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Ok today's dumb question is about the very early steering wheel style Transmitters , it's obvious how you did the steering on them but unlike the later "trigger and wheel" radios that we still have today it's hard to see how the throttle was controlled , or if I'm guessing right the throttle control looks not much bigger than the trim .
So how was the throttle controlled ?

There's a throttle lever on the right hand side of the transmitter which isn't visible in the picture. You can see it here in this picture. I had one years ago and I found it terrible to use after getting used to conventional stick radios.


I guess modifying them to accept a slot car controller was a huge improvement.

I have one, and it's indeed very awkward to use. Like 1300GT mentioned... people modified them by screwing a slot car controller to the backside, and connected the throttles between the two via a bellcrank and rods. Parma even sold an actual conversion kit.

Here's what a modified setup looks like: https://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=126922


Also in the same vein: https://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?t=46504

that stick radio conversion is something else

You would cradle the radio in your left hand, with your index finger wrapping around to the throttle. Uncomfortable compared to a pistol grip but honestly not that terrible imo

Lowgear wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 6:18 am people modified them by screwing a slot car controller to the backside, and connected the throttles between the two via a bellcrank and rods.

Brilliant!



I had one (standard, not modded). It was my first radio actually. It was very awkward! You really needed 3 hands to operate it smoothly.

If you can steer with your left hand, hanging it from a lanyard (like an RC plane radio) would probably work well.

I had seen pictures of the side with the controls but found it hard to believe that's what they actually did , thanks everybody ! I'll see if I can think of another dumb question soon

This kid is holding it properly

GoMachV wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 1:28 pm This kid is holding it properly

Does look awkward

GoMachV wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 1:28 pm This kid is holding it properly

No wonder I struggled with it. It's not designed for all the Southpaws, Mollydookers and Goofy-footers.

Did anyone make these with the controls swapped?. i.e. throttle stick on the large face, steering wheels on skinny side. I think that could actually be pretty comfortable.

Would've made sense to have your thumb on the wheel next to steering as throttle and the side slider to be trim.
Looks like it tuned into radio Luxembourg as well.