Looking to restore a classic. Need some information.

[mcvickj]

After doing some cleaning in the basement at my parents house last weekend I unearthed a treasure. I found out one of my dad's old electric RC's. I know nothing about it. It has LaTrax Brilliant all over the RC. I found everything except documentation. It appears that this company doesn't even exist any more.

I put some double A batteriess in the tx and that still works. The batteries in the car still seem to hold some type of charge. I can get some movement out of the steering servo but thats it.

My dad seems to remember that something on the circut board was fried and he couldn't get any power to the motor.

Does anyone have any ideas as to where I could find out some more information about this car? I suppose you want some pictures.

http://www.grpl.org/~jr/LaTrax/latrax_rc.htm

 

[FastEddy]

Great find!
I have a link to a guy that knows it all. I will need to find it for you.
Ill try to get to it today for you.

I love the old cars and would love to see you get this one back to mint condition.

-Ed

 

[El Pirata]

Dude that thing is older than Error. Let me ask this, do you want to restore it completely like it was or are you willing to add some 21st century electronics to it? If you are not willing to add 21st century electronics then your best bet would be shopping for parts on e-bay. I hate to admit it but you're going to be looking for a needle buried under dry concrete. If you don't mind adding a little 21st century know how you might want to hit radio shack and build a new speed control as well as a new battery pack. Good luck.

 

[mcvickj]

Well I have already figured that I will have to build a battery pack. I have no idea how to do that. But I am sure there is a how to on the net. I would like to keep this as original as possible. I am going to try and tear into it tonight or tomorrow.

 

[El Pirata]

That being the case, Radio Shack or E-Bay would be your best bet. You might even get lucky at a garage sale or flea market.

 

[FastEddy]

Look on the batteries for voltage and whatever else you can find. Take pics or post all the battery info you can.
The standards haven't changed much and Ill bet you will be able to use off the shelf RC batteries and make new ones.

I'm still looking for the link mentioned above.

Make a post in this forum.
I know yours isn't a Tamiya but this is where all the vintage freaks hang out. They were able to help me find some info on an old RC kit I have.
http://www.tamiyaclub.com/default.asp

-Ed

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

just don't get caught (like you would) using that TX. I willing to be your life it is one of the old stlye the FCC outlawed.

 

[Mondo]

Nice find indeed
Man, that is amazing. I like the classics myself and have restored some "oldies" but nothing as nice as that neat little find.
Keep us posted on any information you may dig out on it in the future.

As for the TX, I remember that style TX, like the old beige Futaba wheel boxes, circa 20 years+

 

[bmoc2008]

Really nice find i would like to see some pics or even a vid good luck with restoring it

 

[mcvickj]

I am still working on finding out some information on the car. I have made a few posts and it seems that someone might still have the actual documentation for this!! I am waiting to hear back from the guy....

 

[robriguez]

I love the old school on/off switch!

The batts look like standard sub-c cell size. For a ride so old I would have expected to see metal can batts. Building a battery pack isnt so hard. Just have to be carefull not to get the batts tooooo hot when your soldering.

 

[bmoc2008]

the on off switch is pimpin hey good luck again on the finding new parts

 

[mcvickj]

Originally posted by robriguez
I love the old school on/off switch!

The batts look like standard sub-c cell size. For a ride so old I would have expected to see metal can batts. Building a battery pack isnt so hard. Just have to be carefull not to get the batts tooooo hot when your soldering.

Do you know of an online howto on how to build my own battery packs? I haven't found much yet.

 

[robriguez]

This is probably one of the clearer articles I had in the ol favorites.
http://www.rccaraction.com/articles/build_battery.asp

If you've never soldered anything before, you may want to practice before trying a battery pack. 2 points of advice......
1) dont overheat the battery when tinning or attaching the battery connector bar
2) dont clog or fill in the vent hole. This allowes gasses to escape when charging/discharging. If you fill in the hole you risk having your battery blow up one day.

 

[Candyman]

Originally posted by Mondo

As for the TX, I remember that style TX, like the old beige Futaba wheel boxes, circa 20 years+

Man, thanks for making me feel old!!! That kind of Tx was the first kind I owned. Back in the 80's when I was racing an Associated RC12E...

 

[mcvickj]

Originally posted by robriguez
This is probably one of the clearer articles I had in the ol favorites.
http://www.rccaraction.com/articles/build_battery.asp

If you've never soldered anything before, you may want to practice before trying a battery pack. 2 points of advice......
1) dont overheat the battery when tinning or attaching the battery connector bar
2) dont clog or fill in the vent hole. This allowes gasses to escape when charging/discharging. If you fill in the hole you risk having your battery blow up one day.

Checking RC Car Action is usually the first place I go. I don't know why I didn't look around there. Thanks for the info. After reading the article it looks like I put a little solder on the battery first, then put the batter connecter in place and then warm the solder up to make the connection. Is this correct? Or is that just to give it a "base?" Would I still have to use a little solder when I install the battery connector?

 

[robriguez]

Its best to use a larger iron when soldering batts because you dont want a slow heat buildup. You want to heat it and leave it as quickly as possible.

Yes, you want to put a small dab of solder on the two batteries you want to connect, put a small dab of solder on both sides of the connector bar, then place the two together and heat one side of the bar just until the two solder beads melt together. Then let it cool to the touch then do the next side. Always make sure to let the solderjoints cool before doing the next one. Heat is definitly NOT a good thing for batteries.

 

[badassemaxx]

dammmnnnnnn!!!!!!!! that thing looks like a dinosaur!!!!!

 

[darthfury78]

After doing some cleaning in the basement at my parents house last weekend I unearthed a treasure. I found out one of my dad's old electric RC's. I know nothing about it. It has LaTrax Brilliant all over the RC. I found everything except documentation. It appears that this company doesn't even exist any more.

I put some double A batteriess in the tx and that still works. The batteries in the car still seem to hold some type of charge. I can get some movement out of the steering servo but thats it.

My dad seems to remember that something on the circut board was fried and he couldn't get any power to the motor.

Does anyone have any ideas as to where I could find out some more information about this car? I suppose you want some pictures.

http://www.grpl.org/~jr/LaTrax/latrax_rc.htm

Latrax was founded by Jim Jenkins in 1977. The first R/C toy was the Alpha, followed by the Lancia Stratos, Mustang Cobra, 77 Camaro, and the 1979 Firebird. On the Hobby side, the first Latrax Hobby R/C was the Corvette, followed by the 1979 Firebird, Porsche 917, and the Hustler Buggy. I believe that there was a Latrax Cigarette Racing Boats, one that was a toy model and a second one as a Hobby model. As far as I know, those where the only Latrax models available, along with the parts accessories.

What makes this story so ironic was the fact that Mr. Jenkins sold Latrax to Brinkmann in 1980. And a few years later, around 1982, Brinkmann closed down the company because it was not part of their core operations.

With that said, Mr. Jenkins went on to co-found Traxxas in 1986, which was about 9 years after he establish Latrax. Today, his son, Mike Jenkins is sole owner of Traxxas, a company that was built on top of the Latrax brand.

It would be great if someone would write a bio on the origins of Latrax and the people behind it and how it led to the creation of Traxxas.

 

[Rolex]

I'm sure mcvickj appreciates that detailed information, but he posted that question in 2003. Yup, 12 years ago. No one has heard from him in years.