Kyosho Mini-Z Racer

Info

So, I'm a happy owner of a Kyosho Mini-Z Racer. I bought the car in the beginning of year 2001 because they weren't available in Oulu, Finland, Europe before. As far as I know I got my hands on the second car arrived in my town. I was able to choose any model I preferred, as long as it was a BMW Z8 and the colour was red or silver.

Same Car..--> <--..different body.

In a nutshell, Kyosho Mini-Z Racer is a 1/28 or 1/24 scaled "real" RC-car. Performance is hilarious to it's size and the transmitter fits best in a large hand. The car is completely "destructable" for repairing and spare- plus tuning parts are available for many needs. Although prices make you feel dizzy. 27MHz chrystals can be replaced and atleast in theory there can be up to 9 cars running simultaneously.

RUNNING TIME is royal compared to 1/10-scale electric cars: Mini-Z eats 4 AAA-cells and the transmitter takes the normal 8pcs of AA-cells. I'm driving with 600mAh NIMH-batteries, which gives almost an hour of running time in continuous driving! If I have to make a complain in the electric side I'd say that the included transmitter's battery level -indicator "traffic light" turns it's fist(!) LED off when batteries are almost dead which I think is a bit too late.

Speaking of LEDs, both the TYCO Beetle (TAIYO RadiCan) and the Mini-Z BMW have a home made light equipment which is invisible in pictures though, thanks to the flash and a not so good camera.

I didn't want to spend loads of money to REAR SHOCK element so I made a poor man's version from foamy plastic. It's been cut to shape for fitting it between the chassis and the motor, above the spring plate. Quite good functionality, for it's price (free). The tyres have been replaced by softer ones, a bit larger in diameter though, found them from the same plastic model which I took the body also, see the story below.

Original package --> <-- Some posing again

Replacing the body and decoration

I got my hands on an already half-made Fujimi plastic model of Toyota Corolla which I got as a present and after quick thinking I decided to cut it in half. The idea was of course to shorten the wheelbase, so that I'll get an easy-fit replacement body to my Racer. The colour, orange, was ordered strictly in the donation process, so the car became looking like a true "amis-car" (AMIS is a way of life here, popular mostly among lower-educated younger persons). Tinted windows, alloy wheels, extra lights, "springs ripped off"-look etc.

Pictures from body shortening -->

Ready to ride. The body has bright lights allover, although they don't show in these pictures too well. Lights are made with LEDs and btw, there are 10 of them in this body.

Below some pics of my own track, which has only about 1/3rd in use duoe to lack of space. Well at least it's not too far away: on the living room's floor.

In the last pic you can see a bit of BMW's lights, it only has the foglights and taillights functional.

MINI-Z links