Nicely restored MRP “Waterheater” Skater Catamaran and an original.
Scale Replica: Modeled after the full-size offshore racing catamaran featuring a distinct triple-outboard engine setup that competed in the American Powerboat Association (APBA).
Collectibility: Considered a "holy grail" or unicorn find among vintage RC boat collectors, with enthusiasts frequently posting on forums and communities searching for surviving hulls or complete kits.
The Kyosho Jackson is a vintage radio-controlled electric outboard motor produced in the 1980s. Built with a nylon body, aluminum details, and an adjustable die-cast transom motor mount.
Motor Sizes: Offered in two main brushed motor variants - the smaller 380 size (often geared down) and the larger, more powerful 540 size (with a 1:1 gear ratio). To lose.
Era: Introduced in the mid-1980s (around 1986–1987).
Drive System: Utilized a flexible cable or bevel gear transmission running through the lower unit to spin the propeller.
Collectibility: Highly sought after by vintage RC boat collectors and restorers.
K&B Aurora Mercury Marine Championship Race Boat
K&B Manufacturing: Founded in 1946 by John Brodbeck and Lou Kading, K&B became a premier American producer of high-performance model airplane and marine engines. During periods of corporate ownership under Aurora Plastics in the mid-20th century, top-tier hobby items were sometimes co-branded or associated with the K&B Aurora name.
Scale Mercury Outboards: While K&B built actual functional nitro/glow-powered marine outboard engines (such as the popular 3.5cc, 7.5cc, and 11cc/.67 outboards used on tunnel-hull race boats), highly detailed promotional or display miniature models of Mercury outboards (like the Mark 55 or Mark 75) were famously produced by companies like K&O (Kiekhaefer-Omnia / K&O Models) as dealer display items.
K&B nitro marine and outboard RC boat motors are available through MECOA, which manufactures the classic engine lines.
Founded in the 1940s, K&B became a high-performance standard for American RC boating and racing. The brand is currently owned and manufactured by MECOA (Model Engine Company of America).
Engine Types: Famous for both inboard marine engines and realistic nitro outboard lower-unit legs (such as the popular 3.5cc, 7.5cc, and 11cc/.67 models).
Design Features: Many classic K&B marine outboards feature unique clockwise rotation (matching full-scale outboards), Schnürle porting, and ABC piston/liner constructions.
Availability: Brand-new parts and select current production outboards can be purchased directly via MECOA Online, while vintage or used assemblies (like the K&B 3.5cc and 7.5cc) frequently trade on secondary marketplaces.
LOVE these. Don’t have any yet…yet. 😁
K&O toy outboard motors were highly detailed, die-cast metal, battery-operated scale models produced from roughly 1952 to 1962.
K&O, Inc. (originally K & O Models Inc.) started as a small toy importer and manufacturer based in Van Nuys, California.
While designed and marketed in the U.S., the precision die-cast aluminum motors were actually manufactured in Japan.
The craze began in 1954 when K&O produced a scale model of the 25 h.p. Evinrude Big Twin. Real-world outboard dealers loved having miniature replicas to display on counters or sell to enthusiasts.
Partnerships and RealismOMC and Mercury: K&O secured official licensing and permissions from major manufacturers like Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC-makers of Johnson and Evinrude) and Mercury.
Faithful Details: Each year, K&O updated the cowlings, paint colors, shapes, and authentic decals to match the real full-sized outboard engines hitting the water.
Functionality: Powered by small external batteries (often styled to look like miniature 1950s jerry cans), these electric motors actually spun their propellers and could realistically drive model boats across a pond. You can learn more about these scale replicas through the Toy Outboards History overview.
Decline and LegacyEnd of Metal Era: By 1962, changing toy market trends—partly driven by the space-toy boom and rising production costs—led K&O to cease production of the die-cast metal line.
The Craftmaster Transition: The company changed hands, was renamed Craftmaster, and shifted toward all-plastic models that lacked the weight, precision, and collectibility of the original metal pieces.
Collector Value: Today, original die-cast K&O outboards in good condition are prized vintage collectibles, trading anywhere from $100 to several thousand dollars depending on rarity and whether they include their original boxes and display stands.
