HOBBY
OUTLOOK YOUR HOOK-UP TO THE HOBBY WORLD | DEC 2012
DOMINUS 10TR
REVIEW
The new 4x4 Brushless Truggy from Helion.
ARES ETHOS QX 75
VIDEO REVIEW
PLUS...
National Model Contest Results, Card Games for Christmas, Train Sets and more.
The Ares™ [air-eez] Gamma 370 offers stability and durability perfect for first-time pilots while also delivering smooth and capable fligh is not only lightweight, durable and easy to repair, it also arrives factory-assembled, and nearly ready-to-fly right out of the box so you 370 is available in RTF (Ready-To-Fly) and RFR (Ready-For-Receiver) versions that include a factory-installed 370-motor equipped pow receiver compatible with your favorite transmitter while the RTF version includes everything needed to fly right out of the box. From AA 7.4V LiPo battery, DC balancing charger and AC adapter there’s nothing extra to buy! So whether you’re a first-time pilot looking for a g and no better value than the Gamma 370!
ht performance experienced sport flyers will enjoy. The advanced EPO foam airframe design u can be flying at a local park, schoolyard or flying field in almost no time at all. The Gamma wer system, ESC and 9-gram sub-micro servos. The RFR version is ready for you to install a batteries for the 6-channel 2.4GHz transmitter and a 6-channel receiver to the 1000mAh 2S great trainer or an experienced pilot looking for a fantastic sport flyer, there’s no better choice
outlook Editor-in-Chief Bryce Wergin brycew@hobbytown.com Design Frank Wandersee Writers Bryce Wergin Dave Nolte Craig Trachten Jamee Everson Gary Phillips Bill Stevens Brian Smolik Paul Barrott Joe Long Special Thanks Big Squid RC HobbyTown Orland Park Dominus Unboxing Matt Cullinane Jordan Powell
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hello Hobbyists, It’s an exciting time here at HobbyTown. Not only is the holiday season in full-swing, but we’ve got some incredible new products we’re excited to show you. You might have noticed the new Dominus 10TR from Helion on the cover of this issue—we’ve got a great review of the truggy along with an unboxing right here in Hobby Outlook. The little guy packs quite a punch and looks super sleek. If you’re nervous running something so fast indoors (I’m having flashbacks of a broken vase and a ridiculously long grounding), we’ve still got you covered. Our friends at Big Squid R/C also did a great video review of Ares’ new Ethos QX 75 quad-copter, which as you will see is a fantastic holiday gift for hobbyists of any level or category (even non-hobbyists). Check out the review they conducted at HobbyTown USA® in Orland Park, IL on page 18. We’re pumped about the holiday season, so we’ve also got some railroading reviews for all you "trainiacs" out there. Trains and Christmas go together like mashed potatoes and gravy, so dust off that conductor hat and re-vamp your set to give the holidays a touch of nostalgia. Don't worry, gamers, we didn't forget about you. Contributor Dave Nolte also has a great column in this issue's Gaming Corner, covering three games, each good for gamers of different skill or experience levels. And if you somehow manage to make it to the end of this issue without finding a perfect gift for someone special (even if that special someone is yourself), don’t forget to check out our 2012 It’s packed full of fantastic and original gifts sure to crack a genuine smile/gasp on your special someone’s face. My colleagues at HobbyTown and I would like to wish you all a very happy holiday season, however you may be celebrating. Thank you for the continued Hobby Outlook readership! Hobby on, my friends.
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Bryce Wergin Editor-in-Chief
Index
outlook Summer 2012
20 ParkZone Mini-Vapor CRAIG'S PICK
IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY 10 Dominus 10TR Review The newest brushless 4x4 from Helion EXCLUSIVES 14 Tips for NMC Success People's Choice spotlight and tips 16 RailTech Digital Trainset Walthers Train Review 18 Big Squid RC Video Review The new Ares Ethos quad-copter 24 Editor's Pick Bachmann Ringmaster Train Set REGULARS 7 Hobbies in the News World's Greatest Hobby on Tour 8 Hobby Talk Fall 2012 National Model Contest Winners 20 Craig’s Pick ParkZone Mini-Vapor 26 Gaming Corner Fluxx, Dominion, & Glory to Rome
GAMING CORNER
26 Cards for
Christmas
18 Ares Ethos QX 75
BIG SQUID VIDEO REVIEW
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bladehelis.com
Tear iT Up
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THE NEW BLADE
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NANO CP X
ULTrA MiCro HELiCoPTEr Funnels in the foyer, flips over the futon, kaos in the kitchen – the tiny Blade Nano CP X lets you indulge in aerobatic fun just about anywhere, anytime. Weighing just 29 grams, battery and all, it boasts the balance of stability and agility that only the AS3X® (Artificial Stabilization – 3-aXis) Flybarless System can provide. This combination of miniscule mass and AS3X precision frees you to get aggressive on the sticks without having to worry much about damage to the heli or your surroundings. It also makes the Nano CP X perfect for those who’ve mastered fixed pitch helis and want to make the jump to collective pitch machines.
LENGTH: HEIGHT: FLYING WEIGHT: ROTOR DIAMETER: MAIN AND TAIL MOTORS: RECEIVER: CYCLIC SERVOS: BATTERY: CHARGER: TRANSMITTER:
7.75 in. (197mm) 3.15 in. (79mm) 1.05 oz (29 g) 7.75 in. (197mm) Brushed coreless DSM2®/DSMX® receiver/ESC/AS3X sensor unit, installed 2.1 gram linear long-throw, installed 1S 3.7V 150mAh 25C Li-Po, two included DC Li-Po charger with 4 AA batteries Spektrum™ DX4e 2.4GHz DSM® transmitter with 4 AA batteries (included with RTF only)
BNF version requires a DX4e, DX5e or a 6+ channel DSM2/DSMX computer transmitter with heli programming, sold separately.
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© 2012 Horizon Hobby, Inc. Blade, AS3X, DSM2, DSMX, DSM, Bind-N-Fly, Serious Fun and the Horizon Hobby logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, Inc. The Spektrum trademark is used with permission of Bachmann Industries, Inc. US 7,898,130. US D578,146. PRC ZL 200720069025.2. www.bladehelis.com 37181
Hobbies in the News
HOBBIES IN THE NEWS
WORLD'S GREATEST HOBBY ON TOUR Railroaders rejoice! It's time again for the biggest train show on the planet.
The World's Greatest Hobby on Tour continues! The event showcases the hobby of model railroading and how far it's come since its inception. Sponsored by the Hobby Manufacturer's Association - Model Railroad Division and by the World's Greatest Hobby Program, the show is intended to introduce the general public to model railroading in an entertaining, lively and family-friendly atmosphere. The cities the event will be touring through are listed to the right. Get more information at their website: http://www.wghshow.com/index.html
**Contest Ends Monday December 10, 2012**
Dates and Cities: January 5&6 Fort Worth, TX January 12&13 St. Louis, MO February 9&10 San Diego, CA February 23&24 Sacramento, CA March 2&3 San Francisco, CA
HobbyTalk
HOBBYTALK
2012 National Model Contest Results Twice a year, HobbyTown USA® hosts its National Model Contest. This is a call for all scale perfectionists, precision painters, from-scratch builders and careful gluers to show us their best work. HobbyTown USA® stores all over the nation participate in the contest where modelers bring their submissions into the store to be scored. Winners in multiple categories from each store are then entered into the national contest to see who takes the prize. In addition to this, our People’s Choice Award takes place on our HobbyTown USA® Headquarters Facebook Page. Users submit photos and descriptions of their favorite models through our contests tab, and other fans of our page vote on their favorites. Keep your eyes open for our 2013 National Model Contests, the first of which will take place this Spring. Congrats to our 2012 National Model Contest winners from all categories in 2012!
2012 BEST JUNIOR: Brody Morissette
MODEL: 1/48th scale Revell F-100 Super Sabre HOBBYTOWN STORE: Oshkosh, WI
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2012 PEOPLE'S CHOICE: Danielle Ferguson
MODEL: Clint Eastwood- The Outlaw Josey Wales HOBBYTOWN STORE: Folsom, CA
HobbyTalk
2012 BEST IN SHOW: Keith Lovern
MODEL: 1/35 MRC Kit-UH-1C Seawolf Gunship HOBBYTOWN STORE: Sanford, FL
2012 BEST PAINT: Ron Leishman
MODEL: Grumman S2 Tracker Anti-Submarine Aircraft HOBBYTOWN STORE: Lincoln, NE outlook
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Review
REVIEW:
helion
DOMINUS 10TR By Jamee Everson The newly released brushless-powered Dominus TR is the second 10th scale truck and the fourth overall in the very popular line from Helion. The Helion brand may be in its infancy, but has made a big splash in the R/C scene with its lineup of trucks. I took an immediate liking to the streamlined cab and forward design of the body. The pre-painted flame graphics and rear wing give this truck a real racer look. The larger pin tires on the industry standard 2.2” size rim give the TR the grip and ground clearance to handle any terrain in its path. Once I removed the TR’s body, I noticed that it shares many of the same parts and design with the very successful Dominus 10SC. The TR
The Dominus 10TR comes RTR with a crystal-less 2.4 GHz radio.
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rests on four oil-filled, coil-over shocks on a pillow ball suspension. The main chassis and the entire drive train is all metal, giving it the durability to withstand whatever punishment comes its way. The TR is the first truck released by Helion with the Radient Reaktor brushless system. The motor and electronic speed control (ESC) is a 3500kv 30 amp system, which delivers plenty of power to tear around any track or backyard bashing area. The power sent to the motor and esc comes from a 7 cell 8.4 volt 1800mah Nimh battery. With all the details out of the way, it’s time for the fun part. The day the first semi load of TRs came into the warehouse, I got a call from one of the industry icons, Gil Losi Jr. For those who may not know, Gil and Jason Coral are behind many
The Dominus 10TR is Helion's first truck to utilize the new 3500kv Radient Reaktor brushless system.
Review
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Review
of the industry standards when it comes to R/C design, and are responsible for the design of this truck. Gil was calling to ask if I could test the truck out and report back to him, because he wanted my input on how the truck ran. This might be one of the coolest things I have had the opportunity to do in R/C! I first took the TR out to the parking lot right outside the office and did a few down and back speed runs. With the stock battery I thought it was OK, but nothing I would say We ended “Holy cow,” about. So I up with a truck took it back into the office that showed no and strapped in my Wild damage, a great Cat Black Ops 5000mah LiPo video, and a battery. I took the truck out couple of guys that for the second time and with had a lot of fun. the hopped-up power, I tried a few more speed runs. Now it was time to say, “Holy cow, this truck is awesome!” With the added power, the TR’s speed increased tremendously, and it handled the power remarkably well. Needless to say, my report back to Gil was a positive one. I was still not totally convinced on the bashability of the Dominus TR. Matt, one of the guys in the office, is an aspiring videographer and wanted to shoot some video of the Dominus TR. This was my chance to put this truck through its paces. We went to a local park that had dirt piles, gravel, grass and 5 foot drops; the perfect canvas for a bashing video. For the next 35 minutes, I ran the TR on the one Black Ops battery through gravel, grass, over the dirt piles and launched it off the drop several times. We ended up with a truck that showed no damage, a great video and a couple of guys that had a lot of fun. Matt and I 12
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walked away very impressed with the bashability of this truck. You can pick up a Dominus TR for only $259.99 at your local HobbyTown USA® or online at www.hobbytown.com. The TR is one of the best values on the market.
With its brushless power and strong durability, the Dominus 10TR excells as an off-road basher.
The Dominus 10TR's aluminum chassis improves the truck's handling and its durability.
Review
VIDEO
UNBOXING
CLICK HERE TO WATCH
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TIPS FOR NATIONAL MODEL CONTEST SUCCESS By Bryce Wergin & Paul Barrott The National Model Contest happens twice a year, but we find ourselves looking forward to it months in advance. Not everyone looks at a skillfully-created model with the same awe as one who knows exactly how much work goes into it. The thing that separates a good modeler from a great modeler is perfectionism. A "good" modeler will make everything look cool, but a "great" modeler will put in the hours and hours of extra work to ensure the most minor and tedious details, scales, colors and sceneries are all perfect. These are the kinds of models that make us say "whoa," and receive the most votes by wide margins in our People's Choice contest. That's what makes the People's Choice Award so cool. It's not just a panel of a few judges deciding which work showcases the most talent, it's the thousands of fans on Facebook connected by our page. Winners can be selected for any number of merits in their work. It’s a combination of features other modelers recognize as being very difficult and requiring a ton of focus, in a contest where every model has different features it excels in. This Fall’s winner, Danielle Ferguson, wowed 14
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our Facebook fans with her stunningly life-like model of Clint Eastwood. Every drop of paint seemed to land in exactly the That thing that right place to give the separates a good model an incredible modeler from a amount of detail. great modeler is Danielle has been perfectionism." building models for the last 20 years. “I became interested after watching sci-fi movies and wanting to recreate them,” she says. So it seems that film and modeling have overlapped more than once in Ferguson’s work. “I chose Clint Eastwood because it is one of my all-time favorite paint jobs I have done. And The Outlaw Josey Wales is my favorite film of his.” Ferguson says practice is the most important
Tips & Techniques
part of making a great model. “Practice painting miniatures and work your way up to larger-scale models. I am always learning new techniques and new methods of doing things.” She also says she has built 6 models this year so far. “The shortest amount of time I spend on one is about two weeks, due to painting and perfectionism.” If you want to be the next People’s Champ, here are some great tips from Hobby Outlook contributor Paul Barrott: Hello Fellow Modelers, There are many tips and tricks to building and finishing models of all types. Here are some that will benefit you as you put together your favorite kits. When starting, be sure to use a dedicated area with good ventilation for safety. One key to success is being sure your tools are in good condition and the correct ones for the job. A sharp Xacto knife, varied brushes for detail work, glue and glue tips for fine gluing are a good start. Good lighting is also important, along with a drop cloth to protect your work area. When gluing small parts, use a glue tip for a fine line of glue along the area for a neat finish. Be sure to use clothes pins or rubber bands to hold the parts together until the glue is set. When gluing parts, you might want to use an emery board nail file for removal of excess plastic left over from removing the part or excess
Having the right tools is essential. Be prepared.
from the mold. Be sure to dry fit your parts to ensure proper fit. On clear parts, be very careful with having glue or paint on your fingers; it will cloud or mar the clear finish. If this happens, use an ultra-fine grain model sand paper and lightly sand the affected area. Wash the part in warm water and dry well. Brush on a clear gloss coat to restore the clear plastic. This will bring it back to transparency. Remember: patience is your best friend. Allow parts you have glued or painted to dry completely before handling them. It is beneficial to paint some parts while still on the
Patience is key. Always give your parts time to fully dry.
tree to give you a better grip. Then remove them, sand the excess off and touch up paint. Painting tape such as used for house painting is a great way to do straight lines and detailed paint schemes. You can use your Xacto knife to trim the tape, or use a light cut and pull the excess off of the area or design you wish to paint. Pre-paint some parts that need to be assembled if the parts are different colors. It will give you clean lines once you have them assembled. If a little paint runs over, you can clean the line up with a very light scrap of the tip of your modeling knife to remove the excess. Using a model paint tray will help avoid spills. Testors makes a great one with a low cost and a rotating top to hold the paints you need. Have fun and enjoy your model! outlook
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Review
TRAINLINE
REVIEW
By Joe Long I was excited to review the Walthers RailTech Sound & DCC Train Set. Although I didn’t have a collection of HO scenery and track to run the set on, it’s a hobby I intend to get back into very soon (hmmmmm... what to ask for this Christmas?). It’s been a while since my last experiences with model railroading, but I was brought right back into the mindset when I saw the realism of the individual cars. Walthers designed this set to be perfectly scale down to the very last bolt, and as I was getting each individually-boxed car out of the larger box, I had to stop and take a closer inspection of the details. The set comes complete with one engine, one caboose, two cars and a gondola. All are HO scale with great detail. The set-up was incredibly fast and easy. I had the oval of track snapped together in seconds flat, and before I knew it, had the train all aligned on the track and ready to roll. I remember one of the most frustrating parts of railroading was getting the actual cars on the track so they would stay. This particular set, however, comes with a piece of track specifically designed to get the car on the track correctly. It is wider than the other track pieces, and just running the engine or car over it will guide it into place on the first try. Track snapped in place and cars on the rails, I was ready to plug in and power up. As the train started its first trip around the track, I took the opportunity to test out the speed knob on the controller. I was very impressed with the 16
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speed, cornering ability and control of the train. Upon further exploration of the controller, I discovered the variety of sounds that come with this set, which prompted my daughter to enter the room. Although children shouldn’t be allowed
The attention to detail is top notch.
to play with sets like these due to risk of getting shocked, she was having a ball just observing and pushing the sound buttons on the controller. My daughter seemed to enjoy inspecting the individual parts quite a bit, but when the train started cruising around the tracks with sound effects, she was truly loving it. She has always liked real trains that we see while driving, and this life-like model made her day. Editor’s Note: This set is available in our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide
Reliable. Expandable. Fun! Start a Lifetime of Family Fun on the Right Track Imagine it and do it with WalthersTrainline! Our complete HO Scale sets come with everything you need — engine, cars, controller and snap-together track — to get started with no special tools or skills needed.
New for 2012!
RailTech Diesel Freight Set with Sound & Digital Command Control
In Stock - $225.00 Each 931-890 BNSF 931-891 Canadian National 931-892 Norfolk Southern
Each Set Includes:
• Powered GP9M Diesel Locomotive with Working Headlight (painted & lettered as noted) and On-Board DCC Decoder • Three Freight Cars: Boxcar, Flatcar, Gondola • Includes Matching Caboose per Railroad Noted • Huge 38 x 54" Oval of Snap-Together Bachmann EZ-Track® Steel Rail • Power Pack • World's Greatest Hobby 60-Minute DVD “Building Your First Railroad”
Digitrax Controller and Sound System: • Meets North American DCC Standards • Compatible with Other Digitrax Throttles & Controllers • Two Selectable Sets of Bell, Horn, Coupler Clank and Crew Chatter Sounds • Control Up to 6 DCC-Equipped Trains at Once
Ready to Grow When You Are
Add to your fun any time with fully assembled Walthers Trainline cars, engines, buildings and accessories!
Look for WalthersTrainline products at your local HobbyTown USA® store, or see the complete selection at waltherstrainline.com today!
A Family Owned and Operated Company, Serving Model Railroading Since 1932 Product availability and prices shown were accurate at press time, for updates visit walthers.com. ©2012 Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.
Guest Columnist
VIDEOREVIEW ETHOS QX 75 The experts at Big Squid give us a first look at the all new Ares quad-copter. By Bill Stevens (aka Wrench) and Brian Smolik at Big Squid RC
option for those who don’t want to put their love for R/C on the shelf all winter. No need for us bashers to hibernate. Ok, enough chatting, go check out the video and see the quad in action!
With a special thanks to HobbyTown USA® Orland Park for the use of their store and Ethos QX 75.
Hello Bashers! We are changing things up a little bit this time and bringing you a video review of the new Ares RC Ethos QX 75 Quad Copter. This is one of those things that must be seen to be believed. If you are pining for some indoor action this winter, and are looking for the 'next step' after the micro heli, the Ethos QX 75 should be on your shopping list! It comes with everything you need to be up and flying in no time. It has proven itself very durable, and as you will see from the video, the acrobatic 360 degree flips are awesome. We’re not known for being gentle on our R/C, but this quad definitely hung with us all through our testing. We want to say thank you to our HobbyTown USA® store in Orland Park, IL for hooking us up and letting us test the heli out. Overall, we give the Ares Ethos QX75 Quad-Copter an 8.7 out of 10. This is a fantastic 18
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VIDEO REVIEW
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Review
R O P A E N V O I KZ IN
R A M P M E O TH FR
By Craig Trachten HobbyTown USA® New Milford, CT If you live North of the Mason-Dixon Line, there’s a good chance your flying season is shortened by the temperature. I’m so skinny that I have to jump around in the rain to get wet so once the temperature drops below 45, I’m finished. I become a Craigsicle. For the longest time, Flight Sims got me through the winter. Then came the micros, but we had to wait for the gym to empty or fly our little helis in the playroom. As much fun as the micro helis are, I am still a fixed-wing fanatic. Horizon Hobby has been in the fore-front of Micro flight with their Blade, HobbyZone, ParkZone, and E-Flite lines of aircraft. Leave it to them to see a need and then fill it. Abra-Kadbra, PrestoChangeo... they pull the Mini-Vapor out of their hat. I had their Vapor, and now the Night Vapor, which I can fly in relatively small rooms. The only problem was, in small rooms all one can do is fly in circles or maybe a tight figure 8. The new MiniVapor expands these possibilities. One can’t do much with an Ocean Liner on a lake, but a speed boat on the same lake is a different story. The Mini-Vapor is about 1/2 the size of most micros and weighs about 1/3 of an ounce. The carbon fiber frame is covered in what looks and feels like Saran Wrap. A coreless motor with gear reduction and a 1S 30mAh Lipo powers the little bundle of fun. Control surfaces and throttle are proportional on this 3 channel bird, 20
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which gives the pilot complete control. As for the brains, a super small DSMX receiver/speed control/servos, all-in-one board is on-board. The RTF (Ready-To-Fly) version comes with everything needed to get airborne. MiniVapor, 4 channel transmitter, flight battery, and charger. The 8 AAs needed for the transmitter and charger are also supplied. The transmitter has digital trims and dual rates. The default setting is high rate. On high rate, the control surfaces will go to maximum deflection. Push down on the right stick after the transmitter is turned on I take off to activate low rates. On and land on the low rates, the control counter with no surfaces will achieve about problem (inducing 70% surface deflection. This visions of Top is good for beginners or for Gun). those that want a smoother, more docile flight. The BNF (Bind-N-Fly) version leaves out the transmitter and 4 AAs. Although my original flights were on the supplied transmitter, I bound the Mini-Vapor to my Spektrum DX7s. Since I can fly only one plane at a time, an unfortunate limitation, I put all my aircraft on one transmitter. It makes things easier and lighter for transport. If
you plan to bind your MiniVapor to a computer radio, consider this. I do it with all my 3-channel aircraft. I mix aileron and rudder, 100%. Every once in a while muscle memory takes over and I try to turn using my left stick, the rudder channel on 4 channel aircraft. Especially in small spaces, there is little room for error and this set-up gives me 100% rudder control regardless of which stick I use. My initial flights were in a 20’x20’ area with 8’ ceiling. I hand launched the Mini at half throttle. The first lap around the room was for trim adjustment. Once I had her flying straight and level, it was time to find out what could be done with the space I had. At the ½ throttle mark, figure eights were done without going anywhere near the wall. Loops within my 8’ limit were no problem. I punched full throttle as I pulled up and back to ½ at top of the loop. Full throttle loops are much tighter and happen fast. Fast is not what the Mini-Vapor is about...slow is where it’s at. The Mini-Vapor flies at a speed just a hair above
The Ready-To-Fly version comes with everything you need to get airborn.
stop. I have the most fun in my small space flying the Vapor at a 60-75 degree angle, controlling altitude with throttle. My counter is 34” wide and 54” long. I take off and land on the counter with no problem (inducing visions of Top Gun). Every once in a while, I rolled off the end and the Vapor hit the deck. She is not a ball but she bounces. The flexible, durable airframe took all my drops, ceiling bops and wall hits. I can go on and on about what can be done with this Mini but seeing is believing, check out some videos on YouTube. As always; have fun, fly safe. Craig SPECIFICATIONS MODEL: Mini Vapor MANUFACTURER: ParkZone DISTRIBUTOR: Horizon Hobby WING SPAN: 8.7" LENGTH: 11.75" WEIGHT: 0.3 oz. NUMBER OF CHANNELS: 3 BATTERY: 1S 30mAh 25C LiPo RECEIVER: DSMX 3 Channel w/ ESC and 2 servos
The Mini-Vapor is perfect for flying in tight spaces.
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Find the HobbyTown USA速 location nearest to you. With over 150 franchises nationwide, you can find us just about anywhere.
s
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Store Locator
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EDITOR’S PICK
BACHMANN
RINGMASTER HO TRAIN SET
By Gary Phillips HobbyTown USA® Knoxville, TN The moment the new HO scale Bachmann Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey “Ringmaster” set showed up in the store, I knew it was going to be a winner! I mean how could you go wrong with a circus train? This is undoubtedly the most colorful and the most interesting theme set I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t wait to open the box and test the set. Some people get to have all the fun, and this time it’s me! The first thing you notice with this set is the colorful box art and the fact that the entire train is visible within the packaging. All the good stuff is right there to be visually inspected by the interested party. The set contents include a 0-6-0 steam locomotive with tender, three circus cars and a matching bobber caboose. Also included is a 47” x 38” oval of Bachmann E-Z track and electric transformer. The locomotive and tender is painted in a beautiful circus paint scheme, the colors are bright and the paint lines are perfect. Even the front coupler is painted to match the pilot at the front of the locomotive. This may seem like a small detail but it does make a difference on the overall appearance of the engine. There is a working headlight too. As good as the engine and tender is, the variety and colorful circus cars steal the show. First you have the performer’s car. This is a passenger car for all those workers and clowns to ride. Next is the water tank car for the animals, and then there is the horse car, it’s a special car for the equestrian performers of the show. As an added bonus, Bachmann has even included a bagful of HO scale horses to load on to the stock car. Nice touch! And in keeping with traditions of old, the final car is the four wheel bobber caboose for the train personnel to ride. I mean, what’s a train without the caboose? Okay, enough about the neat engine and 24
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cars, now it’s time to set-up and run the train. This part is easy thanks to the E-Z Track Bachmann includes with the set. This is a snap, literally. It only takes a few minutes to complete the oval of steel alloy track. Then set-up the electric power pack and transformer by attaching two wires to the back terminals, run that wire to the terminal track and pop it in. Now you are ready to plug the power pack to a convenient wall outlet and let the fun begin! By the way, E-Z Track can be used on any floor surface (hardwood, tile or carpet) or table without the need for special tools or fasteners. The train ran smoothly and gracefully around the track. All that’s needed from here is a little imagination. I almost forgot this important note; Bachmann provides a limited lifetime warranty on its trains. Nice to know it’s there, just in case. If you want a longer run, Bachmann makes available a couple of nice options. The E-Z Track Accessory Set (BAC44493) gives you enough track and risers to make a nice figure eight over and under layout. Also included are a lighted railroad station and a motorized “gandy dancer” hand car. Another option is the E-Z Track Layout Expander Set (BAC44494). This gives you 12 more pieces of E-Z Track including two remote turn-outs for additional possibilities in track layouts. A track plan manual is included that has ideas for future expansions. This a great starter set that kids (and adults) will love. Who knows, this could be the start of a lifetime hobby that will provide many hours of enjoyment. Editor’s Note: This set is available in our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide
FEATURES + + + + + + +
CARDS FOR C H R I S TM A S card game
By: Dave Nolte This month, we have three card games that make great Christmas gifts for three different levels of gamers. We suggest the “Fluxx” line of card games for newer gamers, or those just looking for a “beer and pretzels” type of gift. “Dominion” and its expansions are great games for the more experienced gamers, but are still appropriate for newer players. The new edition of “Glory to Rome” is a varied and elegant game best suited to those who have a bit more gaming experience. 26
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“Fluxx” from Looney Labs is a game that starts out all too simple, and then changes as you move along. Developed by a couple of former NASA employees, every game of “Fluxx” can have different rules, and even different victory conditions. You begin with three cards in your hand, and the Basic Rules on the table. The starting rules are; each turn you draw one card, and you play one card. But the cards you play can begin to change things. There are “Keepers” which you play in front of you on the table. These can be cards like "Chocolate" or "The Moon." Then there are “Goals” which determine winning conditions. There needs to be a goal on the table before the game can end. For example, the goal "Milk and Cookies" specifies that a player with both the "Milk" and "Cookies" keepers on the table wins. You can also play new rules cards, like “Draw 3” or “Hand Limit 2”. Then there are “Action” cards that will let you do things like draw extra cards, discard rules or goals you don’t like, or even exchange hands with another player!
GAME breakdown
Game Time: Fluxx: 10-20 minutes Dominion: 20+ minutes Glory to Rome: 30+ minutes If You Liked These, Also Try: Easy: Munchkin, Citadels Intermediate: 7 Wonders, Struggle for Catan Adult: Cards Against Humanity
“Fluxx” has been very popular, and now comes in several “flavors”. You can play “Star Fluxx” or “Martian Fluxx”, both with sciencefiction themes, “Zombie Fluxx” or “Pirate Fluxx”, and now some licensed versions like “Oz Fluxx”, It's a game “Cthulu Fluxx”, and even “Monty unlike any other. Python Fluxx”. These themed It's a card game, versions add cards called but it plays like a “Creepers” that are like Keepers, board game. but provide negative effects, and “Surprise” cards that can be played at any time. You can even combine separate “Fluxx” games (which all have the same card backs) to play a “Mega Fluxx” game! A game of “Fluxx” can take only a couple of minutes, or run through the deck more than once while players attempt to meet the changing goals, but every game is different and always fun. “Dominion” from Rio Grande Games is another card game that can be drastically different each time you play. You need a base set, which can be the original “Dominion” set
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or “Dominion: Intrigue”, so you have the cards needed for every game, like the treasure cards (Copper, Silver and Gold) and the basic victory cards (Estates, Duchies and Provinces). The starter also comes with 25 “Kingdom” cards. You chose 10 of these with which to play a game, and so there are hundreds of combinations that you can select from in a starter set alone. At the beginning of each game, every player gets a deck of 10 cards; 7 Coppers (each worth 1 coin) and 3 Estates (each worth 1 victory point), which comprise your starting “dominion”. Each turn, you start with a hand of 5 cards, and you get one “Action” and one “Buy”. You use the Action to play action cards, and the buy to spend your money to acquire additional cards to grow your dominion. In the basic set, you can buy actions like Village, which lets you draw an extra card, and take 2 extra Actions, or Militia, which gives you two extra coins to buy with, and makes other players discard down to 3 cards in hand. When a game ending condition occurs (running out of 3 different Kingdom card stacks, or all of the 6 victory point Provinces are gone), each player counts up the number of victory points their dominion (deck) contains, and the highest total wins! There are now 7 expansion sets for Dominion, and with over 200 Kingdom Cards, there are thousands of combinations to choose from. The “Seaside” expansion introduces cards that have an effect in subsequent turns. “Alchemy” introduces “Potions” which can be used to purchase powerful cards. “Prosperity” brings “big money” to the game, introducing the 10 victory point “Colony” as well as the “Platinum” treasure, worth 5 coins. “Hinterlands”, “Cornucopia” and the newest, “Dark Ages” all bring new cards, themes, and never-ending combination to your games of “Dominion”. For the more advanced gamer, “Glory to Rome” from Cambridge Game Factory is a real treat. Created as a Kickstarter game by an MIT math major, “Glory to Rome” is relatively simple to play, but very rich in concept and provides many paths to victory. Nero has just watched outlook
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Rome burn, and the players represent wealthy citizens attempting to gain profit and influence by rebuilding the city. Each card in the deck represents one of 40 different buildings, such as a Market, Amphitheatre or the Forum Romanum. But, each card also represents one of 6 Actions, like Architect, Merchant or Legionary, AND also represents one of 6 materials, like Wood, Concrete or Marble. In the play of a turn, a card can be played as an action, or used as material, or acquired as a client, or used as the foundation of a building. Players have a large “camp” card on the table, and the other cards are placed in different positions around the camp to determine how they are used, as clients, materials, sold into the Vault for victory points, or as Influence when buildings are completed. Deciding how to best use each of your cards, both in combination with the rest of your hand and the cards stored in your camp, makes “Glory to Rome” a very strategic game of resource management. We hope that one of these games would make a great gift for the gamers in your life, whether they’re newbies, regulars, or truly “hard core”!
Fluxx is easy to learn for beginners and has many licensed versions to keep things fresh.
Dominion is a game with many different versions for intermediate players.
All three of these games are perfect for bringing the family together this holiday.
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Glory To Rome offers the most for advanced players.