Air Hogs Sky Winder

Grade: F

"The Air Hogs Skywinder is a big & hefty plane that promises to be very fun, but in reality, it simply isn't. It takes too long to charge on its unnecessarily heavy charging station, doesn't get enough altitude or turn fast enough to even attempt a normal flight in a reasonable area, and gives you very little time to practice with its fast-discharging battery. Fortunately it doesn't break easily when it crashes, because crashing is all I was able to accomplish. To make matters even worse still, the Skywinder has been recalled for a burn hazard. Evidently the charger has faulty a safety circuit and can overcharge the plane, causing the battery to overheat badly or even vent the toxic chemicals inside. "

You can read the full story in the Sky Winder Review.

XPV Super Terranator

Grade: B-

"The XPV Super Terranator has its ups and its downs. Off-road it does very well. It's almost completely waterproof and thus can go through some mud or hard-packed snow without any danger to the electronics, which is a real plus for drivers who like to get their vehicles dirty. On the street, it is very fast in a straight line and can do donuts better & faster than anything in its class, but turning at speed is challenging and can lead to spinouts & damaging rollovers. In all, it's a tough, powerful vehicle, but can't really be driven to its extremes. "

Read more in the XPV Super Terranator review...

New Bright Hummer H3 1/6th scale

Grade: C+

"The New Bright Hummer H3 1/6th scale looks great and on pavement or level ground, it's very fun to drive. Younger kids in its age range in particular will enjoy it, especially because of its size and realistic sounds. If you want a rough & tumble truck to go offroading with, though, this isn't the truck for you. On minor inclines and over modest bumps, it can easily get stuck and the motor really isn't powerful enough to propel it around at good speed. "

Read more in the New Bright Hummer H3 Review...

New Bright Nissan 350Z 1:6th scale

Grade: B+

"The New Bright Nissan 350Z 1/6th scale is a pretty good deal for the sheer amount of car you get. The inclusion of all the batteries you need plus a charger adds a lot to the value, and the attention to detail is really pleasing. The sounds make it even more fun still. Handling on the road is great. I only wish the car had a little more speed!"

Read the full New Bright Nissan 350Z review...

Radline RC stadium truck

Grade: C+

"The complexity of the chassis is very advanced, and every part can be disassembled and changed individually. The manual shows an exploded view with part numbers for even every individual screw, so you can order replacements or see how to disassemble things for maintenance. There are a number of performance upgrades available, plus you can exchange parts between the three models... What I worry is that kids young enough to appreciate the stock speed are going to experience breakages too frequently and have trouble working with the complex and tiny parts, while kids old enough to want more performance are going to be frustrated by the excessively flexible plastic & really imprecise construction. "

Check out the extensive Radline RC review on RC Mania, complete with tips and videos.

Tyco Sky Force

Grade: A+

Synopsis: "The Sky Force system is a brilliant idea. I think the only drawback is that the thin styrofoam wings & fuselage can be bent easily if you crash hard or don't store them out of harm's way, and once they bend, they're pretty much ruined. The flip side to this is that Tyco made just the fuselage & wing sets available in $9.99 two-packs -- very cheap replacements! Also great is that if you have two kids wanting to fly at the same time, perhaps one younger than the other, one can fly the RC while the other plays with the glider. The planes fly very nicely as gliders, too, so it's a win-win situation. I think the Sky Force planes are a really great deal and can be fun for all ages. "

Read more and see the video in the Tyco Sky Force review!