Your dream retro non-radio gadget

[N2RJ]

I must confess, I've always wanted a Heathkit Hero 1. I would have even settled for a Hero Jr.

We never got one because it was so much money.

But I think if I find one on ebay in reasonably good condition I might consider getting it.

What's your favorite non-radio retro gadget that got away?

[WF7A]

When I was a kid, I had a wonderful plastic toy car that was rubberband powered; you'd wind up the rubberband by drawing the car backwards on a hard surface, hold the rear wheels so they wouldn't spin, then set the car down on the ground--it would tear forward and when it struck any object with its front bumper, its dozen or so pieces would fly apart in all directions. After that, you'd gather up the parts, snap them back together again in the right order/places, then wind the car up for another run.

It was mindless, destructive, fun entertainment for hours...though that sort of thing is frowned upon as an adult driving a real car. *Rats*

The other fun retro "toys" were plastic, scale model "see through", working kits like the Bell Huey helicopter, the Visible V-8, and my favorite, a WWII plane that dropped fake bombs, spun its prop, and raised and lowered its landing gear. (I can't remember whether it was a Spitfire or a Messerschmitt.)

But as for a toy I never got, it was the calcium carbide-powered cannon that made a BIG boom when you fired it off.

[N2RJ]

Ooooh yeah, matchbox cars... I made a lot of those!

[W5HTW]

1. A Harley '74'

2. A Sunbeam Tiger

3. A Beechcraft B36

4. Jacklyn Smith

Ed

[wa4brl]

1968 Shelby GT-500KR.

Perhaps like THIS one. (http://www.cars-on-line.com/28550.html)

[W1GUH]

That cool Heathkit Analog computer. #Not the one in the Apache cabinet, but the bigger one with the sloping front panel, all those op amps on the top, and scads of jacks, controls and stuff on the panel. #

Second would be the transmitter that never was, the Knight T-400.

As for toys, a steam engine driving a miniature shop.

As for the Big Bang cannon...I had one, and it was awesome. #They're still available, just google big bang cannon or "bansite" (The "ammo").

[wa4brl]

Quote[/b] (W5HTW @ July 05 2007,21:19)]3. #A Beechcraft B36
Ah, a man with class.

How about a model 17 Staggerwing? Oh yesssss.


http://www.oleyeller.com/StaggerWing_FL01.JPG

[kd5kfl]

A few years back, a friend was cleaning his house and found some very old packages, all wrapped up for Christmas. Got lost in the shuffle, in the '60s.

He and his brother got everything my brother and I wanted in '65. The gas station with the lift you could crank up. Walkie talkies, with the Morse code embossed in the case. Like that.

I had that Destructo car, too. 2 shades of funky green, '57 Ford if I remember correctly. Gnawed to death by a Cocker Spaniel.

[ka5piu]

Hello.

What was it with the biwing aircraft?
And, the Cessna 152, standard or taildragger, or both?
But, the gadget I always wanted was the Martian death ray.
The thing that left a white powder residue behind.
Still shopping for one. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KG6YTZ]

I wanted a Microdrive - not to be confused with the modern CF-type "microdrive" memory cards, BTW - for my Timex/Sinclair 1000.

I don't think they ever actually made it to market in the U.S., vanishing in a puff of vaporware as Timex bailed out of the personal computer business in 1984.

Link-a-doodle-dandy (http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/peripherals/microdrive.htm)

[KC2ESD]

I never got the Saturn V Model Rocket from Estes.

BTW N2RJ whats with the upside down Avator? Are you in Distress?

[n2ize]

Quote[/b] (WF7A @ July 05 2007,19:05)]When I was a kid, I had a wonderful plastic toy car that was rubberband powered; you'd wind up the rubberband by drawing the car backwards on a hard surface, hold the rear wheels so they wouldn't spin, then set the car down on the ground--it would tear forward and when it struck any object with its front bumper, its dozen or so pieces would fly apart in all directions. After that, you'd gather up the parts, snap them back together again in the right order/places, then wind the car up for another run.

It was mindless, destructive, fun entertainment for hours...though that sort of thing is frowned upon as an adult driving a real car. *Rats*

The other fun retro "toys" were plastic, scale model "see through", working kits like the Bell Huey helicopter, the Visible V-8, and my favorite, a WWII #plane that dropped fake bombs, spun its prop, and raised and lowered its landing gear. (I can't remember whether it was a Spitfire or a Messerschmitt.)

But as for a toy I never got, it was the calcium carbide-powered cannon that made a BIG boom when you fired it off.
Quote[/b] ]
When I was a kid, I had a wonderful plastic toy car that was rubberband powered; you'd wind up the rubberband by drawing the car backwards on a hard surface, hold the rear wheels so they wouldn't spin, then set the car down on the ground--it would tear forward and when it struck any object with its front bumper, its dozen or so pieces would fly apart in all directions. After that, you'd gather up the parts, snap them back together again in the right order/places, then wind the car up for another run.


Yes !! The "demolition car" !! I had one. A friend of mine had one and then I had to get one. For years it was available at dime stores (Woolworths), supermarkets, toy stores, candy stores and luncheonettes, etc. It came packed in one of those celluloid blister packs. There was a little spring you'd depress to "trigger the mechanism" Then you wind the band in reverse , let her rip and as soon as it would hit something it would demolish. Then you put it back together and do it again. Wish I still had it. Don't know if they make em anymore.
---------

When I was a kid I wanted a Wen-Mac gas powered airplane and a gas powered racer. Eventually I got a hand me down plane from one of my cousins but I could never get the motor to fire up. So I saved my allowance and my parents got me a Cox airplane. It was one of those trainer models that was held together with bands so that if you crashed it would fall apart avoiding breakage. Nonetheless I still spent many hours gluing it back together and ordering replacement parts. Eventualkly I graduated to building balsa wood models which were quite a bit larger but flew a whole lot better. I kept up with the hobby well into my 20's where we had a U Control model club. We flew everywhere, parks, on the beach, in the ocean, you name it. I occaisionally flew 2 planes at once (without crashing) and sometimes we'd have 4 or 6 or more planes in the air at once. It was pretty awesome.

Some of those big boom cannons are pretty expensive these days. In the old days they were dirt cheap.

[ac4ut]

Quote[/b] (wa4brl @ July 05 2007,19:25)]1968 Shelby GT-500KR.

Perhaps like THIS one. (http://www.cars-on-line.com/28550.html)
I always wanted, and still want a 1970 Shelby.The closet I got was 71 Mach I.
Someday!

[KI4VUP]

the BD-5

Linky (http://www.bd5.com/)

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (KC2ESD @ July 06 2007,02:39)]I never got the Saturn V Model Rocket from Estes.

BTW N2RJ whats with the upside down Avator? Are you in Distress?
Ham radio is in distress.

Damn no coders. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[AG3Y]

Thanks for the Staggerwing picture. #Best one I've see of it! # I have a balsa model just waiting for me to put together. # So much to do, and so little time !

I always wished that I had a quarter-scale RC model of some larger airplane such as a Corsair F4-U , AND the ability to fly it well ! #

It hasn't happend, YET ! #

73, Jim

[ve2nsm]

Quote[/b] (n2ize @ July 06 2007,06:38)]Quote[/b] (WF7A @ July 05 2007,19:05)]When I was a kid, I had a wonderful plastic toy car that was rubberband powered; you'd wind up the rubberband by drawing the car backwards on a hard surface, hold the rear wheels so they wouldn't spin, then set the car down on the ground--it would tear forward and when it struck any object with its front bumper, its dozen or so pieces would fly apart in all directions. After that, you'd gather up the parts, snap them back together again in the right order/places, then wind the car up for another run.

It was mindless, destructive, fun entertainment for hours...though that sort of thing is frowned upon as an adult driving a real car. *Rats*

The other fun retro "toys" were plastic, scale model "see through", working kits like the Bell Huey helicopter, the Visible V-8, and my favorite, a WWII plane that dropped fake bombs, spun its prop, and raised and lowered its landing gear. (I can't remember whether it was a Spitfire or a Messerschmitt.)

But as for a toy I never got, it was the calcium carbide-powered cannon that made a BIG boom when you fired it off.
Quote[/b] ]
When I was a kid, I had a wonderful plastic toy car that was rubberband powered; you'd wind up the rubberband by drawing the car backwards on a hard surface, hold the rear wheels so they wouldn't spin, then set the car down on the ground--it would tear forward and when it struck any object with its front bumper, its dozen or so pieces would fly apart in all directions. After that, you'd gather up the parts, snap them back together again in the right order/places, then wind the car up for another run.


Yes !! The "demolition car" !! I had one. A friend of mine had one and then I had to get one. For years it was available at dime stores (Woolworths), supermarkets, toy stores, candy stores and luncheonettes, etc. It came packed in one of those celluloid blister packs. There was a little spring you'd depress to "trigger the mechanism" Then you wind the band in reverse , let her rip and as soon as it would hit something it would demolish. Then you put it back together and do it again. Wish I still had it. Don't know if they make em anymore.
---------

When I was a kid I wanted a Wen-Mac gas powered airplane and a gas powered racer. Eventually I got a hand me down plane from one of my cousins but I could never get the motor to fire up. So I saved my allowance and my parents got me a Cox airplane. It was one of those trainer models that was held together with bands so that if you crashed it would fall apart avoiding breakage. Nonetheless I still spent many hours gluing it back together and ordering replacement parts. Eventualkly I graduated to building balsa wood models which were quite a bit larger but flew a whole lot better. I kept up with the hobby well into my 20's where we had a U Control model club. We flew everywhere, parks, on the beach, in the ocean, you name it. I occaisionally flew 2 planes at once (without crashing) and sometimes we'd have 4 or 6 or more planes in the air at once. It was pretty awesome.

Some of those big boom cannons are pretty expensive these days. In the old days they were dirt cheap.
I did not have the rubber band model, but the gyro type, later, in the late 70's


http://www.gearheadrecords.com/site/img/detail/RPM041.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/28/41730231_78d602d611_o.jpg
http://www.timewarptoys.com/sstocker.jpg
http://www.vintagetoyroom.com/review/img/sspallRev1.jpg

[wa4brl]

Quote[/b] (KC2ESD @ July 06 2007,02:39)]I never got the Saturn V Model Rocket from Estes.
We're together on that one. #I've been totally fascinated by the Saturn V since I watched the first test launch live on CBS. #I remember Walter Cronkite calling for the producer to help him hold the ceiling tiles in place as the broadcast booth was shaking apart from the noise. #A couple of years later I was building and flying many Estes and Century kits, building up in size as I gained experience. #About a year earlier in '69 I had built the Revell plastic model kit (non flying) which was 1:96 scale. #This made for an impressive 45" tall display with plenty of detail. #I really wanted to build and fly that Estes Saturn V kit, but I just couldn't get past the purchase price (and the risk of losing or ruining it in a flight).

From the movie "Apollo 13" and the HBO series "From the Earth to the Moon" my son developed his own fascination with the Apollo program and the Saturn V. #In 1996, when he was in 6th grade, he asked me if we could build a Saturn V model for a school project. #I said "Not unless we could make it ridiculously large." #Of course, he ate that up! #

I went for a scale that would result in the largest size that could be displayed vertically in our house (8.5' ceilings). #That was 1:48. #I drew it up on CAD and built it out of a 1" PVC spine, ring "bulkheads" of posterboard, and exterior skins of posterboard. #Indeed, I scrunched the scale down to about 1:50 to match the size of standard posterboard so that one would do the "circumference wrap" of the S1 lower stage. #For the display base we used the bottom of a broken torcheire lamp and about 18" of it's pole.

This is how it turned out:


http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/ebef2be514.jpg
SATURN V


We impressed everyone with this thing -- including ourselves!

P.S.: #I took this photo today, and it shows the wear and tear of taking it to school and back (twice), movingto NC, and my son's showing it of to many friends (probably its toughest challenge). #The escape tower was broken off as are the small fins of the S4B. #After all that, it's still rather impressive.

[KC2ESD]

Holy Crap thats a big model. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[n2ize]

Quote[/b] (ve2nsm @ July 06 2007,21:13)]Quote[/b] (n2ize @ July 06 2007,06:38)]Quote[/b] (WF7A @ July 05 2007,19:05)]When I was a kid, I had a wonderful plastic toy car that was rubberband powered; you'd wind up the rubberband by drawing the car backwards on a hard surface, hold the rear wheels so they wouldn't spin, then set the car down on the ground--it would tear forward and when it struck any object with its front bumper, its dozen or so pieces would fly apart in all directions. After that, you'd gather up the parts, snap them back together again in the right order/places, then wind the car up for another run.

It was mindless, destructive, fun entertainment for hours...though that sort of thing is frowned upon as an adult driving a real car. *Rats*

The other fun retro "toys" were plastic, scale model "see through", working kits like the Bell Huey helicopter, the Visible V-8, and my favorite, a WWII #plane that dropped fake bombs, spun its prop, and raised and lowered its landing gear. (I can't remember whether it was a Spitfire or a Messerschmitt.)

But as for a toy I never got, it was the calcium carbide-powered cannon that made a BIG boom when you fired it off.
Quote[/b] ]
When I was a kid, I had a wonderful plastic toy car that was rubberband powered; you'd wind up the rubberband by drawing the car backwards on a hard surface, hold the rear wheels so they wouldn't spin, then set the car down on the ground--it would tear forward and when it struck any object with its front bumper, its dozen or so pieces would fly apart in all directions. After that, you'd gather up the parts, snap them back together again in the right order/places, then wind the car up for another run.


Yes !! The "demolition car" !! I had one. A friend of mine had one and then I had to get one. For years it was available at dime stores (Woolworths), supermarkets, toy stores, candy stores and luncheonettes, etc. #It came packed in one of those celluloid blister packs. There was a little spring you'd depress to "trigger the mechanism" Then you wind the band in reverse , let her rip and as soon as it would hit something it would demolish. Then you put it back together and do it again. Wish I still had it. Don't know if they make em anymore.
---------

When I was a kid I wanted a Wen-Mac gas powered airplane and a gas powered racer. Eventually I got a hand me down plane from one of my cousins but I could never get the motor to fire up. So I saved my allowance and my parents got me a Cox airplane. It was one of those trainer models that was held together with bands so that if you crashed it would fall apart avoiding breakage. Nonetheless I still spent many hours gluing it back together and ordering replacement parts. Eventualkly I graduated to building balsa wood models which were quite a bit larger but flew a whole lot better. I kept up with the hobby well into my 20's where we had a U Control model club. We flew everywhere, parks, on the beach, in the ocean, you name it. I occaisionally flew 2 planes at once (without crashing) and sometimes we'd have 4 or 6 or more planes in the air at once. It was pretty awesome.

Some of those big boom cannons are pretty expensive these days. In the old days they were dirt cheap.
I did not have the rubber band model, but the gyro type, later, in the late 70's


http://www.gearheadrecords.com/site/img/detail/RPM041.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/28/41730231_78d602d611_o.jpg
http://www.timewarptoys.com/sstocker.jpg
http://www.vintagetoyroom.com/review/img/sspallRev1.jpg
I even remember the song that went along with the ad for that set on TV...

"Well he's drivin his old junker and he's lookin fer a wreck. He'll smash a car, he'll smash a truck or anything by heck...".