Hirobo
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese RC model
company best known for their line of high-quality radio controlled helicopter models, both nitro
-powered and electric. Its parent company is Hirobo Limited.
The company was founded October, 1949 as textile
machine manufacturer Hiroshima
Spinner, Limited. In 1957, the company partnered with Nichibo Company to form Hiroshima Synthetic Fiber Spinners Limited, today known as Unitika
Limited. The name change to Hirobo Limited came about in 1970; the electronics division was established in April, 1973. Production of radio controlled models began in July that same year. By October, 1977, the company had completely withdrawn from the textile market.
In 1983, Hirobo attempted to put their expertise in helicopters to use in the production of 1/10-scale, four-wheel-drive offroad buggies. Beginning with their innovative 44b off road car, which was the first to feature a four wheel drive
system.
The results were the technologically advanced Alien Mid4, Jealousy and Invader, and not forgetting the Ashura, the only belt-drive 4wd 1/12 circuit car ever produced. All featured a 4x4 system operated via a Gilmer belt
, an innovation nearly unheard of at the time; most 4x4 cars of the period used a noisy, power-robbing metal chain to transfer power to the front wheels. Despite their advances, Hirobo cars were very expensive and therefore limited their exposure to racers. They were also often plagued with poor build qualities and the use of cheap materials, the other factor of their failing are, distribution in the important North American market was weak as well, all that leading to Hirobo's withdrawal from the RC car market.
Hirobo continues to be a leader in helicopters of all price ranges, including coaxial-bladed indoor Sky Robo
helicopters in both radio controlled and tethered configurations.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese RC model
Radio-controlled model
A radio-controlled model is a model that is steerable with the use of radio control. All types of vehicles imaginable have had RC systems installed in them, including cars, boats, planes, and even helicopters and scale railway locomotives....
company best known for their line of high-quality radio controlled helicopter models, both nitro
Nitromethane
Nitromethane is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest organic nitro compound. It is a slightly viscous, highly polar liquid commonly used as a solvent in a variety of industrial applications such as in extractions, as a reaction medium, and as a cleaning solvent...
-powered and electric. Its parent company is Hirobo Limited.
The company was founded October, 1949 as textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
machine manufacturer Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
Spinner, Limited. In 1957, the company partnered with Nichibo Company to form Hiroshima Synthetic Fiber Spinners Limited, today known as Unitika
Unitika
Unitika Ltd. is a Japanese company based in Osaka, Japan. Primarily, the company produces various textiles such as glass, plastics, and carbon fiber products. They are also known for their films, which are used in consumer products like athletic apparel and food packaging...
Limited. The name change to Hirobo Limited came about in 1970; the electronics division was established in April, 1973. Production of radio controlled models began in July that same year. By October, 1977, the company had completely withdrawn from the textile market.
In 1983, Hirobo attempted to put their expertise in helicopters to use in the production of 1/10-scale, four-wheel-drive offroad buggies. Beginning with their innovative 44b off road car, which was the first to feature a four wheel drive
Four Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
system.
The results were the technologically advanced Alien Mid4, Jealousy and Invader, and not forgetting the Ashura, the only belt-drive 4wd 1/12 circuit car ever produced. All featured a 4x4 system operated via a Gilmer belt
Gilmer belt
Gilmer belt is a trade name for a type of belt used for transferring power between axles in a machine. The belt itself has ribs on the inner side to engage special pulleys mounted to the axles....
, an innovation nearly unheard of at the time; most 4x4 cars of the period used a noisy, power-robbing metal chain to transfer power to the front wheels. Despite their advances, Hirobo cars were very expensive and therefore limited their exposure to racers. They were also often plagued with poor build qualities and the use of cheap materials, the other factor of their failing are, distribution in the important North American market was weak as well, all that leading to Hirobo's withdrawal from the RC car market.
Hirobo continues to be a leader in helicopters of all price ranges, including coaxial-bladed indoor Sky Robo
Hirobo XRB Sky Robo
The Hirobo XRB Sky Robo is a ready-to-fly radio-controlled micro-helicopter designed, manufactured and distributed by Hirobo Limited of Japan. It is similar in design and execution to the Megatech Housefly, Venom Air Corps Ocean Rescue and Walkera RC-54.Introduced in 2004 and modeled after a...
helicopters in both radio controlled and tethered configurations.