Is it an A stamp? I've seen that mentioned, but have yet to look up how to ID that. It does have an "A" stamped on that little curvy tail part on the back, so I'm guessing it is.
This was my second RC car. My first was a Tamyia Falcon, that was pre-built at the hobby shop I believe. I ran that thing into the dirt, until I could no longer make it work by duct taping the parts that broke on it together. I was only 10 or maybe 12 at the time and did not have the know how to fix it or try going to the hobby shop for spare parts, etc... I dunno, it never occurred to me at the time. What did I know I was an ignorant kid!
So, next up I think I got an RC10 kit for Christmas. I wanted it bad! It was state of the art and would have been the envy of all the kids on my middle America suburban street. I was going to blow all them Grasshoppers away with it. I couldn't wait to jump the curbs at all the drive way entrances and let that aluminum body just scrape and roll with it. No worries about a cracked body, or broken parts playing demolition derby. (Yeah, the spoiled suburban kids in my childhood neighborhood actually did that with our hobby grade RC cars), this puppy was designed like a tank and was supposed to be fast! I couldn't wait.
One fine February day it snowed. Snow day! School cancelled! I remember spending the day putting my RC10 together. It was fun! It was exciting! I had a blast with it! I got it all together to the point where it even had wheels and tires on it and it rolled across the floor. It was so cool seeing how all those gears fit together and it made things spin and other parts move. This was going to be great!
Then it came time to put the electronics in. I figured I'd just use the stuff from my Falcon. No need to buy me another remote controller Mom and Dad. I just need the kit for the car! I even already have a battery and charger! I stared at all those wires, and read the manual about soldering this to that, and positive and negative and connect this thingamajig to that doohicky. It was near hopeless. I was lost. What's a soldering iron? I dunno if Mom and Dad would approve of me using one of those... if we even have one. Sounds like it could be dangerous. They didn't much like it when they caught me playing with matches. Oh well... maybe my Dad can help me figure it out later. RC10 back into the box, put it on a shelf.... hmmmm time went by.
Fast forward about 20 years (give or take) later (2005)... I'd just gotten out of my first marriage, was back at my parents house visiting from across the country and hey what's that over there in the basement? It's my old RC10 kit! Sweet. I have a 7 year old son now. He'll love it. I should finish that thing. I managed to fit it in my suitcase and fly home with it. I drove over to a hobby shop and showed it to the kid behind the counter, and asked him what I needed to finish it up. He said here, sold me an Airtronics transmitter / receiver, a 15000mAH Ni-CD battery and a charger. I paid the $74.66 for it with tax (I have the receipt for it sitting right here in front of me) and walked out the door. Eager to slap the old girl together finally, I sped home, pulled everything out on my coffee table and started trying to figure out how to hook it all together. Realized there was no speed controller, and a few other things I probably needed to get it finished up (including a body), and put it all away again, with good intention of coming back to it real soon. But you know how it is... living the fast life. Women, other hobbies, work, life, remarriage, more kids... etc... etc...
Which brings me to today (or at least the past few weeks when I have had time). Ok... now I'm going to finish this thing and get it running for reals. I've ordered this and that. I think I almost have everything I need to get this precious little baby road worthy. I'm so stinking excited I can hardly stand it. Nothing is going to get in my way, and I'm going to do it right.
I already started by tearing most of it back down, so I can make sure its put together properly. I was around 12 I think when I built this originally after all (with no adult supervision), so I was pretty sure there would be a lack of workmanship in there. Sure enough, there were things like set screws missing in places. If I had actually slapped a motor in the poor girl probably would have flown apart half way down the driveway.
Anyways, that is how I ended up here, and I know I'm going to have some real stupid questions. I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out, but despite spending 4 years in the Marine Corps as a mechanic and having a career in IT, I still have a pretty limited knowledge about electronics. You're never too old to learn something though.
Anyways, I do have two initial questions, related to the ESC I picked up, which I may have already figured out, but would like some input on.
The circa 2005 Airtonics Tx/Rx I have uses the Z connectors. I grabbed a cheap ESC from Hobby King... this one:
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__32025__HobbyKing_X_Car_45A_Brushed_Car_ESC.html
I've figured out that the Rx connector on the ESC is the Futaba J connector. Initially I was thinking I would then need to get a J to Z adapter, but all I can find is Z to old school Airtronics (ATX?) adapters. I think I read somewhere that the Futaba J and Airtronics Z's are the same, with a different form factor for the plug, which leads me to think I can just get some Z connectors and swap the J connector out and plug it into my Rx. Is that true? Otherwise if I use this Tx/Rx setup it seems I'll need to get the old Airtronics to Z adapter, then J to old Airtronics, which just seems wrong to me. (Or go with a new Tx/Rx)
My second question is, that this ESC is 2S Lipo rated. Can you also use Nihm and Ni-CD with Lipo rated ESC's? My understanding is that going Lipo batteries to non-Lipo rated ESC's is bad, but not sure about the other way around. I haven't plopped the green down for a battery and charger yet (still have this 10 year old Ni-CD and charger which I will be surprised if it even works), so planning to get something newer. I'd just like to be clear on what's compatible with what out of curiosity.
Anyways... thanks in advance, and sorry for the long winded post, but thought I'd share my dumb story. I figure if anyone out there would care what this thing in my office that's in pieces is, it would be the community here.
On a side note... when you own something that you got NEW, and its referred to as "Vintage" or even "Classic"... it makes you feel kind of old.
