kyoshofan223

One more thing to add about this kit - I know it's more for nostalgia than performance/durability, but it really reminded me of why I was such a Kyosho snob back in the day. The quality of the parts is just terrible. You can't separate any parts from the trees without damaging the chrome 'finish', and the instructions' solution is to buy paint to try and touch it up. The plastic bushings are annoying too, but I also used to think Tamiya's instructions & builder steps were good too, but Kyosho provides extra e-clips & washers where you know you'll lose one, and doesn't use a bunch of screws that are almost identical... I dunno, I just feel like when I finally get it finished, it isn't going to look all that pretty as a display model, and isn't worth upgrading for the track... Compared to other re-releases, like Kyosho's Turbo Optima, the quality isn't even in the same ballpark.

Ahh, modern technology. This is the downside of the unconventional way in which I enjoy the hobby today. I can't usually spend 2-3 evenings to build a kit like I used to, so when you revisit ongoing projects with a month or two in between, it's easy to forget ... that I already bought a tool like this back in '19! Though it was initially for installing ball-ends, if I can locate it (thanks Amazon Order History!), it should be smooth sailing from here. I did the exact same thing with a special e-ring tool a while back, forgetting I'd already purchased an alternative solution to launching those tiny little ******s across the room with a needle-nose & then frantically crawling around on the carpet trying to find the darn thing. Though I suppose learning this way is better than buying the same tool twice, which also could have easily happened here. Thanks for the reminder!

Tamiya’s excellent customer service made up for the lousy online catalog/search tool at tamiya.com. I know which matters more to me. I filled out their online contact form on Saturday & received a reply Tuesday with direct links to the items I needed. I’m glad I didn’t spend way too much on a big package of parts I didn’t...wish I was more patient with the actual build. Now I just have to thread those plastic ball ends without scratching them up again... In case anyone is interested: Rear: https://www.tamiyausa.com/shop/7-digit-spare-parts/rc-piston-rod-58391/ Front: https://www.tamiyausa.com/shop/7-digit-spare-parts/rc-front-piston-rod-58525/ Thanks for the input!

I used a thick cloth, but accidentally grabbed the wrong pliers ... they were really, really hard to get screwed into the plastic thingies - my hands were sore after gripping them tight enough to keep the piston rod from rotating. I don't think cardboard would work but I will try next time. I scuffed them up badly enough to completely ruin the motion.

Unfortunately this seller doesn't ship to the US. I can't tell if these are the correct pistons; seller hasn't replied, can anyone tell for sure?

I scuffed up the piston rods when building the shocks & need to replace them. The part numbers are completely different from anything I've been able to find online, and all I can dig up are a few examples from overseas that are from the original model. Are parts for this thing really this difficult to find? It has to be a standard Wild One piston rod.. I haven't built a Tamiya kit in a few decades, which is probably why I'm goofing it up, but if parts are this hard to find, I may just throw in the towel & sell the 25% assembled kit. What am I missing here? Anyone know where to get these? Do I have to buy a new set of shocks for front and rear?

I am having a terrible time finding some true street tires for my Turbo Optima re-re. The block-pattern that comes stock with the kit have worn down and are not very good in the parking lot; I really need some more grip... I'm looking for something like this, preferably pre-mounted to rims that'll fit without modification. It does surprise me that I seem to be the only one interested in something like this. Anyone have a link to something close?

Yeah, I guess it really is just everywhere. I went to a Retro Gaming Expo last month and my jaw dropped at what they were charging for old Nintendo & Sega games... games that could be had at a local Gamestop for more than 10x the price. Sure, shows like that are always more, but it was completely bonkers. It's the sheer profiteering though that bothers me more... Like how gas is $4.00 one place, then up the block it's $4.50.. Hotels that don't offer housekeeping daily anymore because they don't want to bring their staff back (and make the COVID/environment excuse). That's got nothing to do with the price of oil or the pandemic, it's simply greed... Unfortunately consumers largely don't seem to impact that stuff with their choices & just seem to pay whatever the price... More disposable income, more people willing to spend it on convenience I suppose... We've all gotten a little spoiled with the Amazon & Instacard lifestyle, but I'm still annoyed I have to wait 6 months & pay 500% markup for a part for my Kyosho pancar. The problem with it all is that I don't think the cat is going back into the bag... For one brief moment you heard all about how wages had finally gone up, but anyone in the job market can tell you that salaries are nowhere near what most people need to live a comfortable lifestyle if you're a runofthemill worker-bee.

Anyone know if this version of the Lunch Box has been discontinued? Most of the online retailers that have it on their sites note that it is out of stock & have a space to enter an email address to be notified when it is in stock, but in my experience only about half the time that option is actually used for the displayed purpose. When I do a Google/Shopping search, it turns up only the "Black" version..which is equally as cool I think, but all else being equal, I think I'd like to get my hands on the blue version if I can. Thanks!

I was just wondering if I was alone in this conclusion that certain segments of the R/C market has gotten a little out of control in the last year or so. I suppose that could be said about prices on everything, ranging from the somewhat legitimate (shipping problems / shortages related to COVID in Asia) to outright gouging (eBay sellers charging $75 for a spur gear that'd otherwise be $18 retail if it weren't backordered for > 1 year & just impossible to get otherwise). I have to wonder about why the prices of used items or vintage parts/kits are also increasing in price suddenly at such a ridiculous rate beyond normal inflation, sort of like used full-sized cars, seemingly because..well, I don't really know. I sorta get the full-sized car thing, assuming the shortage of new vehicles contributing to supply problems in the used market, but is it just the same reason anything nostalgia-related has just blown up the last few years? Classic cars from the 70s have increased astronomically, while the demand for toys, collectibles, retro video games.. .just about anything middle-aged folks like myself with too much disposable income can buy that recaptures a piece of their childhood now costs far more than it did just a few years ago. I'm getting a little off topic here, sorry... The main reason I'm ranting is because of the last two R/C kits I've purchased (both re-release incidentally) - a 1/12 Kyosho Fantom & a Tamiya Wild One (Blockhead Edition). The latter is still on backorder, but in both cases, there were a glut of marked-up examples on eBay, seemingly offered by sellers who, aware of the limited production runs, bought in bulk intending to resell for a profit. Now there are those who'd argue that this is just free enterprise, but other industries/products, like concert tickets or even auto manufacturers (with less success) have stepped in to try and help poor schnooks like me who wind up waiting months & months because we don't want to pay 1/3+ more than retail just to get it sooner. I was just wondering what y'all thought.

Anyone know a website that might list the specs for the original Kyosho USA-1 Nitro Crusher, the 1990 version? It seems like the re-release has displaced all information about the original, and I can't find anything to use in my classified ad.

Once I glue my new knobbies & hit the track, I'll definitely be in a position to report on this... though I do expect to spend a lot less time on my lid with the new wing installed. It handled like a champ last time, but my only complaint was that it was difficult to control over the jumps & I am confident the wing will make a bit difference. I'll report back.

The wing stay is screwed into the gearbox; the body clips are just connected to that little platform at the top. It's big enough area to chop off that I can make a mess of the body in the process no matter how much I try to Dremel-away my shame. I can't hang a picture straight! I'm going to try to get help with that, but right now I'm mostly interested in figuring out if the Mid-style body will work out better for the next one.

So I decided to go with the Javelin setup...It required disassembling more of the car than I expected, so the Javelin wing stay is ... here to stay , but for some reason I forgot about this part. I'm going to hold my breath & do my best not to destroy my existing bodies that weren't originally trimmed to accommodate it. The chances of it looking terrible when I'm done are very very good, so I'm already planning on buying at least one new body. Before I do, anyone know if the shell for the Optima Mid or Turbo Mid SE would be a more natural fit, accommodating the wing/stay without butchering the rear end?