NEW! AOSHIMA 1/43 diecast KITT SEASON IV

[imranbecks]

It looks like there will be another release of a season 4 KITT from Aoshima. This time it is in 1/43 scale completed diecast model. Will no doubt be similar to the 1/43 KITT and KARR released back in 2003. Remember how brilliantly detailed those models were? Will this upcoming 1/43 KITT be a season 4 convertible or will it just have a different nose like the 1/24 season 4 KITT....? Or maybe a SPM KITT?

I've already preordered it. Due out in April! ›››http://hlj.com/product/AOS07962

[andy-kitt]

If season 4 kit is anything to go by, it will just be a season 4 nose.

[imranbecks]

If season 4 kit is anything to go by, it will just be a season 4 nose.

Yeah. You're right. Its a new mould with just the season 4 nose. I'm still getting it. I wonder though if there will be improvements over the previously released 1/43 models many years ago. Maybe a better moving front scanner led would be great. Check out this photo of the 1/43 season 4 KITT at this website (scroll down, its the fifth item in the page) >>> http://www.akibanana.com/?q=node/1566

[andy-kitt]

Has anyone got this yet?

[imranbecks]

My order for it at hlj is currently being processed. They are really slow! Hope to get it within a week or two.. And I will definitely put up photos of it here once I have received it..

[andy-kitt]

Thanks, the T-top arrangement may be different as some pictures i've seen have no side windows and even no T-tops

[imranbecks]

Thanks, the T-top arrangement may be different as some pictures i've seen have no side windows and even no T-tops

Hmmm.. Not really.. From what I can see, it looks like the t-top looks similar to how it was for the first version of the 1/43 KITT released in 2003. The only difference other than the season 4 nose is the words "Moving Knight Flasher" stamped onto the acrylic display and the missing side windows. IMO, I prefer the side windows to be up just like the first version of the 1/43 KITT that I have.. Oh yeah, and the font on the base that says KNIGHT RIDER KITT is different on the season 4 as well. Its not using the classic font unlike the first 1/43 KITT..

Here are some photos of the 1/43 Season 4 KITT from Aoshima...

















Apparently, the shipping process for my 1/43 KITT at HLJ has been delayed due to the long weekend in Japan. Damn.. I hope it will be shipped out by the 7th of May when they return..

[andy-kitt]

I knew I had seen pictures without the T-top somewhere

[stelios_z28]

I knew I had seen pictures without the T-top somewhere

you are right!!i saw them too!on an auction on ebay last week!

[imranbecks]

Hmmm... Maybe thats why there is no side windows. It is to make it easier for us to remove the T-tops.. Guess it shows the entire model is a whole new mold.. But its still the same dashboard as in the first release with the mysterious 6 square buttons on the left hand side of the monitor..

[KnightRiderKR]

Discontinued, what the hell is that about?

[imranbecks]

Discontinued, what the hell is that about?

http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS07962

Yeah thats normal for most of the Knight Rider stuff from Aoshima as they only produce a limited number of KITT in 1/43 scale.. The manufacturers are not making anymore so HLJ won't have anymore stock in. Thats the reason why I pre-ordered it a few mths ago (at an early bird special price too!!) coz I knew it was going to be discontinued sooner or later just like the other Knight Rider models... At the time I started this thread, HLJ was taking pre-orders for it, u shd have preordered it then..

Your best bet to get it now is at eBay.. Saw a couple of them there...

[KnightRiderKR]

bigbadtoystore.com had KITT from Aoshima/Skynet I got the last 2 they had. KARR is still listed as coming soon there.

[imranbecks]

bigbadtoystore.com had KITT from Aoshima/Skynet I got the last 2 they had. KARR is still listed as coming soon there.

1/43 KARR coming soon???? KARR was released way back in 2003 together with KITT.....

Anyways, I've just received a shipping notice from HLJ. Season 4 1/43 KITT has already been shipped out to me today by express mail... Shd be getting it by this weekend or early next week..

[KnightRiderKR]

If BBTS or some other US based retail ordered it then I'm gonna buy it providing it's not too expensive.

[imranbecks]

Just received the model from HLJ! It looks just as good as the first one released in 2003!!!

The plus point I noticed for this new mold (season 4 nose etc) is that its diorama style of packaging looks so cool.. It looks like KITT is in the semi.....










And now the surprise I got once I got the scanner activated.... Another plus point for this model. At first I thought that the scanner would light up the same way like the old one did, as in flashing. Its even stated on the packaging "MOVING KNIGHT FLASHER". But no... Get this, the scanner on the new 1/43 season 4 KITT lights up and moves with the trailing effect rather than "flashing" like the first one released 6 yrs ago.. It lights up similar to how the 1/24 scanner lights up complete with the trailing effect...!!! Only this one is 1/43 in scale!! Looks really cool and better than the old one.. I wonder why Aoshima didn't come up with this scanner movement for their 1/43 KITT and KARR that was released in 2003...hmmm.. Maybe they didn't have the technology to do it at that time... I will upload a video of it on YouTube soon so you guys can see the scanner movement...

Meanwhile, more photos of the 1/43 season 4 KITT with the 1/43 season 3 KITT and KARR.. (PS: I removed the batts from the old 1/43 season 3 KITT & KARR to prevent leakage, thats why their scanners don't light up in the photos, no spare batts )



Note that the image in the dashboard monitor is different from the previous 1/43 KITT released in 2003.










To sum it all up, the 1/43 Season 4 KITT is not a basic repaint of the previous one released in 2003 from Aoshima. Instead its an all new mold, side windows rolled down and the scanner moves realistically to how the real scanner looks on tv complete with trailing effect.. For those who missed out on the previous 1/43 KITT released by Aoshima, this is your chance to get it. Its not available now at HLJ, but you can still get it at eBay at reasonable prices compared to the other KITT that was released in 2003 which is currently, the last time I checked, overpriced on eBay..

[msKEN]

My inner geek SCREAMS out loud in pain when I see you guys remove these limited edition items from there packages. LOL but I understand why you guys have to do it. I'm jealous imranbecks, you collection is quite awesome!

[KnightRiderKR]

I'd like to see the scanner's trailing effect so could you please make a video of it?

[andy-kitt]

Are the t-top panels removable or fixed?

Yes, LED technology has moved a great deal, the old LEDs with 3mm wide, so there was only room for 3. Now you can get LEDs about 1mm wide, so there is now the space for more (you can make out the SMD LEDs in the picture I posted).

[imranbecks]

Here is a video I uploaded at YouTube to show the new scanner movement used for the 1/43 KITT season 4.. Note that it uses 4 LED's..

New screen accurate scanner movement with trailing effect in 1/43 scale!!!! >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAfOq96n5hw

[KnightRiderKR]

I want that!!!!!! Thanks becks!