AT A GLANCE
MODEL
Rare Bear
MANUFACTURER
VQ Warbirds (vqwarbirds.com)
TYPE
Sport scale Reno Racer
WINGSPAN
80 in.
PILOT SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate
ASSEMBLY TIME
8 to 12 hours
RADIO REQ’D
6-Channel (with 8 servos)
POWER REQ’D
30cc—60cc
PRICE
$549.95
Today, we see a lot of the same ARFs at the flying field. Yes, there are times when something new and different shows up, and that’s thrilling, but in today’s less-time-tobuild world, it’s all the more refreshing to see something exciting. I am always on the lookout for unique and outright cool ARFs, and the impressive Reno Racer Rare Bear from VQ Warbirds is just that type of plane. I’ve always liked the Grumman Bearcat, but not its basic, Navy blue paint job. So when I discovered the Rare Bear, it really caught my attention. A fun scale plane of a popular warbird turned racer, this version is not often modeled. The gang at VQ Warbirds picked the beautiful orange and purple version of the racer, and does that ever light up in the sky! It doesn’t require a lot of time to build and it comes with that impressive color scheme straight out of the box. Let’s take a closer look.
UNIQUE FEATURES
I was taken by the colorful design and the accuracy of the model. What pleasantly surprised me was how closely the fiberglass parts, like the cowling, match the rest of the plane. Also, the panel lines on the wings and hatches complement the plane’s detailed appearance. I was happy to see the flush-fitting hatches for the aileron and the flap servos. Even the inside of the wheel wells are finished in light Aircraft Gray. Again, it’s a small detail, but it looks so much better than bare balsa wood. I love the convenience of being able to remove the large cockpit hatch and have all the switches installed on the inside. This keeps the airplane clean and more scale looking. The cockpit comes with the pilot already installed, and a good-looking instrument panel is included.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Legend Hobby / Seagull Models - Cessna Grand Caravan 208
The Cessna Grand Caravan 208 is a legend in aviation circles. A single engine utility aircraft that punches up with capabilities that rival many twin engine aircraft in its class. Its seemingly simple configuration belies its near extreme utility.
PROPER CG LOCATION FOR AEROBATICS
If you are getting into aerobatics and are starting to perform more advanced maneuvers, it is time to discuss ways you can not only become a better pilot, but how you can also improve the flight characteristics of your airplanes.
Legend Hobby 13-Foot L-19 Bird Dog/ Cessna O-1
This famous multi-mission single engine observation aircraft served from 1950-1974. From calling out target locations to providing intel/recon information, the Bird Dog was a valued asset in both the Korean War and Vietnam.
EARN YOUR WINGS
10 Tips for First-Flight Success
Old School Model Works Fifty Six
The Fifty Six takes its design cues from the original .09- to .15-size Carl Goldberg Falcon 56 of the 1960s. Reworked to incorporate modern, lasercut techniques to make kit building better than ever.
FLYING TWINS Multi-engine warbirds made easy
Let’s face it, there’s just something extra special about twin-engine RC aircraft. Most modelers stop what they’re doing when a twin fires up on the flightline.
HOW TO BALANCE PROPELLERS
Four easy steps to increase performance and reduce vibration
PRODUCT REVIEW: RC PLANE STANDS BENCHTOP MODEL
I’m a sucker for shop stuff. I buy tools I will probably never use just because they are cool, or I might need to use them someday. When Glen from RC Plane Stands reached out about a review, however, I knew as soon as I browsed their website that I would be receiving something I would use a lot, maybe even daily.
SPIRIT OF RHINEBECK AWARD WINNER
A close up of Norman Malinowski’s 1/3-scale Albatros
CENTER OF GRAVITY BASICS
The secret to a plane that flies well
BIN LADEN DEATH RAID STOPPED NEW 9/11!
SEAL team found plans to take out jets, trains & ships
Do the U.S. Navy's Aircraft Carriers Still Rule the Seas?
USS Gerald R. Ford steams in the Atlantic Ocean in 2019. The newest U.S. aircraft carrier cost a hefty $13 billion to develop
CHRISTOPHER FISHER
In October 2021, Christopher Fisher, a 26-year-old, Texas-born endurance athlete living in Breckenridge, Colorado, climbed a whopping 400,332 vertical feet in one month. That’s the equivalent of summiting a 13,000-foot peak from sea level every day for 31 straight days. It’s likely a world record, too (he’s submitting it to Guinness), and maybe just a bit, well, crazy. Here’s what Fisher had to say about the feat.
How I Became One of 37,000 Homeless Veterans
Service in the Navy was supposed to guarantee a good civilian job later and access to needed medical care. It didn’t
LESS ACTION, MORE SPEED!
SAVAGE’S NEW STRAIGHT-PULL BOLT ACTION ALLOWS FOR FASTER FOLLOW-UP SHOTS.
Not Your Average Space Cadet
NASA astronaut and former Navy SEAL CHRIS CASSIDY never shies from a challenge. Here’s how he stays tenacious.
No Matchy-Matchy Allowed
Pattern play adds interest and fun to a bedroom.
Butterfly Collection
Colorful butterflies gracefully fly across this throw-size quilt. Did you know they can fly at speeds of up to 30 mph?
HELLCAT VERSUS CORSAIR
GRUMMAN TEST PILOT FLIES THE COMPETITION
THE ART OF ROGER KASTEL
An American artist, most famous for creating the poster for the film Jaws