Mini-Z cars.....an education....please help.

[Bormac]

Hi guys.
I know Kyosho Mini-Z cars are a much smaller scale than the 1/10th stuff we all mess around with but I've been wondering about these little gems for a while now. I will admit that I know very little about these cars so if anyone wants to put forward some recomendations on where to start with these cars it would be good to hear your point of veiw.
Cheers-Jason

[purpletimbo]

I have had quite a few Jason, well made totally upgradable and awesome scale shells, go for it, great fun, later chassis are a different world handling wise.

[Bormac]

Thanks Tim. Now with my son here I need to plan for the future and would love to get a Mini-z track together as they require less space but are more fun that a slot car or train set. Besides I'll have a ball utilising my Carpentry skills building him a cool multi level track.

What kind of upgrades are essential and what is a waste of money?

[purpletimbo]

Well I don't race, but the old school skyline I sold was an original, and had an external esc fitted, brass diff and a rear brass shocker added, made it competitive apparently, modrn ones come AWD of course as well, we do have a guy on www.rc-racing.org.uk called mk2kompressor, who races sells and runs a mini-z track, he would be the fountain of all knowledge I reckon, nice guy as well.
The F1 mini z are super fun as well to race.
http://z14.invisionfree.com/rc_racing/index.php?showuser=1653

[civilguy]

We have a bunch of the X-mods (Radio Shack) and they are great fun. We have a foam track (like the kids' playmats- they snap together) that has one side rough and one smooth. We have a blast and run the Losi Micro-Ts on there too. Great winter activity.

[purpletimbo]

As always, I have had many various of both, the xmods are a different class altogether, they are as skittish as a scared kitten in 2wd, 4wd kits are available and help loads, especially if you stage 2 mod the motors.

[N2Deep]

Bormac, if anything Kyosho did right...they did the Mini-Zs. The class of 1/28th has sparked other major companies such as PN Racing, KO Propo, Atomic Racing to hit the bandwagon. There are roughly a handful of companies making their own version of 1/28th scale...some very highly precision machines including the Pro-Z, P28, Reflex etc. But if you want to stick to Kyosho orginals....I'd get the MA-03 chassis. I'd recommend another site to you but don't know if the admin are happy about that.

[InetRC]

Mini-Z cars are a lot of fun. Lots of upgrades you can do as well. I still have my first Mini-Z. It's a Viper with a bunch of aluminum upgrades, clear case, turbo board and working front/rear/brake lights. The Mclaren F1 has aluminum wheels, fiber chassis, wings and a bunch of other aluminum upgrades as well. Best of all they are not that expensive.

My highest recommendation though is to buy the 3 alloy gears for your servo. I assure you that you will eventually bust the cheap nylon gears in your servo on a hard crash to the front suspension.

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