Comprehensive Guide to LiPo Batteries Posted

Website

New to the world of LiPo batteries? It's hard to find a comprehensive guide to LiPos on the Internet - it seems like everyone has their own agenda to pursue, or they only have part of the puzzle.

For the last week or so, I've been working on an all inclusive guide to LiPo batteries. The guide is slanted toward the R/C car side a bit, but the basics are universal.

Everything you need to know about LiPo batteries in one guide? Yup, we've got that! Click here for the guide, or click here for our Support Central Information Hub. Did you know we have a Castle ESC Troubleshooting guide as well? Check it out!

Avacyn Restored on the Shelf, Mirrodin Boosters on Clearance

General Hobbies

We have the new Magic: The Gathering boosters, Avacyn Restored, on the shelf now. As always, they are priced at $3.29 per pack - the lowest price you can find locally!

Also, we have Mirrodin Besieged and Scars of Mirrodin boosters on clearance for only $2.75 per pack! Tell your friends, and stop in today. Once they're gone, they're gone!

Durtrax Brushless Motors and ESC on the Shelf

R/C Accessories

We've begun carrying the Duratrax DE-10 Brushless Speed Control and a couple of their sensored brushless motors, a 10.5T and a 13.5T. The speed control is very programmable (with the optional programming module). The speed control runs $79.99, and the motors are $59.99 each. Right now, it's just a trial run, to see if this is a product we like. If so, we will be carrying these full time.

Only time will tell if this is a good move for us, but I kinda like the idea of a sensored brushless system, purchased à la carte, for only $140.

New F4U-1A from Parkzone

R/C Air

Horizon recently announced a new take on the venerable F4U Corsair. The new version, the F4U-1A, will be available in both Plug-N-Play ($199.99) and Bind-N-Fly ($269.99) formats. Both will feature a 15-size brushless motot and 30A speed control, bolt-on drop tanks, multiple decal sets, optional flaps, and optional 90° rotating retracts. The Bind-N-Fly will include a Spektrum AR600 receiver, 3S 2200mAh 25C LiPo battery and DC charger as well.

Look for these two warbirds to fly onto shelves in late July or early August.

Proline Toyota Tundra SCT Body Announced

R/C Accessories

Calling all Toyota fans! For the longest time, only Chevy and Ford had been represented in the short course body club, leaving both Dodge and Toyota on the outside looking in. but last week, Dodge just got lonelier, because Proline announced a new Toyota Tundra body for short course vehicles. It will retail at $41.95. No word on release date yet, but we'll have one as soon as they are available.

If Toyota isn't your thing, you can stop in and check out our other short course bodies on hand. We have a respectable selection from Proline, JConcepts, and HPI on the shelf. And if you don't find anything you're looking for, we can order one in for you at no additional cost! Stop in today!

It's Roger's Birthday!

Store

It's Roger's birthday today! He wouldn't want me to tell you all how old he is, but I'm sure he'd appreciate some birthday wishes! You can leave a birthday message in the comments, or head over to our Facebook page and tell him there!

Happy Birthday, Roger! Great looking pic there - I didn't know pink was your favorite color! Heh heh heh. ::wink::

Toledo Trip 2012 Pictures Up

Website

I got the pictures up from our trip to Toledo! You can check them out here. Some great products were at the show this year, and we snapped some pictures of most of them.

I will attempt to post my traditional Toledo Trip Wrap-Up Blog Post sometime in the next month. I really want to get my ideas sorted out to they make sense first. So look for that to be posted to our store blog soon.

Habu 2: Retract Ready EDF

R/C Air

There were a number of people that voiced their disappointment that the original Habu had been discontinued. So they will probably be thrilled to hear that the Habu 2 has been announced.

Like many of ParkZone's recent releases, the Habu 2 will support optional retracts and flaps, in addition to its standard 4-channel controls. It will be available in the Bind-N-Fly Basic format, requiring a Spektrum or JR DSM2/DSMX transmitter, a 4S LiPo battery, and charger for said battery. Look for the Habu 2 to be be priced at $299.99, and be on shelves mid-June 2012.

Blade 130X Comin' At Ya in June

R/C Air

They say there are only two constants in life: death and taxes. I think we can add a third item to that list: a new Blade helicopter coming out every few months. Last week, Horizon announced the new Blade 130X collective-pitch helicopter. After seeing it at the Toledo Show, I am stoked for this to come out.

It features a brushless main motor, a shaft-driven tail with variable-pitch tail rotor, and a killer paint scheme. It's going to be available only in Bind-N-Fly mode, and will sell for $279.99. Look for this to hit shelves late June 2012.

Follow Us on Twitter for Toledo Show Updates

Store

Roger and I are headed down to Toledo for the Weak Signals Trade Show today! I'll be taking pictures and uploading them to our Twitter account, @rogershobbyshop. Make sure to follow us on Twitter for all of the cool new products and info about the show!

Rim & Tire Sale thru 4/14/12

Store

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner... sort of. Okay, we have two months until summer is offically here, but you can celebrate it early with a new set of rims and/or tires for your radio control truck or car! Now through April 14th, all rims and tires are 25% off the retail price. This won't work with already marked down merchandise. As an added bonus, just like previous sales, this discount applies to in-stock rims/tires, as well as special orders!

Click here for the sale details. It's already been a great beginning to 2012 - now get some new rubber on your truck and have some fun!

Mlive Article - RHC is buying GM Towers

Store

MLive journalist Ari Prolof forwarded me this article that he wrote. It isn't on MLive yet, but I wanted to break the news myself! We're expanding our operations in a big way! Click here to read the article!

And just in case you didn't pick up on it... Happy April Fool's!

ARRMA on the Shelf, Rebates in the Mail

R/C Cars

Thsi isn't exactly news to some, but we currently have some Arrma vehicles on the shelf here at the store, as well as a store demo for us to play with. I plan to do a review on the Granite monster truck soon. I can't promise we will carry these long term - and if we don't we won't be stocking parts for the Arrma trucks either. But nothing is written in stone yet.

Also of note in regards to the Arrma vehicles is a mail-in rebate promotion currently on going. Most of the vehicles have a $35 rebate attached to them, making these truck very affordable. Stop in and check them out today!

MiG 15 Ultra Micro EDF Launching in April

R/C Air

E-Flite has an exciting new Ducted Fan airplane coming out in April. It's the swept-wing MiG 15 fighter, and it has a wingspan of 16.2". That's right, it's an Ultra-Micro EDF (Electric Ducted Fan)! It features the AS3X Stabilization technology, and is the first micro EDF motor system put out by E-Flite. The airplane has full four channel control, a 2S LiPo, and a high-power 11750Kv brushless motor.

The MiG 15 will be available in the Bind-N-Fly format for $169.99. As mentioned above, it's due out in late April.

Ultra Micro Spitfire Mk IX Set to Soar in May

R/C Air

Last year, Parkzone came out with a completely re-designed Spitfire Mk IX, featuring optional retracts and a great, scale look. Now they've announced a pint-sized version of one of the most loved warbirds of WWII. THe new Ultra-Micro Spitfire Mk IX is equipped with the latest in AS3X stabilization hardware and the same great scale looks of it's big brother.

It will be available in the Bind-N-Fly format for $99.99, and is set to soar into stores late May. This airplane will be a big hit, so pre-orders are welcome. Make sure you get yours first!