Not every gadget in a Bond film comes from Q Branch. In The World Is Not Enough, one of the props that matters is a consumer walkie-talkie that anybody could buy at the time. The Motorola TalkAbout TA280 SLK is small, black and silver, and still easy to find second-hand, which makes it the most affordable prop in this collection.
In the film
Elektra King, played by Sophie Marceau, uses the radio to stay in touch with Renard, and she uses it to warn him to dive before Bond shoots her. Pierce Brosnan’s Bond also uses a TalkAbout later in the film, with more screen time than the Motorola HT1250 professional radio. Our catalogue records the black and silver version with a built-in rechargeable NiMH battery and a TalkAbout logo with a capital T and A as the screen-accurate one.
The details of the Motorola TalkAbout TA280 SLK
Small and light. The TA280 is an FRS radio, a licence-free short-range type, and one retailer describes it as Motorola’s smallest and lightest of its kind. With three AA alkaline batteries it weighs 6.05 ounces, and the maker’s manual covers both the rechargeable NiMH pack and AA cells.
Short range. The same retailer quotes up to 2 miles of range depending on conditions, at 0.5 watts. That is a radio for a ski slope or a campsite, not a mission.
Colours. TalkAbout radios of this series came in several colours. Elektra’s is black and silver, so check the colour in any listing, as blue and silver versions are sold too.
Owning it now
This is a prop to enjoy rather than a tool to rely on. Buy a pair if you want to use them, since a single radio has nobody to talk to, and buy for condition: look for an intact battery cover, a clean display and a working charger. Many listings are for parts or untested, and those are best avoided unless you want spares.
Price. Our catalogue notes second-hand TA280 radios selling for around $20 to $40. The TA280 is out of production, so the buy button searches eBay.
Battery. Replacement compatible batteries are sold for the TA280, which matters because the original rechargeable packs are old. Fit a new one and charge it fully before first use.
Specifications
| Model | Motorola TalkAbout TA280 SLK |
|---|---|
| Type | Two-way FRS radio |
| Colour on screen | Black and silver |
| Power | Rechargeable NiMH pack or 3 AA alkaline batteries |
| Weight | 6.05 ounces with 3 AA alkaline batteries (retailer figure) |
| Range | Up to 2 miles, conditions permitting (retailer figure) |
| Availability | Out of production; second-hand around US$20 to US$40 |
Questions
Which radio does Elektra King use in The World Is Not Enough?
She uses a black and silver Motorola TalkAbout TA280 SLK to stay in touch with Renard. Bond uses a TalkAbout radio later in the film.
Is the Motorola TA280 still made?
No. It is out of production, but plenty of second-hand examples are sold, usually in pairs or as parts lots.
How far does the TA280 reach?
A retailer quotes up to 2 miles in good conditions, with 0.5 watts of power.
What should I check before buying a TA280?
Check the colour is black and silver, that the battery cover is intact and the display works, and whether the listing includes a charger.
More props are collected under Gadgets and Electronics, and the film is on the film page.
