David Ovenden

I would definitely second Matt's suggestion of the Reaktor chargers. I now have 6 of the 250w ones. They have all been brilliant and work flawlessly. Have been using them regularly for a couple of years with excellent results. I regularly charge Lipo 2s up to 6s 5000mah, Life packs for my transmitter, Nimh and Nicads. What more do you want? Why 6 chargers, so I can balance charge 6 batteries at the same time and monitor each one separately!

Piers and Peter, Interesting to note that the first 2 responses to my post had the exact opposite response to the "look" of the XG series transmitters. I really do think that the new style really polarised opinion on the latest JR tx. Also interesting that the latest model ( the top of the range 28x) reverted to a much more conventional styling. Lesson learned too late? Also interesting is the number of comments about how good the 9X, DSX9, 9303 transmitter design was. I found that everything was in the right place and that the sliders on the side of the Tx were ideal as you can reach them without taking your hand of the sticks. I always use the left hand slider for flaps on my scale models and can have full control of everything at all times. I still use my 9303 (US version of the 9X) with a DMSS module for a lot of my flying. I do have an XG11 too, which works fine but the sliders are positioned right at the back of the (large) case and I find these very hard to locate and almost always end up inadvertently adding rudder input as I "search" for the slider. Is it just me? The result is I only use the XG11 for non flap-equipped models. Which is rather a shame on a high end unit I feel. Peter, if you use you XG11 on a tray, doesn't that block access to the sliders? All of which is a roundabout way of saying I still very much like and use my 9303 and 10X they work so well for me. So maybe looks and ergonomics do play a real part in the success or otherwise of tx design and affect sales volumes in spite of what new gizmos are included on a new model. Personally I don' t think the robot face look brought in many punters. You might expect the design to attract a younger customer, but I doubt it did. Edited By David Ovenden on 02/01/2017 18:48:09

Well I thought about starting a thread with this same title a week or so back in response to the "rumours" and comment on other forums. In the end I didn't want to be the one who started the whole thing off. However, now the topic is up and running I will add my thoughts. It would appear that JR, like many other model companies, are feeling the chill wind of competition and changing market trends. I have been a loyal JR user since 1984 and still have my faithful PCM10X set from 2000 in regular use with a DMSS tx module. Undoubtable there have been key decisions in the past that contribute to where JR are now. They have always produced reliable, high quality (and usually innovative) equipment and had a loyal but not market leading following. As others have commented, their decision to link up with Horizon Hobbies to use Spektrum DSM2 was one of the key factors. This did have the advantage of keeping them in the game and allowed them to get into the 2.4G market relatively quickly. The downside was that they always (seemed?) the very junior partner in the arrangement and Spektrum quickly developed their own sets to eat away at JR market share. Once the decision was made to "separate" JR launched their DMSS protocol. This is a good fast system with telemetry and has been generally well received in technical circles as being an elegant solution to using the 2.4G band for models and meeting new regulations. However, it meant asking their customers to change transmitters and all their new receivers to the new protocol. This was not popular, but once JR stepped away from DSM2/X it was, one supposes, inevitable. Linked to this was JR's marketing decision to create a new "look or face" for its new XG transmitters. Previously their 2702, 9X, 10X, 12X etc were a fairly "traditional" style and perhaps their marketing felt they needed to create a new Brand Image. As a result the XG series was developed around the Gundam-style "robot face" look. This was a "Marmite" strategy. You love it or you hate it! Given that we know many RC modellers are now not as young as they once were , this was a devisive move. Some loved the style, others didn't - me included. It didn't stop the sets working brilliantly, but how many were put off by the looks? There is also the change away from buying radios from the LMS where potential customers could see and handle a radio, to on-line shopping. In addition we have seen a proliferation of low-cost new far-eastern brands as well as open-software radio like Taranis giving modellers new options and possibilities. So in these changing times is it the end for JR, or is there a future for them? I have no inside knowledge. Their statement says they have closed their Japanese factory and hobby production is being transferred to a Malaysian factory. JR says “Sanei has proven for many years to produce high quality JR products at reasonable cost, and since current production was far from 100%, it makes good business sense for JR to move all Propo production to Sanei.” Given that most JR products have been produced there for some time, there may be no reason that they can’t continue to do so. Equally, there is the example of Graupner the giant German model company that folded a while back. It was bought out by the company that made their R/C equipment. (It’s also a bizzare thought that JR used to manufacture the radio sets for Graupner up until a few years ago) Perhaps Sanei will buy out JR? Or JR may do just exactly as they have stated and restart supplying from the new location. So maybe it’s not all doom and gloom and JR will have a future, albeit different from the past. One thing’s for sure, we are living through “interesting” times. In the meantime, as others have said, there may be some tempting JR bargains out there to snap up in 2017. As for me, I will carry on with the reliable JR sets I already own. Here's wishing some great flying in this year, whatever brand of radio you use. Edited By David Ovenden on 02/01/2017 09:02:25 Edited By David Ovenden on 02/01/2017 09:04:01

Hi Tony. Looking v. good. BTW, what is the nice looking dummy radial in the background destined for?

Been a good week. 26 flights with 3 models - more than 3 hours flying time in total. Clear skies, sunshine and light winds, lovely! Durafly Tundra BT Vought Kingfisher -Enya 53FS 1/5th scale PT19 - Saito 115 FS

Unanimous verdict on new Jaguar "plant".

There are still major faults with their site. I tried searching for "tundra" on their site which must be one of their best selling models. It said no results found! OK one can trawl through all the planes to find it, but how many people will just not bother? I will buy nothing from them until the new site work in a satisfactory fashion. Their sales must be way down since the website was changed. I can't belive that their search facility is still so poor after all these weeks. Don't even think of trying to find lipos! Edited By David Ovenden on 06/12/2016 07:01:20

Or even possibly the 5 cylinder Genet radial engine? **LINK**

I have used HK a lot over the past few years. Currently the new site is a shambles and I am not going to order anything till HK sort it out. A drop in their sales will concentrate minds on fixing the website and we might even be offered some good deals/ prices to tempt punters back.

I can also throughly recommend the South Herts Models unit. Works brilliantly especially in cowled scale models.

If you are already a JR radio person you should also consider the JR XG8 and XG14 radios which are really excellent. They are very powerful and flexible plus they have telemetry and xbus features which may be useful in the future. Just my opinion, but I too had an Apex8. A great set in its day!

I too haven't voted as this is such an irrelevant and ridiculous subject that's nothing to do with modelling.

Ebay changed the categories so it's now impossible to just browse through all aeromodeling items as before. The new categories are full of boats, cars and all manner of stuff I'm not interested in. So I have stopped browsing. Only worth searching for specific items by name now. It was the random and unusual stuff that was most interesting. You can't search for it by name because you gave no clue what might come up! I reckon their sales will have gone down as a result of this.

Took the grandchildren today on a Groupon offer family ticket. Was a good day out and they didn't want to go home. They enjoyed the trucks, tanks, boats, cars etc. I benefitted from the planes. The trade presence OK with Als, Inwood,SLEC, Balsa Cabin, Nexus, Weston, Model Technics etc all there. Stocked up on fuel at good prices and got other essentials. Tricky crosswind for the flyers but TJD, Horizon Hobbies, big Steve made it look much easier than it was. Not too many helis which was OK for me. Others might think differently? Worth going in my opinion.

Greg, well it's great the TJD team will be flying at the show. Always enjoy your display.

Thanks Bert, Where was this posted? Shame there is noTJD Models stand though as they are so local.

No reply from organisers about trade stands at the show. However, looking on some websites I see that Inwood Models, Als Hobbies, SLEC are all going so it looks hopeful. Groupon have discounted tickets for the show. The weather looks as if it may be good too. So I'm going to go along. Anyone else planning to go?

I had a swift reply from Simon Potter who is the flight line director for the show. His response is quoted below. He has also contacted the organisers regarding the traders who will be attending. Will post the details if I hear anything David   Although I am not able to comment on what traders will be there this year ( I am running the flight line) I can tell you that we have over 60 pilots booked. Many of the usual suspects including steve Hollands , steve Carr, Horizon Hobbys, Steve Johnson with the large Hawk and of course many others including a large fireworks display and night flying in the evening. In Recent years the show has lacked something and I offered to help out, and see if we could change a few bits to make it more interesting and enjoyable for everyone. I'm hoping to have some great displays lined up and the event organisers will be doing their part with the traders, food and entertainment. We hope to see you and many others there. Please bring some good weather with you! Edited By David Ovenden on 29/08/2016 14:59:30

What would be really helpful in making a decision about whether to go to the show or not would be up to the minute details of the event. Currently their website has only vague information and some of it is inaccurate as we now know there is no RCM&E involvement. It does nor say what traders will be attending. I will try to contact the organisers. If I do ,an age to find out anything , and I am not that hopeful, I will post details on here. It is the show the most local to me and it would be great if it was a good event to go to. However, maybe the era of the big model shows is drawing to a close?

John, I asked the question here exactly because the event is "in partnership with RCME magazine" and I was therefore hoping someone from editorial team or Maidstone MFC would be able to give some more info. Graham Ashby flies there I think? Hopefully we will get some response soon so we can make an informed choice about attending. Which traders will be attending? What models are lined up to fly? Are all the planned attractions going to happen? If any one has up to date information or details perhaps they can let us know.

Thanks for taking the time to post the link. However, I had already looked at this but it gives no details of who will be flying or what traders will be attending. I was hoping some one linked the organisers could give a bit more info.

I see the Southern Model Show is on again 11-12 September. Anyone know whether there will be much of a trade presence there this year? Some reported it "thin" last year. Will this year be better or worse in respect of RC aircraft trade stands. Also who will be flying and will there be WW1 and WW2 planes and scale models or just the 3D planes/helis which seem so prevalent these days.?

Sorry, won't be voting in this poll as astrology means nothing to me. I agree with Pete B on this one.

Yes, these are nice traditional scale kits. They were imported to the UK some years ago (Skylark Models ?)but I don't think they have been available for some time over here. Importing them is expensive and with the current awful exchange rate probably prohibitive. I had their Dauntless SBD kit.

So I'm not alone! I now conclude it is a very poor place to try to sell model aircraft items as other modellers have stopped looking! Well done Ebay. However, as Donald says, I doubt Ebay cares much what we think as our little "niche market" is very small fry to them. Still it makes one wonder who comes up with these new schemes and whether they have any clue as to the impact of their "improvement". Aren't negative changes almost always sold as improving the service or to make life easier? They seldom do though.