RE: TOWER HOBBIES SUCKS
right. -Tony
Posted on: 9/8/2012 5:11 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11221585

RE: What do you use to clean your monokote?
Simplest, cleanest, easiest, Stoner Products' "Invisible Glass". Try it once, and you won't use anything else. And it lasts a long time.
Posted on: 8/19/2012 5:40 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11198515

RE: Screwed by HobbyKing
When I order from Hobby King I know immediately if an item is out of stock. I don't order it unless they have it. I order only what's in stock. They reserve it for you, but you need to put the order in. You can't wait several days. Their goods sell fast, especially the good stuff. They weigh my order and tell me the weight so I will know shipping costs. It's not flat rate. The shipping gram weight is given for every item they sell, which includes whatever complexity is required to get it to you... like bigger boxes, for example. I have taken to ordering a few items at a time to keep shipping to either $2.99 or $6.99, the two break points of the gram weight for my zip code. You can get a lot of small items for those prices, very fair costs if you ask me, to get stuff from the other side of the world. If you have ordered from them, they keep a record for you of all your orders, when, how much, with totals. Great accounting. I don't use the orange receivers in my expensive planes either. I would never use them in a gasser or carbon framed plane. Just common sense. They do work well however for their applications, which include most electrics, EDFs, etc. More sophisticated radio equipment should be used with more sophisticated airframes, servos, and engines. No need to imply the orange receivers don't work however, they definitely do, and work well. I had one with satellite at over 1,000 feet (tower permission) in a StrykerQ. Eagle Tree altimeter, purchased at Hobby King by the way. If you don't like to buy off-shore, BECAUSE it's off-shore, I understand. We all know the money for the goods ends up back in China or somewhere in the far east or Germany, regardless of which supplier you buy from. Personally, I'd love to get this stuff locally or somewhere in the USA at equivalent prices and selection. I just haven't found that place yet.
Posted on: 8/10/2012 5:32 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11187978

RE: Screwed by HobbyKing
I've found the following products from Hobby King to be really nice, functional, inexpensive and top quality: 1. Blue sticky velcro (there is none better anywhere and at a giveaway price) 2. Any of their heat shrink tubing 3. 3.5mm connectors 4. JR type extensions 5. Turnigy motors (both the gold and the newer design) 6. Turnigy batteries (I use 40C in all sizes. Can't vouch for the lower C ratings) 7. Their gold colored connectors, the ones you solder yourself 8. Orange receivers and satellites (I have 18 of them, and they all work well in EDF jets and other electrics including an Evader, a Shoestring, and a Cosmic Wind among others) 9. Light sets ($7, full complement) 10. Their Stinger jet and their 70mm Sport jet, among others 11. All sizes of wheels, including aluminum hubs 12. Electric retracts (the $7-8 ones, work every time, no failures, H9 Spitfire, TF AT-6, Century A109 helicopter, and others) 13. Almost forgot Turnigy 30, 40, 55, and 60 size ESCs 14. There's a lot more, honest. I fly at Manatee R/C in Florida. I'm not a shill, I'm a modeler who's "serious about the hobby". I have never received any money or products from Hobby King or any other hobby supplier. I have 85 orders and counting with Hobby King. I'd be happy to send you via email copies of some of the orders I've sent them. I'll also be happy to talk to you if you doubt what I'm saying. By the way, we have an electric club nearby with several members with MANY more orders than I have with Hobby King. We all fly the orange receivers. As far as I know, everyone is happy, although I don't know all the guys and all their opinions. You should also know I buy a lot of stuff (a lot) from Tower, Hangar 9, and other suppliers. Seems to me most or all of what I get from them is from China, also good quality, fast shipping, and great service. And it does cost more. Just my two cents added to the discussion. No need to persecute me, I'm just reporting my experiences over the past several years. 40 years in the hobby, by the way, so again, I'm a "serious modeler".
Posted on: 8/9/2012 2:41 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11187353

RE: Most Blatant
A few points... a shill is a person trying to entice others to buy a product or participate in some way. I personally could care less if you ever buy anything from anyone so I guess I'm disqualified on that score. I like telling people how and where to get bargains, using coupons is big, and don't forget, it's hobby money, all of which makes me a buddy. I'm not un-American, but I also don't want to personally pay the LHS guy's kid's college tuition. I'll be happy to give him all my business if he competes with products and prices. I don't want his service, I want good deals. I've talked to the guy. I'm not smart, but he definitely isn't smart, especially when it comes to our hobby. But whatever, he's a nice person. My local hobby shop charges retail for everything. $4 + for a small package of heat shrink for example. I can buy 39" of heat shrink for 25 cents from Hobby King. Good stuff I might add. That's 16 YARDS in all sizes for $4. HobbyKing's blue velcro, 4 inches wide, very aggressive adhesive, 39" long strip, (lifetime supply pretty much), is $2. The Hobby shop charges $4 for a few inches of the stuff. You can't have my business unless you compete. Sorry to sound like a shill, but no more than every hobby magazine out there, or the guys at the field talking about their latest bargain, or the guys at the contests selling everything under the sun and telling me how good it is. Hobby King offers to HIRE you and pay you to tell how good their products are, what bargains they are, and you have a problem with that? Not sure I can begin to comprehend why.... Do you think the magazines aren't compensated for their reviews? Do you think only NEGATIVE comments are appropriate on web sites? Is it possible some of us have had great experiences buying products from various sources? Should we keep it to ourselves? If I say OS has great engines, because you know they are NOT paying me, that's OK, but if they were, I'd be a shill? Please, spare me. OS does make great engines, period. To get to my local hobby shop costs me a gallon or two of gas, roundtrip. Sales tax, 6.5%. I do buy fuel from them at $88 a case. While I'm there, I buy props if I need them, and some other small items. No kits, no motors, no radios, no servos, no engines... Why not? Simple prices, aka economics, of course. I'd much rather buy that stuff from Tower, get my $50 off coupon as a club member, and free shipping. It's at my door in four days. Great products: OS Engines (Japan), Hitec servos (Korea), Top Flite ARFs (China), Futaba radio gear (Japan/Malaysia), other stuff from all over the place, including Europe. I don't buy velcro from Tower, or connectors, or wire, or servo extensions, usually not motors, and a lot of other stuff, because THEIR prices are too high on that stuff. I still like them a lot, but if they didn't compete, I wouldn't buy from them either. I used to buy EKLogitrol, Kraft, ProLine, Ace, and others, when they were made here. One after the other, they started manufacturing elsewhere. I ended up with Futaba, Hitec, Airtronics, and JR, like most of us. Best game in town, right? Of course. I'd love to buy from the hobby shop if they had a great selection, and were priced fairly. I remember 30 years ago going to hobby shop, seeing what size and color spinner he had in stock, and then finish building the nose of my airplane so it would look good. Those days are gone, and thankfully. 10-4, over and out.
Posted on: 8/2/2012 12:23 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11178716

RE: Most Blatant
To Topspin: When you go into your account on the Hobby King web site, IT TELLS YOU HOW MANY ORDERS YOU HAVE MADE, AND IT LISTS EVERY ORDER, AND WHAT YOU BOUGHT FROM THEM, the dates, when shipped, etc. You really should try ordering before you jump in and make a comment. Tower Hobbies also lists your orders. You can check each order going back many (not sure how many) years and they also provide a list of EVERY ITEM you have purchased from them. Computers are wonderful. Tower never goofed with me either, in 37 years...
Posted on: 8/2/2012 7:19 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11178337

RE: Most Blatant
;t believe it either. Non-shill, Tony Iannucelli, (sorry you don't believe me, I must be one
Posted on: 8/2/2012 5:42 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11178260

RE: Most Blatant
Hobby King, 82 orders so far... Turnigy batteries, never an issue... many have 75+ flights on them, some more... had one ESC fail, sent in to the Washington address, cash credit within a week, no questions asked, no followup necessary ... 18 orange receivers, never a failure... $3 servos, never a problem... I even use two HXT900s in an Evader... 22 flights and counting... foam jets like the Rebel, Stinger, and others, 100+ flights and counting... motors, never an issue at all... shipping from Washington for batteries, 3-4 days, (click "priority", $13), planes take about a week, same as many others... Tower Hobbies, a customer since 1975, thousands of dollars spent over the years, perfect company to deal with. (If my wife reads this I'm a dead man.) Horizon, Hobby Lobby, Hobby People, Violett, AMain, all excellent. I even bought a Mustang from Banana Hobby and it was just as advertised, and arrived with no issues whatsoever. I'm getting old now, my reflexes aren't what they were, but I still love the hobby. And hey, I'm no shill. I must be lucky. We live in a global market. I thought HK was owned by Aussies, had warehouses in Hong Kong, Germany, Australia, and the US. I think they also have some storefronts in the USA. What's the big deal.... if you don't like them, don't buy from them. Their business model certainly works.
Posted on: 8/1/2012 2:52 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11177568

RE: LETS SAVE SIG BEFORE THEY GET SWALLOWED BY THE BIG TWO!!!
For openers, I'm a big Tower Hobbies fan. I've been a customer since 1975. I also have purchased from Horizon, Midwest, Hobby King, etc. ,etc. I really like them all. Sig, not so much. Their designs are dated, their marketing more so, and their prices for what you get for your money always seemed high to me compared with others. I always swapped out the hardware that came with their kits in favor of Dubro or Sullivan. Personal preference I guess. Their finished planes always seemed heavier than others. The wood wasn't selected for its purpose in a kit. Again, just in my limited experience of building maybe 6-8 of their offerings, usually for other people. The Kadets are great flying planes. The Hogs are great flying planes. But on balance, to me, that is about it. I did want one of the P-51B ARFs they were offering - built in China no doubt - but they were never in stock. I'll miss them if they go, but nowhere near as much as I would miss the others mentioned.
Posted on: 7/23/2012 1:25 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11166126

RE: What glow engine would you choose
O.S. .61 SF Ringed. If you have one new-in-box, I'll give you $150 shipped for it.
Posted on: 7/20/2012 6:56 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11163056

RE: Battery Charger (what's everyone using)
A lot of you guys are into the heavy stuff. I only use three and four cell lipos ranging from 1600 to 5000. If you are like I am in this respect, the Accucel 6 from Hobby King has been great for me and I would recommend one or several of them. I have four of them, and they do the job quite well. I think they cost around $25. They use small power supplies, the $10 ones. I charge at 1C usually. The charger is great for NiMH, NiCad, PB, and FE as well. Never had one break in over three years. I do squirt some WD-40 on the fan motor every so often. The chargers also feature storage and fast charge too. Worth a look.
Posted on: 6/28/2012 12:12 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "RC Tanks"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11135318

RE: CAELESTIA NEW F3A 2011
Very, very nice aircraft. What's the over-under on how long it will be before Hobby King is selling these? Saw it happen with the BD-5 and the GP Rifle.
Posted on: 6/27/2012 7:15 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Electric Pattern Aircraft"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11133684

RE: Brownouts, first time
Thanks StraitNickel. Since that day we have never had any problems. Vevy strange. Still doing a lot of flying, same environment, same equipment. Nary a glitch. Tony
Posted on: 6/26/2012 7:49 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "JR Radio & Spektrum Radios"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11132336

RE: Lipo Fire in Garage
That Hobby King harness (which generally works fine) may have been an issue. I accidentally mixed a high capacity nimh -car battery- on one line and a low capacity (flight pack) on another.... one feed the other, burned the low capacity battery which was in a plane (flightpack), and caught the plane on fire. Took about five minutes for me to recognize the mistake, as I went in the house for a coffee refill. By the time I got back I saw and smelled the fire. Gotta keep THINKING all the time.
Posted on: 6/25/2012 7:01 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11130866

RE: spektrum vs JR
I think most of the Spektrum radios are made in China. I was under the impression JR was made in Japan. I've owned both. I'd give the edge to JR. Servos, hands down, JR, over all other brands. Not to say Spektrum isn't a good product. I think it is. I also wouldn't be surprised if some of the Spektrum servos were JR quality too. Following excellent preflight protocols will make both brands winners. It's not just the radios as you know.
Posted on: 6/14/2012 5:35 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11118520

RE: Dx8 still has problems
Just to offer another opinion, it seems to me there are so many variables with all of our crashes it really becomes very difficult to pinpoint the true cause. Radio link, batteries, servos, motor/engine, pilot, wind, etc., and the list is a lot longer. I fly JR 9303, both 2.4 and 72. I use Spektrum, JR, and orange receivers. I've stalled a couple of planes this year, pilot error for sure, but I swear I could have said "I ain't got it" and blamed the radio. The guy I was flying with did exactly that, blamed my radio for my crashes. I knew better. We have had a couple of brownouts, I'm sure battery related, but they are very rare. I do have to say, running five and four cell NiMH batteries in planes and helis on 72, I can't EVER remember having an issue over 40 years of flying. That goes all the way back to when we had just five frequencies for planes. I've flown Kraft, EK Logictrol, Proline, MRC, Futaba, JR, and Spektrum. All have been good to me. I've probably tried 15-20 brands of servos. There have been a few duds among them, but most have been bulletproof. Sounds to me like this is another Chevy vs Ford, or more appropriately Toyota vs Hyundai vs others. Of the brands mentioned, Castle is the one made here and they have had occasional issues too. No one is really immune. It's tough when you are the one caught up in the problem. Horizon service has been terrific. So have Hobby People, Tower and Hobby Services in my experience. I'm one of those guys that only seems to have problems with my own thumbs and the older I get, the worse it gets. Dumb luck, but hanging in there.
Posted on: 6/14/2012 4:51 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11117764

RE: Super monokote - not so super anymore
I recently purchased my first Seagull model after 40 years in the hobby. One of the main selling points was that it was covered with Ultracote. Upon inspection, all the parts had very slight bubbling which was quickly resolved with a heat gun, even on the seams. Now it's perfect. Very nice ARF by the way, a bit on the heavy side, but it's a warbird after all. My Hangar Nine Spitfire was tight as a drum out of the box, and still is, a year later. Ditto on a new Shoestring. In contrast, my Cosmic Wind, Monokote covered, was so bad Tower sent me a new wing and tail set. My GP Ultimate refuses to shrink tight. I have others with Monokote that have been great from day one, and several are over 10 years old. Seems to me it's hit or miss, but if I were buying plastic covering, it would be Ultracote. (Solartex is really the best covering, but it's not plastic, as you all know).
Posted on: 6/9/2012 12:06 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11112469

RE: Whats up with the JR obsession in RC Jets?
It's clear. JR Servos. Feel the difference. Smooth as silk.
Posted on: 6/6/2012 5:21 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11109312

RE: The G forces we put our planes & jets through
Flying the Chinese stuff I guess you'd call it. An Evader, an F-16, a StrykerQ, a Projeti, and some others. With most of them, split esses are the norm. Using the low reading Eagle Tree I get between 4-7 Gs on all three axis. I've broken 1,000 feet with the Stryker (with the permission of the Tower). They fly really well. There really is no need to spend thousands of dollars any more for me. Trust me, the same rush is available for a couple of hundred bucks. And because they are small, the challenge is greater. So, do tell, the 3D helis must be pulling 50gs........
Posted on: 5/28/2012 3:34 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11097732

RE: Why the near obsession with over powering airplanes?
"SOME IS GOOD, MORE IS BETTER, TOO MUCH IS JUST RIGHT."
Posted on: 5/26/2012 9:46 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "ARF or RTF"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11095356

RE: Spectrum receivers
I've used orange receivers since last year with my JR 2.4 transmitter. I have them in an Evader, a StrykerQ, Phase 3 F-16s, a Stinger, a GP F-20, a Mini Ultra Stik, a Hobby Lobby F-35, a Demon pylon racer, and a motor glider. I use satellites on all. The StrykerQ has been over 1,000 feet (with permission of the tower, using an Eagle tree altimeter); the Evader is a rocket and I use two HXT900 servos in it ($2.49 each); my buddy flies a GP Edge 540 50". Collectively we estimate we have over 1,000 flights on our planes. This is not an exaggeration. We fly three times a week, about 8-10 flights a day, each of us. In 1,000 flights or more, we have had no documented issues proving the receivers were at fault in any crashes. I say they are bulletproof and would have no fear using them in anything. Do I have other planes and helis worth a lot of money? YES. Do I use them in those airframes? NO, mainly because those planes and helis were purchased before the orange receivers existed. Bottom line, buy one or two, and have no fear.
Posted on: 5/18/2012 8:31 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11085739

RE: HOBBY king going down the tube?
I thought Hobby King was owned by an Aussie, with branches in Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, and the U.S. The manufacturers are from China. By the way, Tower, Hobby People, Horizon, etc., also buy from China. I don't know of anything made in America in the hobby, in any quantity, do you? PowerMaster fuel comes to mind and some other fuel mixers. Too expensive to ship I would think. The radios: Futaba, Japan and the far east, JR, the same, Airtronics, the same, Hitec, Korea. Even Kraft radios were from Mexico and elsewhere when they closed. The radios from China are coming soon one would think. If the Chinese can assemble most computers, IPads, Phones, etc, they can surely do our radios. It's a world economy guys, no more so than this hobby we all love. And make no mistake, regardless of what you may hear, the $5.99 orange receivers have a darn strong link...
Posted on: 5/14/2012 9:53 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11080314

RE: HOBBY king going down the tube?
74 orders from Hobby King, most from Hong Kong, no problems, no mistakes, no issues, ever. Great value for my hobby dollar. I have had a couple of bad solder joints on connectors, but that's about it. I probably helped that along by tugging on the wires. Hey, if it was my fault, and when something bad happens it usually is, I step up to the plate. I'm amazed at how my packages arrive from the other side of the world, with no damage ... more than 60 times. I order from Tower, Horizon, Hobby People, and several others also. Service from all the US companies has been necessary, but they have been very helpful, every time. Maybe I'm just lucky. But with 40 years in the hobby, probably not just luck. Must be clean living. (Yeah, right). I always remind myself it's a hobby, not life or death, or anything to get my blood pressure up.
Posted on: 5/13/2012 2:46 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "The Clubhouse"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11079429

RE: Top Flite p 47, ok for a first plane?
P-47s land in a very well-mannered fashion vs Mustangs, P-40s, and some others. I actually have a P-38 55" foamie electric twin that lands VERY easily too, even better than any of the many Stiks I've had and they are great fliers. The UCanDo 46 can also be landed and flown better than many alleged trainers out there when set up correctly. The only people that would deny that never had one. But lest I digress, the guys on here that are telling you not to try to fly a P-47 yet are very smart. If you insist, get an electric foam one. You would at least have a better shot at it, and might land it in the high grass with the wheels off or up. Survivability would be much better than a nitro version, especially one with a 30+ ounce wing loading. By the way, check out the wing loading on whatever you are buying. Stay in the 10-20 ounce range and you'll be OK. One last thing.... the space bar on your computer sim is your best friend. There are no "space bars" at the field.
Posted on: 5/7/2012 8:33 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11071530

RE: Very bad answer from HH service department
Horizon service and Hobby Services have always been aces for me. Sorry to hear of your issues with them. You might consider giving them another chance. Everyone knows JR servos are the way to go in jets. OOps, didn't mean to open yet another can of opinions....
Posted on: 5/3/2012 3:41 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11066511

RE: Quality check?
Some serious model builders. The jets must be in the other room.
Posted on: 4/28/2012 2:35 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11060417

RE: flying close to small airport Police on the scene
You're lucky Obama and is wife weren't in your state. We got a "no fly order" here a few weeks ago because of "VIPs" in the area.... the laugh comes from the fact they banned [u]U Control flying [/u]within 10 miles of the airport (Tampa International). Wonder how long they think U/C lines are ?? Just saying.... Also, Florida Jets and Top Gun are 4 day events flown AT THE LAKELAND AIRPORT. The model guys coordinate with the Tower. Again, just saying...
Posted on: 4/23/2012 9:52 AM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "AMA Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11053540

RE: Monokote....Never Again
They are both OK and Solarfilm is good too. Ultrakote doesn't seem to loosen up as much as Monokote down here in the Florida sun. But forget all that, I'm wondering how somebody has over 10,000 posts on RCUniverse.... TEN THOUSAND ! Yikes ! Me, I'd rather be flying....
Posted on: 4/14/2012 4:58 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11042000

RE: Dirty Birdy ARF
Here's a picture of the Suprafly...
Posted on: 4/10/2012 3:53 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11036683

RE: Dirty Birdy ARF
Can't wait for the Dirty Birdy ARF. It will look great side by side with my EZ Suprafly 60. It's on it's third engine and second set of servos. Original retracts! Best flying plane I've had in 40 years, and there have been a LOT of them.
Posted on: 4/10/2012 3:51 PM by Author "Tony Iannucelli" in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11036681