New Kyosho Mini Inferno

StevePond · #1 12-20-2004, 09:51 PM

We got a chance recently to check out a pre-production version of the new Kyosho Mini Inferno when a few Kyosho hot shots brought it into town for a little testing. Jason Sams, one of our West Coast Editors, sat down with the Kyosho gang and got the scoop on this hottest new mini. Among other features, this machine runs on six alkaline cells or up to eight of the 2/3A-size Ni-MH cells. Additionally, it has a big 380-size motor, not the typical 280-size motor found in most other minis. The present schedule calls for a release date in February 2005, so it's not going to be here for Christmas, but it won't be much longer. Stay tuned for more info.

-Adjustable rear toe (comes with three different rear toe blocks)
- Adjustable front caster (20 and 22 degree front hubs provided)
- Several shock mounting positions in the both front and rear towers.
- Friction shocks (optional oil-filled with be available)
- Powered by 6 Alkaline dry cells or 8-cell NiMh GP 1100 cells
- Easily adjustable servo saver in right side bellcrank
- Full-time 4WD
- Slotted dish wheels with Mini-pin style tires (comes with foam inserts)
-380-sized motor
- Micro-sized servo (different servo mounts provided for the bigger "Mini" sized servos)
-Plenty of chassis space for upgrading to 1/10-scale electronics
- Receiver and speedo combo unit
- Adjustable slipper clutch
- Droop screws in the suspension arms
- Mounts for optional front and rear sway bars
- Adjustable motor mount
- Most parts (suspension arms, chassis, towers etc...) closely resemble 1/8-scale Inferno
- Faux engine cooling head can easily be removed with a single body clip

QUICK SPECS
Wheelbase: 176mm
Track F/R: 148mm
Weight: 800g
Motor: 380-sized
Wheel Size: 64mmX25mm
Length: 270mm
Final drive ratio: 10.8:1

ggfx-mikey · #2 12-20-2004, 09:55 PM

thats neat

shadmaster4 · #3 12-20-2004, 09:59 PM

Is that a 2-3 speed? Look at the motor shaft!

rckid11 · #4 12-20-2004, 10:23 PM

Sweet!!!!!!!

fanke19 · #5 12-20-2004, 10:40 PM

It's the start of a whole new mini class...watch!

Saboteur · #6 12-20-2004, 11:06 PM

Awesome.

shibby6 · #7 12-20-2004, 11:11 PM

nice, 2-speed..... too bad my heart is set to a minizilla....

Combatcm · #8 12-20-2004, 11:23 PM

It's not 2 speed, one gear is the spur and the spur is connected through the slipper to the idler, which is connected to the center diff. I think it looks a little cheap and cluttered around the gears.

I don't like the saddle packs

you probably can't change the gear ratio.

I think kyosho rushed it. I want to get it, but I don't really like how its made. I know some guy in the conference room was really egging the idea of the saddles against the RC18T style chassis with the pack on the side. But you have to seal the gears somehow. Looks like its going to take a long time to take out the gears for maintenance.

I would also put my money on it being RTR as the battery in it looks as if its kit specific.

NitroBoy24 · #9 12-20-2004, 11:39 PM

That thing looks good. But, they REALLY need to drop the cooling head and fake stinger

rcboy201 · #10 12-20-2004, 11:41 PM

that it the coolest thing i've ever laid my eyes on........i am going to have to get one

sugs · #11 12-21-2004, 01:00 AM

I didn't see it at first, but there is a clear cover over the gears which probably means a sealed transmission.

T/Losi · #12 12-21-2004, 03:23 AM

That is awesome

Cheers

minimole · #13 12-21-2004, 06:26 AM

Nice, but its got friction shocks!!!

losiguy1090 · #14 12-21-2004, 07:43 AM

Pretty sweet looking car.

But I bet 10 bucks that this will turn into the next 1/8 buggy class, and before you know it, your paying 500 bucks for a mini

bobf24 · #15 12-21-2004, 10:42 AM

i think that looks absolutly too cool, and for how small it is, its amazingly adjustable, different rear toe, caster, and droop screws? i'm goign to have to put one of them on back order for sure,

Cain · #16 12-21-2004, 10:51 AM

Friction shocks, I sure hope that doesn't stay in the design. If anything really sucked on the stock Mini-T, friction shocks were at the top.

I am very interested in this vehicle, wonder when we can get some video of it and see how fast it goes on those 8 cells.

MTkid7 · #17 12-21-2004, 03:13 PM

Any word on price?

CooLJoE8 · #18 12-21-2004, 03:17 PM

Well, I'm a bit disappointed, but I'm still going to preorder one.

First and foremost, Friction Shocks need to go. Listen up Kyosho, we don't care how friggin cheap they are, get rid of them ASAP. I'd gladly pay an extra $20 if I got good oil shocks with it instead.

Also, the combo RX/ESC is another thing that needs to go. Didn't they learn from the Mini-T debacle? No one likes propretary electronics. And even worse, that thing looks IDENTICAL to the one that the Mini-T came with. I sure hope the servo is better.

Oh well, it holds a 380 motor, so I'll be throwing in my brushless setup right away. Just gotta figure out what pitch it uses for gearing.

Also, am I the only one that thinks the knuckles look rather large? And those shocks are definetely too big. Don't look very scale to me.

Freak e-maxx1 · #19 12-21-2004, 11:53 PM

so much plastic on all the new mini's damn stop being cheap ae losi.......

FantomTC3 · #20 12-22-2004, 01:40 AM

That little truck is sweet.

Freedom · #21 12-22-2004, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freak e-maxx1

so much plastic on all the new mini's damn stop being cheap ae losi.......

I have only one thing to say Tamiya TLT-1 Rockbuster

And it's a kit!!!

k_bojar · #22 12-22-2004, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CooLJoE8

Also, am I the only one that thinks the knuckles look rather large? And those shocks are definetely too big. Don't look very scale to me.

You obvisiously don't own a 8th buggy...the shocks on the "real" buggies are pretty large - so the scaled down version would look just as large...

zakerid · #23 12-22-2004, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Combatcm

It's not 2 speed, one gear is the spur and the spur is connected through the slipper to the idler, which is connected to the center diff. I think it looks a little cheap and cluttered around the gears.

I don't like the saddle packs

you probably can't change the gear ratio.

I think kyosho rushed it. I want to get it, but I don't really like how its made. I know some guy in the conference room was really egging the idea of the saddles against the RC18T style chassis with the pack on the side. But you have to seal the gears somehow. Looks like its going to take a long time to take out the gears for maintenance.

I would also put my money on it being RTR as the battery in it looks as if its kit specific.

did you see the pinion o the motor. I can see how someone may think it is a 2 speed. that is very odd.

sosidge · #24 12-22-2004, 10:57 AM

Already people are complaining about the car!

It looks just fine to me.

Plastic a problem? What else are you going to make it of? MP777's have lots of plastic too...

These cars sell as RTR's to people looking for compact electric fun - so friction shocks don't matter.

I don't know how you can make statements like the ESCeiver looks the same as the Mini-T one - you can hardly see it in these pics. Anyway, the problem with the Mini-T electronics was the special servo, the ESCeiver isn't so bad.

It'll go well on 8 cells and a 380 motor - but it seems a fair bit heavier than an RC18T without being much bigger, so I think it will be a more specialised interest than the 1/18th trucks - probably won't match them on the racetracks.

Combatcm · #25 12-22-2004, 11:59 AM

I guess I see how one might think its 2 speed. But I think its simply a gear reduction and slipper clutch. The pinion is really long though.

Maybe you can swap those 2 gears around? So the bigger gear is on the end of the motor pinion meshing to the center "diff" or whatever its going to be.