y Review Megatech 90-93 - High Definition Radio Control

HM Review
Jeff Troy
MEGAFORCE!
Megatech International offers an impressive selection of electric powered fighting
equipment from World War I through World War II, Korea and as recent as the
Desert Storm operation. Not to be taken as true-to-scale military equipment,
these action RC models deliver the maximum in fun and value for the minimum
investment in dollars and bench time.
MegaStealth II
M
Specifications
•
•
•
•
Wingspan: 48 inches
Wing area: 208 sq. in.
Length: 21 inches
Weight: 21 ounces
RTF Includes
• 99-percent factory-assem
bled Stealth bomber
• Factory-installed 3-channel
RC system
• 8.4-Volt MegaBattery &
DC quick peak charger
• Stars & Bars graphics
• 8-page instruction manual
Megatech International’s
MegaStealth II Bomber is a very
cool small electric RC flyer. This
fast pass along the tree line lets
you know the model delivers.
90 APRIL 2003 HOBBY MERCHANDISER
egatech’s MegaStealth
II Bomber rocks. It’s a
99 percent ready to
fly package, and everything
that’s needed is inside the large,
colorful Megatech box. Just add
eight AA dry cells for the transmitter and customers can be on
their way to a great time at the
The B-2 leaves the hand with ample power
nearest park or ball field.
for the climb and the flight to follow. This is
Getting the MegaStealth II
an unusual airplane, with a lot of character
ready to fly takes fewer than 20 and unique, eye-catching appeal.
minutes. Just apply a little white
glue to the plug-in wing tip sections and insert them into the fuselage. Four large
strips of adhesive-backed trim sheet reinforce the joints. American Stars & Bars
graphics are provided for placement onto the tip panels. That’s as difficult as it
gets; the only real time involved is waiting a few hours for the white glue to dry.
The MegaStealth II (#MTC9901) is constructed from tough foam, and is surprisingly damage resistant. The electric motor system is factory installed, as is the
three-channel RC system. The model’s control surfaces are coupled elevons on the
fuselage and tip sections, and proportional mixing is already dialed into the transmitter’s two-axis right stick.
The factory-finished off-white MegaStealth II comes with a rechargeable
motor pack and a DC quick peak charger. Topping off the battery takes approximately 15 minutes and allows the model to fly for almost 10 minutes with each
charge. Flying the MegaStealth II is
a riot. It has more than its share of
of reserve power, and responds very
positively to commands. This
model truly gives the impression of
a Stealth bomber in the air, and low
passes are exceptionally cool.
Megatech’s MegaStealth II
Bomber is priced to sell, and the
model flies very well, with no surprises for intermediate RC pilots.
MegaMissile Launcher
M
egatech’s MegaMissile Launcher
(#MTC82003) is outrageous fun. This
fully assembled military masterpiece
moves forward and back with commands from the
transmitter’s sticks. The revolving missile carrier
bank is spring loaded, so it raises on its own as the
first command to launch is given. Two push-buttons on the transmitter back rotate the missile
bank to the right and left, and
two push-buttons at the top
launch the missiles, one-at-atime, and initiate the vehicle’s
incredible sound effects.
Ten missiles spring load
into the missile bank. Just
The MegaMissile
insert them tail first, and press
Launcher transmitthem down. You’ll feel the
ter guides direction with two conventional stick assemblies.
“click” when the catch is
Two buttons on the case top launch missiles
engaged. Turn the transmitter
and activate sound effects. Two buttons on
and Missile Launcher on, aim
the rear rotate the missile carrier. Launcher
the revolving carrier bank and
holds 10 soft foam “missiles.” 12 included.
launch. How cool is that?
One 9.6-volt rechargeable pack powers the vehicle, and the transmitter is
powered by a single 9-volt alkaline cell. All the batteries are included, and so is an
AC wall charger for the rechargeable motor pack. The sound effects add incredible
fun and a most interesting dimension of realism to this unique military model.
Specifications
•
•
•
•
•
Length: 12-3/4 inches
Width: 6 inches
Height: 5-1/2 inches
Multi-function RC
Audio effects
RTR Includes
• Factory-assembled
MegaMissile Launcher
• Factory-installed RC
• 12 soft foam “missiles”
• MegaBattery & charger
• 14-page instructions
Desert Thunder M1 Abrams Tank
M
egatech’s Desert
Thunder (#MTC8100)
is 14” long, with a dual
motor, twin track drive system.
The Abrams moves forward and
back, and right and left, and can
climb steep inclines to 30 degrees.
Gun sounds and operating lights
are attractive selling extras.
Like all of Megatech general
Megatech’s M1 Abrams MegaTanks come
interest RC vehicles, the larger
in large and small versions. Large Desert
1/20-scale M1A1 Abrams Desert
Storm is 18” long while smaller Desert
Storm Battle Tank (#MTC9500) is Thunder is 14” long. Both offer big fun.
also completely assembled. This
model is 18” long and features working tail lights and genuine trailing link track.
The turret rotates and the gun raises and lowers manually. The larger M1A1
Desert Storm tank operates in sand, dirt, gravel,
grass — virtually anywhere – and it even climbs
up to 45-degree inclines.
The 14” Desert Thunder uses four AA dry
cells (#MTC3921) in the vehicle and one 9-volt
alkaline battery (#MTC3925) in the transmitter.
The M1 Abrams Desert Thunder and Desert
Storm Battle Tanks are fun to drive and pretend
to shoot. No assembly is required and either
tanks is enthusiastically recommended for little
Speaker is hidden beneath
hatch. RC switch is on hull. generals age 7 through adult.
Specifications
• Length: 14 inches
• Width: 5 inches
• Functions: Dual motors
and twin powered tracks
• Two-channel RC system
RTR Includes
• Factory-assembled tank
• Factory-installed two-stick
RC system
• 2-page instructions
HOBBY MERCHANDISER APRIL 2003 91
Merlin
Ultralight
M
egatech
International’s
Merlin U.S. Navy
Ultralight is a charmer. With
the visual appeal of a vintage
aeroplane and the graceful
performance of a stick model,
this indoor/outdoor RC park
flyer’s allure spans generations.
Specifications
The charming, ready-tofly
Merlin
(#MTC9910) is
• Wingspan: 44 inches
quickly assembled, easy to fly, Megatech International’s Merlin slow flyer
• Wing area: 511 sq. in.
and packed with value for
grabs a little indoor air at Harry Hackert’s
• Weight: 17 ounces
Woodhaven Sportsplex in Feasterville PA.
dealers and modelers alike.
Half-throttle with the Merlin’s 8.4 NiMH
• Motor: Geared 280
With its foam wings and tail
motor pack yields more than 10 minutes
surfaces carried on a square
of enjoyable, graceful indoor flight.
Kit Includes
carbon fiber fuselage tube,
Megatech’s little Merlin is a very contemporary model, despite its vintage aero• 99-percent assembled
plane appearance. In addition to the carbon fuselage, the Merlin uses carbon
• Merlin Ultralight model
fiber rod for its full-span leading and trailing edge spars, and for its landing
• Factory-installed 3-channel
gear legs and axle. The model is surprisingly rugged, too.
The Merlin’s airborne RC components ride in a sealed compartment that
RC system
nestles
between the wing and landing gear mounting lugs. The motor and gear• 8.4-volt battery & charger
box are at the forward end of the fuselage, and the flight battery attaches to
• 16-page instructions
the underside of the radio box with a strip of hook & loop material.
A geared 280 motor powers the
Merlin along at a comfortable pace,
although the electronic speed control
provides the model with a wide speed
range for a variety of flight requirements.
I’ve flown the airplane indoors and outdoors in dead calm, and even outdoors
in wind approaching 15 M.P.H. The
Merlin was always under control and
always a lot of fun to fly.
The Merlin is a complete ready-tofly package with a three-channel, Mode
2 RC system, an 8.4-volt NiMH flight
battery and a 15-minute DC quick
charger. An extra propeller and gearshaft
The Merlin Ultralight park flyer also fares well at larger flying sites.
are included, and Megatech has a full
Here, it flies over the 350-member Valley Forge Signal Seekers club
complement of parts available to dealers.
field in Valley Forge National Historical Park, Valley Forge PA.
Decal quality is high and their application is unique. Unlike the usual “stickies” that accompany many RTF kits,
the Merlin’s reverse-image markings are cut from the sheet (1) and the clear protective film is lifted away (2).
The markings are pressed onto the model with their backings still in place, then water is applied to soften the
backing (3). The backing is peeled (4), the excess moisture gently blotted (5) and the job is done. There’s no
weight penalty here; the Merlin’s markings are very thin and very light.
92 APRIL 2003 HOBBY MERCHANDISER
P-51D Mustang RTF
Everyone loves the Mustang. In all its
many variants. The airplane is a living legend
in any and every form it takes, and now the
legend comes ready to fly.
Megatech International’s P-51D Mustang
RTF (#MTC9936) has a lot going for it.
Apart from adding eight AA dry cells for the
transmitter, everything needed to complete
and fly the model comes with the package.
Getting the model ready to fly goes
quickly. The factory-hinged stabilizer-elevator
unit slides through the slots at the rear end of the fuselage, the rudder and elevator clevises snap into the control horns and that takes care of the tail.
The Mustang comes with Megatech’s long-lasting 8.4-Volt NiMH
MegaBattery and a DC peak charger. This charger will top off the battery in
approximately 15 minutes. While the MegaBattery charges, the front of the model
can be completed. Just slip one of the four-bladed propellers over the motor shaft,
followed by the spinner hub, then secure the hex nut and add the snap-on plastic
spinner cap.
With the fully charged 7-cell motor pack in place and stuffed all the way forward into the fuselage — just as it comes from Megatech — the P-51D is ideally
balanced. The battery should not be removed and secured to the hook & loop
strip on the wing. Instead, the strip on the wing will engage the battery when the
wing is fastened onto the fuselage, assuring that the pack remains in the far-forward position. Eight rubber bands secure the wing, and they are included.
Megatech has responded positively to the controversy surrounding the popularity of park flyer aircraft. Instead of sharing the 72 mHz band with “club”
models, Megatech includes only 27 mHz equipment with their RTF’s, negating
the potential for conflict, and contributing to a safer sky for all modelers.
Fifteen minutes after opening the box, the P-51D Mustang RTF is ready to
fly. The model leaves the hand with plenty of power and only the slightest dip in
altitude before beginning an authoritative climbout. A few left and right turns will
show pilots how well the
Mustang behaves. Megatech
has transformed the most
feared and aggressive piston
fighter the world has ever seen
into a 34” park flyer. It has the
visual impact of an aggressive
fighter. It isn’t fast, but it looks
fast.
Megatech’s P-51D
Mustang is gentle, predictable,
stable and lots of fun to fly.
The landing approach is also
predictable, with no inclination
High overhead, Megatech’s P-51D flies with toward stall in either a powerstability and accuracy. Ailerons are optional, off glide or a low-motor
although the rudder and elevator provide
descent toward the runway.
ample maneuverability for sport flying.
The only surprise in store for
pilots is the model’s uncanny gentleness. Megatech’s P-51D Mustang RTF is a
good small electric airplane for anyone who has previously mastered a basic highwing park flyer.
For additional information about all the exciting RC action models featured
here in MegaForce!, circle #6 on the Reader Service Card, see the ads on pages 3,
47, 81 and 96, or telephone Megatech International at 201-662-8500. HM
High wind and freezing cold, HM’s editor
flies the 33” P-51D
Mustang RTF from
Megatech
International in the
dead of winter.
Model is agile,
although surprisingly
stable for a twochannel, low-wing
fighter design.
Specifications
• Wingspan: 32-3/4”
• Length: 26”
• Controls: Elevator, rudder,
motor speed
• Power:
370 electric motor
• Airfoil: Undercamber with
anti-stall reflex tips
• Ready to fly in less
than 10 minutes
RTF Includes
• Factory-assembled sport
scale P-51D park flyer
• Factory-installed 3-channel
RC system on 27mHz
• Factory-installed geared
370 motor with ball
bearing shaft
• Electronic speed control
• 9.6-volt Ni-CD battery
• DC fast charger with
cigarette lighter plug
• 8-page instructions
HOBBY MERCHANDISER APRIL 2003 93