Kyosho 1:18 scale model

For those that have been waiting, the two rumoured GTS models are now on the website for Pre-Order (LATE 2013 availability) ... so now there are 4 to choose from. The good news is that the PANTERAPRO promotion code is still in place and works for the new cars (I also spotted that they have a 10% off special on their in-stock items if you use MEMBER10 as a discount code this week - my wife's gonna kill me if I buy any more cars - I blame Ron for pointing this store out to me!!!) ...

Red/Black and Yellow/Black ... here are a couple of the prototype shots from the T.O. Motorsports site:

Latest update ...
I checked with both of the fellows I buy models from, as well as a distributor outside of Canada, and they all say that the models are delayed further.
I was told that Kyosho wasn't satisfied with the fit and finish of the first cars off the line, so they're having them re-done to ensure the cars are up to their quality standards.
I guess the news is bittersweet - taking a bit longer to arrive, but on the plus side, they should be top notch when done.
The estimates I heard for availability range from a few more weeks up to 2 months - the distributor I spoke with said he usually receives a sample car a month before they are officially available, and he hasn't received one yet, so I'm not going to start holding my breath until mid-May.

I'll keep you posted when I have more news.

Hi any news yet? ( its July )

I'll drop in and harass him when I have a chance - sometime in the next couple of days

I think I have 4 or maybe it's 5 cars on order between the two model car dealers I know up here, so on the plus side, I'm $500 richer than I'll be when the cars arrive.

Watch this space for an update towards the end of the week.

Derrick still has no word on availability. He will ask his Kyosho rep specifically when he visits next week, but since he hasn't heard anything new, we may be looking at August depending on where the Pantera models are in Kyosho's new production schedule (sounds like more than the Pantera were affected by the quality issues at one of the factories).

I'll stop in again next week and see if he has anything more concrete.

quote:

Originally posted by #5754:
I'll drop in and harass him when I have a chance - sometime in the next couple of days

I think I have 4 or maybe it's 5 cars on order between the two model car dealers I know up here, so on the plus side, I'm $500 richer than I'll be when the cars arrive.

Watch this space for an update towards the end of the week.

Better get that $500 ready .

I received an e-mail from Derrick at Toronto Motorsports today.


"Kyosho says the Pantera Pre-L's are on their way to us now (Early August Delivery) and the GTS's are expected early Fall."

In another thread, 'Agustaboy' spotted that they've started showing up on E-Bay from China ($130 is the current bid for a black car, and $140USD for a red ... plus another $30 for shipping - relative to that, we're getting a great deal from Toronto Motorsports using the PANTERAPRO discount code for pre-orders).


I'm guessing it'll be within 2 weeks that Derrick will have them in hand and start shipping ... it's been a bumpy ride waiting for Kyosho to fix the quality problems and produce the cars, but it looks like we're finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Of course, we'll have to start a new thread for people to post the 'errors' Kyosho might have made. :-)

Good News, Derrick has the cars in the shop, and has started shipping them out this week. I stopped by today and he's just floored by the response to this model in the Pantera community.

When the model was first announced, he had a half dozen orders, but because of our group buy he went out on a limb and ordered a dozen cases (72 cars), every one was sold and he's busy printing off shipping labels and moving them out the door.

On the down side, he said the supply is drying up and he doesn't think he'll be able to get any more red cars (maybe a couple of black cars will come his way though).

For those of you who pre-ordered, the cars should be showing up in the next few days (or weeks; depending on how far they're being shipped and any delays going across borders).

I haven't checked to see if the group order promotion code is still working (maybe for the upcoming GTS models), Derrick's plan was to remove the code when the cars arrived at his shop.

I just checked e-bay, and the prices for the models range from $120USD (without the factory packaging) to $300USD ... plus shipping of approx. $30USD.

Well, just before I left the office today a nice box arrived from the post office. Inside was my Kyosho Pantera.



Is it a PERFECT model? No. Is is amazing for the money? I think so. The details are quite good.



The doors open, as do the front and rear deck lids. Even the headlights pop up.



The interior is surprisingly detailed. Heck, it even includes the trunk pan!





Inconsistencies abound as this appears to have been modeled after a slightly modified 1972 car with added hood vents, a chin spoiler and the centre roof antenna. Dual sucker fans have been added to improve cooling! Not sure why it has BOTH the early in-bay fuel filler neck AND the side-opeing fuel door for the later cars, but since my 2881 has both too, I think that's rather cool.



The engine appears to have aluminum heads and after-market valve covers. Zoom-zoom.



Overall I have to say I'm pretty impressed. I hear that Kyosho changed factories because production wasn't meeting it's expectations. That resulted in a several-month delay in deliveries but I for one am VERY happy in the end, and I definitely recommend this model.

Mark

WOW! That's amazing!! The right color too!!

I have a red one on its way from Canada to Oz LOL

You should be happy when it arrives. It looks great in red too!

Does it have glass in the rear lid?

quote:

Does it have glass in the rear lid?

Yes, they've put a piece of plexi in the rear lid as well as a correct one between the cabin and the engine bay.

Amazingly, they've gotten detail down to the level of giving it a VIN and a Body Service Number...
VIN: THPNMA03457 (granted, the H looks more like an A on my model and the '57' is a little smudged, but not bad considering the characters are maybe a mm tall!)
BSN: 02760

I'm very pleased with the model even with it's idiosyncrasies. Now I'm looking forward to when the GTS models arrive (hopefully in another month, but I'm not holding my breath considering this first batch was half a year behind schedule).

Verrrrry cool. Can't wait to see mine. Gonna talk to my paint guy and see if he can airbrush my model the same color as my cat ...

quote:

Originally posted by #5754:
[QUOTE] Does it have glass in the rear lid?

Does it look like it could be removed?

Typical Pantera owners, Erik's sending his off to paint and Jeff wants to rip out the rear window ... can't we leave things original for 5 minutes?

Who's gonna be first to do a Grp4 with 180s (Will?)



As to the question about the rear plexi - it looks like it's held in by two tabs under the deck lid, and a tiny dab of glue on each of the hinges, so a couple of minutes with a dremel and a small grinding attachment should remove the 4 points, then a dab of black paint on the hinges and you'll be in business.

... I do like the idea of a repaint and removing the plexi ... but I don't know if I'll go as far as a delta wing and quad headlights - at least in the short term.