This is supplied in a moulded polystyrene foam tray which is enclosed in a cardboard box. A neat touch is that the frequency crystals and pennant fit into a recess at one end of the tray which is visible through a hole in the box. No chance here of the frequency on the box label being different to what is supplied.

Along with a transmitter and receiver you get three 'MS-X6' servos with hardware packs (see our recent review of the 'mc3010'), a switch harness with integral charging socket, a 4 cell 600 mAh Nicad battery pack, charging leads for the transmitter and receiver packs (terminated with banana plugs, no charger supplied), a pair of crystals with numbered pennant amd a 48 page A5 instruction manual in English.

As with the 'mc3010', there is a substantial plug and socket between the switch harness and the battery which ensures a minimum voltage drop and also makes it impossible to bypass the switch.

The receiver is designated 'Micro7', has 7 channels and is certainly small at 55 x 30 x 15 mm (2.16 x 1.18 x 0.59 inches). All the servo sockets are at one end with the aerial exiting at the other end. The crystal plugs in the side. The case is in two parts held together by simple clips, making it very easy to take apart - a mixed blessing.

Futaba type servo sockets are incorporated in the receiver case, while the plugs on the servos are JR type. This was also true of the 'mc3010'. In this writers opinion, this is not acceptable. Apart from the lack of polarisation, JR plugs are smaller than the Futaba type and this arrangement does not properly support the plugs. In a vibration environment, this could cause bad contact or even ejection of the plugs. Closer investigation reveals that the case does actually have a vestigial representation of the chamfer incorporated in JR plugs to polarise them. However, the difference in size of the plugs is so great that the JR plugs can be inserted either way around!

The manual is very well written and covers everything well. In common with just about every other R/C equipment manual, it tells you how to program the transmitter rather than how to set up a model. Finding the exact item that you want can take time. More on this later.

In common with the 'mc3010', the 'Cockpit' can accommodate Multiplexes 'Channel-Check' module. In the interests of you all, we prevailed upon the importer to supply one so that we could see just what it does.

You are immediately struck by how light it is. This is due to the fact that, apart from having a plastic case with the sticks being an integral part of the moulding, it has a 6 cell 600 mAh nicad battery pack. Multiplex have always used 6 cell packs in their transmitters; but usually of high capacity. The departure here is in making them the same size as the receiver pack, which would appear to be a sensible move.

The shape is very different and certainly comfortable. A description would be difficult, so refer to the photos. The case is in two halves, with the rear being retained by two clips. An aerial stowage recess is incorporated in the rear panel.

Everything else is incorporated in the front panel with the exception of a socket accessible on the lower left hand side which acts as charging socket, buddy box connection and 'diagnosis' connection. What this actually means is that you can connect the transmitter and receiver together via an optional lead to give direct control of the servos, better known as 'DSC'.

The two sticks have adjustable tension, digital trims and interchangeable ends for which numerous lengths are available, although only the shortest length was supplied. The trims have some protection from accidental operation and graduations in the case adjacent to the levers. All of which suggests that they started out with conventional trims. All four axiis are supplied as spring-centred, but it is a simple matter to remove the spring from the appropriate axis for your preferred throttle mode. A ratchet is also supplied.

I don't like digital trims, but I believe that I could live with these because someone has thought about their design. First, let's explain that 'digital' means that the lever does not actually move in an amount proportional to the amount of trim being applied, but merely acts as a switch to start incrementing the trim in either direction. With most systems, applying continuous pressure to the switch means that the trim starts to increment rapidly (sometimes at an increasing rate), so that you have no idea how much trim is being applied without looking at the display. In other words, there is no 'feel'.

These are different because they do not continue to increment if you apply continuous pressure, they will increment just once and you will hear a beep. If you want more, you have to press again. There are just 12 increments each side of the centre and the last one gives a different beep. If you move the trim back to the centre, you will hear a short trill when you get there. All this is also shown on the display (we'll get to that eventually), but the point is that you don't need it.

In case you are wondering, the advantage of digital trims is that you can change the trim with a switch, which means in turn that you can have different trims applied automatically to suit some special application, or flight condition.

The sticks operate the first four channels (Controls A, B, C, and D) but, as all of the controls are plugged into sockets on the PC board, this can be changed if you wish.

Back to the transmitter. Between the sticks is a slider for a proportional channel. This has a ratchet action with a more positive indent at the centre position. As supplied this operates the the fifth channel (Control E). The manual suggests that this control is optional, so it would appear that there are several versions.

Above the sticks there is provision for six switches or rotary controls. Three of these are supplied. On the extreme left is a two position switch which, in the default condition, serves as a 'Combi' switch for fixed wing models (couples aileron and rudder) or as a 'Hold' (autorotation) switch for helicopters.

The other two positions on the left side are filled by blanking plugs and are labelled as a dual rate switch and a rotary control. The outer switch on the right is a three position switch which as supplied operates the sixth channel (Control F). Inside that is a blanked off hole which is labelled as the stopwatch/motor off switch. More about those last two anon.

That leaves one control in the inner right position. This is the '3D digi-adjuster' which is used to access and input all of the information to the CPU (central processing unit). More on this later, but it rotates left and right to select, or increment, while pressing it serves as an 'Enter' command. Someone is bound to write in and point out that it is only 2D, but let's not quibble.

Below the sticks is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). This has a diagrammatic representation of the trim positions (always visible) and two lines of eight characters, which can give a surprising amount of information.

Finally, below the display is a recessed on/off switch (left for off) and a red LED. When switched on the transmitter emmits a short trill sound and, in normal operation, the LED comes on for about three seconds and then flashes once every three seconds.

In the middle of the front panel is a moulded-in neck strap attachment point.

To summarise, as supplied, you have six channels operated by the two sticks, one slider and one switch. A seventh channel is available by adding an appropriate control. There is one switch and a multi function input device.

When you switch on, the display shows 'Uni' (Universal) or 'H' (Heli) and the number of the selected model (1 to 9) on the top line and the battery voltage on the bottom line. The trim indicators are at the bottom and the sides.

If you rotate the digi-adjuster one click to the left, the display changes to 'MENUE' (sic). At this stage, pressing the digi-adjuster lets you into the system. If you rotate one click right, the top line of the display changes to a row of noughts. Two clicks and you get two rows of noughts.

This puzzled me for quite a while but I eventually found on page 41 of the manual that this was a stopwatch and integrated timer display. Obvious really, when you look closely there are colons in there to separate the digits. How do you operate the stopwatch? That's on page 11! It needs a three position switch which is an optional extra. It was a simple matter to switch one plug into another socket and use the three position switch supplied for Control F to operate the stopwatch.

The reason you are reading this is that it took me more than an evening to work all this out and something over an hour to find the section in the manual again when I came to write this review.

Having selected 'MENUE' on the display and pressed the digi-adjuster (hereafter referred to as the D-A), you can then select between various functions by rotating the D-A. When you get the one you want, a press on the D-A lets you into the next level and you can repeat the process as required to find the particular thing that you want to adjust. One more press and you can then increment the value up or down by rotating the D-A left or right.

You can reverse the whole process to get back to the entry display if you want, but simply switching off the transmitter will leave things exactly as you set them. The whole process is very convenient once you start to use it and it should soon be almost automatic to get to the items that you will use most.

The manual contains a flow diagram which is quite helpful but is of miniscule size and has the notations in German. If your editor cannot obtain a good reproduction of this it would be a public service to have it redrawn.

A detailed list of all of the options would fill quite a large chunk of this magazine. The following is a summary of the basic features.

The display gives you a choice of English or German. Presumably, other languages are available.

There are 9 model memories with a choice of 'Universal' (to all intents and purposes, this means 'fixed wing') or 'Helicopter'. The models are identified by number only.

The trims work on the stick centre and do not effect the end points. If required, the throttle trim can be set to operate on one end only and this can be either with the stick forward or back. All of the trims are memorised with the model number. Changing the model will automatically call up the correct trim.

A battery alarm is incorporated in the transmitter with an adjustable threshold. There is an alarm timer, together with a stopwatch and integrated timer (total transmitter on time). The stopwatch function incorporates a motor 'kill' switch intended for use with electric models.

There are a total of seven channels which are all accessible by any of the control input devices (sticks, switches, rotary trimmers), by simply plugging them into the appropriate socket. There are also three sockets for switches, which can be used for a number of pre- programmed functions (dual rates, mixing).

Servo direction can be reversed and both the centre position and end points (in each direction) can be set. This applies to all seven channels. Dual rates can be set for aileron, elevator and rudder channels, all operated by a single switch. Adjustable exponential can be applied to these three controls, but it is not switchable. All these are expressed as percentages in the usual manner.

A 'Combi' switch is fitted which allows the aileron and rudder to be coupled, or uncoupled. The mix ratio is adjustable and either channel can be master/slave.

In the 'Universal' model mode, dedicated mixers are included for V-Tail, delta models, aileron differential and flapperons.

In 'Helicopter' mode there are mixers for collective/throttle, static tail rotor compensation, tail rotor offset and collective pitch trim, plus an autorotation (hold) switch and an idle-up set by a slider control. It is worth pointing out that this will give you all you need to learn to fly helicopters, but is not suitable for '3D' or advanced aerobatics.

As a general purpose outfit, an entry level set, or as an introduction to computer sets, the 'Cockpit MM' has a lot to offer. The entry system could well spoil you for some other computer sets.

To the experienced flyer, it is intriguing, comfortable to use, and will probably create a talking point on the flying field. Being Multiplex. the RF link is second to none.

It does seem that the current European trend towards expandable sets has been carried to an extreme in this case, however, and it is disappointing that someone felt it was necessary to leave out two switches and a rotary control. At manufacturer level, the cost would have been minimal.

As for those servo plugs, I really should be grateful. Without them I would have had nothing to complain about!

Channel-Check This is a module which plugs into the transmitter board ('Cockpit'), or inside the RF module ('mc3010') and serves to monitor your frequency. With no module fitted the system behaves normally. As the unit is actually a receiver, it does need a receiver crystal which is of the same frequency as your transmitter/receiver frequency. When you switch on the transmitter, the 'Channel-Check' monitors the frequency, during which time no RF is radiated. If all is clear the system will work normally. If the channel is in use, the transmitter emits several trilling noises, the LED flashes at a faster rate (once per second), 'STOP' appears on the display and it does not transmit. If the interfering signal disappears, the transmitter stays off until you switch off and on again. The beauty of the idea, of course, is that you cannot just switch on and shoot somebody down. A simple check, using a different make of transmitter on the same frequency showed that the system warned you instantaneously if there was an interfering signal and took several seconds to decide that the channel was clear - which is reassuring. What was even more impressive was that the complete 'Cockpit' outfit continued to work, albeit with very jittery servos, when the interfering transmitter was right up close with it's aerial fully extended. People I have spoken to with more knowledge of these things have raised the matter of cross modulation at close quarters producing spurious indications of interference. Surely, pessimism is better than optimism in these circumstances. I'm impressed.