R/C Sources
Local Hobby Shops
There are currently no R/C hobby shops in Waterloo or Cedar Falls.
McCumber's R/C Hobby House in Waverly, IA carries R/C cars, helicopters and drones. Check their web-page or phone 319-352-1867 for hours as they have limited hours of operation.
A biggest selection of R/C equipment in Iowa is at Hobby Haven in Des Moines, IA - Phone 800-697-1213 to order - one day delivery to Cedar Falls - Hobby Haven is a full-service hobby store that carries Horizon Hobby, E-flite, SIG and several other product lines.
HobbyTown USA in Cedar Rapids, IA is a full-service hobby store with R/C aircraft, craft & hobby supplies, puzzles and games. You can check store inventory online. There's also a HobbyTown located in Ankeny, IA.
SIG Manufacturing based in Montezuma, IA makes and distribute R/C aircraft kits & ARFs, fuel, bulk balsa and R/C accessories. Sig products can be purchased online or from a SIG retailer. You can also purchase items at the factory in Montezuma and save shipping costs.
Flite Test
Flite Test was started in a garage in North Canton, OH by a group of guys passionate about flight. They built inexpensive electric airplanes and drones and posted some really fun videos on YouTube. They now sell airplane & drone kits and everything necessary to get an R/C aircraft into the air.
References
Online Sources of Aircraft Information
National Model Aviation Museum - at AMA Headquarters
History of Model Aircraft Engines
Radio Control Hall of Fame - Early RC Equipment
Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics - NASA website
Online Stores
These full service online stores carry a wide range of R/C products.
- AirBorne Models - Livermore, CA - US distributor for The World Models - Hong Kong
- Banggood - Hong Kong & Ontario, CA - Chinese Drones & Electronics
- Esprit Tech Models - Melbourne, FL
- Gator RC - Algonquin, IL
- Graves RC - Orlando, FL
- HobbyKing - Hong Kong & Portland, OR - products from China
- Horizon Hobby - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
- Maxx Products - Mpi brand - Lake Zurich, IL
- Motion RC - Cary, IL
- Radical RC - Dayton, OH
- Tower Hobbies - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA - a division of Horizon Hobby
Note: When ordering from Banggood or HobbyKing, you can specify warehouse location. When ordering from overseas, your order can take anywhere from one week to several weeks due to shipping times and US Customs clearance. Ordering from a US location has normal shipping times of one week or less.
R/C Aircraft
Note: ARF = Almost Ready to Fly - EDF = Electric Ducted Fan Jet
- AirBorne Models - US distributor for The World Models - Livermore, CA. Note: The World Models can be purchased at HobbyTown USA or Hobby Haven in Des Moines.
- AJ Aircraft - Aerobatic ARF airplanes - Monroe, MI
- Chief Aircraft - Aircraft & Accessories - Grants Pass, OR and Deland, FL
- Extreme Flight - includes 3D Hobby Shop - Cumming, GA
- Fan Jets USA - EDF Jets - Granger, IN
- Flex Innovations - Aircraft & Accessories - Venice, FL
- Gator RC - Seagull, TopRCModel & VQ Warbirds - Algonquin, IL
- Horizon Hobby - Aircraft brands include E-flite, FMS, Hangar 9, HobbyZone, Top Flite, Blade and Park Zone - also available from Tower Hobbies - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
- Motion RC - RC Foam Aircraft including EDF Jets - Cary, IL
- Northwest RC - Extreme Flight partner for West Coast - Puyallup, WA
- SIG Manufacturing - ARFs & Kits - Fuel - Bulk Balsa - Montezuma, IA
- Tower Hobbies - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA - a division of Horizon Hobby
- Twisted Hobbys - RC Foam Aircraft & Accessories - near Port Charlotte, FL
- Legend Hobby - VQ and Seagull Aircraft & Accessories - Bryan, TX
- West Michigan Park Flyers - RC Foam Models - near Grand Rapids, MI
- ZigiRC - online US retailer for Phoenix Models - Oklahoma City, OK
Engines, Parts & Fuel Systems
Engines & parts
- DA Engines - Desert Aircraft gas engines for giant scale aircraft - Tucson, AZ
- Horizon Hobby - DLE, Saito and OS engines - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
- Mike Goes Flying - SH engines, Magnum parts - Victorville, CA
- Model Engine Company of America - MECOA - Engines & Parts for many brands including K&B, Fox and Cox 049 - Irwinedale, CA
- RCEXL - R/C gas engine accessories - ignition systems, spark plugs, Opto kill switches - Jinhua City, China - RCEXL does not sell direct - sold by several retailers in the US.
- Tower Hobbies - DLE, OS and Saito engines - a division of Horizon Hobby - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
- Zenoah by Husqvarna Zenoah Co. Ltd - Saitama, Japan - gas engines for giant scale - sold by several retailers in the US.
Bearings
- BOCA Bearings - Boynton Beach, FL
- RC Bearings - Castle Rock, CO
- Avid Racing Concepts - Denver, CO
Fuel & Smoke Pumps
- Mpi Fuel Pump - Manual & Electric
- Ohio Superstar - Dave Brown "Six Shooter" manual fuel pumps
- Slimline Products - Manual & Electric Fuel Pumps - Fuel System Accessories
- Sullivan SmokeWriter Smoke Pump - Pumps and Buna-N Nitrile tubing for smoke fluid
- RCEXL - Smoke Pumps - RCEXL is in Jinhua City, China and does not sell direct. Search the Internet for "RCEXL Smoke Pump" to find a US retailer.
Fuel Tanks
- Model Engine Company of America - MECOA - Hayes Fuel Tanks & Engine Mounts
- Home N Hobby - Pre-plumbed Transparent Fuel Tanks & other products made in China but shipped from Florida
Fuel Dots - used to plug the fuel fill line on the airplane
- DU-BRO - Wauconda, IL
- Horizon Hobby - Great Planes & Hangar 9 brands
- Also available on Amazon.com and eBay.com
2-Cycle Oil - mix into gas for gasoline engines
- AMSOIL Dominator Synthetic 2-Stroke Racing Oil - available in Cedar Falls at Blaine's Farm & Fleet and DR PowerSports
- Klotz R/C Modelube Gasburner
- Red Line Two-Stroke Racing Oil - available at O'Reily Auto Parts
Stripped Glow Plug & Engine Repair - Lee Custom Engines
no web site or email - see ad in "MA Marketplace" in Model Aviation magazine
Lee Custom Engines
10112 Woodward Ave.
Sunland, CA 91040
Phone: 818-352-3766
R/C Electronics, radios & servos
Battery Chargers
Revolectrix - formerly FMA Direct - Frederick, MD
Batteries
Batteries America - All battery types and adapters - Sauk City, WI
Buddy RC - LiPo batteries - Glacier, Gens ace and Tattu Brand - Columbus, OH
Electro-Dynamics - A123 battery packs and accessories - Livonia, MI
ProModeler - All battery types and adapters - Sanford, FL
Radical RC - A123 single cells & battery packs - Dayton, OH
Taildragger RC - A123 battery packs - Park City, KY
Electronics
Tech-Aero-Design - Ignition Battery Eliminator for gas engines
Radios - Transmitters & Receivers
Spektrum
Futaba
Hitec RCD - includes MultiPlex
FrSky - Taranis brand
Cal Orr - conversion & repair of antique Kraft radios
Servos - There are many online stores selling servos
ProModeler - Servos, Motors and Electrical Components (Sanford, FL)
Servo City - Hitec & Futaba and servo extensions
Sound Systems
Model Sounds Inc - Engine and Gun sounds
Wiring & Switches
Booma RC - Mechanical & Smart Switches
Electro-Dynamics - Ultra-Switch, Wiring, A-123 Batteries & Lighting Systems
Hanson Hobbies - DIY Wiring & Connectors
Maxx Products International - Mpi - Wiring Extensions, Y-harness, Switches, Voltage Regulators and more
R/C Hardware
Bomb Release - RC bombs, not real bombs!
Adam Bomb - by Dymond USA - similar to the original Vortac bombs - Monroe, NC
Aero Accessories Bomb Release - bomb not included - Port Saint Lucie, FL
E-flite Servoless Bomb Release - bomb not included - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
Cowls & Wheel Pants
Fiberglass Specialties - parts for kits & plans - Garfield, AR
Fasteners
RTL Fasteners - owned by an RC pilot
Micro Fasteners
K&J Magnetics - Neodymium rare earth magnets
Hardware
Du-Bro - a wide range of RC products
Sullivan Products - Electric Starters, Fuel Tanks, Push Rods and more
Robart - Fuel Systems, Control Horns and Wheels
Pilot Figures
Aces of Iron - 1/8 to 1/3 unpainted Scale Pilot Figures
Best Pilots - will custom make a pilot figure that looks like you!
Slimline Xtreme Pilots - painted 1/6 or 1/7 scale
Warbird Pilots - 1/6 to 1/3 scale -- options for servo controlled head
Williams Brothers - Unpainted Pilot Figures, Dummy Engines & Machine Guns
Retractable Landing Gear
Robart - Air and Electric Retracts
Schulman Aviation - Electric
Scale Parts
ScaleRcParts.com - 3D printed decorative parts for scale aircraft
Spinners
- Tru-Turn - Aluminum Spinners, Prop Nuts & Hubs and Adapters
- Vortec Spinners - Dave Brown Products -
Wheels, Floats & Snow Skies
- Ohio Superstar - Tail-wheel Assemblies & Tires
- Robart - Wheels and Struts
- Seaplane Supply - CNC cut foam floats
- Nitro Planes - foam and fiberglass floats
- Maiden Model Products - aluminum snow skies - Wayzata, MN
R/C Building Supplies
Adhesives & Sealants
Bob Smith Industries - CA & Epoxy glues - Atascadero, CA
Foam-Tac - flexible foam adhesive by Beacon Adhesives - Mount Vernon, NY
UHU por - flexible foam adhesive - Baden, Germany (can be purchased on Amazon or eBay)
ZAP by Pacer Technology - CA & Epoxy glues - Ontario, CA
422C - Silicone Conformal Coating by MG Chemicals - Ontario, Canada (protect ESCs and receivers from moisture) - available on Amazon
Caddy & Tool Racks, Magnetic Latches, Ammo Box Racks
Retro RC
Carbon Fiber & Foam
The Composites Store
ACP Composites
RC Foam - Foam & Carbon Fiber
Covering Material
Coverite - sold by Tower Hobbies - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
Flite-Metal - 0.0018 inch thick self-adhesive aluminum for replicating a full size aircraft finish
Horizon Hobby - Brands include Top Flite MonoKote and Hangar 9 UltraCote - Champaign, IL & Ontario, CA
Oratex - the same stuff that's used on full-size aircraft
SolarFilm - Solartex, Solarfilm, Solarkote, Solarspan - located in the UK, but available from a few retailers in the USA
Fasteners
RTL Fasteners - owned by an RC pilot
Micro Fasteners
K&J Magnetics - Neodymium rare earth magnets
Graphics
Callie Graphics - custom graphics for R/C models
B&E Graphix - stock and custom vinyl graphics
Plastics
High Tech Plastics