RC modeling: what is it, who it suits, and how much does the fashionable hobby cost?
The encyclopedia explains the term “modelism” dryly and boringly: “modeling – is the design and manufacture at home or in industrial conditions of the working or bench top replicas of various techniques. In life everything is much more colorful and fascinating.
Not so long ago modelists were considered only ardent fans of homemade copies of planes, ships and cars. The original hobby was considered a royal pastime as it took away a lot of time exactly for creation of prototypes of real machines, and also consumed a considerable part of the family budget.
In the early days of modeling, the model-making process was approached meticulously, with knowledge of the details and history of each machine. Creation of one copy could last for a year or even more, because it was hard to find the right part.
The modelist was believed to be a man with a heroic patience, an inquisitive mind, a considerable luggage of knowledge and a stiff purse.
All that changed in the era of radio-controlled models, when modeling (RC-modeling) began to engage in high-tech companies, and the process of creating new machines began to approach more creatively.
If you have ever watched a remote-controlled car race, a competition of ship models or aircraft models, you have already felt the hypnotic effect of the spectacle.
Radio-controlled models – this is not the destiny of teenagers (if we are talking about simple toys on the radio-control) or the rich (if we talk about devices with serious electronic stuffing). Thanks to the development of technology and the invention of light, durable and inexpensive materials, the hobby of scale modeling has become an accessible hobby and even a real sport.
In modeling there are two directions:
Benchtop – creating scale replicas of real-life machines. Ships, planes, cars, tanks and trains are made with minute detail and perfect similarity with the prototype. The disadvantage of such models is that they can decorate the collection, but are not capable of action. Technical – the creation of functioning vehicles. Such models do not always reproduce the original to the finest detail, but they fly, walk on water and drive on tracks.
In RC modeling manufacturers have managed to achieve the 2-in-1 effect, when the radio-controlled model performs commands of the operator and at the same time is a scale copy of a real-life aircraft, ship or car.
For example, military aircraft on radio control – this is an exact replica of the aircraft of World War II. No one can turn back time, but to become an ace pilot with a remote control in the hands of anyone can now. The price of a question – from 100 dollars.
Among the active ship models, there are also interesting large-scale copies.
For example, Traxxas DCB M41 Widebody 40″ catamaran is a development of the founder of the company DCB (“Dave’s Custom Boats”) Dave Hemingson and an exact copy of a real catamaran, which immediately became popular among RC-modelists.
The TRAXXAS engineers approached the creation of the boat model with the utmost seriousness. The catamaran has proven to be a reliable and easy-to-service vessel.
In addition to the external resemblance to the original, the shipmodel surprises by its technical characteristics:
dimensions – length 1 meter, weight 2,45 kg; Speed – up to 80 km / h. The stabilization system TSM (Traxxas Stability Management) – the catamaran keeps the balance on the waves and bravely overcomes steep turns. The 2-channel 2.4 GHz radio control provides clear signal transmission without interference or delays.
Radio-controlled scale models of real cars are the most common. Probably because everything started with radio-controlled car models for RC enthusiasts.
American manufacturer TRAXXAS is on top here. Its cars with electric Traxxas Slash Short Course series made in 1:10 scale are only licensed body, decorated with logos and graphics of their full-size prototypes.
These off-road vehicles have been raced by world-renowned racing drivers like Arie Luyendyk, Mark Jenkins, and Mike Jenkins.
It is noteworthy that TRAXXAS radio-controlled models are reliable, easy to operate and operate, and come with a complete set (RTR) when you can run the car “straight out of the box.
Electric-powered cars in a popular scale do not require specially prepared tracks – you can race though the yard, though the forest paths, though the corridor in the apartment.
A special place in the world of RC is allotted to radio-controlled multicopters, the most popular of which are quadcopters – drones with four main rotors.
Manufacturers have waged a real war in the battle for “the smartest drone. “Sharks of drone building” – Chinese monsters Yuneec and DJI Innovation are known for their large drones for aerial photography. Another manufacturer from the Celestial Empire – Hubsan – became famous for a series of budget and quality drones of the X4 line.
As a conclusion, it is worth saying that progress is not moving in place and hobbies, previously available to a select few, went into the masses.
You can choose a radio-controlled model for all tastes and wallets. Just take the remote control in your hands, catch the drive, feel the power of radio control.
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