RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

Hello All
I'm new to the forum, but have been lurking for quite a time
I have built up quite a collection of 1/12 cars over the years, including most of the AE RC12 series. There is one type I would like to add to the collection that eludes me.
In 1980 Phil Booth and Walt bailey raced at a UK national with AE 'Works' RC12E's with a different layout of radio tray not seen before, they used FD30M servos. The layout was used in the later weighsaver kits, but the radio plate was fiberglass on these. The early weightsavers Phil and Walt used had the tray made from the white nylon material used in the standard 12E. This white part was available from AE for a while, I built a copy of their cars and raced it for a few months until the full weightsaver became available.
Does anyone else on here remember this version? or better still know of a tray I can copy?
I have looked at drawing one using the available photographs, to make a replica, but material availability is a concern. Reading the fourum I see some have used .125 styrene to replicate the white nylon, is this the closest we can get?
Hopefully there is a picture attached so you can see what I am talking about!

I believe the top plate material is actually white kydex, not nylon, but I would think white styrene would look awfully close to the right thing.

We have a local plastics retailer here in Portland (Tap plastics) and I'm not so sure they are not in other locations as well. I was surfing the "cheap" bin and found what appeared to be almost identical material to the old shiny associated radio trays. I need to stop back buy and get more, when I do I will inquire its name. It's a dead ringer. I don't think it's simply styrene, it doesn't "act" like styrene

I used it for the radio tray on my retro rc12e4 here

Thanks for the tips guys, white kydex is difficult to get in UK, but white polyprop is dead easy and cheap.
I have ordered a small sheet to have a look at

Poly is transparent (i got some) I think you will be better off with styrene. I have that tray on one of my 12e's if you look up rc12e diorama you should find it. I have another NIP I can scan it and email the image if that helps? Ryan

Polypropylene is reasonably economical, and can be made translucent when uncolored but is not as readily made transparent as polystyrene, acrylic, or certain other plastics. It is often opaque or colored using pigments. Polypropylene has good resistance to fatigue.

P.S. I also ordered some online that showed up translucent (and yes in the description it said opaque ) need to make sure they have the opaque stock.

reign79 wrote:Poly is transparent (i got some) I think you will be better off with styrene. I have that tray on one of my 12e's if you look up rc12e diorama you should find it. I have another NIP I can scan it and email the image if that helps? Ryan

Thats the one!
If you could send me a scan that would be wonderful
I will PM you my Email address
What was the AE part number?
Thanks
Russ

white PVC would be a closer match in my opinion

The white polyprop I orderd arrived today, it looks to be a pretty good match.
It is pure white sold colour, not translucent, from a company called GFG Plastics.
I certainly would not be able to tell the difference when cut out and assembeled on to a car. It also gives the option of it being a runner, noy something I would entertain with polystyrene.

gomachv, if you find enough scrap grab me a couple pieces.

I know Associated always referred to it ias Kydex.

Will do kent!

Working on something cool?

And when i asked Curtis Hustings where they used to get their white Kydex with both sides smooth he told it wasn't Kydex, it was Polypropylene. No wonder i could never find it

I read up on Kydex and it is/was available in 3 or 4 variations, 33 colors, and 6 or so textures plus plain. Not saying it is right or not but I was surprised at the variations

The stuff I found may have been polypropylene I'm not sure. It does look like the original radio tray I have but it does not look like the group 12 bumper and radio tray I have, those look like white Kydex in the textured form.

So....so we know where associated sourced hardware bitd? Nuts and bolts, g10, Kydex all that good stuff?

Well I have got a scan of the tray, big thanks Ryan, and some decent material. Now I need to sort out a router to cut some nice parts. Looks like my replica will hapen sooner than I had imagined.
Thanks for all the help on here, couldn't have done it without you.