Next Ultima lineage re-release....thoughts?

[Beetlemankurt 591]

Well, it would seem likely that the next in the vintage re release series from Kyosho would most probably be the Turbo Ultima/Ultima Pro or similar seeing as they seem to following the original release order. They seem a little more predictable than Tamiya in this regard (generally speaking). 

In thinking about the Optima Mid release (by comparison), they were able to capture both the Mid and Turbo Mid in one kit as the differences weren't that huge. I don't think that they will be able to take similar approach with the Ultima line though. Chassis/shock and even width (Pro XL) differences would seem to make a 'combo' deal approach unlikely in my eyes.

Soooo, I'm guessing we may instead see a few releases in this lineage focusing on one variant at a time with the Turbo Ultima being next given they probably wouldn't need to many additional parts on top of the existing Ultima kit. That's what I figure anyway.....

What are your guesses on how they will approach this? In time, we will see who guessed correctly :).....

Cheers

Kurt

[Pablo68 995]

I reckon they'd go the Ultima Pro. The Turbo is not overly different from the OG. Platinum Shocks, anti roll bars(?) ball diff (on mine anyway) and the different body.

Having said that, I pretty much skip all the variants past the Turbo. I just really like the OG chassis.

[Saito2 6032]

I have given this some thought myself. Looking at Kyosho's propensity to milk their rerelease designs across several models, I'd guess a Turbo Ultima would be next (despite the fact I'd rather see the Pro XL). The Scorpion, Beetle, and Tomahawk, don't have a ton of differences when it come down to it and neither do the Optima and the Javelin. Even the Turbo Scorpion and Turbo Optima share the basic designs from their respective chassis lines. The Optima Mid was a bit of a break from this being, so far, unique, as well as semi-covering both the Optima Mid and Turbo Optima Mid for those lucky enough to get both decal sets in the first run. A Turbo Optima Mid SE might be in the cards, but who knows. Just getting the cars they have available actually "in stock" seems to be issue enough for now and I'm not in the fortunate financial situation to buy 5 at a time to stash away when they do finally pop up for sale.

So considering Kyosho's current situation as a business and their most common re-re MO in the past, I feel the Turbo Ultima is the most possible. The standard Ultima they've re-released is most of the way there now. Kyosho, like the RC10 re-re, doesn't seem to be playing around with sway bars this time around so leaving them out of the discussion, the Turbo originally had adjustable arms, longer shocks/towers and full ball bearings. The rerelease Ultima already has these so the a Turbo re-re would as well. The shocks would likely be silver versions of the the threaded body gold shocks found on the the current Turbo Optima/Optima Mid to evoke the original Platinum shocks.

Now, down to the chassis. The Turbo had a bronzed (possibly hard anodized) version of the standard's ladder/girder style frame as well as a stronger fiberglass radio plate. We may see a different colored chassis but I would guess the current re-re's radio plate would carry over.

The drivetrain might see a ball diff and UJs like the original Turbo had originally.

Of course a Turbo body set and proper silver/chrome wheels would be in the mix as well.

Personally, I just went with the standard variant and changed the body to suit because the standard re-re was so well equipped compared to the original, I felt it was close enough to the original Turbo's performance. I still have to strip the red anodize off the shocks. From what I've read, aside from lacking the threaded bodies, these red shocks (unlike the shorter and smaller originals) are just as good as the "gold" variants currently produced.

 

[markbt73 4930]

Because the Ultima had such a long run, and was the basis for so many models, I was sort of hoping we'd see "conversion kits" to add to the base Ultima kit. Truck body, wheels, tires, and undertray to build an Outlaw, a long graphite chassis and body shell to make something similar to a Pro XL, maybe even a sprint car cage to make a Sideways. I would guess that more folks who already have an Ultima (original or re-re) would be more willing to spend $100-150 on a conversion than $300-350 on another kit that's eighty percent the same as what they have. I know I would.

But I think a Turbo Ultima is more likely. Repro wheels, because they seem willing enough to do that, and probably just silver versions of the gold shocks from the Turbo Optima.

[Pablo68 995]

Just another comment on the Turbo Ultima. I'm pretty sure the chassis on it was stamped out of a thicker material than the OG. Seems to be the case with mine anyway.

[Beetlemankurt 591]

I like your train of thought here guys...whatever they release hope it's not too far in the distant future. I've already got a Ultima Pro from BITD which is currently being restored and about to come out of retirement to go back into racing vintage class. It would be great to have are re Turbo Ultima as well.

All in good time as they say :).

Kurt

[Beetlemankurt 591]

8 hours ago, Saito2 said:

 

 

@Saito2, looking sweet mate! Good job.

What did you use to mount the wing to the wire wire? I've been on the lookout for OG wing buttons for my Ultima Pro but the originals are like hens teeth. I've been pointed to some very similar traxxas items which would be fantastic alernatives but a lot of stores won't post to New Zealand at the moment (don't know why) and if they do, I think they must want me to purchase shares in aircraft thats delivering them as shipping is about four times the price of the actual product...ah well, I'm sure some will show up.

Cheers 

Kurt

 

[Beetlemankurt 591]

Here's my baby...will be nice to have some actual kyosho body sets available again for these..not too far off running now. Body set, wing wire/buttons, some race tyres, reciever, a shock rebuild and she will be ready to go.

 

[Saito2 6032]

46 minutes ago, Beetlemankurt said:

What did you use to mount the wing to the wire wire?

You might laugh, but I bent it up from a wire clothes hanger, lol. I'm always repurposing stuff. 

I like your Ultima Pro. Ah, the good old days.

 

Who knows, maybe Kyosho will pull a wild card and do an '87 Worlds Joel Johnson special. I did one semi-inspired by it and then Kyosho put out an official modern video with Joel, adding all the hop-ups. What an awesome upset that was BITD for the Associated boys.

This one badly needs some gold shocks to complete the look. I'm not brave enough or rather good enough to pull off pink like the Magic Man could, so I went with a blue stripe.

[Beetlemankurt 591]

He he, coat hanger.. no shame in that, I'm all for repurposing stuff, it's all part of the fun!

Cool works car mate, looks killer. 👌 nice job. Bet it drives well too.

Yep the Pros a good ol racer. This one won our club Champs in about 1990 against Schumachers and all sorts and raced all over New Zealand for quite a while. My Dad continued racing it when I went to the Jrx Pro and then it's been resting up.....until now 😎. Time to bring her back into action!

But....it needs a Turbo Ultima re re to keep it (and the re re Optima Mid) company. 

 

[rwordenjr 1889]

I have way too many but always down for another ultima 🤣

 

[Beetlemankurt 591]

No such thing as too many Ultimas :). Very cool collection you have there!

[RichieRich 567]

Robert has one heck of a collection. I would like a re-release Turbo Ultima or maybe even a replica Joel Johnson Ultima. Of course, it wouldn't be a perfect match due to Trinity parts, etc. But, I think they could get close enough for it to be a tribute.

[rwordenjr 1889]

46 minutes ago, RichieRich said:

Robert has one heck of a collection. I would like a re-release Turbo Ultima or maybe even a replica Joel Johnson Ultima. Of course, it wouldn't be a perfect match due to Trinity parts, etc. But, I think they could get close enough for it to be a tribute.

As do you! 

[Beetlemankurt 591]

@rwordenjr, mate with a collection like that, hopefully you can help me? As far as rebuilding OG gold shocks, what O rings are the best to use? My two rear shocks have leaks after 20 plus years of sitting. Front are fine. Any advice would be much appreciated. 

I picked up some traxxas bandit wing buttons this morning from a store in Australia so am pleased as these look very similar to the hens teeth originals. 

Cheers

Kurt

[rwordenjr 1889]

3 hours ago, Beetlemankurt said:

@rwordenjr, mate with a collection like that, hopefully you can help me? As far as rebuilding OG gold shocks, what O rings are the best to use? My two rear shocks have leaks after 20 plus years of sitting. Front are fine. Any advice would be much appreciated. 

I picked up some traxxas bandit wing buttons this morning from a store in Australia so am pleased as these look very similar to the hens teeth originals. 

Cheers

Kurt

Nice, those are good wing buttons and I would use Traxxas 2362… comes with 4 modern orings so you need 2 packs if you’re going to rebuild all 4 shocks. 

[Beetlemankurt 591]

Legend! Cheers for the info. I'll grab some O rings and get cracking 😁.

Cheers

Kurt

[kyoshofan223 11]

On 7/15/2023 at 5:44 PM, Beetlemankurt said:

Nice build, mate...

I have a restoration project (my original Ultima Pro from the stone age), and an NIB I'm hoping to get around to building one of these days. My old chassis is pretty scuffed up, and I've been looking for a way to refinish it... I've never seen one like what you have here.. It looks like it's aluminum instead of the carbon fiber. Did you fab that yourself?

 

Here's my baby...will be nice to have some actual kyosho body sets available again for these..not too far off running now. Body set, wing wire/buttons, some race tyres, reciever, a shock rebuild and she will be ready to go.

 

 

[Beetlemankurt 591]

@kyoshofan223thanks man! 

In regard to the chassis, she is all original first generation ultima pro. It's been such a durable car I've never needed to replace anything other the body,,/wing, and tyres. The chassis plate is the original duraluminum (I think they call it)...with the optional cut outs for saddle packs. 

You are super fortunate to have a NIB to build, exciting stuff. Hope we get pictures when you do 😎.

Cheers

Kurt.

[Beetlemankurt 591]

My chassis is scratched up too, I'll be dealing to that by fitting an undertray .....

[rwordenjr 1889]

19 hours ago, kyoshofan223 said:

 

There were 2 different types of standard length ultima pro chassis… America had a graphite chassis and outside of America had the aluminum chassis. Here’s the graphite one. 

[Beetlemankurt 591]

Thats interesting....I didn't know there were country specific chassis plates. Learn something everyday!

For a comparison pic, here's a pic of the alloy one. I believe it's aircraft grade stuff (don't know much more about it)....has the same anodised coating as the rear motor guard.