The ArduCopter 3DR Quad Kit with Electronics includes everything to build your own quad UAV, except radio gear and batteries. Directions are easily downloaded, and assembly is relatively painless; just take care to put thread-locker on all screws, and balance the props. A wiki walks you through the Mission Planner software, firmware installation, and calibration of the APM board, sensors, and speed controls.

In autonomous mode, the ArduCopter takes off, follows GPS waypoints, and lands unassisted. In manual mode you fly it by the remote and make it hover (“loiter”) by flipping a switch. The DIY Drones community is there to help and they’ll push you to expand — add video or use a ground control station to wirelessly upload new coordinates — so you’ll never tire of your ArduCopter.

In the water, the sub looks incredible and dives, surfaces, and turns just like the real thing! Great for beginners and advanced hobbyists alike. Expect to finish it in a week or so (although the manual says it can be done in a weekend, which isn’t likely).

The machined aluminum, carbon fiber, and plastic parts ensure a rigid, stable airframe capable of precise 3D aerobatics. The electronics (servos, speed control, brushless motor, and gyro) are perfectly suited to the copter, so most pilots won’t want to upgrade. Simulator training or prior experience is highly recommended before flying.

The vinyl balloon can be decorated with paints or computer-cut graphics, which is perfect for sporting events, trade shows, or just for fun.

Add a few coins for ballast, and you can fly the blimp indoors with precision by using a gentle hand on the controls. In flight it looks amazing, just like a smaller version of the real thing.

RC4WD’s Killer Krawler is one of the biggest such models in the world. At 1/5 scale, it has a fully CNC-machined aluminum chassis, an articulation angle of 90°, nearly 6 inches of center ground clearance, and an over 22-inch wheelbase.

As with all crawlers, this one is four-wheel-drive, with locked differentials. It has two motors, one on each axle, aka MOA (motor on axle). The gears, along with everything else on this beast, are all billet aluminum, so it’ll withstand anything you can throw at it. The 30:1 gear ratio ensures high torque for precise crawling. Two ESCs (electronic speed controllers), two motors, a radio system, servo, and a battery are required to complete this kit.

The giant scale of the chassis kit makes it attractive as a potential robotics platform, able to handle extremely rough terrain and big enough to carry a truckload of sensors and hardware. RC4WD has hundreds of options and parts to choose from — wheels, tires, chassis, shocks, axles, transmissions, and electronics — to help you easily customize a truck of your choice.