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Radio Controlled:
By Tim Sullivan
Radio Controlled cars have always fascinated me. They always looked
like a ton of fun…driving through the forest, across rocks, and over
streams. Well, this month I finally got to try some out. Living in
the city, I can’t report on the forests, rocks and streams, but
they were a lot of fun. Check out these new competitors in the R/C
category.
Rokenbok
Rokenbok
Construction Toy |
Rokenbok is the kind of toy that makes me wish I had a niece or nephew, so I
could buy it for them. I would immediately be classified
as cool Uncle Tim. Part radio-controlled
playland, part construction toy, Rokenbok is the most innovative toy I have
seen in quite some time. The cars pick
up Rockenbok balls, and drive them to trains that deliver them to other
Rockenbok ball depositories. The sets
all can be combined to create a Rockenbok world, and after purchasing one it
would be hard to not keep buying more and enlarging your Rokenbok world. It is an educational toy, and Rokenbok is so
cool that parents will want to sit down and construct it with their
children. The toy’s website allows you
to send in pictures of your created worlds, and judging by the photos a lot of
parents have been pitching in and playing with their kids already. This is definitely one toy to check out. It is also compatible with Lego.
NKOK Terradyne
GMC
Terradyne Concept R/C Truck |
Each year car companies come out with “concept”
cars and trucks. These machines are
visions of cars that may come out in the future they are almost always sleek,
futuristic, and impossible to own. Not
anymore. NKOK, a noted R/C car, boat and
plane maker, has just released the GMC Terradyne concept R/C truck. The Terradyne is a cool looking vehicle, and
comes loaded with features: doors that open via the R/C unit, a truck bed that
extends, car horn, and warning sounds that beep as the truck backs up. The truck moves pretty well on carpet, and
very well outdoors. So well, that I
crashed it and took off the driver’s side mirror. Hey, I’m a Jersey driver…what else did you expect?
KidGalaxy Automite
Automite
R/C Car |
The Automites, new from KidGalaxy (known for
their Bendos products,) are small R/C cars about the size of a juice box.
The controller is a little tricky to learn at first, but possible to get a
grasp of. Both controls pushed forward moves you ahead, both pulled
backwards is reverse. Turning is hard to get the hang of, as the controls
are really sensitive, but it’s also fun to watch the little thing spin
around crazily. The dogs got a big kick out of it too…the Automites held
up fantastically when confronted with dog slobber.
MicroMite R/C Car |
Tedco MicroMite
The MicroMites, from Tedco toys, are
incredible. Less than 2.5 inches long, these little R/C cars are
fully functional and smaller than a Matchbox car! One of the
coolest features of the MicroMites is that they plug in to the
controller to recharge. A 45 second charge gives you about 2-3 minutes of playing time. Just make sure the car is out from
underneath the fridge before your time runs out.
TR4 - Porsche 911 Gt
TR4
from
CEN Racing |
For those seriously into R/C, here comes the TR4 from
CEN Racing. Running on a Nitro engine, this car is a lot faster than
an electrically run R/C vehicle. TR4 engines require more
maintenance and basic hobby engine know-how than an electrical
motor, and thus are not for beginners. If you have the knowledge or
the bravado to take this car on…it’s real nice. The Porsche GT3
shell is beautiful and the engine running it sounds impressive: it
has a powerful .16 engine with slide carburetor, dual chambered
tuned pipe, and adjustable shift 2-speed transmission. The
four-wheel-drive independent double-wishbone suspension is supported
by
4 high-volume oil-filled shocks with adjustable camber, and
toe-in at both front and rear wheels. Rear sway bar included. The
drive train uses a highly efficient race proven 2-belt design that's
bolted to an extremely stiff double deck aluminum alloy chassis
that's anodized violet. Okay, I pulled a lot of that from the
printed materials. But I’ll take their word for it. This thing
motors.
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