Action Hobbies

Do you think it would be a good idea to bring the joy and challenge of Radio Controlled Cars and exhibits to kids in hospitals and special needs camps? So does Art Roper.  He has set up a non-profit organization to gather funding for such a project and has qualified with the Pepsi Refresh Project.  If he receives enough votes, he will receive funding for this project.

To learn more about this or for the link to vote for this project, (CLICK HERE).

Fontana, CA – Nic Case will attempt to break his own world speed record, 161.76 mph, for a radio controlled car. To learn more follow this LINK.

THE SOARING popularity of electric-powered radio-control model planes is giving a lift to a Halifax hobby supply business. For more, Click Here.

Lightweight, rechargeable batteries have become increasingly popular with model aviation buffs who want an alternative to traditional fuel-powered model.

For more info (Click Here)

When you think of sailing races such as the Americas Cup, you envision multimillion dollar boats, high tech designs and skilled crews.  The radio controlled saili9ng club members can do it all without the expense.  At Voice of America Park in West Chester Twp., Ohio,  29 members of the Radio Control Sailing Club of Cincinnati sail at 6 p.m., every Tuesday from April to mid-October.  See how these sailors participate in their hobby. (Click Here)

To learn more about this hobby or to find a local club, (Click Here).

Interest in launching a homemade rocket can start at any age. What’s not to love about this hobby? Launching a homemade rocket is an adrenaline rush. As you watch the rocket rise several thousand feet, it feels like your own mini-NASA launch!

“It’s exciting … It keeps your mind real active.” says Rick VanVoorhis, an electronic forklift mechanic from Pflugerville, Texas, who sent his rocket “HyperGammaSpaces” 17,300 feet with a motor he designed and built himself.

Launching a homemade rocket can be simple or technical.

Advanced rocketry requires a high degree of planning. It’s one thing to launch the rocket, but another to recover it. Some electrical and mechanical engineering skills are required to begin, but real prowess in these areas develops over time with experience. Yet simple starter rockets are easy and fun, with no special skill sets necessary to build and launch.

Many enthusiasts participate in competitive rocketry events, one example being the CanSat rocket competition, recently held in Amarillo, TX, where each launch and recovery was required to meet specific criteria. Each rocket carried an electronic payload about the size of a soda can, which determined altitude and GPS positioning during its descent. It also recorded ground temperature after landing. Teams were awarded bonus points for including an onboard camera or for using solar power.

Rocketry is a fun activity enjoyed not only by advanced hobbyists and engineers, but also grade school students and families who love the thrill and challenge of building, launching and recovering rockets of their own. Whatever your age or skill level, this hobby proves that you can have fun with math and science.

Rocket kits are available at most hobby stores. Visit your local hobby retailer this summer to learn more about the exciting hobby of homemade rocket building.

Each hobby has its own unique tool needs. Today I’ll share with you several tools to make your hobby projects more enjoyable.

A Track Cutter for Model Railroaders

First is one that is a must have for those who find building model railroad layouts a great and relaxing pastime. As with a real railroad, the track which the trains run on is a critically important component. So the model railroader needs a track cutter that is effortless to use and delivers a precise cut each and every time. Xuron’s 2175M Track Cutter does both.

A Bead Stringer’s Tool Kit

If your hobby includes stringing beads together, Xuron also has a tool kit suitable for you. The TK2400 Bead Stringer’s Tool Kit features three tools that are essential for stringing jewelry beads on to flexible stranded bead wire, cord, monofilament and thread. Packaged in a handy canvas pouch with pockets, these ergonomic tools have soft Xuro-Rubber™ hand grips and a Light-Touch™ return spring for cutting, holding, forming and looping tasks.

The tools in Xuron’s TK2400 Bead Stringer’s Tool Kit include the Model 410 Micro-Shear® Flush Cutter for soft wire up to 18 AWG, flexible stranded bead wire, craft wire, cord & monofilament; the Model 450 Tweezernose™ Pliers for bending and forming and holding jump rings, split rings and small beads; and Model 488 Round Nose Pliers for looping and forming wire.

Tools for Cutting Carbon Fiber

If you’re into building RC projects, you’re probably aware that some of the composite materials being used today are lighter and stronger than previously used materials, and that this creates some some challenges when cutting and shaping them. Carbon fiber, for example, is lightweight and very strong, yet is difficult to cut with conventional tools. Not anymore; Xuron answers the challenge with tools for cutting carbon fiber materials.

Their model 9180 Scissor is for cutting strip between .019” and .034” thick and the Model 2193 Shear will cut rod from .20”-.80” diameter and .060” ID tube. These tools create a square cut on strip and rod, but it is recommended users insert a properly sized wire inside the tube before cutting to prevent the thin walls from crushing.

Featuring one serrated edge, the Xuron Model 9180 grips the carbon material for faster and easier cutting. Xuron’s Model 2193 is a full by-pass shear designed specifically for cutting hard materials. Standard features for both tools include ergonomic handles, cushioned Xuro-Rubber™ grips, return springs and precision ground high carbon steel blades.

The right tool for the job makes the project more enjoyable. Visit your local hobby shop for these and other specialized hobby tools from Xuron today.

Although remote control toys and toy robots have been around for decades, the first combination of the two into what would be considered a true robotic toy was the “Big Trak.”

This particular toy was one of the first successful attempts to combine education with play. Big Trak, for those who don’t remember, was a six wheeled truck that had a flashing light at the front (this was called the “photon cannon”). There was also a keypad on the truck that allowed the child to program the robotic toy to do his or her bidding.

In addition to teaching the logic of programming, Big Trak taught children to make reasonable spatial estimates and judge angles. Before Big Trak, there were many toys that children could play with, but the programming feature was totally new.

After programming the robotic toy, a child could sit back and watch Big Trak crash through an obstacle, dump a load of action figures to rescue their teammates trapped in an imaginary cave, head to the nearest doorway and fire several shots from the photon cannon to discourage aliens who might interfere with the rescue. After a pre-programmed victory lap, Big Trak could return directly to the point where the entire adventure started.

Robotic toys allow our children to meld reality and imagination. When you see a young person playing with the latest, coolest new robotic toy, remember that it was Big Trak and its blazing photon cannon that cleared the path.

Photo Credit: The return of Big Trak! by scalleja on flickr

Many kids are really enthusiastic about remote control. It’s easy to see why; remotely controlled vehicles seem to almost magically fly through the air or race over the ground, and they give kids a sense of power and control that they just can’t find elsewhere. But the thing is that electrically powered vehicles, such as those found at toy stores, tend to be seen as “kids stuff” and a child who has moved on into his early to mid teens will have no interest for such cars. They are simply too slow, limited and impractical, intended more to look cool than perform well.

Luckily, for kids who are not really kids anymore but still have an interest in RC cars, there are RC gas cars. These vehicles use a special blend of gasoline instead of a battery, and their tiny motors are incredibly powerful. Some RC gas cars can go over forty miles per hour, and have parts and components similar to real cars. This means that RC gas cars are not only great toys, they are also useful learning tools for parents who want to teach their kids about automobiles.

RC gas cars are sold only from hobby stores, as is their gasoline. Their gasoline is not the kind placed into a proper automobile, as it has a much higher octane rating as well as lubricants necessary to keep the small engine running. They also require a glow plug or other starter. They are much less complicated than a full-sized car, though, and anyone can use one safely if they follow the rules and learn about the car.

Follow this link to find a local hobby shop in the USA or Canada, where you can learn more about RC gas cars.

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Image Credit: Team Associated R/C Race Cars

It’s short, a bit corny, but you’ve got to admit that these dancing robots are fun to watch. Enjoy!