Hobbico has announced the new LiFeSource 200mAh 6.6v 1c Receiver Batteries. These batteries are designed to be the receiver packs in your 1/12 scale (and some 1/10th scale) vehicles where you are running a 1S LiPO to power your car. The batteries are tiny and lightweight, so you could even use them in some small gliders and planes. Look for them to be in hobby shops soon for around $20. I think a lot of people will be trying out the LiFe battery technology this year.
‘Great Planes’ Category
For those looking to check out some of the action at the Snowbird Nationals, but can’t make it down there personally, Hobbico has been posting some YouTube videos you may be interested in. If you happen to head down there, tell them Big Squid RC say’s hi!
I’m sure they will post more as the week goes on. Looks like they have a bunch of product to check out while you are there as well.
Wow, talk about a bargain, the new 2.4 GHz Transmitter from Tactic RC has a retail price of only $99, and that’s with a receiver! If you have been looking to ditch the FM and waiting for your ‘clip’ to come back, this might be the jump for you! Here’s the press release:
Spread spectrum systems are all the rage – and Tactic is proud to offer a 2.4GHz pistol-grip radio for cars, trucks and boats that’s tops in simplicity, durability and affordability! Cutting-edge electronics make the TTX240 virtually “bulletproof” against interference and glitching, yet, priced to fit within almost any modeler’s budget. Spread spectrum technology eliminates crystals, frequency pins and waiting for a channel to become available. The super-small receiver locks onto the transmitter’s unique signal and won’t respond to signals from any other source.
Compatible with a wide range of digital and analog servos, the Tactic TTX240 works well with both nitro and electric models. Binding the compact, quarter-ounce RX324 receiver to the transmitter is virtually as simple as turning them on. An internal receiver antenna makes old-fashioned antennas obsolete.
READ MORE
Hey Aviator’s Love those long run times and lightweight flights? Great Planes has released their 20C 3200mAh Lithium-Polymer batteries for larger scale electric flights. The BP series 3200mAh packs feature Dean’s® Ultra plugs (female) and rated for 20C discharge. These packs are available in 2-cell 7.4V (6.9oz/195 gram) and 3-cell 11.1V (10.1oz/285 gram) styles.
Check them out at Great Planes.
If you listen to the national mainstream media, you’ll hear of more plant closing, cut-backs, and job lay-offs every day. Is the rc community immune to such things, as many “insiders” would have to you believe?
Certainly not, as last Tuesday, Horizon laid off 15 workers. After talking with two members of the management staff at Horizon, they stressed that this was a preemptive strike- an attempt to make Horizon more mean and lean, and thus hopefully, in a better situation to handle the current recession. Strangely, Horizon has had a large page of job openings posted on their website for weeks, jobs ranging from product manager of Losi, to their CIO (head of IT).
Sadly, just before Christmas, Hobbico also laid off 37 employees as the result of the economic downturn. You can find the complete story HERE. Internal Hobbico rumors persist that more lay-offs are immanent.
And if you are just some squid out there, then why is it a big deal that Hobbico and Horizon are laying people off? Because, while it might not look like it, those are the two largest companies in our hobby grade rc industry. The two Champaign Illinois based behemoths dominate the inner workings of the rc retail market. If life is bad for those two, then life is much worse for the smaller fish in the sea.
No, I don’t enjoy bringing “bad news” to the masses, but BigSquidRC is not only a place for bashers, rumor mongering, and drag talk, but perhaps the only rc news source that brings you the information that the “industry insiders” don’t want you to know, good or bad. We wish everyone luck that was affected by the recent layoffs in finding a new home.
Your Cub Reporter
This sounds kinda cool. Real Flight and Great Planes are hosting a video contest! Basically, pull off some insane crazy RC stunt flying moves that you could never pull off in real life, post the video to youtube, and hope people vote for your video! The winner gets a $1000 shopping spree! You have till March 1st, 2009! You better get started!
Check the NEW Product Forum for the full press release.
Note: This contest has nothing to do with Big Squid RC, we are just posting the info.
Great Planes announced today that they will be bringing the Muchmore Racing product line to North America. The Muchmore products are mostly electronics like charger/dis-chargers, tire warmers, motor accessories, stuff like that.
Cub reporter, who is down at the Snowbird Nationals, sent in this picture of a banner that was put up for the official announcement. It looks like we also got a candid shot of O.S. Engine master Ray Robinson.
The full press release is in the NEW Product Forum.