Hobby Outlook

Special Holiday ISSUE Plus: WINNER'S CIRCLE Model contest winner shares USS Enterprise D build process and Gaming corner We review a staff favorite, Game of Thrones: The Board Game

outlook Editor-in-Chief Meagan Jungman Design Frank Wandersee Writers Matt Alkire Jamee Everson David Kump Adam Templeton

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hello Hobbyists, It’s hard to believe we’re almost halfway through December already, huh? Whether it’s the drastic drop in temperature, or the headlong rush into one holiday from the next—there’s something almost electric about this time of year.

That eclectic, electric energy is definitely present in this issue. We review several, awesome new products from Ares. Reigning People’s Choice champion, Matt Alkire, talks about the influence of Star Trek, as well as the triumphs and tribulations of his hobby. The former NMC champ and Hobby Outlook’s resident model-guru, David Kump, is back with some tips for any readers considering a foray into the world of model-building. Last, but certainly not least, our gaming corner reviews a board game that has developed an almost cult-like following over the past ten years (Think ice, fire, and HBO).

This is my first issue as Editor-in-Chief of Hobby Outlook, and to a certain degree, it is also my last. After a great deal of discussion, we at Hobby Outlook have decided to take our publication in another direction. Sometime next year, we will be replacing the digital zine format with an online blog. While change is often scary, there are so many positive aspects to consider—For starters, you won’t need to wait three months (or purchase a subscription to another magazine) to be kept up on all the latest and greatest hobby products and news. Most importantly, however, is the fact that the blog will offer a far more open forum for readers than our magazine does now.

Our ultimate goal is that the blog will become a place for you—the fans and readers—to teach, to talk, to share, and to learn. After all, participation and community are the very things that make our hobbies truly enjoyable, right?

With that said, it’s time to turn off the lights and lock up. Happy Holidays, hobby on, and I’ll see you all on the blog.

Meagan Jungman Editor-in-Chief

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Index

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Winter 2013

Give the Gift of R/C Flight

Gift ideas from team Ares

IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY

04 Give the Gift of R/C Flight

Find the perfect R/C air plane, heli or quad EXCLUSIVES

08 7 Things to Consider When Choosing Your Next Model

Model Selection Tips from David Kump

12 Winner's Circle

NMC Winner Matt Alkire shares his build of the USS Enterprise D model REGULARS

14 Gaming Corner

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

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14 GoT: The Board Game

08 Tips from David Kump MODELING TIPS

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Now that the holidays are in session, it is time to nalize your Christmas wish list. The team from Ares R/C has made that process easy. With these 3 unique styles of aircraft—all featuring innovative R/C technology, ease of ight and sharp aesthetics – you are sure to get the gift you really want or, if you are shopping for someone else, secure your reign as “Gift Giving King” (or queen) in 2013.

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Taylorcraft 130 Wingspan: 22.2 in (565mm) Length: 16.0 in (405mm) Weight with Battery: 1.9 oz (54 g) Battery: 200mAh 1S 3.7V LiPo (included with RTF and WOT) Charger: 1S 3.7V LiPo (included in transmitter with RTF and DC USB with WOT) Transmitter: 4-channel 2.4GHz w/LiPo charger (included with RTF, required for WOT) On-Board Electronics: 3-in-1 receiver/2 servos/ESC (installed in RTF and WOT)

The Taylorcraft 130 features a vibrantly red exterior and a sharp, black trim scheme. It is easy to spot and will definitely stand out at any fly park. The landing gear offers wheel skirts and wing struts to give you that extra edge when flying.

This plane also takes some important cues from the popular Ares Gamma 370, and conforms to new pilot handling. Challenge-seeking, experienced pilots will also love the plug-and-play clipped aileron wings and brushless power system.

The plane was designed with less-than-graceful descents in mind – something that that can be expected during any R/C fly session. To offset the rough landings, Ares utilized rare earth magnets to attach the wing, wing struts and cowl hood. This makes repairing and upgrading the Taylorcraft 130 a snap.

Whether you are shopping for a beginner or an experienced R/C pilot, this plane has a lot to offer. outlook

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ETHOS QX 130 Length: 8.1 in (205mm) Length Including Rotor Blades: 12.2 in (310mm) Height: 2.8 in (70mm) Propeller/Main Rotor Diameter: 5.7 in (145mm) Weight with Battery: 3.1oz (90g) Main Motor: Geared micro coreless (4 installed) Battery: 500mAh 1S 3.7V LiPo (included) Charger: 1S 3.7V LiPo AC (included) Transmitter: 4-Channel 2.4GHz (included) On-Board Electronics: 5-in-1 receiver/4 ESC/mixer/3-axis gyro/3-axis accelerometer (installed)

This futuristic-looking quadcopter is a blast to fly and can be outfitted with 5 “wow factor� accessories.

These fun, flying add-ons include a high-resolution digital camera, rocket launcher, water blaster, bubble machine and winch. You can also amaze onlookers with complex-looking maneuvers by simply pushing the automatic flip button on the radio.

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The Ethos QX 130 comes equipped with an advanced 3-axis gyro and 3-axis accelerometer control system. These items give the QX both agile flight and maximum stability out of the box, making it perfect for both the beginner and experienced pilot.

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CHRONOS CX100 Length: 10in (255mm) Height: 4.5in (115mm) Main Rotor Diameter: 8.9in (225mm) Weight with Battery: 1.9oz (55g) Main Motor: Micro coreless (2 installed) Battery: 250mAh 1S 3.7V LiPo (installed) Charger: Dual Port 1S 3.7V LiPo DC USB (included) Transmitter: 4-Channel 2.4GHz (included) On-Board Electronics: 4-in1 receiver/2ESCs/mixer/gyro (installed)

The Ares Chronos CX 100 takes easy-to-fly, 3 channel, coaxial helis to the next level with its onboard camera. The ability to take aerial videos and photographs adds a whole new dimension of fun to an already awesome pastime.

The CX 100's factory-installed digital camera is easily operated while flying—just press the button on the transmitter, and you’re in business. You will

be able to record up to 90 minutes of video or capture hundreds of pictures as each Chronos CX 100 comes equipped with a 2GB micro SD card.

This heli is perfect for the average first-time pilot. Thanks to the synchronicity of the coaxial, counter-rotating blade design and a computerized gyro, beginners will find themselves recording videos while hovering like a pro in no time. outlook

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7 things to consider when choosing a model kit

By David Kump

Whether you’ve been building for years, or if you’re a beginner in the hobby, there are several points to consider when picking a new model kit.

Here’s a list of some of the most important things to keep in mind:

SUBJECT Deciding on what “kind” of a model to build is the first step—after all, there are many to choose from.

Race cars, aircraft, military vehicles, trains, ships, Sci-fi, figures, and even diorama scenes are among the most popular. Pick something that suits your taste. The MOST important part of choosing a kit is to make sure it is something you will enjoy building!

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SCALE Scale is the size of the model, represented as a ratio of the original “real world” subject. Scale is important to consider because it influences the amount of detail a kit will have (generally, larger scale = higher detail, more parts, etc.), and it also relates to the size of the finished model.

Depending on your available work area or where it will be displayed when finished, size is an incredibly important factor.

DIFFICULTY Model kits are available from many manufacturers, and can come in varying skill levels. Depending on how much experience you have, choose

Kump's Review Tips

accordingly—the challenge is up to you. Consider that models with a higher skill level will include more parts and detail, commonly require some specialized tools, and take more time to create a beautiful, finished kit! On the other hand, a beginner-level kit will often have fewer parts, and require little to no painting. Some may even be built without glue! Beginner-level kits are great for those who want to “test the waters” of model-building.

SPECIFIC FEATURES & CHALLENGES As a modeler gains experience, he or she may want to develop certain skills. Some may also find that they are drawn to a kit with a specifically challenging aspect. For example, a race car model with many decals would be good for someone who enjoys applying decals and fancy finishes. On the other hand, someone who likes military subjects might enjoy “weathering” a tank in order to make it look like it has seen some heavy use on the battlefield. These kinds of details can be added to the kit, or may be included by the creator. It’s really just a method for adding another customized layer to your model.

MANUFACTURER/ QUALITY Model kit companies vary in the quality of their products. Even though several companies may offer models of the same car or airplane, each of these kits will be different in terms of quality. Depending on what your skill level is and how nice you want your finished kit to look, be sure the manufacturer has a reputation for providing products that meet your standards. The best place to learn about this is probably by looking up reviews on the web, or

by talking with the staff at your local hobby shop.

Some may even let you open the box to take a look at the parts, in order to see if they are molded well and have good detail!

TOOLS & MATERIALS It’s good to understand that certain kits may require the use of specific tools or materials. The basic necessities are paint, brushes, cement, and a hobby knife (X-Acto or similar). More advanced kits may benefit from the use of body-filler putty, decal setting solutions, an airbrush for painting large areas, and masking tape. In some cases, extra equipment and supplies can begin to add up in cost. It can be helpful to learn a little about a kit, in order to see what is needed to make it look the way you want. These things are often listed on the side of the box.

PRICE The cost of a model kit will, of course, factor into your decision of whether to buy it or not. For a beginning modeler, there will be plenty of entrylevel kits with friendly price tags. However, as experience levels increase, so will the price. There are models that range anywhere between ten bucks for a small "level 1" kit, all the way up to several hundred dollars for a large-scale, professionalquality kit. When considering cost, I find it is best to look at it from a standpoint of “cost-per-hour” for entertainment. If there is a very nice kit that I really like that will take me several months to finish, then the money is well-spent. In the end, it’s up to each individual to decide how much he or she wants to spend.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Review

By Matt Alkire When I was younger, I was fascinated by models— specifically, studio models used in movies. The level of detail required to fool all of us viewers into thinking that the starships and vehicles on our screens were real was amazing to my young mind.

The trouble is, whenever I tried to build a model I would butcher it…horribly. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would never be good at building anything made out of styrene and moved on.

Fast forward to three years ago: On a whim, I decided to see if people still built science fiction models. Searching on YouTube, I found a video series on the 1:350 scale USS Enterprise Refit from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" built by a gentleman who went by the YouTube handle "helipilot27." All I could think was: “This model is HUGE! I mean… 3 feet long! And it's lit! It looks like the movie! Wow!” His final video made me realize with enough patience and effort, someone could actually build one of these models well enough to fool a camera and use them in movies—amazing!

I decided at that moment to build that model.

But where to start? The last time I tried to build a model kit I had barely gotten it to stay together, and it didn’t look real at all! I decided to start with the little brother of helipilot27’s refit model—the 1:1000 scale USS Enterprise Refit.

Not only did I succeed in building the 1:1000 Enterprise, but I also learned I wasn’t 12

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quite as terrible as I thought! Soon, one model led to another, and I was building the 1:537 Reliant, the 1:650 USS Enterprise from "Star Trek: The Original Series," and various other crafts. Each kit turned out better than the last, and soon my models were looking like…well, something that didn’t look completely amateurish.

And just like that, one day I woke up and knew what I had to do. It was time to build the 1:350 Refit. I received the kit in December of 2011, and over the next year and a half I built the model. I fully lit it, and ran into many pitfalls and minor disasters.

In the end, I had a kit that looked very similar to the one I had watched on YouTube.

The problem now, was that I had my refit with nothing left to build. I had discovered that not only did I love the results of building these models, but I loved the process as well. It was amazing to watch something that started as simple styrene turn into something I spent my childhood marveling over. I couldn't stop now.

During my Enterprise Refit build, I met another model builder who has given me many, many insights into the hobby. His name is Boyd, and his YouTube channel is called "Trekworks." He builds Star Trek models that look fantastic, and his build videos are very beneficial to other modelers, like myself. He also had started a forum that I had documented my Enterprise Refit on.

Winner's Circle

As it turned out, one of the kits Boyd had built was the 1:1400 scale USS Enterprise-D. It was the clear edition, so the entire thing was made out of clear styrene. This kind of build allows for easier lighting—especially with the windows (so, so many windows…). His buildup on his YouTube channel gave lots of good instructions and lighting techniques that I could put to use. So, needless to say, I used a $50 gift card my sister had given me for my birthday, and purchased the 1:1400 Enterprise-D. At 18 inches long, it was fairly impressive, but not as huge as the 1:350 Refit.

That would make it somewhat easier to build up and handle while, still having a lot of detail.

Over the next three months, I worked on the Enterprise-D—mostly during the evenings.

As it came to life, it really started turning out very impressive. Having a clear kit means light blocking the model from the outside, then painting a base color on. From there, you scrape each window clear of paint. This saves having to mask the whole ship (and 1500 windows).

The most difficult part of the build was getting wiring to the warp nacelles for lighting.

I have found that The rear pylons are with each kit I do, solid plastic, so I couldn’t my models become enclose the wires more detailed, anywhere. I found that the my boundaries best solution are pushed, and was to cut trenches in the subject looks order to run some magnet that much better wiring. Boyd has used because of it. magnet wire often in his build videos.

Magnet wire is used to create transformers,

motors, and other applications that require tight coiling of wire. It is a very small thin gauge, and since LEDs require such a small amount of current, magnet wire can be used to supply power to them.

Running magnet wire through the trenches made it possible to cut a smaller trench while still providing power and ground to both the warp nacelle lighting and the strobe lights that went on the nacelles (Pro-tip: To cover things like the Enterprise-D’s

trenches, you can either use putty or purchase specially-made photo-etch trench covers that go with the kit. On this build, I used putty and was able to blend the trenches in very nicely).

Once the base coat of paint was on, the lighting wired, and the model assembled, it really came to life. The kit came with a full set of Aztec decals to recreate the complex Aztec pattern all over the ship. Some people will argue that using wallpaper decals is cheating and that a real modeler would paint the ship. In my opinion, decals and painting are both excellent ways to detail the model. Plus, let me tell you—setting the decals in such a way that they looked perfect, didn't silver, or develop air bubbles was a HUGE challenge. It most definitely didn’t feel like cheating.

When I entered my model into HobbyTown's online national model contest this fall. I was the only Sci-Fi kit there. However, people seemed to really like it. Most of the onlookers thought my decals were painted on (YES!) and were complimenting me on my paint job. They couldn’t believe they were decals, which is exactly what I wanted to hear after spending so much time applying them!

This specific contest has taught me that no matter when you start building model kits, with enough patience, learning—and of course, by surrounding yourself with the right friends—anyone can build an amazing structure. I have found that with each kit I do, my models become more detailed, my boundaries are pushed, and the subject looks that much better because of it.

At this rate, who knows—maybe eventually some kid might see one of my models on the big (or small) screen and be utterly convinced that they are real. Wouldn’t that be neat? outlook

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A GA M E O F TH RO N E S THE BOARD GAME

By: Adam Templeton Board game versions of beloved fictional universes are nothing new, but the typical treatment usually comes off as more cash-grab than fan service.

"Just slap a couple of Hobbits/Stormtroopers/ Master Chiefs on a Risk board and call it a day‌ The nerds won't even notice until they've already bought the game!"

Naturally, this is the precedent I expected the Game of Thrones board game to uphold.

Fortunately, in a manner evocative of George R.R. Martin's universe of charlatans, hucksters and rouges—its outward appearance was tremendously deceiving.

Rather than a simple warfare simulation, the game presents a challenging field of play better suited for someone like Petyr Baelish, rather than Rob Stark. Sure, you amass armies, 14

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forge alliances and conquer territories, but each battle is solved by using wits and charisma, rather than brute force.

The key mechanic behind each turn is giving units orders (attack, Rather than defend, and a few more a simple warfare nuanced choices), simulation, the proctored by placing tokens game presents a face-down on the board. This challenging field of immediately ratchets up the play better suited for tension from someone like Petyr the first turn (as your friend Baelish, rather than assures you the massive Rob Stark. army lounging at your border is a simple defensive precaution, and you're forced to take him at his word until orders are revealed).

Gaming Corner

Players must also tend to their social standing in the kingdom, by vying for esteemed positions in the royal court, the military support of local fiefdoms and even a seat on the Iron Throne, itself. Each of these three measures of influence comes with their own reward and provide for a wildly amusing variety of play-styles.

Alliances are formed, tested and broken (often in the same turn), as battalions from neighboring regions can lend their support to either side of an incipient conflict. Tricking, swindling and goading your friends is just as central a mechanic as charging into battle. The game's meticulous balancing ensures victory remains within reach of most players at any given time.

Fittingly, the majority of battles are decided by savvy and guile (rather than a monotonous slew of random dice rolls). However, an advanced optional mechanic entitled “Tides of Battle” introduces an element of chance into the melee.

Personally, I find the game more interesting without that stripe of dumb luck, but to each their own.

Most impressively, however, is the game creator’s loving attention to the lore. Each player hefts up the banner of one Westeros' six major houses, and each house comes with a stack of House Cards depicting the universe's most prominent characters. The House Cards are easily one of the most engaging strategic elements, as they provide unique abilities to turn battles in your favor, while still staying true to the world of "A Song of Ice and Fire." For example, a certain Baratheon card "powers up" and receives extra bonuses if played against an opponent who sits ahead of you in line for the Iron Throne.

A masterful combination of deceit, strategy and manipulation, Game of Thrones: the Board Game’s gameplay is best summed up with a quote from Petyr Baelish: "Look around you: We're all liars here; and every one of us is better than you."

DECEMBER 9-24

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