I'm just getting into the hobby and really enjoy it. My friend gave me an older Airtronics Vanguard 4 channel radio (gold stickered.) It hasn't been used in about 12 years so the batteries probably dead. The charger is also missing. I haven't been able to find out where to get a charger or batteries for that system. I know I'll probably want to eventually upgrade to a different radio, but I really need to keep my costs down and I just want to get flying. Does anyone have any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

You can order battery packs reasonably low-cost from many sources: www.cheapbatterypacks.com, www.batteriesamerica.com, www.radicalrc.com, etc.

all you need is a 9.6 v pack for the transmitter that will physically fit into the space of the old pack. And you need a 4 or 5 cell pack for the receiver. anything over 600 mAh is fine. If you know how to solder, you can make your own packs from wal-mart rechargeable nImH cells. But this is risky if your soldering is not good becasue you can ruin the cells or create a connection that fails under vibration.

You can also get the battery packs from Airtronics. I had an older Vanguard 6 channel system that had been sitting around for about 5 years. I sent them the complete syrstem and they checked it out and installed all new batteries for a very reasonable price. That way you know the system is up to par an ready to go and their turn around was very quick.

I THINK the battery is the same style as is used in the current airtronics RD6000... this looks like the right one...

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFE02&P=0

...but you would have to add a connector. The connector is the same as an old style(black) airtronics servo lead I think.... or clip the one off the old pack and use that...

As for a charger, you might be able to get one of those universal DC chargers with all the different tips at some place like Radio Shack...although this might work....

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXHCE6&P=0

Although the idea of sending it in to Airtronics and asking them to have a look at it might be the best option... I too have sent a radio in to them for work and had it back in just under 3 weeks(door-to-door)...and that was after being sent surface and across a border!

I have an older Vangaurd 4 Ch Tx and a new VG400 & VG6oo. The newer battery packs will fit the older Vangaurd, and using that Tx I can even recycle all my Tx battery packs with my Hanger 9 Sure Cycle. This is a rather inexpensive Battery cycler and well worth it rather than just a regular wall charger. FWIW