MBP Sling Shot

I've always loved building and making things from scratch because there's a type of satisfaction you can only get from saying "I built it myself." Even when my creations end up less than perfect, I'm still rewarded with that satisfaction fix. But like most folks today, I'm not above indulging in a little instant gratification now and then. Sometimes, I want fast; sometimes, I want fun. When I picked up the ready-to-run MBP (Model Boat Products) Sling Shot, I had a feeling that the fast fun was about to begin, and I wasn't disappointed! The box contained a complete boat and even a battery and charger!

WHAT YOU GET
Like a lot of small, ready-to-run boats, the Sling Shot does not really look scale, but MBP certainly put real effort into its finished look. The aerodynamic, molded plastic body is nicely dressed out in red and blue decals, and it has a sporty looking driver figure under a clear canopy. Behind the driver, the canopy is black, effectively concealing the electronics.
You have a choice of three hull colors: yellow, silver or purple. Each color of hull is preset for a specific radio-channel frequency. This way, you can buy more than one Sling Shot and run them together without worries of interference.
Given the Sling Shot's modest price, I was impressed to see all that's included: you get a rechargeable 6-cell 900mAh NiMH battery pack, an AC battery charger, a 2-channel, stick-type FM radio, and a comprehensive instruction booklet.

GETTING READY TO RUN
The first thing I do when I buy something new is read the instructions. I know it isn't very adventurous, but it has always worked well for me. I'm glad I did this because I discovered the Sling Shot's battery pack comes from the factory with a partial charge. This is done for a couple of reasons; first, it allows you to make sure that the radio and the boat's electronics are working properly; and second, running the battery down completely prepares it for accepting a full charge.

After installing the antenna in the radio and loading it with 6 AA alkaline batteries (the only thing not included), I opened the black rubber cover that allows access to the boat's electronics compartment. It's a small space but everything fits inside perfectly. The servo is mounted on a small shelf at the very rear, and the receiver is mounted on the side of the servo with Velcro®. I made sure that the boat's on/off switch was set to off, connected the battery pack and placed the Sling Shot on the provided Velcro® mount. The red and green LEDs glowed brightly when I turned on the radio, telling me my batteries were good. Then I turned the power switch on, turned the boat upside-down and hit the throttle. The spinning prop indicated that everything was operating properly. I moved the rudder trim lever to center and checked to make sure it was straight; I then keyed the rudder left and right several times. Everything on the Sling Shot worked perfectly! Like the instructions said, I ran the prop until the motor would not run. As I put the battery on the charger and set a timer, I wondered whether I would be able to find some water that was not frozen. Did I mention that I ran the Sling Shot in January ... in New England!?

The Sling Shot is really fast yet responds to control input smoothly and with surprising precision.

On the water

The day was sunny but freezing, so I bundled up, loaded my fully charged Sling Shot into my car and set out to find open water. All the usual running places were frozen or had too much ice to safely run the Sling Shot. I wanted fun, not a broken prop! I was becoming very discouraged, but as I started to head home, I thought of one more place to try. My luck turned, and I found a large public lake that was frozen only at one end. It had an acre or more of open water. Yes! I turned on the electronics, did a quick range-check and placed the Sling Shot on the still water. I eased the throttle forward, and the Sling Shot slid smoothly out. What a beautiful sight! It sat on the water and moved out like a much larger boat. After a few gentle circles and figure-8s, I felt confident with the controls. I aimed for open water and hit the throttle. I should have kept a closer watch on the pair of swans I was sharing the lake with. They had slipped in close without my noticing, and the Sling Shot zoomed between them! They didn't seem to mind as it raced back and forth across the open water. The Sling Shot has a lot of power for its size, and while I ran it on calm water, I'm confident a little chop would not present a challenge. It's amazingly agile and has such a tight turning radius that I can easily see it being run in a swimming pool.
As the sun dropped, so did the temperature. When I crashed the Sling Shot into a half-submerged picnic table, I knew my cold fingers could no longer be trusted at the controls. The Sling Shot wasn't hurt, and I was satisfied. I saluted the swans and headed home. The only problem I encountered was hardly a problem at all. The screw that attaches the antenna to the hull was just loose enough to allow the antenna to flop around. A small dab of silicone glue made for an easy fix.

WRAP-UP
Not only is the Sling Shot a sharp-looking little craft, but it's also well built and comes with all the high-quality components necessary to get you out of the house and onto the water. It is an excellent choice for beginners, yet its outstanding performance and handling will satisfy more experienced boaters, too. At $90, it won't break the bank, so why not try the Sling Shot? It's fast. It's fun.

Model Boat Products;
distributed by Global Hobby Distributors
(714) 984-0827;
globalhobby.com.