New Products That Are Worth a Closer Look
BATTLE OF BRITAIN THE MOVIE
IN THE JULY 2023 ISSUE of Model Aviation, I wrote two articles about the movie Battle of Britain. I mentioned that one source of information came from an excellent book, Battle of Britain The Movie, by Robert Rudhall.
The book is long out of print and commands a hefty price; however, it has been republished as Battle of Britain The Movie: The Men and Machines of One of the Greatest War Films Ever Made. The new
book provides some updates because more has been learned about the film since the original book was published in 2000.
The hardcover book spans 222 pages with 100 photos. An overview of the book on the publisher’s website reads, “This detailed description of the making of the film is supported by a mouth-watering selection of pictures that were taken during the production stages. The images cover not only the many vintage aircraft used in the film, but
also the airfields, the actors, and even the merchandise which accompanied the film’s release in 1969—plus a whole lot more.”
It includes numerous air-to-air shots of the Spitfires, Messerschmitts, Hurricanes, and Heinkels that were brought together for the film. There are also images that capture the moment that Battle of Britain veterans, some of whom were also acting as consultants, visited the sets. Interviews with people who worked on the film, such as Hamish Mahaddie, John Blake, and Ron Goodwin, among others, bring the story to life.
A chapter titled “Model Work” covers the model aircraft and their builders. A handful of photos include the models as well. Other than a painful look at a photo of some of the models on a bonfire at the end of filming, the photos of the models are a real treat. The book is a great resource, given that the models’ inclusion in the film was kept a secret until well after the film had been released.
Another chapter that I found quite interesting was “The Aircraft Fleet Then and Now.” This chapter, as the name suggests, provides information about the aircraft used in the film and where they currently reside. With this handy guide, it is possible to see if any of the aircraft that you might be interested in seeing reside in places that can be visited, such as museums.
Since the movie Battle of Britain is considered to be the first movie to use RC aircraft in flight to represent their full-scale counterparts, that alone makes the book an interesting read for modelers; however, anyone who is interested in the battle—specifically the film and its making—will find this book to be a great resource. The new edition provides updated information at a much more reasonable price than the original now fetches on the secondhand market.
New Products from the Modeler’s Mall
AR Li+ 3K and 6K Smart Batteries @ $69-$89 + S&H from Advanced Radio/Booma RC
Email: sales@boomarc.com; website: www.boomarc.com
Advanced Radio announces the new AR 3K and 6K Li+ Smart Batteries with technology found in the computer industry and additional features specifically for the RC modeler.
Each battery comes with 10 multicolored daylight-readable LEDs. As soon as the model is powered, the LEDs light up to show the remaining capacity so that you can check the health of your battery packs with each and every flight. AR Li+ Smart Batteries can also be checked with a simple push of a button.
Each pack has built-in self-balancing for perfectly balanced cells. A storage mode is also provided. By holding the button down, the pack will start to discharge down to storage automatically. All pack data is stored internally and can be read with the AR Smart battery charger (sold separately); however, the batteries can also be charged using any fast-charging Li-Ion or LiPo charger.
Other features include the new high-speed AR1 CAN bus connector for professional data reading by AR Smart systems; however, it can be specified with any industry connector (XT60, XT30, MPX, or EC3 as adapters), so connecting your preferred power distribution system is a breeze.
An optional high-quality aluminum battery tray with easy-release Velcro straps is sold separately and allows the AR Li+ Smart Batteries to be easily moved between models.
GHOST @ $199.95 + S&H from Old School Model Works
Tel: (513) 755-7494; website: www.oldschoolmodels.com
Old School Model Works introduces the latest in its line of kits to not only build and fly successfully but personalize to your own taste. The 62-inch wingspan GHOST was envisioned as an opportunity to train, advance, and have fun in one airframe. This easy-to-build model has a wealth of laser-cut and precut parts from hand-selected light plywood and balsa. The flat-bottomed airfoil wing is a cinch to build using the exclusive WEB-LOCK construction, which not only gives you the proper rib spacing but also holds each rib at a true 90° to the build surface, without the need for additional tools.
The fuselage sides have been engineered with slots to lock in each former at the right spot and angle, and multi-size servo mounts have been integrated into the sides. A first for Old School Model Works kits is the included, effective flaps, and the tall, wide main gear that makes it easy to take off from paved or grass surfaces.
Power requirements are a .30 to .40 glow-power engine or a 450-plus-watt motor, 60-plus-amp ESC, and 3S to 4S LiPo battery. After you’ve mastered the GHOST, add a Fun Fly Bay drop kit (sold separately) for even more fun.
1300mm PA-18 Super Cub with Reflex V2 PNP/RTF @ $199.99-$269.99 + S&H from FMS Hobby
Email: support@fmsmodel.com; website: www.fmshobby.com
The FMS 1700mm PA-18 was launched in 2019 as a stable, easy-to-fly-and-operate model. FMS was constantly asked to reduce the size of the aircraft—the model itself, as well as the packaging—so the 1300mm PA-18 was the answer.
The 1300mm PA-18 adopts a two-section wing and horizontal stability structure, along with a two-section fuselage to greatly facilitate carrying the model and transportation. Thanks to functional flaps, a high-lift airfoil, rugged landing gear, and oversized pneumatic rubber tires, this model has impressive short takeoff and landing performance, allowing it to operate from nearly any terrain.
Assembly and disassembly of the entire aircraft can be completed with just a few screws. Pilots who want a genuine bush airplane experience can add floats to the Super Cub (sold separately). The RTF version comes with everything needed and preinstalled, including the transmitter, receiver, battery, charger, and all other electronics. The PNP version includes a preinstalled ESC, motor, and servos. A transmitter, receiver, battery, and charger are required for completion.
