The 45th All Japan Plamodel Radicon Show a.k.a. Tokyo Hobby Fair is one of the two bi-annual hobby trade fair in Japan. This fair previewed the latest products that will be released in the coming year. This particular fair spanned four whole days from 21st to 24th September, 2005, and take venue at Tokyo Big Sight instead of the usual Makuhari Messe. Anyway let's take a look as to what's new and different.
Please note that all photos in this pages are the copyright of Hirobo Limited and Mr. Kobayashi and duplication of ANY photos contained here without their express consent is strictly prohibited.
OS, riding on their domination at the 2005 FAI F3C World Championship, officially introduced the 91 SZ-H Ring engine. It featured a complete new design base with a new twin-needle 10.6mm big bore 60M-C carburetor and a big blue heat sink head similar to the SX-H pump engine.
Technical data of the OS91 SZ-H as follows:
Displacement:14.95cc
Bore:27.7mm
Stroke:24.8mm
Practical r.p.m.Range:2000 ¡ã16000rpm
Output:3.3ps / 15000rpm
Weight:605 g
Futaba did not have much new items on display. Shown is the new FX40, which is the European "tray type" version of the T14MZ. Also is a new low end 6 channels radio set 6EXHP, some new small servo for the now very popular electric powered aircrafts, and a multiplexer unit for those who think 14 channels is not enough.
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| Futaba FX40 radio | Futaba 6EXHP radio |
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| New small servos | MPDX1 multiplexer unit |
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| MPDX1 multiplexer unit | New servos |
For Hirobo, they have quite a few new update helicopter kit products.
The Shuttle Plus 2 is an update of their very successful Shuttle Plus, now targeted at the low end market. The new Shuttle Plus 2 now includes new parts of tail gearbox and swashplate control for better precision, while keeping price at a minimum. At this moment the Shuttle Plus 2 only comes in ARF version, while the kit version will be offered later.
Freya Evo OP is an upgrade version of the Freya Evolution that includes several option parts as follows:
The suggested list price is 176,400yen (About US$1,400).
The Eagle 3 also have a second version that had its tail driven by belt. The belt drive version is not a replacement of the original Eagle 3, but offers as alternative for pilots who could choose either belt or shaft driven tail.
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Shuttle Plus 2 |
Shuttle Plus 2 new swashplate control assy |
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Shuttle Plus 2 new tail gearbox |
Eagle 3 WC belt drive version |
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Freya Evo OP |
SSZ-III rotor head |
On scale side, Hirobo released an updated Schweizer 300, and a FRP Hughes 500D fuselage for Sceadu.
As usual, on display are Hirobo's very successful mini XRB and the XRB SR (Wireless XRB). As with the past show, Hirobo have a little demonstration area for the XRB and the XRB SR, and that area has been visitors' magnet. The V2 XRB now comes with a wire control that have digital display, and have optional bodies of Bell 222 and Airwolf. Also on display is a prototype body of Robinson 22 for the XRB.
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Hughes 500D for Sceadu |
Schweizer 300 |
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XRB V2 |
XRB Airwolf |
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XRB Bell 222 |
XRB Bell 222 |
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XRB Robinson prototype |
XRB Airwolf |
JR domination of the 2005 FAI F3C is seen at display at JR booth. JR proudly displayed the World Champ trophy at their booth. Its ironic that, while JR and Hirobo booth are very near together, it take quite some distance to transfer this trophy from Hirobo to JR....
While this year most of JR displayed helicopters are electric ones. Once again JR display their their new "mini" class electric helicopter, the Parkmite. JR designed the Parkmite as "the Cadillac of mini electric helicopter", as everything of it is either metal or carbon. The main frame is a one piece machined aluminum item that encased everything, much like the Sylphide. The rotor head, swashplate and washout are all metal. A set of carbon main and tail blades are included. Power is transferred from the engine to a very big gear than via a belt to the tail, and it looks like a Henseleit in miniature.... Control is through 120 degree 3 servo ECCPM. While JR did not demostrate the flight of the Parkmite at the show, I think it should have a very good performance for 3D. In addition, JR released a Parkmite power pak that includes motor, Li-Ion battery, ESC and charger.
Also displayed is an updated version of the Voyager E, called Super Voyager E. The new version features new carbon stacked frame design, and powered by the now very popular brushless motor / Li-Ion combo. Also shown is an electric version of their Airskipper EP.
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| JR Parkmite | JR Parkmite |
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| Parkmite power pack | Parkmite control pack |
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| Super Voyager E | Super Voyager E |
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| Super Voyager E | Super Voyager E main frame |
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| Super Voyager E rotor head | Super Voyager E ESC |
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| Airskipper EP | Airskipper EP main frame |
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| Airskipper EP rotor head | ¡@ |
The rumored 16 channel new JR radio is not displayed....but
JR displayed some new digital micro servos, that targets to the now very popular electric powered aircrafts. The new micro size G170 gyro, with the new DS362, DS382, and the micro size RS77S PCM receiver completes a package for any micro size electric helicopter.
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| JR G170 micro gyro | JR DS382 micro servo |
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| JR DS362 micro servo | JR RS77S micro receiver |
Kyosho displayed quite some "prototypes" at their booth...
On display is their Caliber 5 first debut in May 2005 Shizuoka Show.
A prototype Caliber 90 is displayed. It now uses top slung flybar type rotor head, but gone is the box type design frame evident of the original Caliber line.
Some prototype scale bodies for the Caliber 400 EP is also shown.
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| Kyosho Caliber 5 | Kyosho Caliber 5 |
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| Kyosho Caliber 5 rotor head | Kyosho Caliber 5 |
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| Kyosho Caliber 5 servo frame | Kyosho Caliber 5 main frame |
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| Kyosho Caliber 90 prototype | Kyosho Caliber 90 prototype |
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| Kyosho Caliber 90 prototype mainframe | Kyosho Caliber 90 prototype rotor head |
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| Kyosho Caliber 400 EP | Prototype Apache body Kyosho Caliber 400 EP |
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| Prototype R22 body Kyosho Caliber 400 EP | Brushless motor option for Kyosho Caliber 400 EP |