On my last visit to your website, I saw a Futaba WC2 radio. It reminded me that I have one of them and some others beside. I thought others would be interested in my radio collection.

The first one is an old Gold series 6-channel set that I use for Old Timer flying (left). It has been a very reliable set.

The next two are converted Futaba Conquest sets. There is a bit of a story behind these sets.

About 15 years ago there was an article in RCM describing a processor controlled encoder that could be fitted to a Futaba case and use the Futaba RF board. As a confirmed gadget man I could not resist, and promptly ordered one. It was a fully assembled board and fits the Futaba Conquest case perfectly. It could also be fitted to any other case. It has some really good features such as 4-model memory and a really cool feature called "Auto Trim". This took some getting used to. What you do is fly the model straight and level and push the button. The servos drive in the direction that the sticks are displaced, so you need to gradually move the stick back to neutral. It is easier to do than describe, but the bottom line is that there are no trim levers.

Watching the surfaces and stepping the servos using the sticks does all the model setup. There are some LEDS to help but it was a complex process. I did not use it much until I saw a web site in the USA that was all about the ACE MP8000.

It turns out that the designers of my original encoder board developed the board and sold the rights to ACE. It was then sold in the US as the ACE MP8000. They also sold the newer board to be used in other radios. I got mine from a bloke here in Australia who had fitted it to an old Airtronics case.

So I got a used Futaba Conquest case and fitted the newer encoder. It has all of the features of the older set but now has a LCD display and 8-model memory. There are several timers and a battery voltage display and an alarm.

I had some printed aluminum labels made and it looks very professional.

The web site is http://mp8000.rcclubs.com/ It is mainly for users of the MP8000, but there has been a further development in the series by another fellow.

The latest encoder is called the MICROSTAR 2000. It was developed by Gordon Anderson and is a very sophisticated radio. I have built the encoder but still need to fit it to a case. I would like to use a Conquest but it is a very tight squeeze.

My other radios are both Futaba.

The first one is a 9VAP (left) that I have had since 1988. It has been a really reliable radio and has flown many models.

The last one is the radio I use most. It is a Futaba 9ZAP WC (right). I got it when I was in the US in 1999. I ordered it from a shop in Florida and had it shipped to my friend’s place and then carried it home. It uses the same modules as the 9VAP and so I got it without module or receiver. It can do just about anything. I have also fitted an add-on memory module made by Angelos Gonias who has a website at http://www.model-gadgets.com/.  This memory module is called Ultrapac and has memory for an extra 16 models.

So, adding up all of my radios, I have model memories for 47 Models!!!

I sometimes think to myself, 'do I really need all this stuff?' The answer is always NO, but it's a lot of fun!