Hi, Peter….

If you are not experienced with radio control equipment, have a look at the last answer on this thread, which explains what the basic pieces are: **LINK**

What the others have said. A lot depends on just how old the kit is, and what the state of the art was then. On some old kits I have seen, the rudder control was a motor and gearbox rather than a servo. Also, depending on what it is, the motor might benefit from replacement with something more modern.

Hi Peter

Another link to RAF boats which may help **LINK**

The colour used on my boat are Humbrol 156 deck, wheel house and cabin 127, crane and vents 156 and fire monitors 19 with a golden bronze on the nozzle ends.

But I have see a lot of different other colours used in model photos!!!!

Harry

It will be a brushed motor, – these have not changed since Faraday's time, so it will work happily with a modern brushed ESC.

However, it may well be worn, and of comparatively low spec compared to modern motors, and so produce a disappointing performance compared to modern motors.  It's hard to tell without examining it closely.

Probably the most valuable item in the boat is the old actuator. I suspect that you could sell that and buy a really nice modern motor with the proceeds… or a radio control set !

Edited By Dodgy Geezer on 03/08/2017 07:51:21

Personally I wouldn't buy a motor yet.

Stick 6 volts onto the motor that's in it. If it spins enthusiastically, then give it a chance.
I mean, the motor in my childhood-era Viking plastic motor cruiser is at least 25 years old and even 25 years ago it wasn't new – it had already had a hard time in one of my RC cars before I installed it in my then-new boat.
It still works fine.

For the ESC the "320Amp" ones common on ebay are OK. I don't think they are really 320amp, but they are good enough for a 540 motor at 7.2volts as long as the prop is not too big.
There is a seller called kcmodelaccessories777 who I have bought some off in the past, they are all UK stock and have been OK. I have used them in garden railway locomotives too.

For a battery, go to component-shop.co.uk and get a 7.2v NIMH stick pack like this:

**LINK**

On ebay I think there are complete two channel 2.4GHZ sets with transmitter and receiver for about £45 if you dig hard enough:

**LINK**

The ESC, servo and receiver will all have compatible connectors. You might have to crimp a couple of bullet connectors onto the motor to connect it to the ESC, or use a connector block.
The battery itself and the battery wires on the ESC will probably have white plastic Tamiya connectors, so they are likely to be compatible straight away,

Edited By Noel on 03/08/2017 11:53:34

To Radio Control that boat at rock-bottom prices:

HobbyKing T4a – £17.80 **LINK**

s2003 servo – £2.52 **LINK**

Cheap ebay ESC – £4.90 – 4cAAOSw6YtZW9Kb

Cheap ebay 7.2v battery – £6.90 – **LINK**

Keep the motor, as Noel suggests.

Total cost £32.12p

Don't forget a cheap battery charger – IMax clone – £21.49 – **LINK**

HOWEVER – note that the cheapest of everything may be a false economy. None of these items will come with workable guarantees or back-up support and service – they may not even have instructions. They may not work according to spec, or may break down after little use. People going for the cheapest are either people who know the field well and estimate that they can get away with less reliability, or people who do not know what they are doing at all!

Edited By Dodgy Geezer on 03/08/2017 12:42:49

I had a couple of the Radiolink T4Us, which look to be the same radio. My experience?

1 – they worked well, with good range

2 – the Tx box had a solid feel – one survived being dropped down a flight of stairs followed by a 6 ft drop onto concrete. The sticks are smooth.

3 – surprisingly, they have switches for mode change and channel mixing hidden inside – you need to open the case to access them

4 – mine came with no instructions – you can find some on the web, but it's hard…

5 – the servo reversing controls are crude in the extreme – you poke at a pcb-mounted switch through a hole in the front of the case

6 – there is data on the web for mods to the pcb to enable a 5th channel and the training socket

7 – the trim is appalling – cheap sticky paper. They could be made to look a lot better.

Since I got back into modelling and RC in the last couple of years, I have picked up a pair of secondhand Eflite 5 channel DSM type transmitters, and use these with OrangeRX or LemonRX receivers which are available for beer money.

These work OK, but I could do with a third transmitter so that myself and two boys can use one each at the same time.

that's why the £18 job is tempting, although it's probably more flexible for me to buy another DSM tranny and stick with my current system.

But I think for Mr Peter Brown, the £18 one could hit the spot as it still has 4 channels.

Noel.

I have just counted and I have 6 Tx. There seemed to be a good reason to buy each one at the time. The last was a Radiolink AT 9, which so far I am pleased with and the RX are not too expensive but have to be ordered from China. Although one of the 6 is a Planet 7 but is not used as it was replaced with the AT9.

Tim