Kyosho

Kyosho Corporation
Stock Company
Industry Manufacturing
Founded October 10, 1963
Founder Hisashi Suzuki
Headquarters Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Key people
 Yoshiyuki Chikuba (President)
Masayuki Suzuki (Advisor)
Akihisa Suzuki (Chairman)
Katsumi Watanabe(Director)
Naohiko Otsuki(Executive director)
Products Radio-controlled cars, die-cast models
521,160,000 yen (as of April, 2006)
Number of employees
 170 (as of April 2006)
Website www.kyosho.com/

Kyosho Corporation (京商株式会社 Kyōshō Kabushiki Kaisha) is a model car company based in Tokyo, Japan. The brand operates internationally under the name KYOSHO. The company's main office is located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and the production headquarters are located in Atsugi, Kanagawa.

The company is one of the oldest model rc car makers in Japan, and produces a wide variety of products, including radio-controlled cars, planes, helicopters, and boats. Kyosho also produces highly detailed die-cast model cars. Its major competitor in the RC automobile market is Tamiya. Kyosho has avoided direct competition against Tamiya in the hobby grade RC cars market since the 80s and 90s, where Tamiya was most active, focusing instead on designing professional 1/8 scale racing buggies, Mini-Z series, and RC helicopters; areas in which Kyosho dominates today. The company is best known for the Inferno, its 1/8 scale competition buggies; Mini-Z series, and RC helicopters, but it also produces remote-controlled bipedal robots in the Manoi series.

History

The company was created in October 1963 and created its first trademark R/C car in 1970. Production of die-cast model cars began in 1992.

R/C Products

Kyosho produces a wider range of RC products than any other RC manufacturer, including racing and ready-to-run cars, trucks, excavators, helicopters, scale, sport and warbird RC planes, and a range of RC boats. Having recently acquired Team Orion, Kyosho now has category-leading products in electric motors (brushed and brushless), Ni-MH and Li-PO batteries and battery chargers.

Notable Products

Products that have won the IFMAR World Championship

The Inferno MP9 TKI3 of David Ronnefalk, 2013 EFRA champion.

Engine cars

Notable current models

Notable past models

Electric on-road cars

Notable current models

Notable past models

Electric off-road cars

During the 1980s, the 1/10 scale electric off-road car (buggy) was immensely popular, leading to the release of several different models. Many of these models have retained popularity, even after going out of production.

Notable models

DASH 1

Kyosho started selling the DASH 1 in 1970, accepted widely in the industry as the first RC car made in Japan. There were three body styles to be chosen from; the most popular racing machines in the Japanese Grand Prix: the Porsche 917, Lola T70 and McLaren Elva. The bodies were vacuum molded, a totally new innovation in RC cars at the time. The DASH 1 was priced at 23,000 yen, not including the engine. Engines used were still the imported 19-class VECO (West Germany) and K&B (U.S.A.) marine engines with a Perry Carburettor and Kyosho's Fuel Stopper and a car muffler.

DASH 2

In 1971 the DASH 2 targeted at beginners (price: 16,500 Yen) was released. The DASH 1 used a two-piece chassis, but the DASH 2 had a one-piece chassis and the engine was only at a slight front angle. In addition, the SUPER DASH (price: 26,000 Yen) was released as a competition level machine.

DASH 3

The DASH 3 and the DUNE BUGGY were released in 1972, starting the buggy racing phenomenon.

Eleck Peanuts

This was the first electric off-road car sold by Kyosho. A motor was placed on the PeanutBuggy, which had previously been sold as an engine car. It was sold for 9,800 yen at the time.

Rally-sports

A 2WD off-road car with a RS540 motor in the rear. The frame was that of the Alpine A310. Uses a double wishbone for front suspension, and a semi-streaming arm for rear suspension. The cars aluminum frame and rear design were passed on to the Scorpion. Sold for 16,000 yen at the time.

Scorpion

Races with electric off-road cars increased in popularity after the release of Tamiya's Rough Rider. The 2WD "Scorpion" was released by Kyosho during this period. Kyosho had been promoting its 1/8 scale engine buggy "Circuit 20" in races at the time, and the Scorpion can be described as a miniaturized version of the Circuit 20. The double trailing arm front suspension, semi-streaming rear suspension, aluminum ladder frame, rear-mounted RS540S motor, oil damper and coil springs very much resemble the design for a 1/8 scale racing buggy of the time. The thin body was realized by placing the batteries pointing forward, and its light weight (1680g, with full equipment) gave it a huge advantage over rival models. Its main rivals were Tamiya's Rough Rider and ayk's 556B.

The Scorpion revolutionized radio-controlled racing with its release, as it became almost impossible to win races without using a Scorpion. This model became one of the most popular of Kyosho's products, and sold for 17,800 yen at the time.

The "Tomahawk" uses the same suspension as the Scorpion, but its layout was completely made over. The plastic mech box was changed to a double-deck mech plate, allowing its weight to decrease to 1,450g. It was sold for 19,800 yen at the time.

The "Turbo Scorpion" was also derived from the Scorpion. This model was sold for 19,800 yen at the time.

The same chassi was used for the engine driven models "Advance" and "Assault" These were popular models at the time but not near as popular as the original Scorpion.

In 2012 Kyosho presented a new model using the Scorpion name: the Kyosho Scorpion XXL Ve. It is a 1/7th scale rear wheel drive, brushless dune buggy and it's completely unrelated to the original Scorpion in its parts.

In 2014 Kyosho announced a re released version of Scorpion, beefed up and refined where needed so it can be outfitted with modern gear such as Lipo and brushless motor. Modern highlights include a slipper clutch, 48-pitch geartrain, compatibility with the Ultima RB’s ball diff (as an upgrade from the supplied gear diff), and wide-track front suspension. The shocks are also improved, with the smooth action expected of modern oil-filled units.

Progress series

The "Progress 4WDS" was Kyosho's first electric 4WD off-road racer. The motor was mounted on the rear overhang, and the forward wheel moves with a chain extending from the rear gearbox. This chain system was also tried on the on-road racer, "Fantom EP." The rear suspension was an orthodox double trailing arm and oil damper with coil springs, but the front suspension featured a double wishbone and mono damper, and substituted a torsion bar for a spring. This unique front suspension was rather difficult to set up, and had a short arm, which prevented it from taking powerful strokes.

The front wheel on the 4WS series could only move in the opposite direction as the rear wheel, and turning wide curves was also difficult with this series.

Adjustments were made with each successive model, but the Progress series became infamous as a slow car unable to live up to its full potential. Kyosho's first series of 4WDs was too heavy and clumsy to compete in serious RC racing.

Optima series

This was Kyosho's highly successful series of 4WD off-road racers. Many of the models gained widespread popularity in off-road RC racing.

Notable models (in order of release)

Ultima series

The 2WD racing buggy created following the Tomahawk. The double wishbone suspension and aluminum monocoque frame gave the buggy far more speed than previous models. The car won 1st place in the 2nd electric off-road 2WD world tournament held in England in 1987.

Lazer series

A series started with the "Lazer ZX", which became the basic model for the Optima series. It evolved from "Lazer ZX-R" to "Lazer ZX sport," "Lazer ZX-RR, "Lazer ZX-S," "Lazer ZX-S Evolution." The body design for the Lazer ZX was rather unpopular from the start, and many users, including the Kyosho racing team, preferred to use the bodyset from the Turbo Optima Mid Special. The current model, "Lazer ZX-5" has a similar name, but bears a completely different design from its predecessors. It employs a shaft-driven 4WD system rather than the belt-driven system of its predecessors, a longitudinally mounted motor, and a new low-profile body. At the moment (2011, June) there is avabile Kyosho ZX-5 FS2, and ZX-5 RTR. The ZX-5 has been a huge success at racing in Europe and North-America. The original kit has been upgraded from FS to FS2 featuring lipo ready chassis, new body and a new rear end. The FS2 has since been upgraded again to FS2 SP specification with the inclusion of big bore shock absorbers and other minor changes.

Die-Cast Cars

Since 1992, Kyosho has specialized in creating high end collector's grade Die-Cast Car Replicas. Kyosho offers a wide array of scale replicas and car makers. Kyosho's main competition comes from companies such as AUTOart, Minichamps, and Hot Wheels. Kyosho is also the official manufacturer of BMW Authorized scale replicas sold exclusively through BMW Dealerships. As of January 2008, their online catalogue includes approximately 1000 die cast cars and accessories.

Kyosho 1/18 Ferrari 250 GTO
Kyosho 1/18 Lamborghini Jota SVR

Radio controlled aircraft

Radio controlled replica of the Aberle Phantom wearing the 2007 Kyosho sponsorship decals found on the full-scale version that year

The 2000s saw a shift toward the growing hobby of radio controlled model aircraft and the creation of almost ready-to-fly models. One such model, the "Phantom 70," is a quarter-scale replica of the Aberle Phantom biplane. Based in Fallbrook, California USA, the full-scale Phantom was built by Aberle Custom Aircraft and sponsored by Kyosho during the 2007 Reno Air Races. The plane set a biplane-class speed record in 2004 with a top speed of more than 241 mph. A new record was established in 2006 with a speed of 251.958 mph.[1][2]

Potential for renewed production

Since rival company Tamiya renewed the production of popular classic models such as the "Frog," "Grasshopper," "Hornet," and "Hotshot," many fans hope for Kyosho to do the same with its own classics. However, the company has already gotten rid of most of the old frame casts, making prospects of renewed production costly and difficult.

During the Shizuoka Hobby Show in May, 2006, Kyosho introduced "Optima" and "Turbo Scorpion" in its new "Miniature Racing Buggy series". Though only 10 cm in length, these die-cast pullback toys feature exactly the same package design as the original RC kits, showing that Kyosho does recognize fan demand for renewed production.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.aberlecustomaircraft.com/ Aberle Custom Aircraft home page
  2. ↑ http://www.kyoshoamerica.com/airplanes/index.php?part_num=11077 Phantom 70 home page at Kyosho America

External links

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