Wet and Wild RC Hobbies In this DIY special Chris Chianelli, host of DIY Radio Control Hobbies, attends the Las Vegas Hobby Expo and gets a first-hand look at some of the latest products and developments from the world of radio-controlled models.
The Hobby Expo takes place at Las Vegas' Riviera Hotel and boasts 40,000 square feet of displays and demonstrations -- and more than 350 manufacturers -- of innovative RC products from around the country and around the world.
RC Boats and Watercraft
In this segment, Chris checks out RC models for land and sea. Included in the manufacturer demonstrations at a nearby pond are a wide variety of aquatic RC models including:
- Submarines (figure A)
- Wave-runners (figure B)
- Nitro- and electrically powered racing boats (figure C and D)
- Tug boats (figure E)
- Fire boats (figure F)
- Sail boats (figure G)
Chris also tries his hand at piloting a new RC sea-plane, which flies easily and gracefully, emulating the flying and landing maneuvers of its full-size counterpart (figure H).
Racing Simulator
Back in the indoor display area, Racing Visions (TM) demonstrates its racing simulation system. Using an ordinary RC car (figure I), the system allows the vehicle to be operated by a remote piloting system.
With this system, the operator watches a video monitor (figure J), rather than the model itself, to operate the vehicle based on images sent from a video camera mounted in the front of the model. The images on the monitor simulates the view as it would be seen from behind the driver-side of a miniature windshield.
The model is operated by a full-sized steering wheel, brake and accelerator. Special operating features such as ignition, horn and racing settings are controlled remotely from the simulated dash and steering wheel (figure K).
The simulation interface can be used on a variety of RC models, regardless of scale, offering the virtual experience of actually "driving" the miniature vehicle.
HO Scale Trains
HO scale trains are the most popular scale in train modeling (figure L). Bachman Industries manufactures a wide variety of HO trains, with models for ranging from those aimed at young children and beginners (figure M) to serious enthusiasts.
Bachman also offers Easy Track (TM), an easy-to-assemble track that has revolutionized the HO hobby. This modular track (figure N) makes it simple create miniature train sets on floors or tabletops, without having to fasten or nail the tracks to a fixed surface.
RESOURCES :
RC Modeler magazine
RC Modeler magazine
Sierra Madre, CA 91025
Fax: 626-355-1476
Website: www.rcmagazine.com
HO-scale trains from Bachman Industries
RC mini-sub from MegaTech
Megatech, Inc.
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