Saturday (Sept. 13), 3DBill and I got to hang out and fly with the local RC helicopter pilots at Tinley Creek flying field in Matteson, IL at the annual SAC Heli Fun Fly. We got to see a variety of helicopters, pilots, and even a plane or two during the all day event. Check out the below gallery and [...]
- 9/22/2014
- 11:53 am
- Events
rc helicopter - By: Big Squid Staff
See Pro Pilots at the SAC Helicopter Fun Fly!
So I spoke very highly of my trip to Indiana for the IRCHA Jamboree last month, probably enough to make you curious as to what do you see when professional RC helicopter pilots take to the sky! For all you midwest/Chicago metropolitan area RC enthusiasts, the Surburban Aeroclub of Chicago is hosting their annual Helicopter Fun Fly this Saturday. This year they have a list [...]
