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ATOMiK RC Radio Case for Spektrum DXE, DX6 DX7, DX8 Gen 2and DX9 Transmitters

The Atomik radio case for the Spectrum RC transmitters listed in the title is a nice, lightweight unit made from a thermo-formed nylon and now houses my Dx6E transmitter. I was using it as compact storage for my DX9 Black Edition but since that one came with its own aluminum case I’ve given the job of housing the DX6E over to this case.

I’ve actually owned this Atomik case for several months and it is wearing well and is very convenient to use. It has a dual zipper and opens completely up like a clamshell while offering good, padded protection when it is closed. There is also a convenient carrying handle on the back of the case.

I can confirm that this case holds the 1st generation DX6, the DX6E and the DX9 (Black Edition) just fine as I currently own all of these transmitters.

Atomik RC Part#: 2037

I bought mine for $24.99 from atomikrc.com

Atomik also makes other radio and drone cases in eluding one that lists Spektrum DX5e, 6i, DX7, DX7s and FrSky Taranis X9D Plus as compatible that you can check out here – https://www.atomikrc.com/collections/bags-cases

Review of the SkyKing RC Products Lost Model Alarm

Anyone that has flown on a slope before knows that sooner or later your plane will go down but where it lands sometimes can be a real mystery. Most of us have spent more time than we’d like to admit walking around aimlessly hoping to find our missing airplane. I hate when that happens and if you don’t find your plane it’s enough to get a guy really angry or depressed or both.

Several years ago I discovered a lost model locator made in New Zealand. I ordered them from a web site that is no longer in business. In fact, the company in New Zealand quit making these fantastic lost model locators all together.

I have tried similar products made in South Africa and China but none of them measured up to the New Zealand screamers. They were either too weak sounding or they just produced a series of beeps that were hard to hear with all of the other noise typical of most slope locations.

SkyKing RC Products has just introduced an American made lost model alarm that retains some of the great features of the NZ alarms but with an added feature of a low voltage alarm.

You can easily install this alarm in any EPP model by sharpening the end of a ½” OD brass tube. You just drill a hole and insert the alarm in it. No glue required. It’s a perfect and tight fit. It also makes it easy to remove and use in a different model. In a crunchy, you can just glue the locator to any convenient location inside the fuselage.

In order to use the alarm you just plug it into a spare receiver channel. It doesn’t matter which one. If you don’t have a spare channel the alarm has a built in “Y” harness feature. Just plug your servo into the lost model alarms and plug the lead coming from the alarm into your receiver. The signal will pass through the alarm and go straight to your receiver.

When you turn your transmitter off, the lost model alarm signal will begin to sound. It uses the receiver battery pack for power. A fully charged pack will allow the alarm to run for nearly three full days, which hopefully will be more than enough time to find your model.

Here’s what sets these alarms apart from all the others I’ve tried. They are really loud and the signal is a series of rising and falling tones that are not easily masked by wind or bug noise. The others I’ve tried use a beep tone that does not change in pitch so they are not nearly as effective at providing an easy to hear and follow directional signal path.

The alarm’s low battery warning is really quite sophisticated. YOU CAN USE 4 OR 5 CELL PACKS with this locator. All the other alarms with low battery detection only allow you to use four cell packs. The SkyKing locator’s circuit can detect the cell count difference.

When you first turn your RX on the locator will emit either 4 or 5 beeps depending upon what number of cells are in your receiver battery pack. If your pack is within the safe limits of flight the alarm will remain silent. But, if your pack is too low for safe flight (below 1.15 volts per cell) the alarm will emit a very annoying sound that reminds me of the music from the shower scene in Psycho. You can test out these two sounds at: http://www.skykingrcproducts.com/accessories/lostmodel/lost_rc_model_alarm.html

In flight if you should hear the shower scene music you know you better land. The other alarms have you count beeps in order to determine your battery condition. Try that sometime on a windy day. Was that two beeps I heard or three or was it four and what do those different beeps mean again?  Well, you get the idea. It’s a lot easier to hear nothing or an easy to identify signal.

I liked all the features of this product. I also liked the fact that it was made in the USA and I liked the price. This is a very cheap insurance policy. If you lose even the most basic plane you’ve probably lost at least $250. I put one in every plane I fly on the slope. That’s how much I believe in the concept.

But that’s just one mans opinion.

Hangar 9 Double Vision Fast Field Charger

I’ve been using this charger for several years and it is a super unit. I have both JR and Hitec radios and the ability to have one field charger do it all has been great.

The Double Vision will reliably peak charge all types of transmitters, regardless of brand, polarity, or if the transmitter has a built-in diode. A “TX Polarity” switch located on the charger is switched to match the transmitter being charged. Choose either the “JR” position for JR radios or “STD” (standard) for Futaba, Hitec, Airtronics, Multiplex, or other transmitters. If the switch is accidentally left in the wrong position and you push the “Charge” button, nothing will happen. A universal transmitter plug is attached that fits all transmitters. If the transmitter you are charging has a diode, just push and hold the “Start” button for 10 seconds and a normal charge cycle will begin bypassing the diode. It also handles all types and sizes of 4-cell and 5-cell receiver packs, including NiMH batteries. It can also charge glow drivers. In addition you can charge both transmitter and receiver packs at the same time.

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MacFoil Airfoil Plotter

MacFoil is a shareware Macintosh program that creates plots of airfoils, and is intended for builders of model airplanes. I have been using the program for about 4 years and it works great!

MacFoil is a shareware Macintosh airfoil plotting program developed by Dave Johnson. Here is a description of what MacFoil is from the MacFoil website at:

http://dogrocket.home.mindspring.com/macfoil.html

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Tom Hoopes Makes Great Wiring Harnesses

Tom Hoopes has solved one of my least favorite parts about building an R/C Sailplane. He manufactures top quality wiring harnesses for most of today’s popular sailplanes and if he doesn’t already have the specs, he’ll get them from you so he can help you wire about any plane you can think of.

All of you out there who don’t like making wiring harnesses any more than I do have a savior in Tom Hoopes of Hoopes Designs. Tom is lucky enough to have really cool machines that are used for real business that he can hijack sometimes and fill orders for R/C plane wiring harnesses!

All the good stuff

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CRRCSIM – RC Soaring Flight Simulator

Boy is this simulator cool especially for RC sailplane enthusiasts. The way the plane flies is quite realistic. You have the choice of a thermal field and also a slope venue. You can vary parameters of the flying sites and of the planes.

But wait, that’s not all. You also get the ability to try Dynamic Soaring without smashing your pride and joy. That alone is worth the price of admission, of course the fact that it is FREE is an added bonus. Go to Cape Cod, switch the wind to 180 degrees and start your plane from about 100 feet then get in the groove!
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The Mongo Transmitter Mitt

Gloves don’t give you the feel you need and bare hands get numb. If you fly in the cold, this mitt can be the difference between a good time and crashed plane! I have used mine on the slope down to about 10 degrees with a 20mph wind and my hands have been warm.

The Mongo Transmitter Mitt

This is really simple. If you fly in the cold you gotta get one of these.
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Slope Fun With No Wind!

Greg letting the Mini Acacia rip.

A bungee and a pedal launcher are great fun especially when the slope lift leaves a bit to be desired.

My bungee, from Hollyday Designs, (sadly, like so many r/c cottage industries, Hollyday is no longer in business, however there are a couple of other sources and the fun can still be had) is 25 feet of big ol’ black rubber tubing with eyelets installed in each end. I usually pull about double the length of the bungee for really big launches. I’d say I get about 250 feet off a launch although vertical rolls and other schenanigans usually make that somewhat less.

Put the launch hook well forward of the CG and let ‘er rip. With the bungee pulling, the plane tracks straight, just be ready to pull up when the bungee lets go and watch the plane climb like a rocket.

Rich at Hollyday was very helpful and even reinstalled one of the eyelets N/C when I nicked the rubber where one of the bungee grips (the part that has the eyelet on it) is installed on the tubing.

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