Which Mag
 

Which magazine do read and why?

RE: Which Mag
 

none of them because they are just one big ad

RE: Which Mag
 

"R/C Reports" Fewer ads, Honest reports and some humor. Who could want more?

RE: Which Mag
 

None of them, other than MA. I don't believe MA is trying to do much other than inform me. RCU--as in the forums--provides most everything a person needs in terms of knowledge. Once you learn to use the search well, you'll have more information, opinion, and experience at your fingertips than any magazine can provide.

"Reviews" are not to be trusted. That very much includes RCU's official reviews.

RE: Which Mag
 

I subscribe to Fly RC, Backyard Flyer, and Model Airplane News. Each of them occassionally has good useful articles hidden in between the ads and the typical "Greatest Plane Ever" reviews. Besides, reading piles and piles of glossy ads can even teach you something once in a while.

I enjoy reading Model Aviation every month, I think the AMA does a good job presenting balanced monthly content.

I just recently subscribed to Carsten's "Flying Models" and I think that it might be my favorite of the whole bunch. I find that Flying Models covers a nice variety of topics and focuses more on scratch-built and unique projects rather than simply reviewing the latest assembly line offerings from Hobbico and Horizon.

RE: Which Mag
 

The AMA ragmag. Why? 'Cause it's placed in my mailbox every month.;)

RE: Which Mag
 

My favorite is Flying Models. Model Aviation is pretty good. I also get Control Line World, which is fairly new and rapidly inproving. I have a fair library and just bought some early Flying Models mags off ebaY to fill in some gaps. I have a fair collection of Aeromodellers and Model Aircraft magazines in addition to the usual USA magazines. Stunt News is the PAMPA SIG newsletter, and I enjoy it very much.

RE: Which Mag
 

"Opinions" should not be trusted either.

As an RCU reviewer, I take personal offense to remarks like this.

Take a look at this review and tell me that it is not trustworthy

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=765]Nitromodels P-38[/link]

RE: Which Mag
 

I subscribe to Model Airplane News and Flying Models.

RE: Which Mag
 

Only r/c mags I find worthy of reading regularly are Model Aviation and Flying Models. Both cover all aspects of model aviation and actually have design/build articles, instead of just ARF reviews. When they do review a product, both of these publications will tell you if they encountered deficiencies.

RE: Which Mag
 

R/C Report: Good magazine; straight skinny. Who could ask for anything more?

DaveB

RE: Which Mag
 

RC Report. It's the only print magazine I've ever read that runs "no holds bared" reviews. I've seen him publish reviews that had a printed conclusion of "there are better products out there, this one has too many flaws" right next to an ad for that product. Gordan doesn't let advertising money dictitate what we will or will not say.

Also, RC Report runs the most in depth reviews you've ever seen. Computer radio reviews often run 10 pages or more to cover all the features (and mis-features and mistakes, and and and) in there. Same with model reviews. Nothing gets glossed over.

The columns are also longer than in many mags, so the authors cover how-tos on a lot of things, and they really know what they are talking about. Plus they have some coumns that are pretty cool Ed Moorman's column, for example, is great for pilots who want to learn new tricks and bits of acrobatics and things you won't find elsewhere. (Ed also is a frequent poster here on RCU).

RCR also has a level of humor that isn't common in printed magazines, though I suspect it's a love it or hate it kind of thing.

disclaimner, I don't work for RCR, but I did have a review published there once. Which was kinda neat, actually. Gordan was very blunt in telling me that I better not gloss over anything, that it should be written like I was telling my friends about the product and not try to please the manufacturer or him or anyone else.

RE: Which Mag
 

I read model airplane news, it is a pretty good magazine. They do offer alot of arf material, but when you work 60 a week have 2 small children and yard work, who has time to build? They also offer tips for the beginer pilot on things like takeoff, landings, crosswind landing and basic aerobatics. Then building tips and tricks for the experienced pilot as well. I realize that the electrics are coming on strong in our hobby, I just wish they wouldn't focus so much on them when it comes to reviews. Maybe there isn't much new in the nitro or gasser releases, but that is when they should reprint articles on the basics for the new generation entering the hobby. Having read other mags from the news stand, I still feel it's a good publication.

RE: Which Mag
 

Without a doubt, RC Report. They give it straight. They tell you the +'s and -'s in every review. However, I do enjoy Model Airplane News and the AMA magazine, too. But, If I had to pick one, it would be RC Report.



Jim

RE: Which Mag
 

I actually find RCU reviews "Right on the mark" and as far as magazines I like RC report

RE: Which Mag
 

I subscribe to both FlyRC and Model Airplane News. I do alot of traveling and enjoy having these with me on planes, in hotels, etc. Keeps me "connected" with the hobby when I'm away and might not have internet access. One thing to keep in mind, these magazines don't seem to ever offer a negative review. It does appear that they are driven by ad revenue ...

If you enjoy reading about new products and an occational event or "how-to" article, then these products are great. If you are after a "balanced" opinion you might want to look elsewhere.

I am intrigued by R/C Report and may have to check that out.

-MA

RE: Which Mag
 

I don't believe that RC magazines are completely without integrity, but the reality is that many publishers tend to take a "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" approach to keep their advertisers happy. I think that only positive reviews get published because that keeps everybody happy. If a product sucks, you simply won't see it reviewed anywhere.

A savvy RC shopper can read between the lines. Last summer Hobbico came out with a new sailplane called the Upstar 2M EP. It looked like a fantastic value; a 2M electric sailplane with motor, speed controller, and battery all included for $89.99. Just add 2 standard servos and your receiver, and you've got a sailplane. The only problem was, nobody anywhere reviewed it. A new Hobbico product that nobody wants to review?

Finally word started trickling out on the forums, the Upstar was a turd with motor/esc problems and a tendancy to come out nose heavy after assembly. I haven't seen much about this plane anywhere, but nothing I've ever read about it has been good.

If the plane is good, the reviews will come pouring out. If the plane is awful, all of the magazines and review sites will pretend that it doesn't exist. It's what shall from now on be known as "the Upstar effect."

RE: Which Mag
 

"The Upstar Effect"

I like it Ed ;)

RE: Which Mag
 

I don`t care to much for any of the Mags, Seems everything is geared toward electric , nothing wrong with electric, just not dirty enough for me.
My best resource of information has been RCU . And like Ed said, once you learn to read between the lines , your good to go when it come to judging new products. It`s called the Upstar Effect. lol, How true.

RE: Which Mag
 

If you can borrow a copy of R/C Report I suggest you do it. That is how I learned about it.

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Thanks villa. I checked out thier web-site . Reminds me of the old HotRod mags. Maybe the LHS has them. Thanks for the info.

RE: Which Mag
 

...Upstar Effect :D

Well said!

RE: Which Mag
 

That's unfortunate, Mike. If you dislike me saying that RCU's "reviews" are generally product placement advertisements, feel free to try changing my mind. Heck, even in Ken's 2.4ghz 9303 review he says "JR has hit a home run by taking their industry leading X9303 2.4 radio and adding the benefits of the new 2.4 Ghz Spread Spectrum technology to it, making this radio the gold standard in 9 channel Spread Spectrum RC systems." Correct me if I'm wrong, but how can there be a "gold standard" in a one-horse race? That particular fact wasn't mentioned.

Take a look at this http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=826 and tell me that's not a brochure. "Get out today and GET ONE!" I wonder if any of the copy was written by the manufacturer?

I think this is one of my favorites. http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=826 Leonard apparently got the ARF with "90%" of the assembly done, and never even flew it himself. He comments on the comments of the two people who flew it for him.

Sorry, but RCU reviews are a sham. You've said yourself that a person should read between the lines. Pardon me, but isn't a person supposed to be reading the review, rather than reading between the lines? Candor counts.

I'll take the consensus opinion of people with nothing to gain over RCU "reviews" any day. Please, tell me that I'm wrong in that. I doubt you can do it with a straight face.

RE: Which Mag
 

How about the Hanger 9 Rapter review ? Minnflyer found a weak spot in the fuse which lead to Hanger 9 addressing the issue.
Reviews are just some ones opinion and it doesnt take long to see thru the company ones.
I`ve used Mike reviews many times to get the right information I need. And he has always helped me when I`ve asked . Both he and RCKen have spent a lot of their time helping others. I wonder how many of us have used the covering video or the LT40 build log or PM`ed one of them for advise ? I`d be a little PO.ed myself.

RE: Which Mag
 

"Read between the lines" is an expression, and I will admit, a poorly chosen one.

I am not going to say something is bad because I don't like it - that's an opinion. If it's bad, I'll say it's bad.

"Go out and get one"... Have you seen that thing? It's a really great flight box. Just yesterday I was carrying my heavy box out to the car and was thinking, "I should get one of those slimline boxes" I saw them in 2006 at Toledo and I was VERY impressed.

Read my nitromodels P-38 review and tell me I'm "Advertising"

If you can read that and say that I put a "Spin" on it, then you're imagining things.