We Have A New Blog -- Head On Over

It's official folks. After a couple year hiatus we're starting a new blog on our website. You can view our new blog here: http://www.hobbytron.com/blog/.

With a slew of new products and some dedicated and talented new writers this year promises to be our best yet! Make sure to not miss out on a thing and head on over today!

HobbyTron.com's International Sales On The Rise

Toy e-retailer HobbyTron.com began accepting orders from customers outside the United States about two years ago, and now orders coming from Canada alone account for about 10% of the e-retailer’s sales, says HobbyTron.com vice president Ben Ibarra.

HobbyTron.com, No. 498 in Internet Retailer’s Top 500 Guide, launched international sales by working with Bongo International, an international payment and shipping vendor. International consumers who go to checkout on HobbyTron.com are connected to a HobbyTron.com-branded page operated by Bongo where they select their shipping options and complete their purchases. Bongo then conveys the order information to HobbyTron.com, which ships the order to Bongo’s U.S. shipping center. Bongo forwards the order to the consumer and files all the customs paperwork. Delivery to Canada usually takes about a week, Ibarra says.
HobbyTron.com pays nothing for the service, as Bongo makes its money on the shipping fees it charges shoppers. A Canadian consumer can expect to pay either about US$30 or US$44 to have a 2-lb. package delivered, depending on the service level selected. Consumers get package tracking information as soon as an order leaves HobbyTron.com so they can track a package’s progress from HobbyTron.com to Bongo and on through delivery. Bongo usually ships using express services from FedEx and DHL, Bongo says.  Bongo says Canada is the top delivery destination by volume for orders placed with U.S. e-retailers, with 26% of orders placed using its Bongo Checkout service heading north. Australia and the United Kingdom take the number two and three spots, respectively.


Ibarra says setting up its systems to work with Bongo was easy, as Bongo did most of the heavy lifting and provided the code HobbyTron.com had to add to its web site to transfer international customers to Bongo’s payment and shipping site, and to communicate order information and payments back to HobbyTron.com.
HobbyTron.com gave Bongo the product information for its 5,000 products up front and Bongo calculated the shipping rate for each product according to its size and weight, and so it could provide customs officials with the information required to bring the product into the country. To enter Canada, for example, entry paperwork needs to include information about where a product was manufactured. When HobbyTron.com adds new products to its site, Ibarra says he downloads the new information and sends it to Bongo. “They make it very easy to do,” he says.

Ibarra says it doesn’t actively conduct online marketing aimed at Canadians; it’s more that Canadian consumers find HobbyTron.com. Much of the site traffic from Canadians comes through HobbyTron.com’s efforts on social media like YouTube.  HobbyTron.com posts about five videos a week to YouTube, which consumers pass along. “We do review videos, funny viral videos and they all promote the item within the video,” Ibarra says. “We get a lot of customers from all over from those.”

Article as posted on Internet Retailer, March 22, 2012.

Make Your Own Airsoft Gun

Homemade Airsoft Gun - 15$

Have you always wanted an Airsoft gun but your parents won't allow you to buy the real thing? Do they say that the guns are too real? Have you always wanted to battle it out with your friends in public places? Well, now you can break all the rules of Airsoft. With this unique Airsoft gun, you and your friends can easily convince your parents to get you the equipment needed and you can battle it out anywhere! This beauty is easily identified as a toy and a plastic bottle so innocent passersby won't think it is the real thing. But still, don't go shooting other people or other people's stuff. That would still get you in trouble and because the BBs travel so fast it would damage property and hurt someone or something that isn't wearing the adequate safety protection. Common sense is something that one should never be without. So make sure you wear long sleeves, protective eye wear, and keep a safe minimum distance.

Now if I had known about how to do this when I was a kid life would have been much more interesting not only for me but also for my parents. I can only imagine the havoc I would have been able to wreak with this little baby and a compressed air backpack.

Following the instructions in the video are really simple. They go step-by-step in an easy to understand manner. Plus all you need to complete the gun are 4 simple items costing less than 15$. You'll need an empty plastic water or soda bottle, a quick release air compressor adapter, an air compressor blowgun, and a 7mm by 6-inch brake line. And then you will need an air compressor or a compressed air backpack, either will work fine whether you want to be portable or not.

It takes between 10-20 minutes to make and then you are ready to fire. You also don't need to worry about buying good BBs. Buy the cheapest BBs around because there are no gears or small components that can break with low quality BBs. This way your BB supply, although it will run out quickly, will not cost you an arm and a leg. Feel free to reuse them also whenever possible with this baby. I hope that you enjoy this little creation as much as we have. Happy hunting and we hope to see you at HobbyTron.com for all of your Airsoft needs!

What Is The Problem Here?

Alright, this article kind of got me a little steamed. I am definitely not as composed as I probably should be here. I just have issue with people like this, not just regarding this subject but many many subjects. People like this just need to keep their opinions to themselves, but then again, they are probably saying the same thing about me. Read at your own risk...

(I have my own comments in the parenthesis after the article which is in quotes.)


"Everyone has probably heard concerned parents wondering if first-person shooters or other kinds of fighting videogames will have a negative impact on their children. In popular games like “Halo” and “Modern Warfare,” the graphics are frighteningly realistic with extensively detailed scenery, fluid character movements and all of the gory details that accompany a character getting shot or blown up.

"It’s one thing to leave all of the blood, gore and weaponry safely locked inside an Xbox console, but what about the toy guns, the Nerf shooter and the pellet guns that are available for even very young children?
I remember the brightly colored squirt guns of the ‘90s and the little hand held Nerf toys that shot out foam discs. Now, the toy aisles of most stores have a vast array of fake weapons. Nerf guns have ammo belts, laser sights and tripods, and squirt guns have turned into these monstrous water cannons that actually sting when they hit skin. Move a couple of aisles down and pellet guns are available in a variety of shapes and sizes with containers of shiny, plastic, pea-sized projectiles."
(Many have had the argument about the violence in video games. It is probably a justifiable concern. But where she takes this article is a little eccentric. It gets better so just keep reading.)

"I’ve been shot with a pellet gun as well; they do leave a mark and I’d say they’re definitely not a good idea for young children who don’t know how to aim away from the face, but my concern is how startlingly realistic these toy weapons look and what that means for children. Instead of a squirt gun looking like a ridiculous cartoon device only intended to shoot out water, many squirt guns or foam dart guns eerily mimic actual weapons."
(I am sure that when this author was shot by a pellet gun they were the nerd or the fat kid that was trying to tell the people with the toys in an overly superior tone that they should knock it off. If that was the case, I would have shot the little snot as well. Run home to mommy baby!)

"To me, the message that these realistic toys are sending children is that it’s OK to shoot guns and OK to have guns, because children are allowed to have them and they’re just toys. What would happen, then, if a parent left their handgun or hunting rifle in reach of a child who then grabbed it and proceeded to shoot it because it resembled a toy? How are children supposed to understand their guns may only shoot out a foam  dart with a suction cup while their parents’ guns hold actual ammunition?"
(It dang well better be okay to have guns. We have the right to own firearms in the constitution. The founding fathers of this great nation saw it as a liberty that shouldn't be extinguished, that everyone should have firearms for the protection of self, home, and country. So the question that lies here is this: Are we going to raise up a whole new generation of wussies? Wussies who are afraid of guns, because they don't know how to use them, and they have been told they are bad? What happens when this country is in trouble,  or there is ever a need for them to use one? They will be the typical Hollywood-portrayed freaks who are so afraid of touching anything "unclean" that when their generation is running the country, everything fun and tasty and exciting and stimulating of any kind will be outlawed. Just kill me now.)

Associate Bob, note the sissy hairstyle, the white gloves, the totally un-trendy robes. I don't want our society to end up like this. And it will if some people have their way.

"Young children won’t realize that real guns hurt people and can even kill people; a child’s understanding of the fragility of life and finality of death is limited at best. I had almost no comprehension of death as a child and, as an adult, I still struggle to realize that we all will die."
(Young children, teens and young adults know more than you think they do...and you, trust me on this one, know less than you think you do, as is the case with most overbearing adults. Children learn at an astonishing rate compared to adults. What the problem is here is a lack of education. They have parents that don't take the time to educate them. To set limits on them and help them understand the realistic implications of what they are doing. Here are two examples. A group of kids wants to go play Airsoft (Airsoft is the "realistic looking pellet guns"). They go into the woods in their neighborhood and start to shoot around. The guns may look real but they most definitely sound fake, incredibly fake. There isn't a chance in hell that anyone would mistake the sound of an Airsoft gun for the real thing. And these kids run around with their guns shooting each other and when people come walking through the woods they just keep playing and shooting. On their way home they walk around with their guns in view and even shoot each other and stop signs on the way home. There are a lot of things wrong with this scenario. Now for example two. There is a large group of Airsofters here in my neighborhood. They meet weekly for their Airsoft games. They go to a public location like the canyon, the woods, a field out in the middle of nowhere. They usually talk to the police before hand to let them know that they will be there. When they are on the field shooting each other up they are in full military gear. Their guns are more realistic looking than those of group one. They look like a military commando group. They aren't just running around yelling and shooting. They are hiding, strategically moving to corner and eliminate the other team. They look like pros. When someone walks down the trail and comes into the engagement zone they yell, "CIVILIAN!!" and the match stops immediately. They talk to the person telling them that they are just playing a game and they have stopped the game for them as they walk through so they don't need to worry and then when they are gone, play resumes. Who do you think will get the police called on them? Who do you think will cause panic in uneducated or overbearing adults? The point of these two scenarios is to show the difference between a kid with a gun who hasn't been educated and one who has. The second scenario always ends favorably whilst the first one sometimes ends up with the police being called and the kids getting in trouble and in the most extreme of cases being shot cause they won't put down their realistic looking gun. What are we teaching our kids if just because some are dumb and get shot while wielding an Airsoft gun then no one can have Airsoft guns? Is this really the message that we want to send to our kids? If this is the case then we shouldn't allow them to drive a car for fear they might get into an accident. Or they shouldn't be allowed to go to school cause there have been shootings at schools. Or they shouldn't be allowed to be at home cause burglars or fires or natural disasters. It just sounds more and more ridiculous as the list grows and grows. This reasoning isn't sound.)

"The vast majority of parents wouldn’t admit that they condone violence, yet many of these same adults buy airsoft guns for their children for Christmas without considering the implications of that action. Most of these parents probably wouldn’t let their child go out and shoot a real gun, but they’re telling these children that it’s  perfectly fine to shoot a fake gun with fake bullets because it’s not real."
(That's right, it's not real. But it can teach them how to properly handle a real weapon should they encounter one. I would be worried about the kids from scenario one earlier if they ran across a real weapon. That is how accidents happen. Now the kids from scenario two, if they found a gun, they might still think it is just as cool as the kids from one, but they would more likely handle it with respect. They would know not to point it at someone's head. They would know how destructive they could be. They wouldn't just go around pointing it at things shooting it. What do your kids know about guns? Which group would they or you yourself be associated with?)

"That is a very complex message to give to children in an already violence-saturated society. And, regardless of the implications of realistic toy weapons on a child’s perceptions, another aspect regarding fake guns must be considered. Given the fact that concealed-carry is legal with the correct permit and reports of homicides flow in daily from the big cities, how are people supposed to immediately distinguish a child’s toy from the real thing?

Imagine a group of children playing in a front yard, screaming in make-believe terror as their best friend points a foam dart gun or a group of adolescents hiding behind bushes in the park, ducking and rolling and shooting each other with pellet guns. How would these scenes appear to an individual walking by, and what if that individual was carrying an actual gun and perceived the situation as dangerous?"
(I covered this in my earlier paragraph. And if the person carrying an actual gun can't distinguish between kids with fake guns making that make fake sounds playing a game or gangsters having a real shootout, then they shouldn't be carrying a real gun. Someone carrying a gun goes through training to know how to handle a gun and how to handle situations that would involve real guns. And I hope to heaven that you don't carry a gun around author. If you do, I greatly distress over the safety of the kids in your neighborhood!! I wouldn't trust you with a gun for any amount of money. You are dangerous. Such bigoted ideas about guns and fake guns and nerf guns of all things is reckless! It is irresponsible! It is nearly reprehensible! How can you publish this crap? I sure hope that people are smart enough to recognize that there is nearly NO validity at all to what you are writing hear. Write from your corner of fear all you want, but don't spread your disease to others, keep it to yourself.)

"In Brownsville, Texas, an eighth-grade student was fatally shot by police because he refused to put down what police believed to be a real gun, according to a January 4 ABC News article by Christina Ng. School officials called 911 to report there was a student with a gun. The school was put on lockdown, and when the student pointed the gun at the police officers, the officers fired shots, at least two of which hit and killed the student. Afterward, the “weapon” was identified as a harmless pellet gun."
(The problem wasn't the Airsoft gun. The problem was that the kid had problems. None of us can adequately judge where he was coming from. What was going on in his life that prompted him to take a gun to school in the first place? What prompted him to keep the gun in his hand and then point it at the officers? The problem wasn't that it was an Airsoft gun at all, the problem was much deeper. Did he feel like he didn't have any friends? Did he feel like he was an outcast? Did he feel like his family hated him? Was he being abused? And a thousand other things that we will never know.)

"The eighth-grader really had no business bringing the pellet gun to school and there was no reason why he should have pointed it at the police officers, but if the pellet gun didn’t so closely resemble an actual weapon, the officers probably wouldn’t have fired. If the pellet gun was, say, lime green and didn’t have the same shape and size as the average handgun, the incident would have been a simple transgression of school rules.
In May 2011, a 15-year-old student at a school in New York brought a “realistic-looking toy Uzi and promised to ‘start shooting,’” according to a May 27, 2011 NY Daily News article by Rocco Parascandola and Ben Chapman. The teenager was arrested, but a girl who was present for the incident said she still doesn’t “feel safe at school,” according to the article. Even though no physical harm was done, consider the effects of this student’s actions; his classmates no longer feel safe at school, all because he pulled out a fake gun and made threats. This is another case that would have been much more of a non-issue if the toy gun did  not so closely mimic the real thing."
(I like how the author talks about it being the guns fault. It isn't the guns fault at all. He had his reasons for wanting to bring a realistic gun to school and then for pointing it at police officers. Again, that has nothing to do with the gun. If all Airsoft guns were "lime green and didn't have the same shape and size as the average handgun," he would have found a different realistic looking weapon. And if he was looking to die, which we don't know but can assume because of his actions, then he might have found any number of other ways to take his life. I have had many friends take their lives just from my neighborhood growing up. I grew up in a small town in a nice neighborhood. Everyone knew everyone else. It still happened, and we didn't have realistic looking Airsoft guns. Those kids had their own reasons for doing what they did. Are we going to ban all cars from the roads because people walk in front of them? Or because people crash and die in them? That seems a little extreme. Cars are too realistic because they are dangerous and cause accidents, they must all be banned! Just because some guy got in an accident doesn't mean that I should have my rights restricted. I love to drive. I am not an idiot behind the wheel because I have educated myself on how to drive, how to be respectful to others on the road, how to obey traffic signals, etc. Again, it isn't about Airsoft guns looking real, it is about the person behind the gun. This battle has never been about Airsoft guns, it is about the right to have a gun in the first place. I go back to the inspired genius of the founding fathers who wrote our beautiful constitution, they had the right idea. They had the vision to know what they felt were the most fundamental rights for us to have. The saying, "Guns don't kill people. People kill people," comes to mind. If someone is looking to hurt someone, or hurt themselves it doesn't matter whether Airsoft guns look real or not, they WILL find another way. The focus should be on the real problems in these situations. When a doctor diagnoses you with a sickness or disease he doesn't only treat the symptoms, he cures the sickness/disease. We need to cure the disease, not just treat the symptoms.)

"Realistic toy weapons just aren’t healthy for children or for society. Introducing toys to young children that mimic their deadly counterparts only ingrains the use of violence and guns and normalizes their use. Children are bound to want to send projectiles at one another, but if there have to be any toy weapons, why do they have to look like weapons? Make them goofy shapes and ridiculous colors and maybe the grip of militarization will ever-so-slightly lessen. "
(Your clarion call here author will inspire some to side with you, but you lack understanding of the situation and your misguided blame will turn people away from your cause. I suggest you get more factual knowledge under your belt and you learn to write about real problems instead of your misguided take on the symptoms of what is going on. It sounds like there are more issues here with you, author, than you wrote here in your article. "...the grip of militarization," I don't know what to say about that. Wow, maybe you should write an article about that instead of trying to push your extremist viewpoints in an article about something that is totally off-topic for this kind of message. Thank you for your time, you gave me something to do today.)

If you are looking for realistic Airsoft guns and accessories, then come to the one-stop online and retail store stop, HobbyTron.com. Where Awesome Happens!!

--This fun article was brought to you by the Kansas State Collegian. View the original article here.


Here is a comment from a reader posted on the article on the Kansas State Collegian site.

Anonymous

Mon Jan 23 2012 13:48

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but holy cow Kaylea. perhaps we should remove out thumbs to keep children from using their hands as toy guns. The solution to your issue is good parenting, I grew up around both real and play guns, from a very early age i knew the difference between the two and the proper handling of each. I have had interaction with the police half a dozen times while in the possession of realistic airsoft guns, you know why I didnt get shot? Thats right you guessed it, I complied with their commands and the issues were resolved with out arrest or blood shed.You should be embarrassed that this article has your name on it.

Airsoft Needs Saving Again, Who's In?

Airsoft has been coming under a lot of scrutiny recently from politicians that love to be able to say they supported a bill that makes people “safer”. One of the big ones recently would require all Airsoft guns to be painted outlandish bright colors to distinguish them from actual firearms. California recently passed a bill stating that local governments can’t regulate Airsoft guns and that is the sole responsibility of the State of California.

While it saddens us to hear about these various bills and new regulations, none so far have been quite as ridiculous as the proposed New Jersey State Senate bill, NJ S810. NJ S810 goes farther than pretty much all regulation of Airsoft guns in America has gone so far. According to the language of the bill, “This bill would clarify that ‘Airsoft’ guns constitute firearms and therefore are subject to this State’s strict laws regulating the sale, possession, and use of firearms.”

Indeed, the passage of this bill would mean that in the State of New Jersey, Airsoft guns would be considered firearms and treated as such. This would mean, among other things, that residents of New Jersey would need a permit to possess an Airsoft gun. You would need to be 18 to purchase Airsoft rifles, which is fairly standard, but you would also need to be 21 to purchase an Airsoft handgun.

As we all know, an Airsoft handgun is no more dangerous or deadly than an Airsoft rifle. An actual real steel handgun is more likely to be used with lethal consequences than a real steel shotgun or rifle. However, when applied to Airsoft guns, the same is not true. This is because an Airsoft gun is not a firearm. In fact, the bill admits in its own language that an Airsoft gun is not a firearm, and proposes to change the very definition of “firearm” to include Airsoft guns.

The bills’ statement claims that Airsoft guns are commonly sold without orange tips, which anyone involved in Airsoft knows not to be true. It goes on to cite the case 15 year-old Floridian Chris Penley, who was killed by police officers after brandishing an Airsoft gun in their direction. While this case was incredibly tragic, by no means should it lead to an array of new and ill informed legislation. The inclusion of Chris Penley’s fate is an obvious scare tactic, and the bill does not mention that residents of Florida must already be 18 to purchase Airsoft guns under current law.

I don’t live in New Jersey, and frankly it’s too cold so I probably won’t ever go there, but this bill could set a precedent that is followed across America until we all need to fill out permits, undergo background checks and submit to a waiting period every time we want to buy an AEG. Imagine the restrictions that will present themselves once a simple upgraded piston is now considered a firearm part. Besides, if I can enjoy my Airsoft worry-free, so should the good people of New Jersey.

There are a few ways to help. Concerned citizens have set up a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/No-On-NJ-S810/347426451937271 with more information and ways you can help.

There is also an online petition located at http://www.change.org/petitions/new-jersey-state-senate-do-not-pass-nj-s810.

The language of the bill can be found at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/S0500/454_I1.HTM.

This bill is being sponsored by Senator Bob Smith and Senator Nicholas P. Scutari of New Jersey. Their contact information can be found at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=53 and http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=237, respectively.

Please help support Airsoft players in New Jersey and across the country by contacting these senators, signing the petition, and doing anything else possible to get involved. Remember to exercise polite conduct and always be a good representative of Airsoft. See ya on the field and at HobbyTron.com.

Police Swat Team Training with Airsoft

Monday was no holiday for the Missoula Police Department's SWAT team. The 18 member crew spent the day training, with lifelike Airsoft weapons.

The SWAT team was able to use the Missoula City Life Community Center's airsoft facility on Monday afternoon to do some of their drills.

The room was set up to replicate a house and SWAT team members went room to room looking for suspects.

Police say the Airsoft weapons are similar to the ones they carry in real situations and this helps make training more realistic.

"The nice thing about airsoft is it gives you immediate feed back, as in if you get hit in the right spot, it's going to hurt," says Sgt. John Weber, Missoula Police SWAT Team Leader.

18 officers make up the team and they train once a month. Weapons they used at today's training shoot pellets at 350-FPS (feet per second), and officers say even though they are Airsoft BBs, they have to wear protective gear.

Looking to outfit your local PD with realistic training weapons? Why not follow the example of countless other Police Departments across the country and head on over to HobbyTron.com and get your Airsoft Training Gear today.

Original story found here.

Choosing Your First RC Car

Traxxas Mustang Boss

RC cars are a hobby that many people are attracted to at some point, but many people don’t follow through because it can seem like a difficult and expensive pastime to become involved in. RC cars do not have to be expensive or complicated, and with the right information anyone can choose an excellent starting RC car or truck for their particular situation.

Traxxas Maximum Destruction

One of the first choices to be made is what kind of RC vehicle you are interested in. Certain types of vehicles are better for certain situations, and some handle very differently despite being internally similar. For “off road bashing”, or generally mucking about in the great outdoors, RC monster trucks are generally the best choice. They have excellent ground clearance, large wheel bases and large rubber tires. These make them ideal for handing rough terrain. Monster trucks are great for jumping as well, because they are durable and can be made very powerful.

Redcat Racing Backdraft Buggy

Those interested in racing dirt tracks with be looking at buggies, stadium trucks and truggies. Both race in their own class so performance is really more of a personal preference. Buggies are lower the ground and are more precise. They cut into corners quicker than stadium trucks and are more nimble. Stadium trucks, however, run better on rougher tracks. They are also more forgiving and easier to learn how to drive. Truggies are a combination of the stadium truck and buggy, and their performance lies somewhere in between.

Losi Micro-T Stadium Truck

Those wanting to race on-road will be looking at street racers. These cars are extremely powerful and some can reach speeds of over 100mph. There are models available based on just about every real life car one can think of, and of course price and performance varies drastically. These are the kind of cars that can be converted into drift cars as well. Redcat Racing has a large selection of on road cars geared towards beginners.

Redcat Racing Shredder XT

Another important choice to make is whether to purchase a nitro or electric RC car. Electric is more recommended for beginners because electric RC cars are both safer and easier to use. Nitro engines work basically the same as an old car engine. They have spark plugs (sort of), carburetors, need the proper air to fuel ratio, produce smoke and need some way of cranking the motor over. All of these things can be very fun, and those who know a lot about internal combustion engines will probably enjoy nitro RC cars. For the average person though, electric cars will be much easier to learn. Nowadays electric cars are just as, if not more, powerful than nitro cars.

Traxxas Slayer Pro Nitro

Cars come either ready to run or with assembly required. Assembly of an RC vehicle is different from normal model assembly and can be very complicated for those who are not experienced. For this reason, ready to run (RTR) vehicles are recommended for beginners. This allows the user to skip the hassles of assembly and simply get to running the vehicle immediately. As with the hassles associated with nitro motors, some people find this is one of the draws for them. But while I would recommend someone getting a nitro car provided they have the dedication and time to put into it, I think that ready to run really is the way to go for a first car.

HPI Blitz

Once all of these decisions are made, choosing an RC vehicle should be a simple process. Simply click the appropriate category on the Hobbytron website, set the search filter to the appropriate price range and make a pick. With RC cars you mostly get what you pay for, but brands like Traxxas and HPI have been around for years and are well-trusted but the hobby community. Anything from these and other major brands is likely to be a good investment.

Mini Fire Fox

Check out the latest and greatest in RC vehicles at HobbyTron.com.

Where to Start with RC Helicopters

Piloting RC helicopters can seem like a harrowing hobby to take up. Some of them are quite expensive and if they crash they may need replacement parts, plus they can be complicated. Many aspiring pilots have given up after spending $400 on a collective pitch helicopter and immediately crashing and destroying it. However, if entering the hobby is done properly, it can be fun, exciting and hassle free. The key is to know exactly what you are buying and to take a slow approach.

The first step to understanding which type on RC helicopter is best for a beginner is to understand the main types of RC helicopters. There are three kinds of RC helicopters, and they operate very differently. The three types are coaxial, fixed pitch and collective pitch. Coaxial helicopters are generally recommended to beginners for two major reasons. Coaxial helicopters are both the cheapest and the easiest to fly. Coaxial helicopters have two main rotors and a single rear rotor. Fixed pitch and collective pitch helicopters only have one main rotor. The extra main rotor makes coaxial helicopters inherently more stable.

The advantages of coaxial helicopters to a new pilot are numerous. The flight is more stable and easier to control, with a gyro taking care of changes in yaw automatically. The learning curve is much lower and the skill to fly a coaxial helicopter can be picked up in as little as 20 minutes. They also tend to be less powerful than fixed or collective pitch helicopters which makes them less susceptible to broken parts. As a whole they also cost much less than the other options which also makes them more attractive to beginners.

One of the best starting helicopters is the Phantom S107. The S107 is the most affordable high quality hobby grade coaxial helicopter on the market, is easy to learn and an absolute blast to fly. It is a micro helicopter and small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. The controls are so precise that within the first couple of flights even beginners will be able to land the helicopter in their open palm.

The Phantom S107 is also made of incredibly durable materials. The frame is lightweight metal and the rotors are made of flexible plastic with a lot of give. Honestly you can fly one full speed into a wall and most of the time nothing will happen. And because the S107 is a hobby grade helicopter, all of the parts are easily replaceable. Another great feature that sets this helicopter apart is its ability to charge from any standard USB port. Beginners looking for the most affordable way possible to try out the hobby should look no further than the Phantom S107.

One of the few downsides of the S107 is that the helicopter only features 3 channel controls. This means it can move up and down, rotate left and right, go forward and backwards and hover. However, it cannot strafe and uses a different control layout from 4 channel helicopters. This means that pilots will have to re-learn controls when they move up to a more advance helicopter. For this reason, those who are seriously interested in the hobby should really consider the Blade mCX.

The Blade mCX is the micro version of the extremely popular Blade CX. It has all the same great features of the Phantom S107. It has durable metal components, easily replaceable parts, is easy to learn, has extremely stable flight with a gyro and fits in the palm of a hand. However, the Blade mCX features full 4 channel controls. This means pilots will already be used to the control layout of more advanced helis. It can also strafe, which adds a lot to what the helicopter can do. The Blade mCX features 2.4GHz radio control as well which means objects or walls won’t interrupt the remote’s signal, and many Blades can be flown together at the same time. For those willing to invest a little more into the hobby, the Blade mCX is the way to go.

These helicopters are both excellent options for those just starting out in the world of RC helicopters. One other option is to purchase a flight simulator, such as the Phoenix RC Pro Simulator Version 3. Flight sims have the advantage of never needing replacement parts after a crash. Crashes are inevitable and will happen, and flight simulators are an excellent way to develop confidence in flying without having to worry about breaking anything. You don’t have to wait for them to charge either. Once someone moves up to collective pitch helicopters, training with a flight simulator first will save countless dollars. A flight sim is a great investment for those who are sure they will one day fly advanced helicopters. Many of them have airplane sims included as well, which is excellent should one wish to become involved in piloting RC airplanes.

The Phantom S107, Blade mCX, and Phoenix RC Pro Simulator are all available at Hobbytron, along with a full line of coaxial helicopters. Some people may prefer a slightly larger helicopter for outdoor use, and Hobbytron carries helicopters in all sizes with the same advantages as the S107. There are also some special coaxial helis with features like projectile plastic missiles or an attachable digital camera. To check out all the helicopters, head over to HobbyTron.com. Good luck and happy flying.

Jing Gong M4: The People's Airsoft Gun

Occasionally products in various industries assume the moniker of “the people’s”. One of the first to use this tag was Volkswagen, which literally means “people’s car” in German. Since then terms like “the people’s bank” and “the people’s jeans” have been used by marketing whizzes to describe things that are useful to the common man. In many cases the phrase is used when a particular product is accessible to those who could otherwise not afford to use products of its type.

Today I’ve decided to bestow this title upon another product, the Jing Gong M4. The Jing Gong M4 is one of the most popular Airsoft guns for beginners, and allows new players to own a reliable, high performance Airsoft gun for much less money than the competitors. The Jing Gong M4 was also the original platform on which the Echo 1 M4 was based, a gun that quickly became one of the most popular Airsoft guns from an American company. Many other industry leaders have tried to follow suit, some notable examples are the “Sportline” models from Classic Army and G&G.

Nowadays there are many options for affordable Airsoft guns. Some of the higher end companies have dropped their prices or released new, more affordable guns. Many of the Chinese companies like CYMA and WELL have stepped up their quality and now produce more reliable Airsoft guns. But the original people’s gun is and will remain the Jing Gong M4. Back when Chinese companies were all but untouchable, Jing Gong stepped up production and made a viable, affordable Airsoft gun. When Echo 1 began to rebrand them (for the record, the Echo 1 M4 is now based on VFC and no longer has anything to do with Jing Gong) they became even more popular.

Jing Gong M4s come in many shapes and sizes, and now they are represented in quite a few price ranges as well. What makes them so great for beginners is that they cost under $200, have reliable gearboxes based on the Tokyo Marui design, accept parts from most major Airsoft companies, shoot hard and have good externals. Five years ago this was one of the only guns that offered all of these things for such a low price. Many AEGs from Jing Gong are available with metal bodies as well, another huge draw. Most guns from Jing Gong have these qualities, but the M4s have the bonus of being ideal for CQB or outdoor scenarios and being highly receptive to mods or accessories. Of course, it is also the standard rifle used by the US Armed Forces, a fact that has undoubtedly added to the gun’s popularity.

Jing Gong has continued to improve their M4s and the current incarnation sticks with the original blueprint of a reliable, high performance gun at an affordable price. The newest M4 fires 400FPS using .2g BBs and comes packaged with a 300 round magazine. It has a high torque motor and all metal gear box with durable components. It has an ABS plastic upper receiver with a metal barrel, stock tube and other metal components. The hopup and rear sight are both adjustable and the carrying handle is removable. It has a respectable fire rate of 500-1000 rounds per minute. In short, the Jing Gong M4 is everything one wants in an AEG, nothing more and nothing less. It is still one of the best options in its price range for all the reasons it originally was. Personally I trust them more than Sportline models as well, as Sportline models generally have downgraded internals.

The Jing Gong M4 is by no means the best rifle money can buy. But the Jing Gong M4 is quite possibly the best rifle for its price. New Airsoft players should definitely consider it and other AEGS from Jing Gong when shopping for their first AEG. It isn’t a bad option for experienced players by any means, and is a great option for those who want an M4 for their collection but don’t want to break the bank. Because they accept parts from most Airsoft companies, they can be upgraded to have the best performance on the field. Check out the full selection of Airsoft guns from Jing Gong.

Q&A: Is Airsoft Just for Gun Nuts?

A friend of mine recently had some questions for me regarding Airsoft. He was interested in becoming involved in the hobby but was not sure if it was for him. I thought these questions were relevant to a lot of new Airsoft players and frankly did not like the answers that he got from others he had asked. So I’ve decided to repeat his questions and my answers to them here.

1) Is there a place in Airsoft groups for somebody who has no interest in firearms, the military, or any related phenomena? Is everyone who plays a gun-nut?

--Answer--

As a person who has no interest in firearms or the military, this is a simple question to answer. I’m just a regular person who enjoys the adrenaline rush and physical conditioning that Airsoft offers. I actually picked up Airsoft originally because I needed a sport to do in the summer when I couldn't ski. Most of the people I know have similar personalities and either picked up Airsoft as young kids or just enjoy the adrenaline.

At the end of the day it doesn't matter if you are into guns or the military or not. The Airsoft community is just like any other sports community. It’s just a group of people that come together and have a lot of fun, and really enjoy a game. If you are there, enjoying the game, then you belong to that group and will be accepted. I've never had anyone be aggressive or really even impolite to me at an Airsoft game. And for what it’s worth, most of the people I know personally who play Airsoft have never even fired a real gun.

Airsoft Scopes at HobbyTron.com

2) Are there some locations / groups / play-styles that are less focused on military simulation and more on just having good fun / more fantastical scenarios?

--Answer--

Technically Airsoft is milsim and you will hear people call it milsim. But unless you are at a scenario game, the games are run basically identically to paintball games. You will see people with military uniforms, sometimes even patches. But you will also see people with patches like "Raccoon City Police Department" (from the Resident Evil video games). I remember one local team was called the "Pansy Boys" and their logo was Duke Nukem holding a daisy. It is also common to play "Zombie" games, Capture the Flag, or "Football" (where one flag is in the center and a team has to take the flag to the opponent's end zone). My local place even does a zombie game every Halloween with people in full zombie makeup.

Tactical Airsoft Gear at HobbyTron.com

 3) Are there quality Airsoft guns that aren't trying to look like real firearms?

--Answer--

Not really. There are a few that come to mind, like the Jing GongThunder Maul, but almost all guns you find will be based on actual firearms. For many this is a draw of the sport though and adds to the fun.

High End Airsoft Guns from HobbyTron.com

4) What is a good way for somebody brand new to try out the sport? Do Airsoft centers rent out guns/equipment?

--Answer--

The best place to try Airsoft is at a professional Airsoft field, they are all over the US and there is sure to be one in your area. Some Airsoft fields do rent equipment, yes. Call in advance and ask.

HobbyTron.com Airsoft Guns

5) How badly do the BBs hurt? Is it about comparable to paintballs?

--Answer--

BBs hurt, on average, much less than paintballs. They also only leave small welts instead of massive purple/yellow bruises like paintballs tend to. Just make sure to use common sense and keep a minimum safe distance depending on how hot of a gun you are firing. Safety always comes first, so if you don't know how to be safe with your Airsoft gun, you have no business firing it.

For any further questions about getting in to the exciting world of Airsoft, check out the HobbyTron Forum. We have Airsoft experts standing by and waiting to answer your question, so just post it up in the Airsoft section and we’ll get to answering it right away.