Better than PC games?

[Rockin Robbins]

Not even close! I'm an RC flier. RC planes can actually teach you something about how a real plane flies, but there are stark differences. My electric Slow Stick can take off in under six inches, point the nose at the sky and arrive at 400' 20 seconds later, climbing vertically and accelerating all the way.

Although some of the principles of flying are the same as a real aircraft, model airplanes fly too fast for scale, are grossly overpowered compared to their real counterparts. Models also react much more quickly to effects of air turbulence for planes and waves for boats. Especially with boats, there is very little you can learn about boat handling from a radio controlled submarine.

Mostly you can steam around in circles, bobbing like a cork, take her down for a few seconds and back up. I'd get real bored real quick, I'm afraid. And those models cost thousands of dollars for anything decent like the ones you see in the videos.

Did you see how those torpedoes squirted out there about 100 scale yards at several hundred miles an hour scale speed and then just petered out? In what way is that instructive, entertaining or worth the trouble?

I'm decidedly unimpressed by these models. They are great from a technical building aspect, but their operation is really crippled compared to the real thing. The range of activities that closely resemble the behavior of the real submarine is legion in simulations and can be counted on the fingers of one hand with the model.

The model costs thousands and if it springs a leak it can be junk, costing hundreds to repair. The simulation is a one-time investment of $15.00 for me and years of infinite variety and learning.

I don't think the comparison makes the model look like anything better than a Hot Wheels car compared to a real car.

Your mileage may vary!