RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

Hello! New to the site and thought I would start things out with a question for my restorations.
I have many jars full of the black socket head screws. I was wondering what period correct were for the smooth headed ones and the ribbed ones. I haven't had any nib kits to compare to since my first one it '85. Thanks

almost all of the rc10's have the smooth socket cap screws at one place or another. but they were used throughout on the short arm cars iirc.

Thank you. The short arm cars are what I am working on now.

I believe my 1991 RC10T had both smooth and ribbed screw heads. The only other full new Associated kit I bought was an RC10DS conversion, and I think that had all ribbed screw heads. I'd be willing to bet all the screw sizes that were new to the RC10T were the new ribbed style, while the screws they also used on the older cars had the smooth heads.

Screws and fasteners were the only parts AE used to bring in from outside suppliers so there must have been a switch of suppliers at some point in the production run. Where that is... your guess is as good as mine.

The RC10T always seems to come up as a turning point in AE's history though. Their molds got more precise and complicated. It could have something to do with Cliff Lett taking a leadership role in R&D at about that time.

Of course now AE outsources everything, graphite chassis' are cut by one company, molding is by a differant one and is done overseas.

At least the design department is still in the USA for now

Thank you all for your input. I just have a couple of unused short arm gold pans that I am trying to finish and am into the details. I will use all smooth ones on them and use the ribbed ones on the black pans and CE.

I have seen both types (mixed) on early cars and late cars!