| #1 RC10 Graphite!
In 1989 I bought an RC10 Graphite, with my buddy's Visa card,
over the phone, from Tower Hobbies.
I was in the US Navy at the time. My buddy had a Tamiya Frog.
I was amazed by it. I set out to learn about these RC cars
and acquire one for myself. First stop: the magazine section
at the hobby shop on the Norfolk Naval Base. I picked up an
RC Car Action and pretty much had the reaction of an 8 year
old, only I had a "job". In the back of the magazine
were eye catching ads from Tower Hobbies, which was promoting
the brand new RC10 Graphite. I had no credit cards, but was
lucky to have a friend with one of these magic things. So
we ordered an RC10 Graphite kit, a Futaba Magnum Jr. radio
and a Protec something or another charger (704?).
That was the beginning of a long era that has yet to
pass. Today I buy RC kits and enjoy them quite a lot, but
nothing quite rivals the excitement of that first time. So
like people getting old (in their own mind, I suppose) tend
to do, I sought after some of those old kits a few years ago.
eBay seems to be particularly well suited for acquiring things
from your past. Somewhere, someone has what you had. I bought
a few old RC10 kits. Some MIB, even. And I built them! You
can see some of these kits elsewhere on my tattered, half-assed
website. One day, out of the blue, I get an email through
eBay. It is from nobody I know of, but he mentions that I
might be interested in a particular auction.
I think it took me about 30
seconds to click the dreaded "buy it now" button
Perhaps I hit the button too soon? I kept thinking
myself a fool. $450 for a old, outdated, RC car? Crazy!
I set off to figure out the real deal. Was this really the
very first kit?
I posted the story of my
acquisition on the then popular RCCA bulletin board and
I was happy to discover some proof. Thanks to Mike Ogle for
the responses! People on the forum suggested I just simply
call Associated, the makers of the RC10 Graphite and
ask about it. So I did. A very nice lady, Julie Hustings answered.
She thought it was a cool story and asked that I email her
the details, etc. So I did that as well. We
had a nice email exchange that pretty much put to rest
any of the doubts I may have had. Plus I got a nice calendar!
I thought a bit more of the story might be nice for when I
FINALLY built a web page about this car, or sold it (heaven
forbid), so I asked the seller from eBay to write up a little
something for me. Here is the exchange between Ken and myself:
One more favor! Could you write up a short something
on the history of this kit? Please add as much detail
as your are comfortable with. I will use what you write
on my web page when I show off this kit.
Todd
The guy from Associated nailed it. No one even tried
to outbid me once I met the 250.00 reserve. I knew the
kit was from Associated because I mailed the cashiers
check to their address. I wish that I would have kept
all the the details of the transaction. About the only
thing I remember is in the description he mentioned
something like "You can be a part of rc history!"......
About the only thing I can really
say about it is that I bought it
and put in the show case at Alfie's, our local hobby
shop. It sat in there until I saw the other graphite
sell for 400.00, and I figured it was time to sell.
My friend told me I should put a $500.00 reserve on
it. I am glad that you bought it. I wanted more people
to see it, and not many were able to with it being at
Alfie's. Maybe you can mention my name and Alfie's in
your article, even though I don't have a lot to offer
in the way of a history on the car.
I look forward to seeing it on your website. Please
keep in touch and let
me know when you have it on there.
Ken |
That exchange happened in February of 2002, a few days short
of 5 years ago from today. I am happy, but not very proud
to say that I have FINALLY written a web page for this kit.
Apparently I was not in a hurry. I still have this kit. It
sees the light of day once a while. Perhaps it needs a display
case or something. Nah, that would be silly :)
And now for the pics. It is all about the pics.
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