eBay RC12e is here!!! (updated pics 6/9)

[SmallScaleSmitty]

Well, the $26 RC12e showed up today in all her vintage glory. A quick once over to see what I was dealing with showed some surprises, both good and bad. Almost every screw is either coroded, the throttle servo appears to be seized but there's an extra in the box 'o parts. The batteries are bad but that's no shocker. The homemade radio tray is cracked. The radio gear appear to be in ok shape aside from the seized servo, but I have no way to test them right now. The radio is missing the antenna. Doesn't show any signs of life. The nice things I found are that it not only has a ball diff with a hollow axle installed, but the original solid axle is in the box. Some of the diff components need cleaned or replaced. There are ball bearings front and rear. I spent the last few hours stripping it down. Here are some pics.

The box




The ride





The rear axle housing has a nice little patina.

An old Astro Flight Inc. motor


Original AE motor and rusted pinion.

The radio






Does anyone have any idea what this is?? Perhaps a makeshift radio antenna?



And finally, the now naked 12e.

[mrlexan]

Like Al mentioned, the radio plate is not a stock 12e part, nor is the front bumper. Also, it has me thinking about the rear axle blocks as well, I have to check some pics or find one of my own.

Either way, that was a good deal.

[HotRodJosh]

That is SO cool! I love the vintage Futaba.....
Say, the rod wouldn't be some kind of lap counting device?

[scr8p]

that's a curb feeler for real cars. you attach it the the bottom of the fender or quarter panel. then when you park, that scratches along the curb (and you hear it) so you know your close enough. people used them alot back in the day so they didn't chew up their wide whites.

[SmallScaleSmitty]

that's a curb feeler for real cars. you attach it the the bottom of the fender or quarter panel. then when you park, that scratches along the curb (and you hear it) so you know your close enough. people used them alot back in the day so they didn't chew up their wide whites.

Cool, i remember one of my neighbors telling me about those.

[purpletimbo]

I got one of those Futabas in 27 4CH, It came with a rubber duck aerial, but I found abrand new telescopic one on ebay with flag as well, I got a good version of that 05 motor somewhere in a box as well, looks like it will make a good car

[SmallScaleSmitty]

Here are some updated pics of the 12e all cleaned up and sporting a freshly fabricated radio tray and a custom bumper I made out a sheet of kydex. New aluminum chassis hardware and nylon rear body posts. More to come in the near future.

[aconsola]

Nice!
What size/type of kydex did you use?
I tried finding some of the original stuff a while back and couldn't find any.

[SmallScaleSmitty]

Thanks. I got a sheet of kydex off ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220373183471 Not sure what the original suff was like but this is glossy on one side and textured on the other and is .090" thick.

[SteveK]

that's a curb feeler for real cars. you attach it the the bottom of the fender or quarter panel. then when you park, that scratches along the curb (and you hear it) so you know your close enough. people used them alot back in the day so they didn't chew up their wide whites.

That was probably used as a 'rollover antenna'; 1/12th scale guys sometimes use rigid fiberglass rods for antenna masts, so the car doesn't keep tumbling if it traction rolls. Sometimes the car actually starts to barrel roll and then bounces off the antenna back onto it's wheels.

What is the deal with the springs and clevises on the front side of the steering blocks? I always wondered what the extra tabs on the old-school pan car steering blocks were for.

[rc10johnny]

Thanks. I got a sheet of kydex off ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220373183471 Not sure what the original suff was like but this is glossy on one side and textured on the other and is .090" thick.

Nice fab work and e-bay deal . I remember the curb finders well on my dads 58 Impala . GOOD FIND and GOOD LUCK JohnnySr. P.S. I have a couple of those white body mounts left if you want them. But must be oked by the bosses im not OK to buy and sell yet,already PO'ED some. LMK

[fastang]

That turned out great!

Wouldn't the bottom screws be the slotted silver ones for that vintage of a 12?

I think a 12 is going to be my next search. I just love the simplicity of them. There is a post in another section about undervalued cars and I think this is one of them. Im kicking myself for not buying the one you had for sale a few months back.

[SmallScaleSmitty]

Thanks for the complements, guys. I've since abandoned this project and sold it to someone here. Yes, the 12e originally came with slotted screws on the chassis. When I got it, it had countersunk badly corroded hex head screws and I replaced them with modern aluminium AE hardware. The springs one the steerint blocks I guess were to take any slop out of the steering. Interesting concept not sure how effective it would be. My original intent for this car was a resto-mod. Keeping most of the overall vintage looks but with some newer upgrades and newer electronics. But between having to find some vintage parts and trying to retrofit modern parts, the project slowed to a snails pace. The final nail in the coffin was when I snagged my 12L4 on ebay for a song. My hat's off to the vintage guys. I now realize it takes a certain determination and patience to manage these early vintage builds.

[polarbear]

From the photo of the 05 motor, I think it is the very early stage Reedy modified (The endball is secured with tiny screw) Before the yellow label, Reedy 05 was "red label" with a sticker "Reddy modified" on top of it. If you ever take the motor apart, please post us photos.

[WC1982]

The 05 motor might be an early Reedy, but he used yellow tape to hold on the enbell on most of the early motors. If it has bushings instead of bearings it's definitely a stocker that somebody modified to allow timing adjustments. The early Igarashi-based Reedy Modifieds had ball bearings, and the plastic endbell and can were drilled with 2 cooling holes.

That Astro-Flight Red Label was the "hot" stock motor back in 1978/79. They were in high demand and it was pretty hard to get your hands on one.