What products would you like to see reviewed?

[David Ashby - Moderator]

This thread is to help those of you who'd like to leave a review in the products section but can't find the item you want to talk about.

Tell me what you like to see listed and I'll do the rest!

David.

[Myron Beaumont]

David
How about aerial photography & cameras suitable for the job ie what sort of field of view ,what weight, what price ,how to install & where,what power supply ? We've seen Timbo's excellent web- cam offering .Maybe he could "kick start"it
As an ex-photographer (black & white etc ,printing ,developing ,enlarging etc.)it would be of interest not just to me but to other folks that need updating on modern techniques that have evolved the last few years.Just like the new R/C gear etc.
'er indoors just read what I've just written and said "that would interest me" there you go!
Only a suggestion but I realise that most modellers have a great deal of knowledge about a whole lot of subjects other than modelling .Especially when you're in the "twilight "years ,like me
Grumpy Myron

[David Ashby - Moderator]

It's just a matter of experimentation Myron, you can put any camera in any model as long as the camera is small enough and the model big enough to carry the weight. There are some proprietory camera systems although it's pretty easy just to pop a small digital camera in an electric model, lash up a servo to the shutter button and away you go.

I've put a small Sony digicam into the nose of an EasyStar before, I recorded movies and stills. That's just the start though.
Essentially it's the off the shelf systems that would be suitable to add to the product list.

David.

[John Rickett 102]

David,
How about in carrying out reviews we support our homegrown industries who themselves have supported us over the years? SM Services is one little British company who produce all manner of essential electronic goodies to get us out of fixes - servo reversers, servo slows, landing light switches, glow switches, retract sequencers, chargers - the list is lengthy. Most of these goodies are excellently priced for made-in-Britain products. They usually get passed over as reviewable subjects, perhaps because they are not as glamorous as engines or gyros.
I'm sure lots of modellers, especially those who may be new to the game, think that if they buy a bells and whistle radio all potential problems will be catered for. But what happens when you want to drive each elevator (or flap) with its own servo and having installed them, one goes up and one goes down - yes we've all done it! It may not be quite so easy to connect up the output from the other side of the servo - one of those little servo reversers is the painless answer.
Terry Bowden Rourke (who is absolutely no relation or paymaster of mine) has, over the years, steadily listened to the problems and systematically come up with the solutions.
I think an article or two on the little gems he produces, and the ways to use them, may be enlightening to quite a few readers.

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Thanks Chessie, noted, as they say. Agree with you too ;-)

David.

[winchweight]

How about each week you review commomly used items, nothing too specialist, but readily available from LHS. The things I am thinking about are horns, clevises, cables, pushrod sets,fuelling valves, props hinges etc. And as was said above (Chessie), how about small essentials, rx and tx battery packs, remote glows, on board glows and switchables (lights etc). Also reviews of tools (hand and power), covering materials, glues and dopes.

This kinda harps back to an old post of mine about aiming at the beginners in r/c.

[David Ashby - Moderator]

I've tried to move things that way with the balancer piece in the current issue. We've got some things in the pipeline. The most difficult thing would you believe is getting hold of kit.

It's amazing how much stuff fills catalogues yet is unavailable at importer level. Importers seem to run out at alarming rates.

David.

[Steve Hargreaves - Moderator]

David....a product for review (by a better craftsman than I!!) would be Easy Weld aluminium welding rods......pretty much as easy as soft soldering (but more heat needed obviously) but allows you to weld bits of Aluminium together.

I made an auxilliary silencer box from some B&Q 10mm ally tube & a small ally box from Maplins......still going strong after two or three years....

I'm sure this would be of interest to many but I've never seen it reviewed......starter kits from just over a tenner.....see www.easyweld.com

Cheers

[Steve Hargreaves - Moderator]

Inspired by Chessiegolfs eulogy to SM services I had a quick look on the website (well it beats working!!)....some fantastic products there....particularly like the SM50 Co Pilot.....allows you to use two Rxs (on different frequencies) & switch between them....effectively an in flight buddy lead.....how good is that??!!

It solves a problem for me as I have a friend who wants to fly but has a different make of RC to mine so a buddy lead was out of the question.....this little box could be just the thing!!!

Review please David!!!!

[Tim Mackey]

I think the idea here is guys, that YOU do the review of the product that has obviously impressed you !
Steve. No-one said you have to be a genius /"better craftsman" in order to cobble together a few words about how an item performs. In fact there is much to say for someone NOT being so, - that way we, the end users, can see how a product such as techno weld ( which I agree is pretty good stuff ) is likely to perform for the average Jo NOT the trained professional.

[Kelly]

The new Ripmax EP Messerschmitt 109 ARTF is one I would like to review.
When I get one of course:-)

Kelvin

[Tim Mackey]

We look forward to your review then Kelvin.

[Steve Hargreaves - Moderator]

You know Timbo you might just have a point there!!! My intial thought was that the product was so good it warranted a "professional" review but maybe one from Bash It Bodge It & Batter It a.k.a. S Hargreaves Esq might be useful in showing how a numpty like me copes!!

H'mmmmm I shall have to sharpen the old wax crayons methinks ('tis all the nurses allow us in here......)

[Tim Mackey]

LOl - go for it Steve, If I can do a so called review, then so can you for sure !!

[Dan C]

I would like to see RC modeling on a budget
I have mangaed to do it so far, but im sure others would like to see a cheaper way of getting into the sport.

[Tim Mackey]

That is not really a review as such though is it?
An article for sure, and again, as you have managed it...why not share your methods with others? Of course, the meaning of "budgeT is very variable - what one person considers an expensive complete setup, another spends on a single motor.
Also, I can assure you, that like for like, this hobby has never been cheaper for basic "starting out" setups. Our radio equipment for example is more reliable, packed with features, and at a fraction of the cost of that of 20years ago!

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Thanks Steve, I'll have a look at SM services. Welding!! I'll have to find a good practitioner first but will bear it in mind.

David.

[Steve Hargreaves - Moderator]

David the SM Services unit seems worthy of a small magazine feature on its own...maybe as an addition to the "For Starters" series that Guru Ellison is currently penning.....as for the ally welding then Timbo may well have inspired me to pen something for the site....believe me I am no skilled craftsman but as Timbo points out maybe the best way to review a product is to have a "semi-skilled" operator review it (provided he can string a sentence together). Afdter all if the Numpties can do it the rest of us (you) should have no problem!!!

Incidentally its not clear how to actually post a review....it might be me but I was expecting to see a "Post Review" button...or do we sent our mighty missives of rightous rhetoric to you editors who then stick the more coherent ones on the site??

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Steve

Best thing to do is to email me the text, I'll then normally just tweak it into shape and pop it either on the front page and/or in the reviews thread on the forum.

David.

[Tim Mackey]

Hope you are patient Steve ! Sorry David couldn't resist :) :) :)

[Steve Hargreaves - Moderator]

A review from me would probably need battering with a large mallet rather than just tweaking but there you go!!!

Pictures too David??

Timbo I think it is David who will need to be patient....as someone probably said once...."....there are those who promise much but deliver little..."

[twinstar]

how about a review of the various EPP flying wings on the market.

Also here's a review i did for the JP models electrasport (link below), if you like i can do one for the Phoenix model Products Synergy duet glider..probably the best introduction to slopesoaring on the market.

http://www.247models.co.uk/product_reviews_info.php/products_id/2644/reviews_id/2?osCsid=b622c608e4bac2297b323f9d

[Dan C]

Or review one of the small Pilot Cap or Sukhoi kits.
Lokk good fun :)

[Kelly]

Ripmax Messerschmitt purchased at Rufforth today:-) Will do a review if I may and/or a Blog?

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Please do Kelvin, we'd love to see a build blog.

David.