RC Reviews

HamRadioBug R/C Aircraft Supplier Reviews

Building and flying radio controlled model aircraft has got to be one of the most enjoyable hobbies around, and has been a favorite of mine for over 25 years. There are easily hundreds of companies engaged in on-line retailing of radio control model aircraft, aircraft kits, parts, accessories and radio control systems in the USA alone. The r/c hobby newcomer is often left wondering from which company to entrust his/her hard earned cash. This reviews page represents the personal experience of the author in dealing with the various companies listed, and is provided as a tentative guide with the aim of helping others make informed purchasing decisions. The following list is by no means all-inclusive, as there are many more reputable companies which have yet to be explored. This information is provided as-is and without warranty. Your mileage may vary. Byron Campbell - WA4GEG

contact: wa4geg @netscape.net rcgroups: wa4geg

Advantage Hobby, web site: http://www.advantagehobby.com

Authorized Spektrum / Horizon Hobby dealer + many others, extensive line of electric aircraft, accessories, hardware, and much more. Smooth web site navigation, good on-line ordering experiences, generally fast order processing and shipping. Register on-line through the web site and receive discounted pricing.

Amain Hobbies, web site: http://www.amainhobbies.com

Authorized Spektrum / Horizon Hobby dealer + many others, smooth web site navigation, good on-line ordering experiences, generally fast order processing and shipping.

Price discount codes available via periodically e-mailed news letter. Visit AMain Hobbies website to sign up.

Banana Hobby, web site: http://www.bananahobby.com

Positives: Banana Hobby offers a wide selection of mostly foam electric airplanes to choose from including War Birds, Aerobatic, EDF jets, Sailplanes. They generally carry replacement parts including foam airframe parts. Technical and customer support via their web site's "chat" feature during business hours.

Negatives: Dealing with Banana Hobby can often be an exercise in patience. Advertised order processing and shipping times often slip from several days to as much as a week. E-mail customer support is problematic much of the time and you may or may not receive a response. Lots of product quality control issues from defective components, to missing parts, to defective electronics --> read: zero quality control at the product's Chinese factory! One aircraft received from Banana Hobby, advertised as 3D Pro Aerobatic airplane, had to be glued back together due to improper factory assembly, and had a servo failure during the first flight.

Recommendation: If you "must have" an EPO foam aircraft from Banana Hobby, order the airframe only version and use your own electrics, and a quality radio system like Spektrum / JR, Futaba, Hitech and etc.

BP Hobbies, web site: http://www.bphobbies.com

Nice assortment of aircraft, servos, accessories, hardware, inexpensive building materials - i.e. Carbon Fiber, and much more. Smooth web site navigation, good on-line ordering experiences, generally fast order processing and reasonable shipping via USPS. One of my favorites.

Chief Aircraft, web site: http://www.chiefaircraft.com/rcmsec/index2.html

Wide assortment of r/c aircraft, radio gear, hardware, support equipment, all at competitive pricing. Good customer communication via phone and e-mail.

Niggle: web site's item availability status is not always up to date. One orders could not be filled because the item was not in stock, yet the web site listed it as being available. 3 weeks later the web site still listed the item as being available, but communication with Chief Aircraft revealed that it was temporarily out of stock.

Extreme Flight Radio Control, web site: http://www.extremeflightrc.com

For reference purposes, as I have no business experience with them yet. Their product line of quality carbon fiber and wood constructed aerobatic and 3D aircraft caught my attention, and made my wish list for a high end competition grade aerobatic r/c airplane. Their 48" wing span class stunt airplanes, and other models too, have cutting edge features that appear to be hard to beat.

Heads-Up RC, web site: http://www.headsuprc.com/servlet/StoreFront

Heads Up RC is a family owned company located near Ocala, Florida. They began selling RC products on eBay in April 2006, and have grown steadily by providing quality products at reasonable prices, with low shipping fees, and top notch customer service. They ship over 99% of all orders on the same day or the next business day.

Excellent company and a joy to do business with. Nice electric flight product and accessory line, competitive pricing, fast and inexpensive shipping via USPS, excellent customer support, excellent technical support.

Hobby King, web site: http://www.hobbyking.com

Positives: carries a good selection of ARF airplanes, and a wide array of electric flight accessories, motors, batteries, hardware, and wide assortment of electrical connectors -- and much more. Customer reviews for each item are of great help in scoping out potential problems before making a purchasing decision.

Negatives; Only minor: Being an Asian based company, I wouldn't want to have to return a possibly defective product to China. However, on the bright side Hobby King has opened a USA warehouse to handle many items though the selection is not yet as large as its China based warehouse. Out of a total of 3 orders, I've only gotten one problem item from the China warehouse. That item was an OrangeRX r/c radio receiver that had a misaligned servo block connector making servo plug-in connections difficult and placed unwanted pressure on the connectors. Rather than return the RX, I handled the connector re-alignment to printed circuit board soldering rework myself.

Hobby Parts, web site: http://www.hobbypartz.com

Positives: Excellent pricing on LiPo (Li-Polymer) battery packs and other electric flight products. The garden variety 3S 2200 mAh LiPo (battery) advertised (in March 2011) on other sites at around $45 may be purchased from Hobby Parts and Hobby King for under $20. Fast order processing and shipping.

Precision Aerobatics (PA) web site: http://www.precisionaerobatics.com/home.php

Innovative model aircraft designs employing a strategic combination of carbon fiber, balsa and ply via PA's Carbon-Fusion construction method. PA offers a wide assortment of ARF (almost ready to fly) airplanes of various sizes and classes, including high performance stunt models, along with high end motors, quality ESC (electronic speed controllers), hardware and accessories. PA's quality aerobatic electric aircraft offer high power to weight ratio and are among the lightest wing loading available in their class.

E-mail support communication with PA USA tends to be problematic. I.e. don't hold your breath waiting for an e-mail reply from the USA shop.

*48" PA Extra 260 review here: http://www.hamradiobug.com/PAextra260.html

RC Hover / Hobby Quarters, web site: http://www.rchover.com

Large product line, Authorized Spektrum / Horizon Hobby Dealer plus others, competitive pricing, fast and competitively priced shipping, excellent customer support, excellent technical support. The company owner, Jeremy, is a great guy and very dedicated to helping customers.

Tower Hobbies, web site: http://www.towerhobbies.com

Has been in business for over 40 years and made the transition to the on-line Internet world. Large product line, often runs sales, and has monthly specials advertised via their Tower Talk flier. Tower Talk is available by mail through on-line request.

3D Hobby Shop, web url: http://www.3dhobbyshop.com

Nice assortment of competitively priced ARF aerobatic and 3D aircraft, both gas and electric models, available in a wide range of sizes from park fliers to large competition aircraft, plus hardware, brushless motors and electronic speed controllers. Friendly folks to deal with along with great customer care.

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