Kyosho Lazer ZX-S Evolution

[K-Max]

Hi all, recently I was fortunate to acquire a ZX-S Evo that started build a little but stopped. Except for 2 bags all others had been opened. It made good sense then to build the car and check what could be missing. Plus I have always wanted to build this rare car.

The car had the front end assembled. The assembled differentials are supposedly Team Atlas aftermarket. However they look like Yokomo YZ10 diff pulleys in fact.

The separate nose-plate with kick-up angle can be seen mounted. This has been changed from the original ZX-S that had a one-piece main chassis with front kick-up molded in.

I didn't exactly follow the manual's sequence but installed first all the lower halves of the bulkheads.

[K-Max]

The motor plate / rear upper carbon plate bulkheads are rather unique. Although fiddly to put together the end result is rather special in my opinion. It's very open though with all pulleys exposed. Here it is with the Hyper Clutch slipper and one-way pulley in place. I found out I'm missing one spacer-collar but this will be no issue to fabricate.

[K-Max]

With the 4wd drivetrain in place the Lazer lineage is evident - 2 belt system over the midship motor. The Evo comes with a motor spacer/heatsink. The ZX-S had a plate spacer like that on the Turbo Optima.

[K-Max]

I installed the suspension arms next. The lower arms have the same shape as the ZXR but appears to be a harder plastic. Front C hubs, steering knuckles, rear hub carriers are changed from the ZX-S. The shock towers are carbon vs the FRP ones on the ZX-S. I added Yokomo wheel adapters.

There's definitely some design features adopted from the Yokomo YZ10 - the chassis front kick-up has been mentioned, but note too the similarly shaped front upper arms.

[scoobyrs25]

This is the Kyosho Holy Grail. I wish somebody would draw the parts in cad so that we could scratch build one.

[scoobyrs25]

Apparently Fiber Lyte already did the carbon bits.

[K-Max]

On YouTube if you search Kyosho ZXS you'll find that someone has already made some 3D printed parts to replace the molded resin parts. The motor plate is also reproduced by someone in the UK. The front kick-up plate is made by Pargu. I reckon it's very possible to put one together.

[scoobyrs25]

It has already begun. I ordered the Pargu plate and the motor plate from the guy in the UK. Found the Youtube guy's parts on Shapeways. Found the carbon bits by Fibre Lyte. What diffs and axles are compatible? Are the ZXR belts compatible?

Thanks for the help!

[K-Max]

Pureten diffs 39506, W5063 universals front and W5061 rear. The belts appear to have their own part numbers and could be a different length. Reach out to Tough Racing and see if they know.

[K-Max]

The steering rack, top deck, battery posts and retaining plates go on next. The Evo uses the steering rack from the PureTen series, 39655.

The Evo comes with Kyosho's Twin Cap Pro dampers. These were also for example found on the Ultima RB-R 2WD buggy. Instead of fitting them, I installed the dampers from the first generation RB5. They are of the same length, bore and stroke, but are easier to assemble (sealing o-rings held by retaining cap rather than a snap-ring) and have threaded bodies for the spring collar instead of plastic spacers. I've ordered some different springs and will install them later.

A Kyosho X-Speed modified 17T motor from the year 2000 when the Evo was released is installed too. From this angle the motor spacer/cooling plate can be seen better.

Besides the springs I'm waiting also for some plastics to sort out the rear anti-roll bar, and that missing collar for the rear gearbox.

[K-Max]

The Kyosho orange-yellow springs arrived to match the Kyosho hardened alloy rear hub (shared with the Ultima RB Type R).

The rolling chassis is almost completed, I'm still waiting on some plastic parts for the rear sway bar.

[scoobyrs25]

Will you be doing electronics?

[Lavigna]

This is a really really nice build. I'm not familiar with this model, but yours looks killer. I'm going to have to learn up on these. Thanks for the great build thread!

[K-Max]

Will you be doing electronics?

I’m thinking of doing it. But one of the servo tabs will need to be removed by a section to clear the belt, that part is holding me back a little, because vintage servos in good shape are also hard to find. I’ll probably sort out the shell first

[K-Max]

This is a really really nice build. I'm not familiar with this model, but yours looks killer. I'm going to have to learn up on these. Thanks for the great build thread!

Thanks! This model was launched during the time touring cars started to take over… so not too many were sold.