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Going for Gold !?!
Posted: 25 Nov 2022, 21:53
by stuart mackay
Yes I know it is a Kraft 4 channel proportional with Bonner sticks on 27 MHz, but there the knowledge stops.
So calling Messrs Kitchen, Christy, Green and Garrity and of course, Mr Mendoza for more info please??
Re: Going for Gold !?!
Posted: 26 Nov 2022, 12:35
by stuart mackay
Found it here
http://www.radiocontrolhalloffame.org/E ... index.html
It looks like it is a Kraft KP-4B from 1966!
Remarkable that it has survived so well in its 57 years of existence?
Next job is to fit some new batteries and see if the servos waggle!
Re: Going for Gold !?!
Posted: 26 Nov 2022, 12:51
by Pchristy
Not quite sure what you're looking for Stuart, but there is some technical info on early Kraft digital systems here:
https://vintagercfiles.com/Files/Kraft/
Kraft spent (wasted?) a lot of time developing an analogue system before finally throwing in the towel and going digital. I think the first generation sets (1964?) used open-gimbal sticks, so this might be the slightly later (1966?) version.
The Bonner sticks were used by pretty much everyone making radio gear at one point or another, and whilst they had some quirks, they were robust, and the Allen Bradley pots are superb! I have never had to clean the pots on my original Bonner Digimite-8!
The servos are Kraft's own, and were a lot quicker than their contemporaries. They were also used by the first generation Skyleader-4 and 6 here in the UK. I never handled a Kraft set, but one of my flying buddies had the Skyleader with Kraft servos. They were very quick, but also quite fragile compared to the Bonner and Orbit servos as I recall. I also remember him spending a lot of time cleaning the pots in them to keep them running smoothly.
Jay Mendoza will have more "hands on" experience with these sets than most of us in the UK, where they were very expensive pieces of equipment!
Hope this helps!
--
Pete
Re: Going for Gold !?!
Posted: 26 Nov 2022, 13:01
by stuart mackay
Pchristy wrote: 26 Nov 2022, 12:51
Not quite sure what you're looking for Stuart, but there is some technical info on early Kraft digital systems here:
https://vintagercfiles.com/Files/Kraft/
Kraft spent (wasted?) a lot of time developing an analogue system before finally throwing in the towel and going digital. I think the first generation sets (1964?) used open-gimbal sticks, so this might be the slightly later (1966?) version.
The Bonner sticks were used by pretty much everyone making radio gear at one point or another, and whilst they had some quirks, they were robust, and the Allen Bradley pots are superb! I have never had to clean the pots on my original Bonner Digimite-8!
The servos are Kraft's own, and were a lot quicker than their contemporaries. They were also used by the first generation Skyleader-4 and 6 here in the UK. I never handled a Kraft set, but one of my flying buddies had the Skyleader with Kraft servos. They were very quick, but also quite fragile compared to the Bonner and Orbit servos as I recall. I also remember him spending a lot of time cleaning the pots in them to keep them running smoothly.
Jay Mendoza will have more "hands on" experience with these sets than most of us in the UK, where they were very expensive pieces of equipment!
Hope this helps!
--
Pete
Great stuff, Pete, as ever!
Some info that I found on the KP-4B
Re: Going for Gold !?!
Posted: 10 Jul 2023, 15:01
by stuart mackay
Here is the Micro Avionic sticked version I found a few weeks ago and now have created the early Kraft Logo to revive it!
Available here if anyone else needs one!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134505588034
Re: Going for Gold !?!
Posted: 10 Jul 2023, 23:54
by Shaun
Looks authentic Stu.
Re: Going for Gold !?!
Posted: 11 Jul 2023, 13:05
by Mike_K
It looks good Stuart, I prefer the Micro Avionics sticks to the Bonner, so, in my opinion, that's the best Kraft of the era.
Are you going to convert it?
Re: Going for Gold !?!
Posted: 16 Jul 2023, 22:13
by stuart mackay
Mike_K wrote: 11 Jul 2023, 13:05
It looks good Stuart, I prefer the Micro Avionics sticks to the Bonner, so, in my opinion, that's the best Kraft of the era.
Are you going to convert it?
That's the plan Mike!
