hobby outlook
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A HobbyTown USA® PublicationTRANSCRIPT
outlook DIY Battery Box
GUEST COLUMNIST
Li oSackLipoSack
Hobbico
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YOUR HOOK-UP TO THE HOBBY WORLD
(According to You!)
Pinewood Derby World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour Estes Build N’ Blast and much, much more!
Racing’s Youngest Star
MITCHELL dejong
OUTLOOKHOBBY
YOUR HOOK-UP TO THE HOBBY WORLD VOL. 2 MARCH 2011
A HOBBYTOWN USA® PUBLICATION
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Editor-in-ChiefMary Friesen
Design Lauren Larsen
Writers Brian Smolick
Katlynn DutkiewiczMark Moore Tori Gruber David Nolte
Chad YostMary Friesen
Lauren Larsen
Photography Lauren Larsen
Special Thanks Estes Rockets Big Squid RC
Mitchell DeJong Scott Middle School
Nebraska Boy Scouts NMC Winners Craig Trachten
Gary Phillips
Editor’s noteDear Readers,
Spring is in the air, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve got a serious case of “Spring Fever”. I’m ready to feel the sun shining, hear the birds chirping and see green when I look outside. Speaking of spring, we’ve been working hard on the spring issue of Hobby Outlook. We had the honor of working with some amazing young adults for this issue. We had a “blast” building and launching rockets with over 300 students at Scott Middle School for the Hob-byTown USA® Build N’ Blast, watched the local Boy Scout Troops compete in their annual Pinewood Der-by tournament and conducted a great interview with Mitchell deJong, a 13-year-old racing champion from Temecula, California. In this issue you’ll also find great articles about the World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour, Flyzone’s Albatros D airplane, RS-3 Bachmann train, a follow-up article from Big Squid RC and so much more. Be sure to click on the links (and pictures) as you’re reading the articles to receive more information. If you have any article ideas for our magazine, we’d love to hear from you!
Cheers!
Mary FriesenEditor-in-Chief
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Exclusives 12 Big Squid RC 22 Build N’ Blast 28 World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour 36 Pinewood Derby Interviews 6 Mitchell DeJong 44 National Model Contest Winners 46 Knoxville Train Guy Reviews 18 Associated Review 40 OWI Robotics Kit 27 Alco RS-3 38 CAMP 34 Albatros DIII
Regulars 4 Hobbies on the Screen 5 Hobby Talk 16 Store Locator
FeaturesEditor’s note
outlook Guess what? Our pages are interactive. Click on the index, photos, websites and icons for bonus extras!
HERESUBSCRIBE
IN THIS ISSUE
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MARCH
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CARPET RACERS: A CRASH COURSE
Plot Summary:A well assembled documentary exam-ining the small, niche world of carpet racing. The film includes interviews from some of the industry legends - Gil Losi Sr, Joel Johnson and Erni Provetti. It also features some of the current leaders in racing like Paul Lemieux and Barry Baker. The film begins with the Snowbirds in Florida. For years, the Snowbirds has been the “it” race. Interviews here include some of the local drivers and their perspectives on racing. Primarily, this serves as an introduction to car-pet racing for the audience. The film progresses toward some of the local race scenes, visits to the ICC race in Las Vegas and then circles back to the Snowbirds in Florida. Having been a carpet racer for years, I thought the film was a good intro look at the racing scene. I do wish the film would have spent a little more time informing people about how to get involved in the hobby. I also think they should have examined the classes a little more thoroughly. A majority of the documentary’s focus was on the all-out modified, 1/10th scale sedan. While it is the most prestigious, it is important to learn where to start from - this might encourage more drivers to join the hobby. Overall, the film was highly informative and entertaining. It is a fun flick for anyone interested in the hobby or willing to learn more.
By Chad Yost
HOBBIES ON SCREEN
HOBBY TALKTo get in on the “Hobby Talk” and stay connected, check out our Facebook and Twitter pages. Readers polled from our Facebook page answered the following:
(GET CONNECTED)( (((Regulars
What is the must have hobby item of the year?
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Blade 400. -Jimmy
The new SCX10. -Salvador
Anything Battlestar Galac-tica from Moebius Models.
-Brad H.
The Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire I just bought.
-Josh
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What is the must have hobby item of the year?
I would love a Spectra or DFX. -Joe
A piggy bank. -Joe
Hexbugs! -Outlook Staff
Join the talk! Gift card up for grabs! Become a fan to win.
Talk
Blokus Duo! -Mary
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By Mary Friesen
Many little boys, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, have as-pired to be race car drivers. While tech-nically not grown up quite yet, Mitchell DeJong is living out that dream. Only 13-years-old, Mitchell has been racing for the last eight years and has many achievements under his belt: he holds the track record for fastest time at all of the short course off-road racing tracks, he’s been the fastest qualifier at every track and he participated in the Cory Kruzeman Sprint Car School earning consistent driving times as fast as the professional adult racers. Mitchell re-sides in Temecula, California. We asked him some questions about his racing career and life in general.
Outlook Editor chats with13-year-old Mitchell DeJong, seasoned race champ, about racing, life and his experiences as one of the youngest racers in history.
MITCHELL dejong
Click here to watch a clip from the Lucas Oil Off Road Series in Surprise, Arizona.
RACE CHAMPION
There’s a new kid on the block:
Interview
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Interview
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Photo provided.
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“ ”When I drove that go-kart on a real track, I was hooked. It was so fun and all I wanted to do!
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DeJong began racing go-carts at age 5. Photo provided.
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Interview
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When did you get started racing? I started driving a go-kart when I was five years old. I wasn’t old enough to race until I was six though.
What experiences made you want to race? I was always interested in driving some-thing ever since I can remember. I used to make jumps for my little bike in our backyard out of whatever I could find, which scared my mom, of course. One day I saw kids racing go-karts on TV when I was five, so I asked my parents if I could do that too. My mom thought it had to be safer than motorcycles so she agreed. Coincidently, my parents had a friend who was a go-kart champion so they called him and he hooked us up with a karting series. When I drove that go-kart on a real track, I was hooked. It was so fun and all I wanted to do!
How many hours a week do you practice? Now I race an off-road truck and a Leg-end on asphalt. They are completely different types of racing. I practice 1-2 times a week in the off season at a race track. When the racing starts we travel a lot so during race weekends the prac-tice I get is at the track just before the race. I also have a racing chair simula-tor that my dad built at our race shop and I practice driving on that too.
Have you won any major championships? I have won six championships in a row in the last four years.
What races are you looking forward to in 2011? I will continue to race my off-road truck and my Legend. I will be starting to practice in a SuperLite which is an adult class in a full size truck. I am only 13 years old now, but will be able to race it professionally when I turn 14.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I build and drive radio control cars! I have my own workshop set up at our race shop. As a matter of fact, I buy all my R/C cars and parts from Hob-byTown USA® in Temecula. They have the most knowledgeable people who work there so I trust them. I also sup-port Traxxas – they have such awesome cars, it’s the next best thing to driving a real race car.
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I am thankful to all of my sponsors who have given me the opportunity to do what I love...But mostly to God who keeps me safe, gave me the talent and has opened the doors for me.
Want to learn more about Mitchell? Click here to view his blog.
Interview
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Do you have any advice for other kids who would like to start racing? Drive fast and take chances!
Is there anything else you’d like to share?I was just signed by Red Bull as their young-est athlete for 2011 and I’m really look-ing forward to my future with them. I am thankful to all of my sponsors who have given me the opportunity to do what I love - Red Bull, Speed Technologies, DeJong Off Road, Traxxas, Fox Racing Shox, Duncan Racing and DWT. But mostly to God who keeps me safe, gave me the talent and has opened the doors for me! Milestones that Mitchell has achieved so far in his career:
Mitchell currently has the fastest time at •
all the short course off road racing tracks.He is the youngest Red Bull athlete •in their highly respected arsenal.He holds the fastest time record •for the Best In The Desert Primm race.He participated in the Corey Kru-•zeman Sprint Car School and had consistent driving times as fast as the professional adult racersHe is a 6 time champion including •2007 Apex Open Karting Cham-pionship, 2007 CORR Trophy Kart Championship, 2008 LEMX Championship, 2008 BITD Primm Desert Race Championship, 2009 Traxxas Off Road Series, 2009 Lu-cas Oil Off Road Race Series (5th), 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road Cham-pionship.
DeJong at the Lucas Oil Off Road race. Photo provided.
Interview
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ON THE
Learn how to build a custom field box (or “battery box”) that you can use to carry your chargers, power supply batteries, connectors and two large batteries.
How to build a Battery Box
By Brian Smolick Big Squid RC
(2X) ICE Charger
(2X) Checkpoint Charger
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(1X) Lipo Sack 2
(1X) Hobbico Power Panel4
(1X) Hobbico 12v DC Power Supply 3
BASHINGGO!
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LipoSack
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DIYproject
[Click item to learn more or to purchase.]
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(1X) Aluminum Tool Case (18”X13”X5”)
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(1X) Hanger 9 12V 7Ah Battery with Charger
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In our last article, we focused on a DIY por-table and adjustable ramp for bashers on the go. The second installment of our Bashing on the Go series is a “how to” on building a custom field box (or battery box) that you can use to carry your chargers, power supply, batteries and connectors. There is even space for two larger batteries specifically designated for those instances when you need to power your gear and you are not near an outlet. Most of these parts are optional. This is a guide and its purpose is to provide you with ideas to better your bashing on the go. If you have been in the R/C hobby a while, you probably already have a lot of these items. You may also find that your needs differ from ours. Our goal here is to inspire ideas and to create an all-in-one box that is functional for on the go racers. To purchase or find out further information about the products used to build the box, click on the linked items.
GUEST COLUMNIST
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Hobbico
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Guest Columnist
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STEP 3Drill a small hole into the heat sync of each charger. You may want to just use good old fashioned Velcro for this step. If you are go-ing to drill your charger, please be careful. Attach a nut and bolt the charger to the case. If you use Velcro, unmount them when the case is closed. When you reopen the case, you can stick them back up. This will prevent them from clanking around.
STEP 4Add a small chain to give the lid some sup-port when it is open. This way, all the weight from the chargers won’t stress the hinges of the case and your box will last longer (and stay open easier).
Gut the aluminum case - remove all of the foam. You can keep this around if you want to give things a little extra cushion, but the goal is to create as much room as possible. Measure off the battery and cut a 1”x4” piece of wood to use as a brace to hold the battery in place. Drill two holes through the case and screw the wooden brace into place. We only used one battery in our box, but there is room for two.
STEP 2Attach the power panel to two more pieces of 1”x4” and then attach it to the case. This will leave you with just enough room for the power supply. Use a small piece of foam to help the power supply fit tightly. You do not want it to shift when you are carrying it.
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The purpose of the case is to easily carry everything you need to charge your packs on the road. There is plen-ty of room for batteries, wires and connectors. The 12v battery can be used to power the chargers and some smaller battery packs in the field when you don’t have access to power. The power panel can also charge your glow igniter or be used with a wired igniter - great for when you need ex-tra power. The power supply is there for when you have access to power. It has a 11.5 amp max and can run both chargers with no problems. Re-member to always use a LiPo sack when charging batteries - never leave them unattended while charging.
This box is great for any basher on the go. It has everything you need in one place for your power supply needs. We have been using this box for a few months now and it has been great! Make sure your LiPos are protected, try to keep things from rattling around and be sure not to short anything out. We hope this gives you a few ideas to get started building your own portable field box. There are a lot of different ways to do it, so take your time and do what fits your needs best. Good luck and have fun - from all of us at Big Squid RC. Need more pictures? Click here and look in our “Tips for Bashers” section.
Guest Columnist
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Find the HobbyTown USA® location nearest to you. With over 150 franchises nationwide, you can find us just about anywhere.
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Store Locator
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The T4.1 Brushless from Team Associated.
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T4.1 BRUSHLESS
It has been years since I have had the chance to drive a Team Associated, product as the dust on my old TC3 tour-ing car will attest. After driving the new truck, I was ecstatic. My first thought was that the truck is a great choice for both a novice and someone looking to race competitively. It is based on the seven time Na-tional Championship winning T4 plat-form that features a low center of grav-ity (CG) chassis and a set screw to hold your antenna tube in place. This may not seem like a “grand” feature, but having the antenna tube secure dur-ing rolls and flips helps protect your receiver antenna from expensive dam-age. This is a detail that demonstrates Associated’s experience from years of race winning chassis design. The sus-pension features aluminum bodied shocks, threaded steel turnbuckles and vertical ball ends to adjust front and rear chamber, front toe and roll center. The transmission is geared at a 2.6:1 ratio with rubber sealed ball bearings
to ensure a contaminate free, smooth running. A geared rear differential is employed to handle the increased power possibilities of modern electron-ics and makes for much less mainte-nance than the old ball differentials. Power comes from a Reedy 3300Kv brushless motor. The speed control also features a reverse lockout so the power system is as ready for racing as the chassis. The power system can handle anything from a six cell NiMH to a three cell LiPo pack. This way, you can use an inexpensive pack and char-ger or go all out for speed and pow-er with a big LiPo battery. Note that it comes with Deans connectors already installed on the speed control; this feature will add reliability and reduce frustration immensely if you decide to go with a battery pack at the high end. The pre-installed radio is the XP3-SS 2.4 GHz 3 channel system with adjust-able trim and endpoints. Because the radio is 2.4, interference will not be a problem - just turn it on and go. Team
Works great out of the box. It also allows for all the chassis and suspen-sion adjustment a veteran racer could ask for. This is a model you can enjoy as a beginner and grow into - not out of.
NEW VEHICLE UPDATE
Product Review
By Brandon Halvorsen
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Associated has also installed a metal gear steering servo; it is a great touch to increase durability and a very un-common upgrade to find on vehicles in this price range. The coolest detail is the T-shaped locks that allow you to install or remove your battery with-out the hassle of body pins. For all of us who have struggled with those little pins, this is a clever solution. Addition-ally, it allows you to secure all the com-patible battery packs without having to modify your model. Lastly, the T4.1 is compatible with all of Team Associ-ated’s Factory Team hop-ups and ac-cessories for when stock is not enough. Team Associated also included a
Reedy WolfPack 7.2 v 4200 mAh. We used the Patriot R/C HT-X charger, avail-able exclusively at HobbyTown USA®, to charge the battery but any NiMH compatible charger will work just fine. A word of caution to any new hobbyist: make sure your charger is compatible with your battery before charging it! Once the pack was ready to go, we installed the AA batteries in our trans-mitter and off we went. Since it was Feb-ruary in Nebraska (read: snow) I was not able to do any track testing. I was able to run it indoors and in a cleared parking lot. Another word of caution: electronics and water don’t mix so be careful when running outdoors. The
Product Review
SC10 4x4 ‘Build It To Win!’ Ad4/C Full Bleed Jr. SpreadSafety: 7” x 5”Trim: 8” x 5.4375”Bleed: 8.25” x 5.562”Publisher: Hobby Town USA©2011 Associated Electrics, Inc.
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truck was extraordinarily easy to drive and control. Due to the upgraded servo, steering response was excellent and, due to an unexpected encounter with the curb, I can say quite durable as well. The slipper clutch was set per-fectly out of the box allowing the truck to accelerate smoothly and predictably. The speed control also has a built in delay requiring the truck to come to a full stop before going into reverse and ensure a long life to all those driveline components. A really handy feature is the endpoint adjustments on the trans-mitter. By decreasing the endpoints the driver is able to control how much steering and throttle are available.
If you want a little less steering to en-sure stable running and high speeds or a little more to help you negotiate the chicanes at the track, it is adjustable to your taste. Secondly, the throttle end-points allow you to adjust top speed, thereby slowing the truck down so the whole family can share in the experience. Overall I was impressed with the ve-hicle. In order to operate this model, you will need a 6-8 cell NiMH or 2-3 cell LiPo pack, compatible charger and eight AA batteries for the transmitter. A final word of caution: if you are switch-ing from NiMH to LiPo packs, make sure you change to the appropriate set-ting on the speed control.
Product Review
SC10 4x4 ‘Build It To Win!’ Ad4/C Full Bleed Jr. SpreadSafety: 7” x 5”Trim: 8” x 5.4375”Bleed: 8.25” x 5.562”Publisher: Hobby Town USA©2011 Associated Electrics, Inc.
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Teaching 300 11-year-olds how to build rockets is, surprisingly, easier than you think. Just ask the 6th grad-ers from Scott Middle School in Lin-coln, Nebraska. On March 1, over 300 students gathered to assemble the Estes Make It Take It rocket. Two days later, they launched their rockets into a blue, spring sky. The sun was shining, the rockets were ready and the 6th grade students at Scott were having a blast – literally.
By Lauren Larsen
BLASTbuild&
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A student rejoices after a fellow classmate’s rocket is launched.
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The rockets, donated from Estes, were assembled in three sessions led by Mark Moore - HobbyTown USA® corporate team member. The tutorials lasted less than an hour each – this, of course, included time to decorate and add decals to each rocket. The kits used to assemble the rockets were for beginning level rocket enthusiasts. Each kit contained 11 pieces – addi-tionally, wadding, igniters and A-mo-tors had to be purchased (all avail-able for a minimal cost). Two days later, the same students gathered outside for the anticipated blast. Class “mentors” were chosen to
assist students in hooking up the rock-ets to the launch gear. Students stood eagerly, grasping the controls – some squinting and others wide eyed - as their rockets zipped up and into the sky. Many students darted after their rockets with hopes of catching them as they drifted across the playground and into a neighboring field. HobbyTown USA® stores are able to host Build N’ Blast events and are experts in “rocket science”. To learn more about how you can participate in a Build N’ Blast or make your own rocket, contact your local HobbyTown USA® store today.
“The most rewarding part is to see all of the students participating in one thing together. It is rewarding for every type of student. No one is left out. Everyone can enjoy the hobby at the same time.” - Mark Moore
Students assembling rockets.
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1. Conditions for the blast were ideal. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as we set up our makeshift launch pads.
2. Mark Moore, along with two other HobbyTown USA® corporate employ-ees, assisted in the rocket Build N’ Blast.
3. All eyes looked to the sky as students began to blast off their rockets.
4. There were four separate blasting stations to accommodate the 300 stu-dents.
5. We used A 8-4 motors to launch the rockets. The “A” stands for the size of the motor. The 8 refers to the count burn and the 3 signifies the count de-lay before the chute is deployed.
6. Four mentors - student helpers- were chosen to assist students with prepping the launch pad.
7. Unfortunately, some rockets fell prey to the trees and roof.
8. Many students opted to chase after their rockets after they blasted them.
9. A big thank you to Estes and the Scott Middle School teachers for making this event possible.
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Build N’ Blast Event Photos
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Introduced in the early 50’s, the all-purpose,
1600-HSP Alco RS-3had the stamina and strength for freight and passenger service yet was agile enough for yard work. With its rugged, dependable design, it is no wonder that many of these versatile RS-3 locomotives are still working today on short lines, tourist lines, and haul-ing freight. Bachmann’s DCC-equipped HO scale model adds digital control and versatility to your stable of locomotives.
Item No. 64201 • BOSTON & MAINE #1545 (maroon, yellow & black)Item No. 64202 • D&RGW™ #5200 - EARLY (yellow & black)Item No. 64203• WESTERN MARYLAND® #198 (speed lettering, black & yellow)Item No. 64204• SOUTHERN #2137 (black, gray & gold)Item No. 64205 • PRR #5604 (black with yellow lettering)Item No. 64206• NYC® #8298 (black with lightning stripe)
•DCC-equippedforspeed, direction, and lighting•Dual-modeNMRA-compliant decoder with 8-pin plug•All-wheeldrive•Precisioncanmotor•Dual,precision-balanced flywheels •Super-quiet,helicalcutgears•Die-castchassis•Metalcutlevers•Finescalehandrails•Blackenedmetalwheels•Prototype-specificdirectional headlights •RP25wheelcontours•E-ZMate®MarkIIcouplers
The Facts
ALCO RS-3 introducing the
EDITOR’S PICK
Product Review
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The World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour xBy Lauren Larsen
Railroad enthusiasts: close your eyes. Imagine a room filled with track – your scale of choice. The tracks intertwine over bridges, forming figure eights and complicated patterns. Attention to detail is impeccable – you can even make out the shoes on an HO figurine. The rolling stock is rolling and the steam engines are steaming. Men in conductor hats and four-year-olds who know what “turntables” are, surround you. You might be dreaming. Or, you might be walking the showcase at the World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour in Omaha, NE.
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The World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour
Over 21 different clubs participated in the Omaha WGH on Tour.
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January 15, 2011 marked the opening day for the World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour in Omaha, Nebraska. “Usually, we try to stick to our top 50 market,” says Randy Bachmann, show coordina-tor since 2004 (when the tour began). “Omaha was a break away from the top 50. I had a gut feeling about Oma-ha because of the demographics and railroad ties,” says Bachmann. Due to Omaha’s close connection to Union Pacific, Bachmann’s gut feeling proved right. The location was a perfect stop on this year’s tour. The show lasted for two days and catered to over 30,000 railroad fans. Paul Shattuck, a member of the Mis-souri Valley Free-mo organization, says that the show, “had an amazing turn-out. I don’t know how many kids came! I’ve had a blast”. Like many model rail-roaders, Shattuck is glad to see a va-
Shattuck with Free-mo layout.
riety of ages at the show. “It is nice to see some young kids get involved in the hobby.” Shattuck manned one of the largest layouts at the show. The Missouri Val-ley Free-mo organization’s HO layout measured 150 ft. in length. It, along with many other club layouts, was a star contender on the Omaha tour. Fami-lies crowded around the 21 different layouts supplied by area clubs, chatting wildly about the tiny carnivals, pictur-esque country sides and miniature min-ing towns. Everyone seemed enamored with the detailed scenery, functioning lights and quick-moving stock. Children especially enjoyed all of the interactive Thomas the Train Tank booths. There were over 100 different hands-on Thomas sets for kids of all ages to run. The most popular attrac-tion, by far, was the giant Thomas Rid-ing Train. The line stretched around the entire expo-hall as children queued up to board the Thomas express. The looks on their excited faces were palpable as they rode the mock steam engine, wav-ing to family members and show staff. Showcase vendors included major in-dustry leaders – Bachmann Trains, At-hearn and Lionel LCC were just three of the 200 manufacturers and retailers in attendance. Aside from top of the line products, vendors provided demonstra-tions and seminars for attendees. Some used this time to introduce new products and others as a time to show off their inventory. Many even set up their own
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To find a local area model rail club near you, click here.
layouts, offering helpful tips to railroad enthusiasts and to those interested in picking up the hobby. Whether you are a seasoned railroad veteran or just looking for something fun to do on a Saturday, the World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour will not disap-point. Stops on this year’s tour include At-lanta, Edison and Tampa. To check out the show schedule and learn more about the different stops on this year’s tour, click here. For more pictures from the event, check out our Face-book album here.
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All ages were welcome at the show.
Vendor display (Bachmann).
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The plane is not too small - it is the perfect size to take outside on a calm day and can also be flown indoors in a large room. This feature is a plus for those of us that live up north and have a limited outdoor flying season. We like to use an indoor gym or basketball court twice a week – that is where you will find us tearing up the skies and having a blast. Flyzone’s Albatros is an “all in the box” aircraft. The aircraft is fully assembled and sits in molded foam packing for safe and easy transport. A 3-channel micro transmitter on 2.4GHz with a built-in flight pack charger is tucked away in its own transport safe compartment. There are even compartments for the supplied 3.7v 130mAh Lipo flight battery pack with space for “extras”. The four AA batteries used for the transmitter are also included. The only thing you need to do is glue on the machine guns, (if you want) paint and glue-in the supplied
ALBATROS
Behold: the electric powered, 2.4 GHz radio controlled, RTF Albatros WW1 Micro Airplane from Flyzone
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By Craig Trachten HobbyTown USA® Brookfield CT
The Albatros D.III first took flight in August of 1916. Approximately 1,866 aircraft were produced that year. Primarily, the plane was used as a fighter aircraft in World War 1. Many German aces flew her - including Manfred von Richtofen, AKA, “The Red Baron”. Although famous for combat, her beauty and grace remind me of the 1965 movie, Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines. Since I’m referencing movies, Flyzone followed the premise of Honey I Shrunk the Kids and shrank the D.III to micro size.
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THE FACTS:MAP: $79.99 Wingspan: 14.5” Flight Time: Approx. 10 min.Length: 11.1”Weight: 11 OuncesDistributed by: Great PlanesManufacturer: Flyzone
pilot bust. The big question is “how does she fly?” The answer is “sweet.” The first time I flew the Albatros was outdoors. Stay away from trying to take-off on grass - try hand launching if you fly off a grass field. We used a dirt base path for our landing strip. Rollout and takeoff was smooth and put an immediate smile on our faces. We were a bit surprised at how much of a breeze the Albatros could actually handle. Not to say we did not get bounced around a bit, but we were able to recover - no problem. After the initial flight, I moved the pushrods to the inner most holes on the control horns to achieve maximum deflection – do not forget to re-trim if you do this. This Albatros is not an aerobatic aircraft, but we were able to loop her after buzzing the guys on the flight line. Indoor flying is where it is at. It does not get any better than having a smooth floor for takeoffs and landings, and no
wind to deal with. Once airborne, I pulled back to 1/3 throttle and tooted around the gym for what seemed like forever. I never actually timed the flight, but it ran approximately 10 minutes. I had swap-out batteries charged and ready to go, so I was not concerned about duration. It is a hoot to see 8-10 aircraft flying around (3 D.IIIs) - sometimes in formation and sometimes dog-fighting. The dollar-to-fun value for this package is extremely high. I want to thank Walter Sidas, staff photographer at Fly R/C magazine, for the flight shots. Have fun, fly safe!
Product Review
ALBATROS
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Race Division at the Pinewood Derby.
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March 5th marked the opening day for the District Pinewood Derby in Lin-coln, Nebraska. Walking through the gym, I was amazed at the amount of people attending the event – and at the excitement in the air. Throughout the course of the day, approximately 1,500 people were expected to either compete in or watch the races. It was evident that the young boys and their parents had spent a lot of time getting their cars ready for the competition. Near the front of the gym, a long table was designated to display the “design division”. A lot of creativity was involved in the decals and over-all car design– there were cars made into roller coasters, space ships, a couch and so much more. Kudos to all of these children and their parents for all of the hard work that went into this tournament! To get involved in next year’s Pin-ewood Derby, contact a local Boy Scouts of America group. For supplies to make your own car, click here. For any questions you may have in regards to building your own car, contact your local HobbyTown USA®. Congrats to all of the Pinewood Derby winners!
DERBYPinewood
By Mary Friesen
ExclusiveDISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Bear Cub Races.
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This issue:
By: Tori Gruber
Forget lions and tigers and bears. How about Eisenhower the owl, Susie the salmon and Sassy the squirrel? These, along with 5 others, are the characters of Camp. Camp is an educational wildlife game. As you make your way through the forest, you’ll encounter fun facts and difficult scenarios to work through. Your friends and family will compete to see who can return to camp first. The game is
CAMPfast moving, entertaining and full of fun facts for everyone involved. Each player chooses the level he or she plays at. There are four different levels ranging from level 1, the “Tenderfoot” and level 4, the “Nature Enthusiast”. The levels determine the difficulty of questions. Due to its various levels and wide user age range, Camp is an excellent pick for family game night or children’s get together.
Game Time: 30 min.Game Breakdown
Perfect for: Family Game Night, specifically if you have a diverse age group. More: Camp has expansion packs available so playing never gets old. If you like Camp, you’ll like: Clue - Secrets and Spies, Life, Go to the Head of the Class and Murder Mystery Mansion (click title to learn more).
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“ I chose to be “Sassy the Squirrel” while Hayden, my son, chose to be “Dawn the Deer”. I had fun playing this with my family. We added on to the rules to make it a little longer and more dif-ficult to win at the end. We chose to make the person close to “Camp” roll the exact number necessary to get in to camp. It added a little more fun to the game. I would recommend this for people with young children, espe-cially if they enjoy the outdoors and wildlife.
-Tori’s StrategyThe instructions were very clear and pre-cise except for at the end. Usually, board games require the exact number neces-sary to move forward through the remain-ing spaces. However, this is unclear when players advance to the finish.
Clarity of Instructions
There really is not much strategy involved here other than trying to win, choosing the right level to play at and answering cor-rectly.
Strategy
Camp is very easy to set up. Open the cards, pick your mascot and choose a playing level. That is it!
Set-Up
The game is fun, easy to play and educational. I recommend it for family members of all ages - one of the major bonuses of playing Camp is that everyone can enjoy it!
Overall
This game would be easy for any level of player. Since you can choose the level you play at, it makes it easy for all age levels to have fun together. The game plays pretty quickly after a while, but there are expansion packs available to change things up.
Game Play
Product Review
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Robotics 101:
By David Nolte
Solar OWI robots: Inchworm and Frog.
What is a robot? When you hear that question, a dozen examples quickly come to mind. But, if you eliminate the likes of R2, 3PO, Terminators and Cylons, and try to stick to real-world robots, it becomes trickier to come up with a simple answer. If you consult a dictionary, it provides definitions that vary from “a machine that looks and acts like a human being” to “a mecha-nism guided by automatic controls”. So, the term “robot” can be applied to quite a wide variety of things. The one characteristic that most definitions have in common is “a machine that
Learn more about the Science behind the bot. OWI Robotics are great starter sets for any-one interested in robotics. There are several models available and they serve as an excellent introduction into the hobby.
Click here to watch a video of an OWI robotic frog in action!
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can act on its own”. For the purposes of this article, we will stick with that. The goal was to assemble two OWI RobotiKits - a “Happy Jumping Frog” and an “Attacking Inchworm”. I enlist-ed the help of my 10-year-old nephew, Chas, to assemble the little units, and see if we could get some of that “act on its own” happening. These robots are similar to wind-up toys in their ac-tions; the frog hops, and the inch-worm crawls. But instead of being powered by a spring that someone needs to wind to get them going, they are assembled with small photoelectric “solar” cells that provide power to small internal motors. We started with the frog. Building these particular robots is very similar to building snap-together model kits, with the addition of some moving parts in the form of plastic gears, metal shafts,
and a spring along with the motor and its solar cell. The frog was pretty easy to put together. The motion depended on the motor’s gear meshing with the gears on shafts. We had to get all of the internal parts in their places and then close the two halves of the frog near the final step. It was a little dif-ficult to close the frog up and retain the proper gear alignments, but in the end, we finally got it working. When we got the cell into sunlight (hurrying as it was fading fast on a winter after-noon) the motor began to spin. This resulted in moving gears, which turned a cam, that stretched a spring, that re-leased and allowed the legs to “hop”. Chas, working by himself, assembled the inchworm quickly. Although the worm had more external parts, there were fewer gears and shafts internally. It was easier to get closed up in proper alignment. One big improvement over the frog kit was a motor “housing” piece that held it right where it needed to go in the worm’s body. In the frog, the mo-tor was pushed around by its own wir-
Instead of being powered
by a spring that someone
needs to wind to get them
going, they are assembled
with small photoelectric “so-
lar” cells that provide power
to small internal motors.
“”
Chas working on his frog.
Product Review
By David Nolte
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ing and would not stay straight. Chas’ efforts were rewarded with the second unit, which started to crawl and “at-tack” once the sun hit its power cell. The success met with the inchworm kit had Chas hoping to try more in the future. Although their motions are as sim-ple as wind-up toys, they fit that robot definition - if you set them in the sun-light, they then start moving “by them-selves”. They do not even need an on/off switch, just solar photons. If you are lacking sun, try placing them near a bright lamp, halogen bulb preferred. They may not be fluent in over six mil-lion forms of communication, be able to serve dinner or walk the dog, but
we’ll get to that sort of stuff in Robotics 202 (or higher).
Train Show
OWI Robotics are excellent for DIY, science and class-room projects. To see the products online and learn more, click here.
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Best in Show: Jeff Corder Model: The boat is 1/16 scale, fully scratch built Drag Boat
How long have you been a modeler? I did it as a child start-ing at 6 or 7 through high school and then I put it away for about ten years and picked it back up seriously. The grand total is about 25 years. Check out my site here. How did you get started model-ing? My father was a pilot so we were always around planes and I was fas-cinated by model planes. Eventually, I gravitated toward model cars. What are your favorite types of models to build?I do all types of models but I focus mostly on static plastic.
By Katlynn Dutkiewicz
Best Junior: Brandon Kitazuno Model: Tamiya 1/12 Honda CBR 1100XX Super Black Bird Motorcycle
Unavailable for interview
Outlook interviews the Fall 2010 Nation-al Model Contest Winners. To participate in the Spring National Model Contest (April 16), check with your local Hobby-Town USA®.
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Best Paint Matt Quiroz Model: Polar Lights HO “Bates Psycho Hotel”
How long have you been a modeler? I started when I was about five years old and I am 45 now, so 40 years. How did you get started model-ing? I had a very short attention span and my parents signed me up for the model of the month in the mail. When I got the first one, I spent 4-5 hrs work-ing on it. The light went off in my par-ents’ head to keep buying them for me. What are your favorite types of models to build? I build everything with the exception of anime, but I am branching into that now. I do not build railroad stuff either.
The next National Model Contest is scheduled for April 16, 2011.
Interview
Best Osprey: Nathan WeterModel: Diorama 1:35 Dragon Kit
How long have you been a modeler? I am 24 now and I started when I was 12, but I did not do any-thing through high school. In 2007, I got back into building. How did you get started model-ing? My grandpa fought in WWII and his stories fascinated me when I was little. I did my own research and got interested in it that way. What are your favorite types of models to build? Definitely all 1/35 scale. I am an aviation major but I only build ground units - not planes. I do not have the opportunity to build scale models because I am not around them all the time.
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By Mary Friesen
The Train GuyOutlook asks Gary Phillips, Knoxville’s HobbyTown USA® store owner, about trains and his hobby: model railroading.
For most people, a hobby is something that you do in your spare time, away from work. But for Gary Phillips, selling hob-bies is his job. Gary is the owner of the Knoxville, Tennessee, HobbyTown USA® store. We visited with Gary about his store and his lifelong passion for model trains.
Tell us how you first got started with HobbyTownUSA®.While travelling through Lexington, Ken-tucky, I did what many hobbyists do – I checked out the local hobby store. That happened to be the HobbyTown USA® store owned by Brian Miller and Ray Miller. I was impressed with what I saw, made a purchase, and while checking out, picked up a business card for future reference. I noticed on the card it said, “HobbyTown USA®, the nation’s largest hobby franchise”. I found that interest-ing and filed the card away. A few years later, when I was ready for a change, I remembered the card. I did some checking on the internet, made a few phones calls, and the next thing I
Photo provided.
Click here to see more layout photos.
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knew my wife and I were in Lincoln, Ne-braska, signing a franchise agreement. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made! We know you’re a model railroad enthusiast. How has owning a HobbyTownUSA®impactedyourhobby? My lifelong hobby has been model rail-roading. Needless to say, I was excited to have a job that incorporated my hob-by. It’s been great! I get to go to trade shows and see new items before the public, I have been asked for direction and advice by several model railroad companies, and I get to help many new customers enter into a hobby that I’m certain they too will enjoy. I rapidly discovered that owning my own business means I have to work lon-ger hours than my previous job, which
leaves less time to work on my O gauge model railroad that at one time occu-pied half of our basement. Eventually, a growing family necessitated taking down the layout. But not to worry, another one is in the works, this time N scale. What scale of trains do you enjoy the most? Are you also interested in full-scale trains? I love trains of ALL sizes from N to G. I am an avid Lionel collector and have many O scale trains from Lionel, MTH and Atlas O. Due to space limitations, I am now in the final planning stages of a new bedroom size N scale layout loose-ly based on the Clinchfield railroad that ran from Elkhorn City, KY to Spartenburg, SC. N scale means long coal trains and lots of mountains, bridges and tunnels. And yes, I do like full size trains too. My dad said my first word as an infant was “choo choo”. I have been known to drive the scenic route to watch trains and visit old railroad stations and oth-er facilities. I have tricked my family on some vacations to “accidently” discover some old trains along the way.
My dad said my first word as an infant was “choo choo”. I have been known to drive the scenic route to watch trains and visit old railroad stations and other facilities.
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Ceiling model train.
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What types of activities do you have at your store? We have lots of activities at our store. Listing just a few:
We have two in-store model railroads, •no surprise thereWe have a slot car layout with racing •every Thursday eveningWe have open gaming on Saturday. •This is mostly with miniatures.Once a month we host a historical gam-•ing eveningWe had a scenery making clinic this •monthWe have had factory reps come in and •meet with our customer from Digitrax, Garrett Metal Detectors, Carrera slot cars and othersWe host swap meets with gamers, plas-•tic modelers and now model railroad-ersWe also host the local IPMS club for •their monthly meetingsWe host a monthly Girl Scout meeting•
Photo provided.
In your opinion, what is the best part of having a hobby?I enjoy my hobby of model railroading, always have, always will. I enjoy the history, the roadside discoveries, the reading and researching of my favorite railroads, and most of all the building of my train layouts. It’s relaxing and a great way to relieve stress. Additional-ly, it’s a great way to bond with family members and friends. What are the top three things you’d like people to know about your store? We sell fun. Fun for kids and adults. Fun for families. We enjoy helping our customers by providing great custom-er service, excellent knowledge about what we sell and a wide selection of hobby products at competitive prices.We are hobbyists too. We are all pas-sionate about our respective hobbies.
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Any advice for young hobbyists or people new to the industry? Never be afraid to ask questions. Those who have been there before you would
much rather answer your questions before you do something, rather than after you
do it and it all goes wrong. Keep on learning something new everyday. You’ll be
surprised how many other things in life can be used in your hobby. Lastly, best of
luck in all you do.
Winner
R/C Air Enthusiast
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