Taiyo Controller and Tyco Controller Types from 1970s-2000s
Here is a list of Taiyo RC (Japan) controllers, also sold as Tyco R/C, Dickie Toys, Metro RC, some Radio Shack, and others.
If you are looking for a controller that will work with your vintage RC toy from one of these companies, follow this process:
1. Search our site for your RC to get a photo of the controller you’re looking for.
2. Confirm the frequency you need, typically there’s a sticker on the side of the vehicle. 27Mhz, 49Mhz, and sometimes 40Mhz (UK).
3. Identify other perhaps more common RC that use the same controller. Almost all RC cars on our site have the controller type documented, making this easier. Use the desktop version of the website, as you can search based on controller type.
4. Head off to eBay with your list of RC that have the controller you’re looking for!
Note: while it’s possible that two controllers that look the same may have a different chip inside, it’s unlikely from my experience. Usually they’d only update the electronics when they were updating the controller design.
A – Radio Racer 48
- Late 70s
- No On/Off
- RHS Branding (48)
B – Super Radio Racer
- Late 70s-Early 80s
- Similar to A0 but with front switch, square chrome.
- Super Radio Racer marking
C – R88 4 Circles
- Early 80s
- Horizontal switch
- Full Size Branding (88)
D2 – Left Antenna LED
- 1982
- ‘Speaker grille’
- Left-side antenna
- Power LED
- Small RHS Branding
E- Two Knobs Hard Antenna
- 1986
- Turbo mode
- Hard Antenna
- 2 knobs on top left/right.
- Centre Branding
F – Two Knobs Wire Antenna
- 1986
- Small, No Turbo
- Wire Antenna
- 2 knobs on top left/right.
- Centre Branding
G – Future Use
H – Dickie Cat
- 1986
- Hard antenna
- Dickie Jeep Renegade
- Small Centre Branding
I – Updated 4 Circles
- 1987
- Includes ‘Turbo’ mode
- Hard antenna
- Full Size Branding
J1 – PistolGrip
- 1987
- Turbo mode
- Hard antenna
- Pistol Grip
J2- PistolGrip HG/HandGuard
- 1987
- Turbo mode
- Hard Antenna
- Pistol Grip
- Handguard
K – Cheap Small Horizontal Switch
- 1988
- Very Small
- Wire antenna
- Lower cost models.
- Full Size Branding
K1 – Cheap Small No Switch
The worst (K) controller, but they removed the switch!
K2 – Cheap Small NoSwitch NoTurn
This is now a fake controller.
Not only did the accountants decide we didn’t need an on/off switch, in this version our RC controller doesn’t even need to turn! That’s right, the Left/Right stick here is fixed to only turn right, and upon pressing it, the car will… go backwards and turn 90 degrees. Genius! Oh and, no paint too.
L – Chrome with Handle
- 1990
- Turbo Mode
- Hard antenna
- Chrome handle
- ‘Turbo Power’ light up
- Full Size Short Branding
M – Chrome Sticker Wire
- 1991
- Wire antenna
- Red Sticker (no LED)
- Small
- Full Size Branding
N – Chrome LED
- 1991
- Hard antenna
- LED
- Full Size Branding
O- Chrome TycoNo1
- 1992
- Hard Antenna
- “Tyco is No.1”
- LED
O2 – Chrome Tyco Wire
- 1996
- Wire antenna
- LED
- Full Size Branding
P1 – Curvy with Switch
- 1996
- Wire Antenna
- Switch
- LED
- Full Area Branding
P2 – Curvy without Switch
- 1999
- Wire Antenna
- No Switch
- LED
- Full Area Branding
Q – China Axxx Series
- 2003
- Wire antenna
- No LED
- No Switch?
R – Micro PistolGrip
- Wire antenna
- No LED
- Used in Forward / Reverse-Turn models
S – Radican
- Wire antenna
- No LED
- Used in Forward / Reverse-Turn models
T – CUSTOMAX Controller
- Solid antenna
- With Turbo function
U – Motora-Wave
- 2 Channel / 2 Switch
- Forward and reverse turn only
V – Asahi
- Gamepad style
- Manufactured by Asahi for the Tyco Monster Traxx.
W – Direction Buttons
- Mid 2000s
- Rocker switches instead of control sticks
- Used in Roll Cage, Terrain Twister, etc.
X – Micro Controller
- Single Lever Design – Easy for Kids
- Unlikely to be a Taiyo product? Manufactured for Mattel.
