WHAT TO EXPECT HERE
Since we are a hobby shop, we receive newsletters from many of the R/C industry manufacturers and organizations. We pass along that information to you. Normally, it is not information you will find in R/C magazines or elsewhere.
Effective October 1, 1999, Futaba Corporation has appointed Great Planes as the exclusive distributor for Futaba radio control hobby products in the United States.
See EDITORIAL COMMENT below for more information.
SOURCE..........Letter From Great Planes Model Distributors (09/27/99)
The following is an excerpt from the latest Estes/Cox newsletter:
Cox has 10 exciting new products for 1998. Among these are 3 new glow engine powered control line airplanes, including the AT-6 Texan Bomb Drop - an airplane that drops foam bombs. A twin engine radio control electric airplane will expand the current consumer base. Another exciting product is the Recon. This unique glow engine powered free flight airplane is equipped to take aerial 35 mm photos (disposable camera not included) via radio control. A ducted fan free flight airplane, a free flight flying saucer, a Comanche free flight helicopter, a rear pusher electric free flight airplane and a new rubber powered twin rotor helicopter round out the Cox line for 1998.
Our West WIngs line will debut a new SR-71 Blackbird kit. In our Light Glider category, the Firestorm, a large rubber powered rear pusher military airplane of the future will excite kids of all ages.
SOURCE.............................................Letter To Dealers From Estes (01//98)
As of 6/16/97, Thunder Tiger Taiwan has purchased the operations of Ace Radio Control, Inc. This new entity is now known as Ace Hobby Distributors, Inc.
SOURCE.............................................Letter To Dealers From ACE (07/07/97)
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT (Of ACE HOBBY DISTRIBUTORS) 10/10/97
Following are excerpts from a message published in the new ACEnet newsletter to hobby shops. The message is from Aling Lai, president of ACE Hobby Distributors, Inc.
"Back in the 1970s, I was flying my ACE "All Star" demonstrating it to high school students at many air shows in Taiwan. Those air shows were actually the beginning of the entire R/C hobby industry in Taiwan. Since then, I have been dreaming of introducing ALL of ACE's model airplanes to R/C hobbyists throughout the world.
"The most unforgettable day of my life was June 16, 1967. On this date we successfully purchased the assets of ACE R/C, including brand name and full line of products, from Missouri Bank & Trust and incorporated a new entity, ACE Hobby Distributors, Inc. ACE Hobby will be based on the 45 year pioneering history of ACE R/C and will continue the company's great contribution to the R/C industry. I am very pleased to have the hard working and highly loyal employees of ACE R/C to continue working for us, helping to insure our ability to serve all our customers. I, being a loyal customer of ACE for twenty years, would have never expected that my dream would finally come true on June 16, 1997...my birthday!
On September 15, 1997, Thunder Tiger-USA was relocated to Higginsville, Missouri. From this time forward, Thunder Tiger and ACE R/C products will be serviced by ACE Hobby Service Centers. Because of our business culture of enthusiasm and devotion, and Thunder Tiger product sent to us for repair has to be finished and shipped back within 48 hours (72 hours for ACE R/C products). By 1998, ALL repair service for our exclusive products will catch up to 48 hours turnaround."
GREAT PLANES NOW HAS EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO COVERITE............11/01/96
In Hobbico's continuing effort to take over the world, Coverite has become a part of the Hobbico empire.
I spoke with the vice president of ESTES today about rumors that Cox was moving and that their products would not be available for a while. The FACTS are that ESTES (the model rocket people) acquired Cox back in January. (ESTES has also acquired several other model companies recently.) They are in the process of moving 'some' of the components of Cox to Colorado, but have assured me that they will be certain they have a good supply of inventory on hand BEFORE they move.
He also informed me that they have stopped production on certain specialty engines temporarily because they were developing a reputation for being hard to start and that they didn't last very long. ESTES is re-engineering those engines and are in the process of reintroducing four of them now and will reintroduce four more in January.
In a phone call to K&B, we confirmed that K&B has a new owner, however, according to them, nothing else has changed.
SIG wants everyone to know that the business operations of SIG Manufacturing are now back in the capable hands of Hazel Sig. She took over the controls in July. This change has received accolades throughout the industry. (SIG Products are available through TeleHobbies R/C.)
SOURCE.............................................SIG Flyer
The VERY popular trainer airplane kits have recently been upgraded to "Mark II" editions. For now, the new kits come with a "free" "Getting Started With Top Flite MonoKote" video and a 2 ounce bottle of PRO CA glue. Available now.
Source............................................Great Planes.Great News
In their continuing effort to take over the world of R/C hobbies, Great Planes (Hobbico) has just announced that they have acquired the exclusive rights to Dynaflite aircraft kits and accessories. More information on the Dynaflite acquisition should be available in May.
Source of Announcement....................Great Planes.Great NewsEDITORIAL COMMENT: With Hobbico being the parent company, they and/or Great Planes now owns or has the exclusive distribution rights to the following products: OS engines, OPS engines, Super Tigre Engines, Top Flite (Aircraft Kits. Accessories, MonoKote), U.S.Aircore, Kyosho, Duratrax, Duracraft, and more. They also own the giant mail order companies of Tower Hobbies and Omni Models that have caused many local hobby shops to go out of business. Great Planes is a great source of hobby merchandise for hobby shops and making these great products part of the Great Planes "family" can result in wider availability of these products. We disagree, however, with their playing both sides of the table; They supply many hobby shops on one side, while setting prices and selling to our Customers at hobby shop killing prices on the other. If a hobby shop wants to sell these great products, we HAVE to buy from Great Planes Model Distributors!
ENYA ENGINES NOW HAS 5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY..................04/08/96
Altech Marketing, the sole importer of Enya engines, has just announced a 5 year limited warranty with one year engine crash damage protection! You MUST send in your warranty registration card with a valid sales receipt dated AFTER April 10, 1996, within ten days of purchase. Even if your aircraft crashes from 1,000 feet, eats dirt during a sloppy landing, or loses a prop in flight, it will be repaired free, including parts and labor. During the second and third years, they will repair or replace any defective Enya engine parts with no charge for parts or labor. During the fourth and fifth years, they will replace or repair any part with no charge for labor. This offer may be withdrawn at any time and the warranty is limited to the original purchaser. (Enya engines are available through TeleHobbies R/C.)Source............................................The Altech Advantage
AMA FAX-ON DEMAND.............................................04/06/96
The AMA has just announced a new FAX service for obtaining documents. With a touch-tone phone, call (800) 500-3139 and listen to the instructions. The document number for the master index is 101; membership application is 902.