The Tyco Mini Typhoon 2 is radio controlled hovercraft manufactured by Taiyo of Japan, and released onto global markets in 1991.
Smaller is better?
It is the miniature version of the larger Tyco Typhoon 2, and one of the few cases where the miniature version keeps the 9.6V of the original, though it does have less sophisticated control functions than the full size model however you may not notice the difference at first.
Those differences are:
- Controller does not have a switch for the main fan, so as soon as you turn the vehicle on, it will start blowing its skirt and hovering. Personally I don’t find this to be a big deal, though others may.
- There is some difference with how the rear fans work, which can make them less effective in smaller areas. What the exact differences are seems to depend on who you ask, however the general consensus is always that they're slightly less effective than the full size versions. Thanks to @casethecorvetteman for pointing this out.
- Smaller lift motor. As a smaller model, the lift motor is also smaller which can be an issue in some conditions. Indoors? Maybe not so much. On water? Definitely.
In any case, the Mini Typhoon remains my personal favorite, simply due to the majority of functionality being there, in a smaller and more convenient size.
Performance
The Mini Typhoon II retains the full 9.6V Turbo battery pack in the front, and is only slightly slower at 12-13km/h (vs 15km/h for the full scale), so you won't really notice much of a different in immediate performance.
Of course, everybody whose 'driven' a hovercraft knows that these don't behave like regular vehicles attached to the ground. It's more like being on ice skates when your only directional control is blowing your mouth in different directions... still, there's a certain charm to these toys that undeniable.
Availability and Collectability
In our opinion it's probably the best hovercraft Taiyo / Tyco created, as it does almost everything the larger one does, in a convenient, compact size.
They were sold in large numbers, so finding a decent one in a box isn't impossible, or if you're just looking to get just the vehicle itself, they're easily obtainable - check the eBay listings on the right column!
I can't find a commercial for Mini Typhoon 2, so here's the regular Typhoon 2 commercial for now!
