Origins of RC models...

[ALPHA]

Well, if I were Ernst (Mc)Blofeld, bent on world domination with RC models, I'd need a fluffy white cat; but all I have is a fluffy white dog... Anyway, the point is, a quick google reveals very little about the history of RC models...and thus it's all the more extraordinary that the prescient 'General Jumbo' character- created in 1952- was decades ahead of any real developments: Mardave's commercially viable RC cars (Mardave a UK company) in the mid-60s, and then through to Tamiya's cars and tanks in 1976, to cite two examples. Then we have Joe Dante's film "Small soldiers' in 1998, some 24 years after General Jumbo disappeared (sadly) from Beano's pages. An engrossing hobby like RC modelling deserves more history. Does anyone here, for example, possess one of the first RC model tanks produced? If so, let's see it

AH...But if you look hard enough 43....you might find

Spoiler: show

our best friends may have well been the inspiration to wireless remote control
(if they were well trained)
as some pilots were proven to be a tad unstable

with that said though...looks like the tradition will carry on into the future

what can I say.....your picture of your puppy made me do it

..........................

ALPHA

[43rdRecceReg]

I'm beginning to wonder whose medication needs some adjustment, yours or mine? These digital chimeras you conjure up,out there in the middle of the Pacific, remind me of the ones I used to see from eating funny mushrooms in my long-haired youth.
Also there is a satirical/graphic novel tradition of synthesising all the absurd characteristics of friends, and acquaintances, to create a caricature of them...I used to do that too, in literary and graphic form (cartoons).. but not to cause offence, I hasten to add.
The dog's head on the tank, though, reminds me of Franz Kafka's 'Metamorphosis', when the central character wakes up one morning transformed into a beetle (Beatle, would have been preferable, like John Lennon..but)
Overall, I'm now firmly convinced that 'Alpha' is really an autonomous internet plug-in; formerly a real person, and tank enthusiast, but now metamorphosed and capable of filtering all the world's weirdest digital tidbits ...and posting it here

[B_Man]

I remember reading General Jumbo as a child, I always wanted an army like his! Does anyone remember the Mighty Joe remote control tank?

I was bought one for Christmas, it was enormous, it fired huge bullet shaped projectiles that appearred to be the size of a 12 bore shotgun shell and was controlled by a walkie-talkie that was connected to the tank by a wire. The tank also had a rear machine gunner that seemed to sit in what would have been the engine bay. I kept that tank for years but it disappearred out of my toy cupboard when I was about forty. I've tried looking on Ebay hoping to buy a replacement but no joy.

Is this the one you're talking about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePDpdhOPIsM

[ALPHA]

I'm beginning to wonder whose medication needs some adjustment, yours or mine? These digital chimeras you conjure up,out there in the middle of the Pacific, remind me of the ones I used to see from eating funny mushrooms in my long-haired youth.
Also there is a satirical/graphic novel tradition of synthesising all the absurd characteristics of friends, and acquaintances, to create a caricature of them...I used to do that too, in literary and graphic form (cartoons).. but not to cause offence, I hasten to add.
The dog's head on the tank, though, reminds me of Franz Kafka's 'Metamorphosis', when the central character wakes up one morning transformed into a beetle (Beatle, would have been preferable, like John Lennon..but)
Overall, I'm now firmly convinced that 'Alpha' is really an autonomous internet plug-in; formerly a real person, and tank enthusiast, but now metamorphosed and capable of filtering all the world's weirdest digital tidbits ...and posting it here

We all went through some kind of phase............

Spoiler: show

The 60's and 70's...were shall I say............Interesting

ALPHA

[43rdRecceReg]

Now for the culmination of all changes; the politically acceptable metamorphosis of Alfred..

[ALPHA]

And now ...Some RC History

Spoiler: show

So there you have it...from wire to wireless

Caviat Emptor Gents

ALPHA

[971wright]

Hi Guys Well JFKs brother was killed before he bailed out of a Radio controlled plane full of explosives ,the plane blew up when he switched to radio control, it was going to be used to blow up a V1 factory ,the RAF later bombed it with tallboy bombs. Another radio control Bomb was used by the Germans to bomb ships off the Anzio beach head worked for while till the Americans worked out how to jam the radio. I think there was a wire guided bomb used in the far east to blow up a bridge. After the war Barnes Wallace used Radio control to test out swing wing planes.

regards pete

[43rdRecceReg]

Interesting examples, Alpha, of 'remote' without 'control'. I note that the winner of Clip No 2 was indeed the solitary 'radio controlled' entry, where the TX looks like a small packing case with a spoon attached, as a toggle .....necessity, 'the mother of invention' no doubt. Most amazing of all, though, was the 'Pathe News' style plummy delivery of the posh English commentator. 'I've net haird refained tains like thet since the Queen's coronation, what ' Simply Spiffing aled boy..... Needless to say, I wasn't invited..but then I was just a wee bairn then...

[DRC]

That's the one B_Man, I loved that tank!