FMS 80MM Dassault Rafale

[SanExup]

Like politicians, we can count on honest reviews and idealism until the money starts flowing and the debt is owed. From that point on, it's all salesmanship. Then they can't find enough amazement, adjectives and adverbs, or yippees, to describe how incredible (insert new model here) this thing is!

[radfordc]

I don't think that's what Cap. Moron was getting at. The old saying, "You can tell more from what someone DOESN'T say than from what he said", applies here. Rich is trying to be as diplomatic as he can (for reasons that are obvious to most people) and of course, he's being a "pitch man" for the company where the products came from. You can tell when something isn't a good or desirable thing, he doesn't say anything or he says it in such a way as to redirect what he really thinks about it. You can also tell a lot from the tone of what he says. It's like listening to and watching a politician on TV. It's got nothing to do with being "stretched thin".

As long as you understand that he is "selling" more than "telling" and take most of his hyperbole with a grain of salt you should be OK. I made the mistake of jumping on the E-flite Su-30 based on his reviews (you know...greatest plane to ever fly, etc, etc.). Turns out there is a lot to not like about the Su-30 that he didn't mention. Wish I had done more due diligence first.

[Evan D]

I agree. I've even seen people say they fly great during the unboxing. Then there are those here on line that say the same with reference to the real aircraft and physics or other models.

[kallend]

He didn't say holy smokes enough. Perhaps the flight time was so short he only got a few in.

I actually wish the "reviewers" would do a fourth or fifth flight review. Where we.can see the strengths and weaknesses of the given plane. Instead of the initial unveiling maiden flight of a new product to showcase.

It's like the written reviews of planes that say, "this plane is the best plane I've ever owned, I can't wait to take it fully out of the box fly it for the first time."

Uh, fly it for a day, then tell us what you think...

I wouldn't call them reviewers - they are infomercial hosts.

And just because someone has a slick video editor and a Youtube channel does not imply that he is knowledgeable about R/C modeling.

[radfordc]

I actually wish the "reviewers" would do a fourth or fifth flight review. Where we.can see the strengths and weaknesses of the given plane. Instead of the initial unveiling maiden flight of a new product to showcase.

It's like the written reviews of planes that say, "this plane is the best plane I've ever owned, I can't wait to take it fully out of the box fly it for the first time."

Uh, fly it for a day, then tell us what you think...

Exactly! I watched a "review" video of a maiden flight. Less than 15 seconds into the flight the reviewer was raving about the flight characteristics. Just stupid!

[Mtpisgah99]

I kinda think that no seller would do much about that (sticker blister). MRC “might” do something like send you a new wing, but I would be doubtful. If it were my plane and I get nowhere with the seller, I would take a tiny pin and poke a hole in the middle of each individual bubble and massage the air out. If it sticks back down, done. If it doesn’t stick, then I’d use a hobby iron (not too hot) and give a bit of an iron.

i just want to tell Horizon Hobby (FYI) the airplane issued. however, getting contacted with Horizon Hobby is very hard. i think its MOTION RC fault. MRC spoiled us (me) by getting answered and expedite the product problems right away. anyway, i know how to fix that bubble. i started fixing it and i stop to take a picture, it was worst than that picture attached. OHH, WELL. i'd get another one from HOBBY ZONE (good customer service so far) as a back up airplane. will deliver this friday, ordered it on monday and ($30 less @ chkout vs horizon hobby total $) fast service!!!!!

Dear Your Hobby Zone order HZ-********** is complete and has shipped. Here are the tracking numbers: Track my package ********** Thank you for your business!

Return Policy: Examine the contents of your order immediately and let us know if there is a problem. Complete details of our return policy are listed on our website. Returns will not be accepted without an RMA number. If a package has been damaged in shipping or if you have received defective merchandise, please contact us for further instructions. Our address is HOBBY ZONE, 7171 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. You can contact us by phone at 888-953-9663 or by email at info@hobbyzone.com.

[xviper]

got mine. i tried to email Horizon Hobby about big (nickel size) bubble in the main wing yellow sticker but keep telling me website/email not working, try again....WTF. that's the different bet. MRC and horizon hobby. MRC good customer service. horizon hobby sucks.

I kinda think that no seller would do much about that (sticker blister). MRC “might” do something like send you a new wing, but I would be doubtful. If it were my plane and I get nowhere with the seller, I would take a tiny pin and poke a hole in the middle of each individual bubble and massage the air out. If it sticks back down, done. If it doesn’t stick, then I’d use a hobby iron (not too hot) and give a bit of an iron.

[Mtpisgah99]

got mine. i tried to email Horizon Hobby about big (nickel size) bubble in the main wing yellow sticker but keep telling me website/email not working, try again....WTF. that's the different bet. MRC and horizon hobby. MRC good customer service. horizon hobby sucks.

[RudyD54]

🙌 mine has shipped!

[xviper]

On RCG there is a reported Raf shipped from HH...

I'll wait for a "proper" and realistic review (as opposed to the promotional reviews, aka - informercials, we've seen so far) from you and other real world users before jumping off the fence.

[Evan D]

On RCG there is a reported Raf shipped from HH...

[xviper]

Agreed - FYI to anyone how does not know:
It had been a while since I ordered from MRC but when I preordered the Gripen. I changed my mind about it and decided to cancel (Still hadn't arrived on the boat). This is when I found out that you can not cancel an order, even a pre-order. This was not the case earlier. You can ship it back, no problem, but I'm not sure about who pays for shipping. So, be sure you want the pre-order or whatever you're ordering. In contrast to HH, mrc takes you money even before it ships but at least they are upfront about it. With mrc at least they don't charge state sales tax (I prefer to pay mine when I do my taxes).
Between COVID and the post office castration, things are really jacked in the supply chain. I've given up on ever finding 2 of my orders. This was before the post office issues related to the election.

Re: Motion pre-orders ......................................... This must be something new. I pre-ordered the OV-10, cancelled it a few weeks later, got a full refund on my CC. This was during the height of the Covid-19 thing and finances were a bit up and down. When my finances got better, I ordered the OV-10 again.

[barron06]

Absolutely a good thing they do that...

Agreed - FYI to anyone how does not know:
It had been a while since I ordered from MRC but when I preordered the Gripen. I changed my mind about it and decided to cancel (Still hadn't arrived on the boat). This is when I found out that you can not cancel an order, even a pre-order. This was not the case earlier. You can ship it back, no problem, but I'm not sure about who pays for shipping. So, be sure you want the pre-order or whatever you're ordering. In contrast to HH, mrc takes you money even before it ships but at least they are upfront about it. With mrc at least they don't charge state sales tax (I prefer to pay mine when I do my taxes).
Between COVID and the post office castration, things are really jacked in the supply chain. I've given up on ever finding 2 of my orders. This was before the post office issues related to the election.

[xviper]

My virtual modeling account pays for vaporware.

[kallend]

At least that's one good thing about a Horizon pre-order. Your money stays with you till they actually have the product to send out. I really hate paying up front on pre-orders months ahead of time of shipping and I won't do it anymore.

While this is true, the money has already been withdrawn from the virtual modeling account that I keep in my head. So canceling the Rafale pre-order allowed me to spend money on the F-15 and Hawker Hunter.

[Evan D]

Absolutely a good thing they do that...

At least that's one good thing about a Horizon pre-order. Your money stays with you till they actually have the product to send out. I really hate paying up front on pre-orders months ahead of time of shipping and I won't do it anymore.

[xviper]

Yes, we've watched you go from wanting one plane to another to another and back and forth... 🤣

"But I must have internet feedback on my decisions so I know I'm doing the right thing. That's why I post pictures of my plate of food on Facebook and beg for everyone to "subscribe" to my YouTube channel because I need the validation."

[xviper]

I’ve thought about cancelling, but as Horizon hasn’t charged me yet I’m just hanging on. I really hope it’s not a total slug. I’m happy with the Gripen stock performance and hope it’s at least somewhere near that.

At least that's one good thing about a Horizon pre-order. Your money stays with you till they actually have the product to send out. I really hate paying up front on pre-orders months ahead of time of shipping and I won't do it anymore.

[kallend]

Yes, we've watched you go from wanting one plane to another to another and back and forth...


As many have said you can probably reorder it when it comes in since so many have cancelled their order.


FreeWing/ Motion hasn't been any better with their updates on delayed items either...

Well, the Gripen was announced after the Rafale, but I've had mine since last year and have already had a bunch of flights on it. The Gripen TV was backordered, but I've had that installed for a month and have flown it already. The ArrowsRC F-15 and Dynam Hunter were also announced long after the Rafale, but I've flown my F-15 and the Hunter is ready to go after an extensive "kitbash" into a different mark (Mk 3).

I understand the cause of shipping delays, but the Rafale is way out of line with the others.

[Evan D]

Yes, we've watched you go from wanting one plane to another to another and back and forth...


As many have said you can probably reorder it when it comes in since so many have cancelled their order.


FreeWing/ Motion hasn't been any better with their updates on delayed items either...

So what the hell happened to the FMS Rafale .I have given up on it ,cancelled my order and instead order a Freewing Gripen .Think FMS have shot them self in the foot with this Rafale