Picco Z XRotor RTF Electric RC Mini Helicopter Review

I have always wanted to have an RC helicopter or plane and I never did because I just didn’t have the room to build or fly it. If you are the same way, Hobbytron.com has a fantastic micro RC Helicopter that can fly indoors.

If you want to know how well it works, read on to find out.

Gallery

8 images

Benchmarks

If you have ever seen or built one of the RC aircraft kits that you see at the hobby store you know that it can be an ordeal. The Picco Z comes ready to fly. All you need to do is remove the Picco Z from the package, install the six AA batteries into the controller and charge the Picco Z Helicopter itself. Charge time is about 20 to 30 minutes for a full charge and the flight time is around 15 minutes.

Once you get the Picco Z charged up the first step is to trim the copter so it doesn’t rotate or turn itself unless you tell it to. This process is easy, but can be time consuming to get the trim just right. Trimming the Picco Z is done by bringing the copter into a hover, pressing, and releasing the trim buttons under the left/right control stick. Foil self-adhesive weights are also included to help you further tune the Picco Z.

Controlling the Picco is very easy, even my five-year-old son could do it (the Picco Z is for eight and up). You have two control sticks on the hand help IR controller. One controls the amount of throttle the Picco gets, which in turn controls the altitude of the copter. The other rotates the Picco left and right to control the direction it flies.

The Picco Z helicopter itself is made from Styrofoam and has a small internal electric motor that is powered by a rechargeable Li-Poly battery. The main and tail rotors are made from a very durable plastic. You also get a replacement tail rotor as well. Range for the copter is 100 feet and you can even change the IR frequency between three settings so three different Picco Z copters can be flown at once.

Flying the Picco Z is a blast. I have tons of stuff that comes through my home to the point that my family and I don’t get overly excited at most of the gear other geeks salivate over. When the Picco Z came in everyone wanted a turn from my wife to my son and my two-year-old daughter. Naturally sine this was a “work” project I had first dibs. After the charging and trim process, I set about chasing the kids around the house with the Picco Z.

It was great fun; the Picco is quite responsive even if the altitude control is very sensitive. I found myself hitting the ceiling frequently and when I backed off even a little the Picco would drop like a rock. You have to move in very small increments to avoid this. Thankfully, for as small as the Picco Z is it is very durable.

I crashed the Picco Z into just about every piece of furniture in my home from my couch, TV, and coffee table to my TV and even the ceiling fan (luckily it was off). The Picco Z dropped like a rock a few times and I was sure it would be broken, but it files just as well after all the pilot error as it did before. The coolest part about the Picco Z is that is cheap at only $39!

Verdict

Conclusion

Pros

• Cheap!
• Easy to fly
• Very durable

Cons

• Controls can be sensitive

Verdict
Overall, the Picco Z will make a fantastic gift for the holiday season for anyone from kids to mom and dad. The Picco is a blast to fly, easy to use and very durable. At $39 it is in the perfect range for Christmas giving.

What Others Say about This

Toy Fair 2012: Mattel's AppTivity hands-on preview

Matchbox cars are a childhood staple of boys and girls alike. But forget about playing with them on rugs and on plastic roadways. Matchbox cars are about to leap into the 21st century thanks to Mattel's new AppTivity line. Using an AppTivity toy requires ...
Full article at: Tecca.com  More like this  31 minutes ago

Toy Fair 2012: Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters hands-on preview

There's an emerging trend of popular social games spawning real-world merchandise, the latest of which is Mind Candy's Moshi Monsters. Launched in 2008 and claiming more than 50 million users, the UK-based online game for kids will see its creatures turn ...
Full article at: Tecca.com  More like this  31 minutes ago

Eric Sharp: Detroit Boat Show can meet your boating needs, if you know them

You'll see a lot of hull thumpers, the equivalent of tire kickers at an auto showroom, at the Detroit International Boat Show that runs through Sunday at the Cobo Center. As you might expect from an industry selling toys that commonly burn 10-30 gallons ...
Full article at: Detroit Free Press  More like this  32 minutes ago

Don't miss ...

• More Toys Stories
• I4U News Homepage