Will you be hobbying more?

I know, gas prices and food prices are getting crazier. Historically, during times like these, people will nest, staying close to home and doing much less traveling, whether by car or plane. I think what is really interesting is that the more simple life is in most ways, better. Instead of searching for “excitement,” we find rewarding activities that bring us closer to our families and communities. One example, over the past few years, the number of meals that we “eat out” has exploded, yet I am not sure our quality of life has improved. My thought is that eating at home, together, is in fact a more enjoyable and happy experience. That is not to say that eating out can’t be enjoyable, but I think a lot of the time we eat out because it seems “simpler,” when it really is not simple or better.
Why is this relevant to hobbies? Well, hobbies are one of the activities that we return to when we are living to enjoy life more. Over the history of RC, plastic model building, trains, and slot cars, the interest has always been greatest in difficult economic times, when we want activities that are challenging, rewarding and can be done at home or nearby. So, I am interested to learn if you will be spending more time enjoying your hobbies over the summer. Let me know, and if possible, ask your friends to respond to this question as well. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Take good care,
Matt

Hobby People New Stuff

Since the beginning of 2008, Hobby People has been searching the world for great new products for our customers. Just in the past 12 months, we have added the VQ Models and BH Models lines of airplanes.
And now, we are proud to announce that we will be bringing in the UltraFly line of electric ARFs and accessories. Ultra Fly has been a leading maker of RC aircraft for over 15 years, and has some incredible products. We are hard at work building web pages for the new line, and you will find them at HobbyPeople.net very soon. I think this addition really adds to our electric airplane selection and will please our RC Pilots with some very cool, exceptionally high quality planes.

For all of you drivers with M8s and M11s, we just added a new Radio Case that is a perfect fit for these great Airtronics Radios.

For all of you drivers, we will have the new XTM XT2 Racer in stock in Mid May.
Additionally, we have recently received the Axial Scorpion Rock Crawler RTR and now have them in stock. Rock crawing is a hot category of RC and just keeps growing. Axial is helping to lead the way. We also have just received the very limited edition Revo Platinum Edition and have them available for sale now.

So much good stuff to make your RC experience ever greater. Check out all the great new products. The best part, is there is lots more coming. It seems like every day we are getting new products that make you really happy.

Take good care, and great modeling.

XTM XT2 & rage on youtube

Earlier in the week one of our customers mentioned seeing a video of the XTM Rage on youtube. I will admit to probably the last person on the planet to spend any time on youtube, so forgive me, but I did check out some videos of rc cars and was had some good laughs at the outrageous jumps, and driving. Mostly, it was cool to see rc in full action. I picked a really cool video that I thought you might enjoy, in it are many cars we carry, including the XTM XT2. watch here

Another great video was taken at Pegasus Hobbies on their track in SoCal. I think this is the one the poster mentioned of the XTM Rage, check it out. This little truck has been hopped up with lipos and a brushless power system and it is flying!!! watch rage here

Hope you like them as much as I do. Take good care, and don’t spend to much time watching, spend time doing, living is a verb, so get moving.

A customer called me and asked for this

This morning I received a call from a customer who said he liked my blog. He said he and his buddies liked the specials and in a “ROUND ABOUT” way, he asked for special on an electric plane. So here it is, a hot deal on the Sport Flyers Simple Stik. This is a limited stock item, and the special ends Friday or whenever we run out. This is cool park flyer and has been one of our best sellers over the past 18 months. We cannot get more, so it really is limited time. Great flying.

PS: Thanks for all the interest in the BH Spitfire and the Traxxas Revo, I am glad our special buys are appreciated. Take good care.

Reviews and more

I just saw this review about the BH Models Stik and thought some of you might want to check it out. Really nice review and confirms what we know, BH Models makes great flying ARFs. Here’s the link. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=764754

We have been very busy testing products. Craig Kaplan was testing the new 1/8 Buggy from SH out at Revelation Raceway and will be back there tomorrow doing further testing. This is the buggy that Greg Degani has been racing and winning and we should be getting a small shipment of the kit in mid-May. We will be showing the kit at RCX and hope to have Greg there as well.

Airplanes, Airplanes, and more airplanes, we have been out at the fields testing some new airplanes from BH Models. We will have many airplanes to show at RCX Russ has been using the RDS8000 in the airplanes and has enjoyed absolutely flawless radio performance.

One of the great rewards of being in the hobby industry is the opportunity to be involved in new products. Regardless of how busy we are each day, our R&D team will meet up and discuss the goings on of the hobby. Helicopters, batteries, cars, trucks, airplanes, motors, down to glow plugs, we will brain storm on ideas and reflect on comments from our customers. Ultimately, we are working to improve our customers experience and make our products more exciting. With all the hobby shows this month, it seems that we may be seeing the beginning of a resurgence in the RC, which is exciting. More kids have been at the shows and a whole lot of families looking for great activities to share. With so many newbies coming in, my team has been working on great 1st and 2nd products to make their experience successful. From the new XTM Rage to the Traxxas Brushless Rustler for Truck fans, we are bringing in more and more product to wow you. We are really passionate about the hobby and want to share our passion with you. It is a really creative and mentally challenging hobby, and we look forward to serving you real soon.

If you are looking for a great start into the hobby, but want to save $$$, I think building a plastic model is a great beginning project. Very creative, and you can almost spend as little or as much time perfecting your project. My son and I will be building a car starting this week. Great time and its cheaper than going to a movie, yet way more rewarding.

Take good care, and great modeling.

Just to see who’s reading

I know my blog is titled “life in the hobby world,” and I should be writing about the great products and events in RC, but sometimes it is a lot of fun to share a hot deal on a great product. The past 2 posts have been great sale prices at HobbyPeople.net and have essentially overwhelmed our website. It is really a lot of fun to see such interest in our promotions, so today, I am making an offer that is only for customers in our stores and who read my blog. Check out the BH Models Aero Cruiser EP ARF. This Electric ARF is now $59.99, this is a blowout price and when we are out, we are out. Thanks for reading, and if you have friends who want a great flying plane, pass it along. Take good care, and great flying.

Gas Prices, Inflation! The hobby.

So many challenging issues in the news, it gets depressing. Life is too short, and much too interesting especially with family and great activities.

At Hobby People, we know that great times with family and friends are what’s important. On April 19th and 20th we are showing at RCX, an all out great Radio Control event featuring cars, planes, boats and helicopters and so much more, see RCX.com, and we want you there. For this weekend only, we are sending an email featuring a coupon with the offer of buy 1 ticket 2nd for 1/2 off, and the coupon has to be redeemed this weekend in 1 of our 21 stores. This is a great family event! Sign up on our mailing list to get the coupon! We know that gas prices are high and all the other issues are challenging, but we at Hobby People are working to make the hobby more affordable for you and your family. We look forward to seeing you at RCX,

Back in the Seat

Sorry for the long delay in posting but I promise you I have been busy. I attended both the Nuremberg Toy Fair and the New York Toy Fair during February, as well as got hit with a terrible flu bug which I rocked my world. Traveling is both exciting and tiring, and traveling while sick is just terrible. I am finally back healthy and feeling really great.

On the show front, I can honestly say that the Toy RC has come a long way. Spinmaster showed some really fantastic product, in fact, I would vote that they are the most progressive in the toy category. Keep an eye out, as I’ll be buying some of the stuff, as I think its really hot.

As far as radio control hobbies, 2.4g radios are where its at, as every major radio company is pushing hard to release new radios in the new format. I think it is exciting and will make the hobby better for all. In cars, Traxxas is again leading the way with very affordable brushless systems in their line of trucks, and they are blistering fast. Congrats to Traxxas as it is nice to see a company taking a leading role, and they pushing the pace to be even better. XTM has just released a very cool 1/18th scale truck called the Rage, which is a winner. Very durable, fast and fun, a perfect park and backyard racer. Take a look, as the Rage rocks.

Thanks for reading, I will post again real soon.

Plastic Models

For many of our younger customers, where RC Cars/Planes/Helicopters may be a bit too great a commitment, whether it be time or money, plastic models are a great way to get into the hobby.  There are some great beginner models from Revell Monogram and Lindbergh that are easily built.  What is great about many of the snap together and easy build kits is that the builder can spend as much or as little time as they like to detail and trick out the vehicle.

I think the plastic models are the perfect introduction to RC, where the modeler has to learn to follow instructions and build detailed product so it looks right.    The skills learned with plastic models will greatly help as you move into RC.    In RC, looking good is fine, but if it isn’t built right, it wouldn’t drive or fly right, and so details really matter.

Plastics are a great solo project or, even better, something for a parent and kid to spend great time together.   It is really amazing how simply building a model can become such quality time.   Especially with the winter season beginning and cold weather hitting many regions, building models is great fun and will help to keep the TV and computer off!!!    So get building, and soon enough, you will be ready for Radio Control.

RC General

I guess I am a bit scatter brained, as I have just been reminded by a customer in our store that I have never formally introduced myself.

My name is Matt Fales, and I am the President of Hobby People.  I started this blog to better communicate some of my hobby observations, as well as to ensure that I am better connected to modelers. I get many emails from customers and I thought my conversations and answers might be helpful to others, rather than just a one on one communication that I would normally have.

I hope this helps. Please see blog from Saturday if you have questions that you would like answered on the blog.

Take good Care

Matt