Kyosho Legendary Series availability

[Willy iine 18842]

Oooo, nice bright Javelin there, @F-150  Yours looks good too.

Awesome man.  Yeah, I never connected with the BBX, but GL with the build!   I really like the shape of the WildOne if from Tamiya unless HotShot if open roll cage buggy for me.  

 

[F-150 727]

16 minutes ago, Willy iine said:

Oooo, nice bright Javelin there, @F-150  Yours looks good too.

Awesome man.  Yeah, I never connected with the BBX, but GL with the build!   I really like the shape of the WildOne if from Tamiya unless HotShot if open roll cage buggy for me.  

 

Nah...not my javelin... It looks like you think it's mine from what you wrote.

I have a wild one blockhead version too.  Unbuilt right now. 

[Willy iine 18842]

11 hours ago, F-150 said:

Nah...not my javelin... It looks like you think it's mine from what you wrote.

I have a wild one blockhead version too.  Unbuilt right now. 

Oh np.. anyway, that Javlin looks good whoever built it.   I like that Kyosho sells different color cages as I was kinda meh about the factory orange cage.    I have a blue WO as well..  I saw a few pictures of it without decals or the rear fins on the internet somewhere and to me it looks better than their box art livery.   I think I'm going to go that route on mine when the time comes.

[mtbkym01 4787]

Yellow and blue Javelin is mine, built from original “Leftovers”, and re-re cage and wheels

[Nicadraus 6768]

Kyosho also did this in the diecast models line. They keep on announcing upcoming ones with prototype pictures and some re-releases but in the end, left the consumers frustrated.

On 5/30/2023 at 10:57 PM, Willy iine said:

Did it end up here?  .. 
 

 

I have no idea what Kyosho is thinking.  But what I do know is to buy the kits in multiples while in stock if there is a hint of 'I might want it'..  the strategy is don't think, just buy..    seems to work for me..

You hoarder!!! 

[Willy iine 18842]

@Nicadraus I should be getting my Mini-Z Optima later today.  I am so excited man..  Until you posted on IG a week or so ago, I did not even know they existed.   I'm going to paint one of the wheel sets silver to match my 1:10 Optima with the aluminum wheels.  Thanks again.     I hope to have some time later today to post pictures on IG..  (I need to head to the office today for my money making gig.. such a huge waste of my time needing to physically be at the office  )

[Nicadraus 6768]

1 hour ago, Willy iine said:

@Nicadraus I should be getting my Mini-Z Optima later today.  I am so excited man..  Until you posted on IG a week or so ago, I did not even know they existed.   I'm going to paint one of the wheel sets silver to match my 1:10 Optima with the aluminum wheels.  Thanks again.  

Congrats! Show us pics. Lots of them. In detail too.

1 hour ago, Willy iine said:

 I hope to have some time later today to post pictures on IG..  (I need to head to the office today for my money making gig.. such a huge waste of my time needing to physically be at the office  )

See that's the problem. Work eats too much of our time. Work interferes with our hobby too much. 

[Willy iine 18842]

8 hours ago, Nicadraus said:

Congrats! Show us pics. Lots of them. In detail too.

See that's the problem. Work eats too much of our time. Work interferes with our hobby too much. 

Thanks, I started posting photos on my stories.  I had to clean up the body a little bit to my standards.. the cut was a bit poor and paint was missing on the corners so fixed both, also fixed the decal application.  Looks good now.

Luckily I checked in with the team at my money making gig before I left for the office and they said they're postponing the meeting for this week.. so, I still have to put in a good 5 hours or so from home, but I am now pretty much done for the day.     I will post pictures on IG soon.

btw, these Mini-Z buggies drive phenominally well.   Perfect size for my pylon test course.   Once things settle a bit, I plan to also get the MP9 version.

Update:  Pictures posted on IG..    #pretendRCshop.  if anyone is interested.  Sorry, but I am completely out of attachment memory here on TC to post any more pictures..

Edited June 20, 2023 by Willy iine

[Willy iine 18842]

Posted updated pictures of my Tomahawk on IG   #pretendRCshop 

Please check it out if interested.       I expect to build a blue one down the road..

[Sogogi 3362]

Hubhobby has some scorpion in stock.

[mtbkym01 4787]

Decided it was time to get an Ultima, so one is on its way, hopefully here within a week

[Willy iine 18842]

7 hours ago, mtbkym01 said:

Decided it was time to get an Ultima, so one is on its way, hopefully here within a week

Awesome.  I have a CF top deck in my parts bin I did not use last time.. I should get another one maybe..

[mtbkym01 4787]

3 hours ago, Willy iine said:

Awesome.  I have a CF top deck in my parts bin I did not use last time.. I should get another one maybe..

Sure is a great looking buggy. I've ordered an alloy wing in black to try out, looks ok in pics. Are those wheels from Pargu? Look stunning

[Willy iine 18842]

Just now, mtbkym01 said:

Sure is a great looking buggy. I've ordered an alloy wing in black to try out, looks ok in pics. Are those wheels from Pargu? Look stunning

Thanks!  Yeah, I got the wheels off ebay, and I think that was the seller's name.   He makes great looking wheels for sure.  GL with your build!  

[mtbkym01 4787]

11 minutes ago, Willy iine said:

Thanks!  Yeah, I got the wheels off ebay, and I think that was the seller's name.   He makes great looking wheels for sure.  GL with your build!  

Quick question, are the kit tyres 2.0 or 2.2 do you know? I'm thinking 2.0 

 

[Willy iine 18842]

1 hour ago, mtbkym01 said:

Quick question, are the kit tyres 2.0 or 2.2 do you know? I'm thinking 2.0 

 

They are the 2.0 (1.9?) same size as the Tomahawk/Scorpion front and rear I think same as MID.

[legacygt777 55]

On 6/1/2023 at 6:52 PM, Willy iine said:

I hope that wasn't the Dirt Master because it's supposedly a new version Ultima... biggest issue for me is that the Dirt Master was not designed by the master himself, Kogawa-san.  I don't mind having the legendary series as they are especially since I don't race any more and just enjoy looking at and mildly driving my cars from time to time. 

That said, got my Beetle #6 today.  

While the Dirt Master isn't in the legendary series, it is based off the RB5, which was a successful model that many drivers and engineers helped developed. There are people that are still racing those particular models.

 

In terms of availability, the Re-Re Optima Mid, Ultima, and SB Dirt Master are available at Tower Hobbies/A Main. Scorpion is available on Amazon.  There's a lot of Kyosho Inferno's available and many Mini Z models.

As for parts, I race the RB5 (2007 Buggy now reincarnated to the new 2023 Dirt Master) and needed a new transmission, shock towers, and etc and A Main had all the parts.

Kyosho hasn't been a consistent company with parts and models but I believe its better than before.  The new models that are out, Kyosho still has race car drivers like Ryan Lutz winning championships, and the world wide Kyosho events show that the company is still surviving.   

[Willy iine 18842]

I'm still looking for the Javelin.

[kyoshofan223 25]

The whole reason I was excited about the Legendary Series was a chance to build some of my vintage NIB kits without worrying about breaking something & having to wait 3 months for a part from Japan that I'll pay more for shipping than the cost of the actual part... I am anxious to finally drive a few that have been too rare to take off the shelf, like my Fantom. If the parts are quickly becoming as scarce as the originals... changes the whole equation. I see the Turbo Optima, one I thankfully picked up right away & have been having a blast driving it. So many of the kits are already showing "out of stock" at most online retailers. Super disappointing. I assumed they must have been doing great if there was enough interest not only to re-release the Fantom, but 3 frickin versions of it! I thought I was one of 10 people who even still cared about that car (any other old school 1/12 would be very cool as well). I'd definitely factor in parts availability when choosing kits to buy... I'd planned on the USA-1 nitro as the next one (though maybe I should wait until my pre-ordered Optima Pro💸 to actually ship first).

Whoops - guess the USA-1 is actually GONE ALREADY 😡😡

[kyoshofan223 25]

It's even got BROKEN LINKS on Kyosho's website on the official product page (either of the order links) !

Come on guys - amateur move. I'm also in a chat right now with an Amain rep trying to find out which of these kits labeled "Backorder" are actually never coming in..The Turbo Scorpion actually has 2 versions - one out of stock, another available to -pre-order. Or the Optima Mid where it seems to have a different status, but doesn't when you click in. Point is that they have no idea either (and are about as helpful as the average support rep anywhere these days). If you want any of these, I guess you have to pay a premium & try eBay ASAP. What a bummer. I think this Optima Pro has to be my last "Legendary Series" kit. 

[kyoshofan223 25]

Sorry for all of the posts - but I had to add this .. the support rep at Amain just told me "you can do whatever you want to do", clearly annoyed I had the nerve to ask questions about this website that is very confusing. He was also probably frustrated because I had to ask basically the same question 2-3 times & he didn't actually read it carefully & understand it well enough to give a cogent answer. I had a similar experience a while back trying to figure out a similar issue. I guess I finally stumbled upon a live agent that I'd prefer to be replaced by AI. I told him it wasn't the right tone to leave a customer with, but if he cared about that, he wouldn't have had that attitude.

I guess you're lucky these days if you find a representative that cares at all about the impression they are putting out there & are just waiting for when it's time to go home for the day. With the same kind of ****ty attitude at the rapidly vanishing LHS... without cool new products, the hobby would be dead. 

End rant

[tamiya3speed 569]

I think that Kyosho changed their inventory system as maybe a year or two years ago.  I noticed a lot of the optima parts being shown as discontinued.  In the end the parts came back with the same number and a letter at the end.  In the case of the Turbo Scorpion, the number changed to 30616C, at least that is what is listed on the Kyosho site.  Annoying for sure!  

[Champ85 620]

Yes, Kyosho has come out with new part numbers for some of their kits, like the Turbo Scorpion, Optima, Javelin, etc.  The kits started ending in a B at first, and now they in in C.  The same is true for spare parts. So for example the new Turbo Scorpion is 30616C.  On AMain, it's KYOC30616C and is pre-order status.  That's the correct one to order.  The other kit numbers are similar.

I also read here that the supplier of chains for the Optima/Javelin/Turbo Optima went out of business which is why the kits with chains went out of stock.  Apparently they have now found a new supplier since the Optima/Javelin are coming back in stock now.

For spare parts, I've found Banzaihobby to be good and reliable.

[Creflo 27]

I had a Javelin on backorder with Amain since August 2023.  It finally came back in stock recently, and I wondered why Amain didn't ship it.  I had to call them and we figured out that the part number of the new shipment was different than my backordered part number (was B, now C if I recall).  I have it now!  Planning to use white cage.  The orange doesn't look that good to me in pics, but the box in person looks great with the orange.  It's a similar effect with the Fantom CRC, the box looks great in person.  Now if Kyosho would only re re some of the nitros.  I want a Land Jump and Wildcat!  And a Vanning, and a Plazma.  The addiction is bad.

[Anthroxoid 190]

Aww crap, I still need some Javelins and an Optima Pro—at least one, but I’m kinda waiting with my pretend hobby money budget to spend on the Avante (a couple of times) since I’ve got the BS and a single OG Egress NIB, but no OG version of the Avante. When Kyosho does a run on their cars you can find their parts, and also get a glimpse of their upcoming ReRes by browsing Kyosho parts at RCMart, and to a lesser extent reading ti leaves at Tamico also works. Grab a set of suspension arms and gears if you’re just getting one model for play money restriction purposes. You’ll of course break a shock tower and run your gears and A arms for years if you don’t buy one but at least it’s a start!

What I’ve found with spares is things such as a base model’s custom components will arrive before the release. A good example would be Optima Mid ‘87 flavor anodized parts were kicking around for months before the kit was announced. Sometimes you’ll also see Yeah Racing make a part for an upcoming model as well (then it’ll show up anodized for the kit in question color matched, etc) so there’s a nice way to feel around. Anyhow, the long wheelbase Optima Mids should appear soon since I blew all of my car money buying conversion chassis for those Mid kits that I was planning to trickle out of the boxes for the remainder 🫣 

On 7/2/2024 at 7:02 AM, kyoshofan223 said:

I guess you're lucky these days if you find a representative that cares at all about the impression they are putting out there & are just waiting for when it's time to go home for the day.

Try your luck with Horizon’s rebooted version of Tower Hobbies. It seems like a lot of folks who cared and built the industry in Champaign, IL are still kicking around. The $10 Super Saver fee for one year usually gets you oh, sixty, or maybe eighty bucks off of one ReRe purchase as well so that’s a no-brainer source compared to literally anything else available to US-based consumers. Sorry for you folks across the pond, but not sorry as you have the legendary excellence of Tamico! 

—XOID