Dadio's latest dumb question

[Dadio]

Ok today's dumb question is about the very early steering wheel style Transmitters , it's obvious how you did the steering on them but unlike the later "trigger and wheel" radios that we still have today it's hard to see how the throttle was controlled , or if I'm guessing right the throttle control looks not much bigger than the trim .
So how was the throttle controlled ?

images.jpeg (4.18 KiB) Viewed 1646 times

images.jpeg (4.18 KiB) Viewed 1646 times

[1300GT]

There's a throttle lever on the right hand side of the transmitter which isn't visible in the picture. You can see it here in this picture. I had one years ago and I found it terrible to use after getting used to conventional stick radios.

I guess modifying them to accept a slot car controller was a huge improvement.

[Lowgear]

I have one, and it's indeed very awkward to use. Like 1300GT mentioned... people modified them by screwing a slot car controller to the backside, and connected the throttles between the two via a bellcrank and rods. Parma even sold an actual conversion kit.

Here's what a modified setup looks like: https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=126922


Also in the same vein: https://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?t=46504

[RC10th]

that stick radio conversion is something else

[GoMachV]

You would cradle the radio in your left hand, with your index finger wrapping around to the throttle. Uncomfortable compared to a pistol grip but honestly not that terrible imo

[1911Colt]

people modified them by screwing a slot car controller to the backside, and connected the throttles between the two via a bellcrank and rods.

Brilliant!



I had one (standard, not modded). It was my first radio actually. It was very awkward! You really needed 3 hands to operate it smoothly.

If you can steer with your left hand, hanging it from a lanyard (like an RC plane radio) would probably work well.

[Dadio]

I had seen pictures of the side with the controls but found it hard to believe that's what they actually did , thanks everybody ! I'll see if I can think of another dumb question soon

[GoMachV]

This kid is holding it properly

[Dadio]

This kid is holding it properly

Does look awkward

[1300GT]

This kid is holding it properly

No wonder I struggled with it. It's not designed for all the Southpaws, Mollydookers and Goofy-footers.

[Phin]

Did anyone make these with the controls swapped?. i.e. throttle stick on the large face, steering wheels on skinny side. I think that could actually be pretty comfortable.

[threesheds]

Would've made sense to have your thumb on the wheel next to steering as throttle and the side slider to be trim.
Looks like it tuned into radio Luxembourg as well.

[morrisey0]

Saw this on ebay today, and I remembered this thread. Not sure how Jim Marrant used this, but props to him for the ingenuity.