Topic
Gear & Electronics
Guides and reviews focused on gear & electronics, filtered directly from the article feed.
RC Glow Plug and Glow Driver Guide: Ignition for Nitro Engines
A glow plug is a consumable heater that keeps a nitro engine firing. Here is how it works, how O.S. names its plugs, and what to carry in your field box.
RC Plane Dual Rates and Expo: Where to Set Them on Your Radio
Dual rates change how far a surface moves, expo changes how the stick feels near center. Here is where each radio hides them and which manual values make sensible starting points.
RC LiPo Battery Checkers and Alarms: Catch a Weak Pack Early
A LiPo checker reads every cell, a balancer evens them out, and an alarm warns you in the air. Here is how the main tools compare, based on maker specs.
Giant-Scale Ground Handling: Racks, Stands and Transport
Big models are heavy and awkward long before they fly. This guide covers racks, stands, field boxes, wing bags and a documented trailer rack, using maker specifications and Model Aviation articles.
RC Plane vs Drone: How to Choose Your First Aircraft
RC plane or drone? We compare learning curve, space, crash repairs, community and FAA rules, and point each type of beginner to the right starting aircraft.
RC Plane Manufacturers Guide: Major Brands and Their Lineups
Brand names on the shelf do not map to companies. This researched guide sorts who owns and makes what, what each lineup is for, and how much of each catalog is actually available now.
RC Plane Wing Bags and Storage: Protect Your Planes Between Flights
Most damage to an RC plane happens between flights, not during them. Here is how wing bags, stands, racks and DIY mounts compare, and how to match them to what you fly.
RC Plane Lights and Smoke Systems Explained
Lighting an RC plane covers navigation lights, scale effects and smoke, and each has different power needs. This guide uses maker specs and AMA documents to explain what to buy and how to power it.
RC Plane Propellers: Size, Pitch and How to Choose
Swapping a prop changes the whole airplane. This guide explains diameter, pitch, APC prop codes and RPM limits, and uses maker bench data to show how a prop change loads a motor and ESC.
RC Plane Fuel Guide: Glow Nitro, Gas Mix and Storage
Glow and gasoline engines need different fuel, plumbing and care. This guide sets out what the engine makers' manuals say about nitro, oil, octane, mix ratios, filters, storage and safety.
RC Plane Glow and Gas Engines: Sizes, Fuel and Break-In
Glow and gas engines ignite differently, burn different fuel and break in differently. This guide compares current O.S., Saito and Desert Aircraft engines using maker specs and manuals.
Gas vs Electric RC Planes: Choosing the Right Power System
Electric, glow and gasoline are three different power systems, not two. This guide compares them using manufacturer manuals, AMA noise guidance and Department of Energy fuel data, then matches each to the pilot it suits.
RC Plane Stands: Types, Sizing and Picks
A stand that fits the job protects covering, canopies and tail feathers. This guide sorts bench, field and storage stands by fuselage fit and capacity, using maker specifications and magazine reviews.
RC Turbine Engines: Models, AMA Rules and the Path to a First Jet
A real RC turbine changes how a jet sounds and flies, and how much homework it requires. This guide covers current JetCat and other engines from maker data, the AMA turbine waiver rules and the safer path in.
RC Plane Servos Guide: Types, Sizing and Linkage Setup
A servo's torque rating only matters if the linkage delivers it to the hinge line. This researched guide covers maker-listed servo specs, the torque math, and the horns, pushrods and hinges that carry the load.
RC Plane ESC Guide: Ratings, BECs and Setup
An ESC is the least glamorous part of an RC plane's power system and the easiest to get wrong. This guide uses maker manuals to explain current ratings, BECs, cutoff settings and setup.
RC Plane Flight Controllers: Gyros, iNav and ArduPilot Explained
A gyro keeps a plane steady. An autopilot knows where it is. This guide separates the two, checks current Spektrum, FrSky, Matek and Holybro hardware, and explains iNav and ArduPilot modes from their official docs.
RC Plane FPV Guide: Cameras, VTX, Goggles and Rules
Adding FPV to a fixed-wing is a four-part system plus rules. This guide covers analog and digital hardware from maker specifications, heat and power pitfalls, and what AMA and FAA documents require.
RC EDF Jets: How They Work and Which to Buy by Skill Level
A plain-English look at how RC ducted-fan jets make thrust, what 64 to 90 mm fans and 4S to 6S packs mean, and which current EDF jets suit each skill level. Built from manufacturer specs, not our own flying.
Where to Buy RC Planes: Best Online Stores, Amazon and Local Shops (2026)
Amazon, specialist retailers, eBay, local hobby shops — honest channel-by-channel breakdown so you buy the right RC plane from the right place, with parts and support.
RC Plane Transmitter and Receiver Guide: Choosing a Radio System
A researched buyer's guide to RC plane radio systems: which ecosystem to join, which protocols pair with which receivers, how failsafe works, and which transmitters are worth a look. Built from manufacturer specs and documentation as of 8 October 2026.
RC Plane Motors Guide: Kv, Power, Sizing and Real Examples
Pick the wrong brushless motor and the plane barely climbs or the motor cooks. This guide explains Kv, motor codes and ESC matching, then checks real motors against maker specifications.
RC Plane LiPo Battery Guide: Cells, C-Ratings and Safe Charging
A LiPo pack decides how long an RC plane flies and how safely the day ends. This researched guide covers label math, connectors, charging and storage rules from maker and safety documents, charger recalls, and which packs are listed in stock.