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Featured in MS0403

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flightLINE: Our cameras take us to beautiful Costa Rica for the Tropical R/C Fun-Fly where we encounter multi-time World & T.O.C. Champion Quique Somenzini doing awesome free-style aerobatics to the beat of hot Latin music . . . of course, what could be more natural - Quique's from Argentina! Always a gentleman, Quique takes time to teach us how to perform a knife-edge spin - a modelSPORT exclusive!
BREAKING NEWS - he won all the marbles in FAI F3A at this year's Nats in Muncie, IN.
workBENCH: In years past, being competitive in pattern required hundreds of hours of ultra-precise building and finishing . . . but that's not the case any longer as World Models' magnificent Zen 120 is an ARF! But there's still a bit of work left in sealing the hinge gaps, setting-up the mechanical retracts, and adjusting the decalage - it's easy and we show you how!
aboutENGINES: When the FAI, the world rules-making body, eliminated the engine displacement limitations for competition models, they started a horsepower race! Of course, the adage, "There's no substitute for cubic inches", isn't exactly a secret to the world's top engine designers. This results in the unleashing of Saito's FA-180 - a King Kong torque monster! How strong is it? How does 9100 RPM on an APC 16X8 or 8450 RPM on an APC 15X12W grab you? Yup, we were impressed also. We tear it down and show you what to look out for when working on the big thumpers!
Tips, Tricks, & Secrets: One minute it's fine, the next a crash wipes out the gears on your servo. Sounds expensive, right? Not necessarily though as we show you how to replace the gears and make it good as new! Then, many modelers have trouble making up pull-pull cables, but it's not so tough if you start with the right stuff - then it's easy.
ROT8: As if the Raptor 30 weren't dominating enough, the folks at Thunder Tiger have once again commissioned Mr. Shigetada Taya, both the World's first FAI-F3C Champion and perhaps the World's most prolific R/C helicopter designer too, with the task of creating a 60 size version of the Raptor! Resulting in a technical masterpiece of composite carbon-filled plastic and aluminum stacked-frame engineering, we review Version 2.0 of this 3D hot rod!
workBENCH: Park flyers are all the rage - but nothing beats a scale biplane. We review GWS' nifty litle Tiger Moth. Featuring a geared 280-class motor spinning 9X7 prop, performance is sparkling. But the fun is in how to add scale details - without adding discernable weight! While all-in-one flight packs are available, maximum performance is achieved when you select pick-of-the-litter individual components. We feature Hobby Lobby's superb Jeti Jes 050 speed control, Hitec's incredible Feather 4-channel RX and HS-50 servos, alomg with Technical Products Engineering's neat NiCad and NiMH battery packs - supplied in clear heat-shrink . . . so you can easily monitor the state of the cells!
talkRADIO: At last, an inexpensive 3D-graphics flight simulator which won't break the bank nor requires a hot computer! We review Ikarus' easyFly and discover a tool perfect for practicing on rainy days.
newPRODUCTS: Du-Bro's new Mini E/Z Connector, Glo Caddy, & In-line Fuel Filters, Sullivan's billet aluminum fuel tank caps, PSP Mfg.'s improved throttle set-up for our test stand, and Castle Creation's Pixie 7P speed controller.
It's another jam-packed 2-hour issue of modelSPORT!