Remote control cars are so 80s and are being replaced by those remote control helicopters that we see everywhere in mall kiosks.  Most of the ones out there are built with foam or thin plastic bodies to keep them light.  And we all know how they always end up with inexperienced “pilots”.  Those light foam / plastic bodies aren’t made for crashing.  That’s where Brando’s Tiny USB Rechargeable RC Helicopter comes in.  This RC helicopter has a light weight metal body composite which should survive more crashes compared to the foam / plastic RC helicopters. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy

Brando Tiny USB Rechargeable RC Helicopter Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 16, 2009 at 8:00 am.

Yay! Finally a mini radio controlled helicopter that doesn’t require you to use AA or AAA batteries to charge it. This Tiny USB Rechargeable RC Helicopter from Brando includes a chargeing cable that plugs into a regular … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Spotlight Gadgets

Tagged: RC Toy

USB rechargeable mini RC helicopter originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 21, 2009 at 12:29 pm.

When I was in the 2nd grade (back in the 70’s),  my Dad would race miniature slot cars at a local hobby shop. I remember wanting to play with these cars and not being allowed to do so. My Dad kept his collection of track and cars in a spare bedroom in the house and of course I went in there whenever they weren’t home played with the cars Ah, but that isn’t the worst of it. I actually swiped a few of them, took them to school and traded them with the boys for other toys. A teacher saw a boy with one of the cars and was sure it wasn’t something he shouldn’t have at school. The kid ratted me out and I got called to the principals office. The principal did not threaten to call my parents, but I was terrified for weeks after that whenever the phone would ring in the evenings. These memories all came flooding back as I was testing out the Micro Slot Car Basic Set that was sent to me by Brando. … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy

Takara Micro Slot Car Basic Set Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 24, 2009 at 2:30 am.

Last month Plantraco introduced a micro spitfire RC plane. This month, they bring us a 1/72nd scale Messerschmitt Fighter. I have no idea what a Messerschmitt Fighter really … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Spotlight Gadgets

Tagged: Plane, RC Toy

Tiny RC fighter plane from Plantraco originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 23, 2009 at 9:51 pm.

Remember the tiny Carbon Butterfly R/C plane from Plantraco that I reviewed two years ago? Now they are offering a 1:72nd scale Spitfire radio controlled airplane that has a wingspan of only 6 … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Spotlight Gadgets

Tagged: RC Toy, Remote Control

Spotlight Gadget – World’s Smallest Warbird originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 5, 2009 at 8:46 pm.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to play with all sorts of R/C (remote controlled) cars,planes and helicopters. I’ve even flown an
R/C UFO. But until now, I’d never controlled
an R/C submarine. But now I can say that I have, because Trend Times Toys sent me the Sub-Sonic XP R/C Submarine to review.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Remote Controlled Sub-Sonic XP Submarine Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 27, 2008 at 6:00 pm.

There are all kinds of small RC flying toys on the market these days. We’ve reviewed our share of them here on the Gadgeteer. They are fun to play with, but I really am not very good at flying them. If I take one outdoors, it ends up on the roof. If I fly indoors, I tend to crash them into walls, people’s heads, etc. Some people can fly RC toys and some can’t. If you find yourself in the same group as me, then you’ll love the Intelli UFO from Trend Times Toys. Anyone can fly this one!

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Remote Controlled Intelli UFO Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 27, 2008 at 7:30 am.

This week’s video quick look review comes from the Gadgeteer Kid. He takes a look at the Rechargeable Desktop Mini R/C Ferrari FXX Enzo car from Brando’s Toy Shop.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Video Reviews

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

The Gadgeteer Kid’s Video Quick Look at the Mini R/C Ferrari FXX Enzo Set from Brando originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 14, 2008 at 8:45 pm.

Last year at this time, I reviewed my very first RC helicopter. It was the PicooZ from HobbyTron. I guess it’s only fitting that almost one year later, that I review a step up from the PiccoZ; today I’m going tell you about the Hornet 3.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

HobbyTron Hornet 3 Series Mini RC Helicopter originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 4, 2007 at 12:50 pm.

Here’s another indoor remote controlled airplane for those of you that have problems controlling RC helicopters. This is the Aero Soarer from Takara Tomy. Brando sent one over for me to tear up. I mean play with. )

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Takara Tomy Aero Soarer RC Airplane originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 29, 2007 at 7:56 pm.

In the past 12 months, HobbyTron has
sent me several RC helicopters to review, but today I’m going to tell you about
something a little different. HobbyTron has a new offering; the Silverlit Palm-Z
RC airplane. Silverlit is the same
company that created the tiny PicooZ helicopter.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Silverlit Palm-Z Mini RC Indoor Airplane originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 29, 2007 at 7:15 pm.

HobbyTron sells a lot of really cool RC flying and driving toys. They recently sent me the BladeRunner II. I was really surprised that they would trust me with another RC helicopter as I had totally destroyed the AH-64 Apache helicopter that they had sent me earlier in the year. After I had tried it, I was convinced that RC copters were just too hard to control. I’m happy to report that this is not the case with the Bladerunner II.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Bladerunner II RC Helicopter originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 29, 2007 at 10:15 am.

If you’re a fan of tiny RC (remote controlled) race cars, you’ll have a blast with the Q-Steer from Takara Tomy. Brando sent me the Mazda RX-8 version. He carries several car types including a Hummer, Subaru, Nissan and Toyota.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Takara Tomy Q-Steer RC Race Car originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 29, 2007 at 8:00 am.

Do you remember my review of the highly popular PicooZ RC Helicopter? The PicooZ is a really small radio controlled indoor flying toy with a price tag of less than $40. I had a lot of fun with that review, so I decided to go completely nuts and try out the $300 Carbon Butterfly indoor RC airplane from Plantraco.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Plantraco Carbon Butterfly R/C Airplane originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2007 at 9:08 pm.

Every year, there are a handful of toys that end up on the holiday gift wish lists of kids all over the country. I can remember 5 years ago when it was the Bit Char-G / Microsizer tiny remote controlled cars. Even my Dad stood in line at Radio Shack to get one (for himself!). This year one of the popular toys is again a remote controlled device. But this time it is not a car… it’s a tiny helicopter called the PicooZ.

… [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

PicooZ RC Helicopter originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 11, 2006 at 5:41 pm.

What fascinates we humans so much about robots? From the menacing Gort in the
movie The Day the Earth
Stood Still, to the lovable Rosie the robot maid in the Jetson’s, robots
continue to amuse and capture our imagination. Is it that we want to use them as
beasts of burden, or as friendly companions? Whatever the reason, I’ve
personally  always
had an interest in robots and robot toys. I never had one as a … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Robosapien Robot Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 3, 2004 at 12:00 am.

You might say that I am into the import scene…

No, I am not attempting a remake of

Fast and The Furious on the deserted stretch of road near my house, I … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

R/C Microsizers – Auto Modellista & Lancer Models Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 21, 2003 at 12:00 am.

I have always loved tanks.

There is something about the treaded behemoths that gets my testosterone
running in rivers and before I know it, I am beating my fists against my chest
and grunting like Tim Allen.

So, when the opportunity came along to take a look at the Combat DigiQ series
of radio-controlled tanks, I was … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Combat DigiQ Tanks Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 10, 2003 at 12:00 am.

What makes a product popular? I’ve asked myself that question for the past
year after having posted a review of the Japanese
Bit Char-G radio controlled car. That review
continues to be one of the top 10 viewed pages on this site. It also has the
most active comment forum here too. It’s amazing that a ‘toy’ could have that
amount of popularity with adults. Because of this popularity, these little cars
are now being sold in the US under a different … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

MicroSizer R/C Car Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 27, 2002 at 12:00 am.

One of the best things about being a Gadgeteer is that I get the chance to
play with all the toys that I never had as a child. We didn’t have all that much
going up, so I’m really making up for it now. ) It also helps that I’m still a
big kid at heart! One genre of toys that I never experienced as a kid were
remote controlled cars. Back then, they weren’t wireless, they usually had a
handheld controller requiring several D cell batteries and a cord going from the
controller to the … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

DigiQ MicroIR Controlled Car Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 25, 2002 at 12:00 am.

Can you believe that I’ve never had a remote controlled toy car? Yes, it’s sad, but true… When I was a kid, I remember my Dad would go to the local hobby store to race small slot cars. I always thought they were so cool, but he didn’t have a track set up at home and wouldn’t let me play with them at the store. I also recall
pilfering a few of those cars to take to school to trade for other things (eeesh, hope my Dad doesn’t read this!). I was a little gadget monger even in 3rd grade! So, … [visit site to read more]

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: RC Toy, Toy

Bit Char-G Radio Controlled Micro Car Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 2, 2001 at 12:00 am.