Does anyone remember this????

[periscope]

A friend of mine has dug an old RC boat out of his loft - the boat was given to him many years ago by a friend of his. The idea is that he has asked me to check out the boat and see if I can get it operational. This is what it is.... It's an Aerokits Model Fast patrol Launch designed by L J Rowell. The hull is in a sound condition but the electrics are very messy - mainly due to the fact that three AA type cells were left in the boat when it was put away. I seem to have all the original instructions, the handbook mentions a Post Office licence costing £1 - 10s - 0d lasting for three years. The transmitter is a MacGregor Codamac Model - the instructions mention that the steering control has top be pushed fully in one direction and then a button below the stick need to be pressed to alter the direction of the boat in stages. The instructions also mention something called a Minimo and a Minimite which will only give 2 or 3 positions in sequence. It seems that speed controllers haven't been invented yet, but I'm not sure. If I'd been given the boat I would gut the electrics and use some modern stuff and then use one of my TX's but I think the idea is that the grandchildren inherit the old boat which was their uncles.

Does anyone remember the boat? - I'm thinking of recommending to the chap that he sells the boat to a collector and buys the kids a modern ready to go launch which will be much cheaper than me putting new gear in then him having to buy a TX - I can't see modern kids wanting to fiddle about with this old type TX. Any comments would really be appreciated.


Ian

[excotec]

Sounds like a treaure of a find. From what you descibe it sounds like an old pulse radio system. I doubt you would be able to find any parts for it but on occasion I have seen some stuff on ebay. If it were me I would do both. Have the boat restored and put in a glass case for display and then get the kids some reef racers.

[Kmot]

If it were me I would do both. Have the boat restored and put in a glass case for display and then get the kids some reef racers.

Ditto! Kids will just trash it and not have any appreciation of it and it won't be "cool" or "fast enough".

[Kmot]

A quickle google provided this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2564&item=6053116527

http://www.lesromodels.co.uk/plans.htm

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/alan.shipman/boats/boat01.htm

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Another thing to consider is that the old TX/rx system is probably a very wide band, and subject to a lot of interference. The boat could easily become lost on the pond if something were to glitch the radio signal from such an antiquated control system.

[periscope]

Thanks for your input guys - here are four pictures of the equipment.

[Kmot]

The r/c gear could be sold on ebay to a collector.

[Massey]

And I thought that my Optima was old. (yea I know it is a car but it is old) The oldest boat I have is still new compaired to this one it is an Electric Thunder hydro. I dont think I would sell this stuff it looks like a great find. Does the radio still work?

Massey

[pitviper51]

neat find,, looks good for an old boat
mike

[Aerominded]

Looks very nice Ian, I wouldn't do a thing to it, except try to get it running with its original equipment! your friend owns a 'timewarp' piece of the hobby, I think it should be preserved! :)

[spitfire123]

Yea That Is Realy Quick.

Nice Job!

[Shaun Hendricks]

A lot of that battery damage can be easily cleaned up with some standard "Battery Terminal Cleaner" found in many auto-parts stores. It neutralizes the acids and cleans up with just a damp rag. After that, it's repair the physical damage time! :censored:

[periscope]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I'll be reporting back to my friend later on this week and I'll put all the info to him so he can decide what to do. Thanks again.

Ian