It’s always cool to see our favorite hobby get a bit of notice in other more mainstream pastimes like movies, tv, and full scale racing.  Today brings a bit of attention to one of the biggest and oldest names in R/C, Kyosho.  Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation 3 is coming this November, and it will be appearing in multiple editions.  The Collector’s Edition includes all kinds of extra goodies, including the Kyosho made 1/43 scale die-cast replica of a 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V with a Gran Turismo paint job designed by Gran Turismo’s creators, Polyphony Digital.  Unfortunately it’s not an R/C car, but it’s still cool that Kyosho was involved.

This isn’t the first time that Polyphony Digital has had dealings with R/C companies with their Gran Turismo franchise.  HPI Racing and Polyphony created a special edition E10 chassis with a Ford GT body decked out in Gran Turismo style with the release of Gran Turismo Prologue.

Check out the PlayStation Blog for more info about Kyosho’s special edition collectible.

I missed this one because I’ve been overly excited about E3 (Sony had a couple nice surprises at their keynote today, if you missed it head to GameTrailers for the replay).  Sorry about that.  Anywho, Kyosho has a new 1/18 scale 4wd Buggy in the Mini Inferno.  The Mini Inferno is a scaled down version of it’s bigger brother, the 1/8 scale Inferno and is said to match it in performance and quality.  It’s got a shaft driven drive train with three differentials, a slipper clutch, and a full set of ball-bearings.  It’s also fully RTR with a Perfex KT-6 transmitter and full size radio gear installed.

One thing that stands out on the Mini Inferno is that it includes a special battery box for the car that allows you to use full size unassembled AA batteries, instead of the much more common 2/3A size packs.  Most full size AA NiMHs offer nearly double the capacity of 2/3As.

For more info and specs check out Kyosho’s web site.

Well, today must be a day that ends in Y because Kyosho has announced another Mini-Z.  Their new MA-010 AWD SP Limited kit is another limited edition (only 2000 will be made before the molds are thrown into a violently erupting volcano and lost forever!) Mini-Z.  This one is in kit form and requires the separate purchase of the receiver/esc unit so you can pick which radio system you want to use, the old 27 MHz or the shiny new 2.4 GHz, the choice is yours.  The MA-010 also includes some optional parts with the kit, including a ball bearing set, aluminum motor mount, and front ball diff set.  In addition to the radio gear, you’ll also have to provide a body from the Auto Scale Collection and the usual round-up of batteries.

This new Mini-Z should be on shelves now or very soon.  Check out the Kyosho web site for more info.

Kyosho’s solid axled, stylish, monster truck, the Mad Force Kruiser, is getting a makeover.  The Mad Force Kruiser VE readyset is ready to go with a ton of brushless power.  It features Team Orion’s Vortex brushless system with a 2000 Kv motor.  Other features include hardened steel diffs, a shaft and chain drive train, full ball bearings, and a sealed radio box.  The Mad Force Kruiser VE is built to run off of 4S LiPo power.

No MSRP is mentioned, but it should be hitting hobby shop shelves in September.  Check out the Kyosho web site for more info.

Kyosho has a high-end addition to the Mini-Z line.  The new MR-03N JSCC Edition is a limited run chassis with all kinds of option parts included as standard.  A few of the options include a full ball bearing set, ball differential set, rear oil filled shock set, and carbon fiber friction shock set.  The chassis is also compatible with the full line of Mini Z Auto Scale bodies, so pick any body you want and pop it on with minimal fuss.  The 2.4 GHz KT-18 transmitter is also included, you’ll only need to provide the body and batteries to get the chassis ready to drive.

The MR-03N JSCC should be hitting shelves in June, no MSRP is given, but will probably be around $200 based on the prices of other limited edition Mini-Zs.  Check Kyosho’s site for more info.

Kyosho is taking their Ultima SC RTR and turning it into a full blown race kit called the Ultima SC-R. Not a lot of info is available right now, but they do say that it’s going to be loaded with high performance parts from the other Ultima race kits like velvet coated shocks, a ball differential, and teflon shielded bearings. More info should be coming in July, but for now go check out the Kyosho web site.

More news from the Shizuoka Hobby Show.  Kyosho is showing off a new version of the well known Inferno MP9.  The T.K.I. 2 is going to be Kyosho’s new flagship 1/8 scale buggy, destined to be sitting atop podiums around the world.  There isn’t much other info about this new buggy yet, but it will be available in a kit form and as a RTR “Spec A” option that is preassembled and then quality checked by master driver and head of Kyosho’s 1/8 scale buggy department Yuuichi Kanai. It will be interesting to see if the MP9 TKI 2 will have the impact that the original Kanai version did.

Thanks to Hobby Media.it for the info.

Courtesy of our friends at Hobby Media.It we have some hands-on pictures of Kyosho’s recently announced nitro powered Formula-1 car, the KF01-GP, from the Shizuoka Hobby Show.  It’s a fine looking automobile, even if it doesn’t conform to the new full-scale F1 specs.

New from Kyosho is the KF01 GP Formula 1 nitro vehicle! It’s got a 3mm aluminum chassis, and come in kit form, though I believe it will include a Siro motor. So all you need is electronics and a starter. I haven’t seen anyone racing Formula 1 at the local on-road truck, but it would be cool to see.

You can hit the Kyosho America site for more details.

Here’s Kyosho’s next entry in their popular and championship winning Inferno line. The Inferno NEO is a complete RTR package, all you need is a glow igniter, batteries for the radio gear, and nitro. It comes loaded with a GX21BK big block engine, the same wheels as on the MP9 competition Inferno, a new super air flow body, and tons more. The included radio is the Perfex KT-6 system, which is a 2 channel, 27 MHz radio (why no 2.4GHz?!).

Start bugging your local hobby shop about this towards the end of May.  Hit up Kyosho’s web site for more info and pictures.

Geezuss I’m getting tired of lame “teaser” press releases. A fine example of this was the tease put out by our broken English speaking friends at Kyosho America a couple weeks ago. The promise was “Something BIG” was coming from them. What did it turn out to be? Well the “BIG” news was that Kyosho America was opening up a Mini-Z track inside their facility. Arrgghhhh….. To me “BIG” news from Kyosho is a totally revamped 8th scale buggy featuring liquid cooling and EFI for the engine, and some way super dope laid down shocks that use a linkage for rising rate, remote reservoirs and eternal damping clickers. Just say’n…

The official BigSquid bashing squad hit an event hosted by Slot and Wing Hobbies in Champaign Illinois this weekend (look for event coverage in the next couple days). I was unable to attend, but the BigSquid crew came back ranting and raving just how much fun they had long jumping and mud slinging. I think a lot of people forget just how much fun bashing is. Anyways, we got to talking about why there aren’t more bashing events put on and why there aren’t any dedicated bash only tracks. Perhaps hobby shops think there is no money to be made by putting on bashing events? The Slot and Wing event had good attendance, as has BigSquids own Bash-A-Paloozas, and the No Limit RC events are always huge. Maybe if you are a shop owner you could (and should) consider catering more to the bashing crowd instead of the hardcore (and very vocal) racing guys? There are way more bashers than racers floating around out there. Hint hint…

That’s it for this week, as always support your local hobby shops, tracks and bash spots!

YOUR Cub Reporter

This image popped up on Kyosho America’s web site. It’s pointing to an announcement of something big on May 1st. So what kind of big thing might it be? Could it be 1/5 scale gasser big? Or are they trying to be all ironical and the BIG announcement could end up being something small? Who knows. I guess we’ll all find out in about two weeks. Anybody got any spy pics?

JConcepts is giving the new Kyosho Ultima SC some love today. They have announced that their very popular Illuzion Dare and Illuzion Manta bodies, which have been dressing up the Slash and SC10 since those heady early days of the short course class, are also a direct fit for Kyosho’s hot new entry in the short course arena.

The Manta features modern short course styling and an optional rear spoiler, while the Dare is patterned after the larger Baja style desert trucks with huge racks of lights on the front bumper and visor. Both bodies have extra fender clearance for using the lastest tire and wheel combos and come with window masks, decal sheets, and overspray film. MSRP for the Manta is $42.00 and the Dare is $40.00, check with your local hobby shop for availability.

These are some great looking bodies, those of you that have a Kyosho Ultima SC should give them a peek. Click through to JConcepts’ site for more info.

Hey Cub-ster,
I know you guys are all about bashing and so am I (hence the reason I bought a Savage X as my first RC in twenty years and is my first nitro truck, I love it!). However, I am thinking about getting into RC racing and I think a good place to begin would be 2WD stock CORR events at a local track. Which truck is better between the Associated SC10, Traxxas Slash and the HPI Blitz? How about a shoot-out between the three?

Also, I know batteries have come a long way since I was a kid with a Tamiya Hornet but the batteries out now are making me nervous about making the jump from nitro to electric. The battery performance that I remember as a kid (run for 20 minutes then back in the house for four hours to recharge) and the cost of extra batteries are keeping me from plunking down my hard earned cashola! Please help!

Thanks,
Dean T. (aka- Captain Khaos)
—–
Well hello Captain Khaos, that’s a true bashers handle right there. I think my wife might call me that at times after jumping my Revo off the roof of my house and accidentally landing on top of her Audi. But such is life……

Btw, CORR died a very sad death. The CORR sanctioning body folded before they even got to hold there season finale event a couple years ago, which left a lot of driver, spectators, and sponsors with a bad taste in their mouths. Two new sanction bodies have picked up the flag since then, The Lucas Oil Series (that AE is involved with) and the TORC Series (that Traxxas is Huge into). So instead of using the CORR label, using the term short course works a lot better.

The 2wd short course class is a great class to get into. All the trucks are pretty durable and you just can’t beat how damn cool they look going around the track. So what’s the best SC truck to race with?

If your local track has very low traction and is fairly rough, the Slash is still a great bet. Traxxas really hit a sweet set-up right out of the box. The progressive springs and light compression and rebound damping work great right out of the box on the slick stuff. The only weak spot are those pesky shock caps that like to come off at the worst possible moment, but that is easily fixed by putting metal caps on (assuming your local track allows that mod, most tracks do).

If your local track is high bite and smooth, or you plan on racing mod, the HPI Blitz is the truck to get. The Blitz has class leading mechanical grip in the corners, and it’s a lot easier to get a good set-up on it than the AE SC10. To boil it down, it’s super easy to drive, and it’s just plain fast. Races are won in the corners, and the Blitz has class leading corner speed on high bite tracks. The main downside to the Blitz is the steering. If someone is a total noob, the stock steering is awesome as it’s set up to not steer too quickly. If you are an experienced driver, you’ll be looking for a higher torque servo and a tighter turning radius. Throw in a servo with at least 100 oz/in of torque, and do a little grinding on the front hubs and hub carriers to gain more turning radius, and you are dialed.

A short course shootout would be awesome. We already have a test Slash, Blitz and SC10. However, I think my constant bashing of Horizon and Kyosho are preventing the BigSquid crew from acquiring a Losi Strike and a Kyosho Ultima SC. That or those two simply don’t have the balls to see how their trucks stack up.

About today’s batteries- they are no joke. Good packs aren’t cheap, and all of the packs out there can be dangerous if not used properly. Go too cheap on a pack and the cells are prone to early failure and are just plain slow. If I had to recommend one pack to you, it’d be a Ni-mh 5000 mah pack like this ONE. There are tons of chargers on the market that will charge Ni-mh cells (and Ni-mh’s are not prone to thermal runaway like some of the Lithium based cells), and with 5000 mah of capacity on tap, you’ll have get a ton of run time. Enjoy.

That’s it for this session of Ask Cub Reporter. Send your questions to cubby at BigSquidRC dot com.

YOUR Cub Reporter

Check out a few pictures of this new 1:9 scale (that’s not a typo, they are saying 1/9th scale) ride from Kyosho called the Ultima DB. The DB stands for Dune Buggy, and is influenced by the actual buggies raced in the Baha area. The chassis is based on the Ultima SC and is stretched enough to be considered a 1/9th scale vehicle! It comes RTR and is supposed to be race ready. I’m not sure if these will catch on or not, but it is cool to see Kyosho trying another direction in the new realism craze that seems to of helped the short course trucks take off.

You can hit the Kyosho America site for more details.