PlaneHeli

Im trying to find some photos of my first Futaba Tx.

I dont know the model number.

Anyone know any sites I could try. Internet search has not come up with anything.

It was a 27 Mhz am, 6 Ch Tx. (in New Zealand, not sure if they produced the same model using different frequencies, as they do now, for different countries such as the USA)
Lightish brown metal case, with black plastic ends.
It was bought second hand about 1981, so was probably a mid to late 1970s model.
I do remember the case was slightly angled, not a square box as the earlier Txs.

There must be some RC guys that used a similar Tx in the late 70s or early 80s.

sscherin

My Feedback: (1)

Tan or gold?

FP-T4FN-72


FP-T6FG


Futaba has a history page but it's missing all the radios I've ever owned.

http://www.rc.futaba.co.jp/hobby_en/...r/history.html

bruce88123

http://www.futaba-rc.com/manuals/index.html

You can also go through some of the old manuals and see if anything looks familiar.

PlaneHeli

sscherin & bruce88123,

Thanks for the links.

Couldnt find it on any of the Futaba sites, or elsewhere. However the info you provided pointed me to my old Tx.

Found this photo on a Canadian Ebay site. Its currently for sale.

It says the model is FP-6EN from 1975.

Strange though if I do an internet search using the model number I get squat. Nothing on any Futaba site either. They seem to have disowned it.

Also concerned the Canadian Ebay seller is calling it a VINTAGE Futaba 6 Ch am Tx.

If anyone has some better photos of this radio would appreciate if you could email them to me.

Cheers from Vintage PlaneHeli.

Better have an afternoon nap.

Rambler45

Is there a reason why you want a photo of it ?
I think have that Futaba somewhere with spare servos, carbon resistors, spare crystals, manuals etc.

PlaneHeli

Durian,

Only for keep sake.

Ive recently got back into RC and everthings changed dramatically.

I hope to get my son interested when hes old enough.

It would be nice to have some good photos of my old equipment.
Many of the photos on the internet are very low resolution therefore suitable for viewing on a computer but not printing. Such as the two above.

Ive managed to get a few low resolution photos of my first plane and heli I had 26 years ago through this forum. (Tyro Major Plane & GMP Cricket Heli)

Cheers

bruce88123

Believe it or not, I may have one of those kicking around in my garage. Someone gave it to me a while back and asked if I was interested. I'll look at it tonight. can't recall how complete the system is though.

PlaneHeli

bruce88123,

Amazing if you do after replying to my post.

If it does happen to be the same Tx, I would appreciate a few decent photos. Some of the Rx and servos too.

Look after it, pack it away carefully, apparently it is now vintage. Maybe be a collectors item in a few years.

Funny to look at photos of it now. Not much to them back in those days was there.

I still dont know how to use all the functions of my current Tx. Then again I didnt use all the functions of my first Tx either. All my planes, my Heli and cars were only 4 or 2 channels.

XJet

I had the model before that one -- it was a very nice silver-anodized case (same angled design) with chrome stick gymbals.

The servos had dual linear racks.

I did a *lot* of flying with that set and it never let me down.

PlaneHeli

Xjet,

Was that similar to the FP-4 from 1969 on the link above posted by sscherin.

I notice on that webpage the first computer radio came out way back in 1987. Its looks very similar to a modern day radio.

I had a good run with my first Tx. It was the plugs that gave out with mine. Crashed my first heli when I lost control. I believe it was the battery plug. I remember those old plugs often had bad contacts that required bending the plug pins slightly to make it work.

bruce88123

Oops, forgot to look last night. Too much going on and simply forgot. Just sent myself an email to home computer AND left myself a message on answering machine. Should look tonight.[sm=bananahead.gif]

kevs182

The photos certainly bring back memories. I started R/C in 1982 and there were still a lot of those round-gimbal ENs at our flying field. The square gimbal FNs were also there. The FG "Gold Series" radios came out circa 82, and I got a 7-channel version. I just loved that anodized finish. Still a nice-looking radio, in my opinion.

bruce88123

Got a look at my stash last night. Got one each of both of the sets in the second pic in post #4.
The EN I have TX, RX, charger but no servos.
The FN I have just the TX it appears. Didn't look real close at it because your main interest is in the other. I'll try to email some pics later today.

PlaneHeli

Bruce,

Thanks very much. Will look out for them.

kevs182,

They do look a little outdated now, but they were solid metal case construction rather than the molded plastic of today.

Helped to make them look unclutted. The new Txs are never plain flat. They must be very 3 dimensional, possibly to give the impression of been more complicated and having more features.

Not saying I prefer one or the other, theyre just different.

bruce88123

The boss has the camera locked up in his office and he's gone for the day. Pics Monday.

PlaneHeli

Still have not managed to track down any higher resolution photos. If anyone still has this old Classic Tx.

Please email some photos if you have.

Cheers.