RC (Remote Control) is Hot

Give an RC Toy This Year

Tue. Mar. 09, 2010

RC (remote control) technology allows us to make cars, planes, trains and other 'toys' do what we want them to do - from a distance, and from a little black box held in our hands.

RC toys are hot this year, and no doubt there is at least one person on your gift list who's wishing for 'something' remote-controlled under the tree.

#1 Hottest
Tyco R/C N.S.E.C.T. Robotic Attack Creature - 49 MHz - Blue
This remote control robot looks like a weird cross between a tank and a tick. It has six legs, glowing eyes, and snapping jaws in front. The best part, though, is its Gatling gun-style missile launcher. At the flip of a glowing red switch on the remote, the launcher pops up from under its hard, wing-like cover. You can use the right trigger to shoot the missiles off one at a time or fire all six automatically in under five seconds. You can even shoot while the N.S.E.C.T. is moving. The missiles travel up to 20 feet because they are made of light foam with soft, suction cup tips and weigh .07 ounces each. This makes collateral damage to heirloom china unlikely. The pincher-like "power claw" in front can grab and hold some objects. We were able to drag an empty coffee mug around the floor by its handle, but the N.S.E.C.T. didn't have a deep enough grip to go around the mug itself. Controlling the N.S.E.C.T. is pretty easy; it can move forward, reverse, and can do both moving turns and stationary pivots. N.S.E.C.T. is loads of fun, but be prepared for the fact that its battery needs a good five hour charge before any fun begins. N.S.E.C.T. comes with the remote control, a NiCd battery pack and charger, a 9 volt battery for the transmitter, and basic instructions. --Porter B. Hall
$59.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 24 hours

#2 Hottest
Tyco R/C AirBlade Hovercraft 27MHZ
For those remote control vehicle buffs who have grown weary of cars and airplanes, the Air Blade hovercraft is sure to liven things up! This amazing vehicle has the unique ability to float on air and make contact with the ground in order to produce high speeds and tight turns. When air is drawn into the top grille of the vehicle, it becomes pressurized and is then directed out the three bottom air pods. The hovercraft actually floats along the ground on a cushion of air. Players pilot the craft by moving the controls on the transmitter so that the two rear air pods tilt, rotate, and touch the ground. The hovercraft works equally well on (or over) land, snow, or water, as long as the "terrain" is relatively smooth (no pebbles, powdery snow, choppy water, shag carpeting, etc.). The Air Blade is a sleekly designed vessel, with slick graphics and racing stripes
$39.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 24 hours

#3 Hottest
Tyco R/C N.S.E.C.T. Robotic Attack Creature - 27 MHz - Green
This remote control robot looks like a weird cross between a tank and a tick. It has six legs, glowing eyes, and snapping jaws in front. The best part, though, is its Gatling gun-style missile launcher. At the flip of a glowing red switch on the remote, the launcher pops up from under its hard, wing-like cover. You can use the right trigger to shoot the missiles off one at a time or fire all six automatically in under five seconds. You can even shoot while the N.S.E.C.T. is moving. The missiles travel up to 20 feet because they are made of light foam with soft, suction cup tips and weigh .07 ounces each. This makes collateral damage to heirloom china unlikely. The pincher-like "power claw" in front can grab and hold some objects. We were able to drag an empty coffee mug around the floor by its handle, but the N.S.E.C.T. didn't have a deep enough grip to go around the mug itself. Controlling the N.S.E.C.T. is pretty easy; it can move forward, reverse, and can do both moving turns and stationary pivots. N.S.E.C.T. is loads of fun, but be prepared for the fact that its battery needs a good five hour charge before any fun begins. N.S.E.C.T. comes with the remote control, a NiCd battery pack and charger, a 9 volt battery for the transmitter, and basic instructions. --Porter B. Hall
$59.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 24 hours

#4 Hottest
Tyco R/C AirBlade Hovercraft 49MHZ
For those remote control vehicle buffs who have grown weary of cars and airplanes, the Air Blade hovercraft is sure to liven things up! This amazing vehicle has the unique ability to float on air and make contact with the ground in order to produce high speeds and tight turns. When air is drawn into the top grille of the vehicle, it becomes pressurized and is then directed out the three bottom air pods. The hovercraft actually floats along the ground on a cushion of air. Players pilot the craft by moving the controls on the transmitter so that the two rear air pods tilt, rotate, and touch the ground. The hovercraft works equally well on (or over) land, snow, or water, as long as the "terrain" is relatively smooth (no pebbles, powdery snow, choppy water, shag carpeting, etc.). The Air Blade is a sleekly designed vessel, with slick graphics and racing stripes
$39.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 24 hours

#5 Hottest
Tyco Pro FlexPak Battery Pack and Charger
$49.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 1-2 business days

#6 Hottest
Robo Pet
$41.97 Click here to order Usually ships in 1-2 business days

#7 Hottest
Star Wars Internet Exclusive Republic Commando Delta Squad
$33.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 1-2 business days

#8 Hottest
Tyco R
The innovative Tyco TMH Flexpak system features a unique, flexible design that allows it to be used in a variety of Tyco radio-controlled TMH vehicles (it is not compatible with other 6.0-volt or 9.6-volt ni-cad battery-powered vehicles). The charger plugs into any standard 110/120-volt outlet and can fully charge a Flexpak in just 4
$49.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 1-2 business days

#9 Hottest
Air Hogs RC Dominator
While the Airhog plane is indisputably powerful with its simple pump-up engine and undeniably fun with its tremendous flying range and height, there has always been the small matter of trying to keep the plane from getting away and ending up lost in trees, neighbors yards, busy roads, or bodies of water. The planes are great but essentially uncontrollable and, unless you live in, say, the desert that can sometimes be a bit of an issue. Fortunately, the Dominator (love the name) features some basic controls, letting the pilot on the ground steer the craft up, down, left, and right. As RC planes go, it's not the most easily guided but the rudimentary controls should be sufficient to guide the plane along a relatively safe path. The manufacturer claims it can fly up to 300 feet and the plane's body is fairly solid though still made of Styrofoam and therefore inherently fragile. The cool black styling makes it look like a spy plane. --Charlie Williams
$39.95 Click here to order Usually ships in 1-2 business days

#10 Hottest
Flip 'n Spin RC safari SCOUT 49 MHZ
$23.33 Click here to order Usually ships in 24 hours

#11 Hottest
9.6V Turbo Battery Pack/Charger
Every aficionado of radio-controlled vehicles knows how expensive perpetually replacing disposable batteries can be. There is a better way. Tyco's Turbo Premium ni-cad Battery Pack and Charger for 9.6-volt R/C vehicles allows up to 1,000
$13.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 24 hours

#12 Hottest
Flip 'n Spin RC Safari Scout 27 MHz
$21.14 Click here to order Usually ships in 24 hours

#13 Hottest
Bratz Kidz RC Scooter w/ Yasmin
$29.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 24 hours

#14 Hottest
Hot Wheels RC Monster Jam-Grave Digger - J6973
$15.09 Click here to order Usually ships in 24 hours

#15 Hottest
Hopper-Fly, Orange, 27MHz
$89.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 1-2 business days

#16 Hottest
Crash Kit:BCP
$18.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 1-2 business days

#17 Hottest
Blade CX RTF Electric Coaxial Heli
$169.99 Click here to order Usually ships in 1-2 business days

#18 Hottest
Radio Control Mini Camaro Muscle Car
$17.95 Click here to order Usually ships in 1-2 business days

#19 Hottest
Rokenbok Control Pad
Each Rokenbok command deck (included in Rokenbok starter sets) will support up to four of these Control Pads. To avoid squabbles, one pad is needed for each player--but any one pad can control up to eight vehicles. These cleverly designed handsets steer and move a very responsive vehicle using only one thumb for control and are quickly interchangeable between vehicles. The Rokenbok construction system, of which the Control Pad is a key part, incorporates a vast array of snap-together construction modules, as well as radio-controlled vehicles and other snazzy motorized widgets. You can create a loading zone in which one truck dumps plastic balls into a hopper; a freight elevator raises them into a chute, and you can then dump the balls into a second truck by reversing it with a switch. Detailed building plans are included, though they are not as easy to follow as you might hope. The constructed sets are probably too fragile for use around younger siblings but are endlessly expandable. --Richard Farr
Click here to order This item is currently not available.

#20 Hottest
Silverlit PicooZ RC Micro Helicopter
Click here to order This item is currently not available.

Even 'big kids' like RC collectibles and memorabilia.