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Tamiya has released a new promotional video for its upcoming 1/12 scale R/C Lamborghini Cheetah kit. The new footage, which surfaced on 21 October 2026, shows the reissued model being driven over various types of terrain — a look at one of the strangest machines from Tamiya’s early R/C days.

The kit, item number 58754, recreates the Lamborghini Cheetah, a prototype military vehicle announced at the 1977 Geneva Motor Show. This 2026 release is an upgraded version of a kit Tamiya first produced in 1978, and the company calls it a “re-released and upgraded version” of that original model. TamiyaBlog and Big Squid RC both highlighted the new official product video.

The Real Cheetah Was a One-Off Off-Road Experiment

The full-size Cheetah was developed with the American company MTI (Mobility Technology International) as an all-terrain military vehicle for the U.S. market. The prototype was initially assembled in the United States, then finished at Lamborghini’s facilities in Italy. Its engine, mounted over the rear axle, was a waterproofed 5.9-liter Chrysler V8 rated at 180 hp, driving through a three-speed automatic transmission to a limited-slip differential.

The Cheetah never entered production, but it became an important experimental chapter for Lamborghini. Tamiya’s product material ties the project to later vehicles such as the Humvee and to the LM002, the first modern sports SUV. Tamiya’s 1978 kit, original item 58007, came from the very beginning of Tamiya’s electric R/C era, and this 2026 edition arrives 48 years later.

A Hard Styrene Body Packed With Scale Details

The 2026 Cheetah measures 400mm long, 174mm wide, and 140mm high. The durable styrene body is molded in PS Desert Yellow and recreates the car’s angular, doorless shape. Inside, the model includes a detailed meter panel, seats, a fire extinguisher, rear plate mesh, and a driver figure. The shell is mounted from inside at the front and rear, which keeps the exterior looking cleaner and more realistic. The instruction manual also includes a four-language background story about the actual vehicle.

XR311-Based Chassis Keeps the Vintage Feel

Under the body, the Cheetah uses the same chassis platform as Tamiya’s item 58004 1/12 XR311 Combat Support Vehicle, with a wheelbase shortened by 10mm. The drivetrain is rear-wheel drive, with a lightweight, rigid duralumin U-shaped plate running the length of the chassis. A battery pack sits lengthwise in the center and the motor is mounted at the rear. The receiver and ESC sit in duralumin trays on either side of the rear section for optimum balance.

Tamiya retained the vintage suspension approach: four-wheel independent double wishbones with upper and lower H-arms and four adjustable, flat-mounted, longitudinal metal torsion-bar springs. The sealed gearbox helps keep dust and small stones out. Semi-pneumatic tires with a flat chevron tread pattern are paired with durable three-piece wheels, each held to the hubs with five screws. A duralumin front underguard protects the model in crashes.

One notable difference from the full-size vehicle: the real Cheetah was conceived as all-wheel drive, while Tamiya’s model is rear-wheel drive.

Kit Contents and Release Date

The kit includes an ESC, a torque-tuned motor, and the Desert Yellow styrene body. Builders still need to supply a transmitter and receiver, a servo, a battery and charger, assembly tools, and optional LED lighting if they want extra scale effect. Tamiya’s official product page lists the kit as item 58754 in its All Electric R/C Car Series, with specifications current as of 1 October 2026 and subject to change. UK retailer Wonderland Models lists the kit as due for release on 31 October 2026.

On Saturday, October 17, Maker Faire Louisville 2026 takes over the Engineering Student Success & Research Building at the University of Louisville, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The address is 201 Engineering Drive. Admission is free, and no tickets or advance registration are required.

Presented by Louisville Makes and hosted by the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, the Faire brings together artists, engineers, crafters, hobbyists, and inventors to show their projects and talk about how they were made. Exhibits will fill spaces inside and outside the building, with hands-on demonstrations aimed at children and adults alike.

The event is billed as a wide-open showcase for hands-on invention and curiosity, with something for anyone into robotics, woodworking, crafts, cosplay, or just cool ideas. It’s also a chance to talk directly with the people behind the projects and try things out firsthand.

Power Tools, Pixels, and Live Art

LVL1 brings back its high-octane Power Tool Drag Racing. Instead of cars, modified power tools race down a wooden drag strip by dragging their power cords. The course is outfitted with Arduino-powered sound effects, a Christmas-light tree countdown, and a wig-wag checkered “Win-Dicator” flag at the finish. Visitors can pair up and race using LVL1’s “house racers” — Harbor Freight belt sanders with Beanie Baby drivers held on with velcro — while exhibition runs feature custom builds powered by angle grinders, circular saws, and chainsaws.

For a lower-key activity, Mike Cotterman’s Mehxel lets visitors design pixel art with an arcade joystick and buttons on a 16×16 neopixel display. After pressing save, they get a QR code linking to the artwork online. Finished creations also show up on a 64×64 display built from 4,096 individually addressable neopixel LEDs.

Illustrators Phil Back and Steven Beezer will draw and paint live, answering questions about drawing, comic books, and digital art. Their exhibit includes comics, art books, prints, and original artwork. Animator and teaching artist John Akre will run a stop-motion animation station where visitors use paper shapes to create short animated sequences.

Metal, Molds, and Making

LVL1 maker Robert Day will cover electroplating and electroforming at home using copper, zinc, and nickel. The demonstration shows how everyday objects can take on a decorative or protective metal coating, with applications like jewelry, decorations, and rust protection.

Angela Cooper leads a sandcasting workshop where attendees can make their own mold and help cast a first piece in molten metal. No prior sandcasting or jewelry-making experience is required.

Research is part of the mix too. U of L graduate student Emma Drake will talk about her study of how organic chemistry students think about scientific models — what makes a model good and when it should be changed. The work also looks at how students’ broad ideas about models compare with what they do when evaluating their own work.

More Makers, Food, and Free Parking

Toyota Production Engineering will bring volunteer-led STEM outreach activities. UofL Speed Motorsports, the campus Baja SAE team, will be in machine shop ESSRB 112; the group designs and builds a small off-roader and aims to compete in the 2027 Baja SAE competition in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in May. Another maker will show 3D-printed accessories built for astrophotography, including gear used to capture planets, eclipses, meteor showers, and nebulae.

Handmade items will be available from All the Little Things, including badge reels, earrings, lanyards, keychains, and box cutters. Regis Cards brings greeting cards, from hand-painted watercolors to die-cut designs. MiraMira’s Wild Mediterranean will have small-batch extra virgin olive oil from Albania, and Windy City Eats will be on site as a food truck.

GE Appliances, a Haier company headquartered in Louisville, is a sponsor. The company supports local makers through FirstBuild, a free community makerspace on UofL’s campus.

Parking is free in lots near the venue, and the building is accessible. The Faire runs rain or shine, with most exhibits indoors or tented. More information is available at louisville.makerfaire.com.

Bittydesign has a new 1/7-scale shell for ARRMA owners who would rather not trim. The company announced the KANJO-N on Oct. 14, 2026, and RC Car Action covered the launch. Touted as a body developed especially for ARRMA, the polycarbonate shell is now offered for the ARRMA Infraction V2 and Felony in a pre-painted, pre-cut edition ready to use.

“Pre-Painted & Pre-Cut, all in one!” the company said. “We didn’t just design a body developed especially for ARRMA, we wanted to do more: offer the amazing KANJO-N in a pre-painted and pre-cut version!”

For this edition, Bittydesign’s product page states that the body is sold pre-painted exactly as displayed. The company describes the shell as a blend of state-of-the-art thermoforming and professional multi-color painting, with factory-level precision and flawless finish details. It calls the result a ready-to-use masterpiece with maximum visual impact. Its stated design philosophy is “the best or nothing.” The listing also notes protective film on the outside of the shell.

Fit and dimensions

The KANJO-N is designed around the ARRMA Infraction V2 chassis and the ARRMA Felony. It is also listed as compatible with the Limitless, but that installation requires extra hardware. Bittydesign says Limitless owners need four additional ARRMA parts: the Infraction Body Post Mount Set (#ARA320517), Front Bumper Support (#ARA320521), Front Bumper (#ARA320515), and Outcast Body Post Set (#ARA320357).

The body measures 720 mm long, 325 mm wide, and 174 mm tall. Wheelbase is 406 mm when fitted with ARRMA dBoots Hoons wheels. The shell is made from 1.5 mm polycarbonate.

Everything already cut

Bittydesign says owners will find not just the body pre-cut and pre-painted, but also every necessary accessory already cut. “Forget scissors, dremel and other tools,” the company says, thanks to robotic cutting. The package includes a pre-cut decal sheet and black window cover, plus a rear wing with mounting screws. Front side aero flaps are included and attach with double-sided adhesive tape. Bittydesign calls the flaps an extra racing touch, while the huge rear wing rounds out the package with a racing-car aesthetic. Enlarged fenders help contain the big wheels that protrude from the body’s shape, especially at the rear.

According to Bittydesign, attention to detail was a priority so the pre-cut kit remains fun to assemble. The project was developed with advanced graphics and CAD design, with forms cut by 5-axis CNC milling machines. The company says its know-how comes from more than 20 years of experience.

A tuning-style look for 1/7 ARRMA

Bittydesign frames the KANJO-N as an icon of style for 1/7-scale models, with cues borrowed from iconic Japanese cars of the 1990s and 2000s. The huge rear wing, aerodynamic flaps, and widened fenders give the car an aggressive, street-tuned presence. Bittydesign says it set no limits on the design and that the body will make a Felony or Infraction look more aggressive and street style than ever.

For owners who prefer to paint their own shell, Bittydesign also sells a clear pre-cut KANJO-N for the Felony. In that version, the widened fenders are secured with included M2 screws and nuts. A custom airbrush service is available on request, covering street-style monochrome, artistic graphics, and racing liveries; customers can email for a free quote.

The pre-painted KANJO-N carries product code #BDAR7-KJN-PP and is listed at €139.90. In the US, AMain Hobbies handles distribution for Bittydesign.

Keeping filament dry is usually a separate chore: pull the spool, run a dryer, reload, then print. Sunlu’s AMS Lite Heater tries to fold that job into Bambu Lab’s AMS Lite, and a hands-on review published by Make: on Oct. 20, 2026 found it mostly delivers — as long as you don’t mix spool types inside the heated chamber.

What It Is

The $130 accessory is a heated enclosure built specifically for Bambu Lab’s AMS Lite, not a general-purpose drying cabinet. The reviewer tested it with a Bambu Lab A1 and AMS Lite and came away with a fully enclosed AMS that can dry filament before and during printing. The added enclosure kept roughly the same desktop footprint as the original A1/AMS Lite combo.

Sunlu’s July product announcement said the kit was developed for the AMS Lite ecosystem and would not compromise the AMS Lite’s existing functions.

Installation Means Opening the AMS

First impressions suggested an easy job, but the next step looked more involved: the AMS Lite shell needed to open so the Sunlu unit could fit inside. The actual work turned out to be just a few replacement screws and two wires. The AMS still gets power from the printer, so printing without heat remains possible, and the heater can run even when the printer is off.

There were small fit issues: a couple of screw holes did not line up completely, and the plastic cover was fussy to put back. The reviewer still called the finished result an elegant integration.

Drying Controls

Rather than running a one-size-fits-all cycle, the heater lets owners pick a material preset or set their own numbers. The six presets cover PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, PA (nylon), and PC (polycarbonate), with temperature and humidity targets included. In manual mode, temperature can be set from 35°C to 70°C and humidity from 25% to 50%. The timer defaults to six hours; after that initial heating window, the system switches on again at a 50% humidity threshold to bring the chamber back to the target value.

During the review, the heater ran quietly and stayed warm to the touch without getting hot enough to burn. It also kept heat from leaking into the office. Sunlu’s announcement also described drying up to 70°C, a dual-airflow channel to distribute heat evenly, automatic venting to remove moisture while running, built-in humidity monitoring, and multiple temperature-safety protections.

Print Results and the Mixed-Load Catch

The review is direct about results: the reviewer did not see a big improvement in print quality, but noted that humidity has not been a major problem in the San Francisco Bay Area. In more humid regions, drying filament while printing could offer more benefit.

The bigger catch is mixed loads. Because every spool is enclosed and heated together, materials with different temperature requirements can clash. If PETG is being dried at its recommended temperature while PLA is also loaded, that PLA could melt and fuse. So the heater may not be ideal for anyone who routinely keeps different filament types loaded in the AMS.

Space on the Desk

There is a physical tradeoff too. The heater doors fold down to load and remove filament, so the machine needs side clearance. With the relatively short Bambu PTFE tubes, the reviewer ended up turning the whole unit to reach the side facing the printer.

Launch Timeline

Sunlu introduced the AMS Lite Heater as part of its 13th-anniversary push, with a July 20, 2026 launch date at 07:00 UTC and a $129.99 retail price. The company also ran a global giveaway for 100 winners, offering 10,000 rolls of filament, 100 exclusive anniversary gifts, and units of the heater. Sunlu said it was expanding its U.S. factory infrastructure to improve product availability and shorten delivery times for North American customers.

Fan RC has started shipping the retro-styled FRX-2, a 1/10-scale 2WD buggy kit that combines old-school looks with a carbon fiber-heavy parts list. Announced on Fan RC’s Facebook page, the release was quickly picked up by RC Car Action and Big Squid RC. Big Squid RC noted that the buggy arrives after some teasing and highlighted the trailing arm rear suspension as a key part of the design.

Fan RC’s own announcement states: “FRX-2 kit is now available.” The kit is priced at $390 and carries model number FL-01. Big Squid RC also puts the price right around $390, so the two reports line up on the figure. RC Car Action listed the price and model number in the same format: #FL-01 – $390.

Here is a quick look at the features Fan RC listed for the FRX-2:

• Plain weave carbon fiber chassis with variable battery positions
• Plain weave carbon fiber shock towers with molded shock tower protector
• Ball diff transmission with large slipper pads
• TC4 titanium turnbuckles with 4-40 thread
• Driveshafts with 3/16-inch axles
• 12mm big bore shocks
• Orange rims and orange bellcranks
• Undertray included in the kit box
• Alloy front hinge brace included in the kit

The Build

The FRX-2 uses a plain weave carbon fiber chassis, and the battery positions are variable, so builders have options for pack placement. The shock towers are also plain weave carbon fiber, and Fan RC includes a molded shock tower protector. Out back, the buggy uses trailing arm suspension, a setup that fits the vintage theme.

Power runs through a ball diff transmission with large slipper pads. The drivetrain includes driveshafts with 3/16-inch axles. Fan RC also specs TC4 titanium turnbuckles with 4-40 thread, saying they provide “strength to withstand big jumps meanwhile keeps vintage look.”

The rest of the kit contents include 12mm big bore shocks, orange rims, orange bellcranks, an undertray, and an alloy front hinge brace. Fan RC’s announcement says the undertray is included in the kit box and the front hinge brace is included in the kit.

Fan RC’s Facebook post was a compact one. It introduced the spec list with a “Key features” header and then closed with the model number and price. Big Squid RC repeated the same highlights and confirmed that the kit is shipping, so the teaser phase is over. The core specs in both reports are the same, from the carbon fiber chassis to the included hinge brace.

Retro Hardware, Updated Materials

The FRX-2’s feature list mixes classic buggy styling with updated hardware. Carbon fiber appears on the chassis and shock towers, while the titanium turnbuckles are specified for strength. The large slipper pads sit in a ball diff transmission, and the shocks are 12mm big bore units. The 3/16-inch axle driveshafts complete the drivetrain.

Fan RC products are available through retailers such as Go Fast Hobbies. The shop describes Fan RC as “one of the best reproduction Vintage RC10 & Yokomo products available.” Go Fast Hobbies also says its mission is to share its passion and knowledge for the RC industry with everyone, and to help racers get the products they need for the next race. That statement is part of the shop’s Fan RC collection page.

The FRX-2’s retro 2WD layout and trailing arm rear suspension fit that vintage-reproduction focus. The kit is now shipping at $390.

CMC just tossed a curveball into the die-cast world. New images have surfaced of a 1:64 scale Fiat 642 RN2 Bartoletti racing transporter, and the reveal appears to mark the German model maker’s first step into the 1:64 segment. DiecastSociety.com picked up the news on October 20, 2026, describing the announcement as a surprise and the model as looking impressive. Officially, though, the launch is still a tease: no pricing, no release date, and the product number is still marked TBD.

First details from the Maserati edition

The initial announcement leaves the hardware details to a separate CMC shop page for the Maserati Racing transporter version, which is already live with a full breakdown. The page identifies the manufacturer as CMC GmbH, Classic Model Cars, Germany, and lists the miniature as item number M-332. It calls the piece a hand-assembled precision model in die-cast metal, built to 1:64 scale and made up of 332 individual parts.

Working features are a big part of the package. All doors open, including those to the workshop/service compartment. The suspension and steering are fully functional. Sliding loading ramps can be extended and retracted from the side, removed, and attached to the rear, while the tailgate is movable. Lights, chrome trim, door handles, and wing mirrors are fitted as separate individual parts.

CMC is upfront about one limitation: the wire ropes on the upper loading level are decorative only, and that upper level is fixed rather than movable. The materials are heavily metal-oriented, with die-cast zinc, stamped and bent metal, and photo-etched parts such as the radiator grille. The loading ramps get chequered embossing meant to match the original hardware.

A transporter with racing pedigree

The original truck behind the model has a strong motorsport story. CMC’s backgrounder explains that early race cars were usually driven to events on public roads. As road rules became more restrictive, that stopped being practical, and the 1950s and 1960s gave rise to purpose-built race transporters. The Fiat 642 RN2, fitted with Bartoletti bodywork and hoist in 1957, became one of the era’s best-known examples. Scuderia Ferrari and Scuderia Maserati both chose nearly identical versions, with paintwork and decals as the main giveaway. Both used a Fiat bus chassis, and Bartoletti fitted an open deck capable of carrying three race cars.

Mechanically, the full-size transporter used a 92 hp six-cylinder diesel inline engine, type 364A, with 6,650 ccm displacement and an 85 km/h top speed. It was also a mobile base for its race team: CMC says it carried tools and spare parts across a race weekend, included a small workshop, provided living quarters and crew space, and came with a foldaway bed. The vehicle hoist and bodywork were Bartoletti’s work.

Waiting on the official word

What remains unknown is the commercial launch. CMC has not announced pricing or an official release date for the 1:64 model. The original reveal still lists the product number as TBD, even as the Maserati edition sits in the company’s shop as item M-332. The product page includes the standard CMC safety note—collector’s model, not suitable for children under 14—and the usual disclaimer that manufacturer, racing team, and driver names are used for reference only and don’t imply endorsement. Under the listing’s GPSR product-safety heading, the manufacturer is identified as CMC GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgarter Str. 106, 70736 Fellbach, with contact through cmc-modelcars.de. For now, the 1:64 transporter’s story is one of first images and a very detailed catalog listing, with the actual sale details still to come.

Leeds engineering outfit MetMo is back on Kickstarter with a tool for one of the most frustrating moments in any workshop: the tiny part that slips, pings, and disappears. The MetMo Precision Grip takes a locking mechanism patented in 1912, shrinks it into a hand-held tool, and aims it at model engineers, miniature painters, electronics work, and anyone who has ever lost a small component to the carpet.

The big number is 5kg of maximum clamping force at the jaw tip, roughly 1,160 psi, but the selling point is control. The tool runs on a miniature drive screw similar to hardware used in high-precision machining equipment. That lets the user dial in anywhere from a soft pinch to a full lock. The idea is to fill the gap between conventional tweezers, which rely on sprung tension and can snap shut or tire the hand, and locking pliers, which can mark or damage delicate parts.

Three tools in one

MetMo calls the Precision Grip a 3-in-1 workshop tool. It can behave as a spring-loaded tweezer for quick sorting, as a locking hand grip, and as a miniature desktop vice when paired with the company’s Third Hand Stand or C-clamp mounts. The body is built around a rigid barrel hinge that prevents the lateral twist and tip misalignment common in sheet-metal tweezers.

Jaw selection is modular. Users can swap between standard, fine-point, needle-nose, reverse, and angled jaws, and the tool accepts silicone inserts for fragile surfaces. Because the jaw system is open, owners can also 3D-print their own custom jaws for unusual shapes. Individual nibs are replaceable on their own, so one damaged tip does not mean a new tool.

The contact surfaces carry a patent-pending micro-grip texture MetMo calls The Gecko’s Finger. The idea is to add friction at the contact point so smooth, small parts hold in place without extra clamping force. Leave the jaws slightly open and a spring-loaded mode works like ordinary tweezers, with the screw-drive lock only engaging when needed. Three V-grooves machined into the body can be used to form wire or to prop the tool up as a tiny stand.

Three material builds

MetMo offers the Precision Grip in three versions. The aluminium build is aerospace-grade 7075-T651, hard-anodised black, and weighs 70.3g. The stainless steel version uses surgical 316 stainless, weighs 114.5g, and is described as autoclave-safe and corrosion-proof. The third is Grade 5 titanium at 83.3g, positioned as ultra-tough and non-magnetic.

All three are fully user-serviceable and can be stripped down for maintenance or repair, which backs up MetMo’s 200-year guarantee. Dimensions are 134mm by 29mm by 16mm. Jaw opening is 21mm at the pin point and 14.7mm with silicone jaws.

Kickstarter pricing and momentum

The Kickstarter campaign is live now. Pricing runs at £89 ($118) for the aluminium version, £119 ($157) for stainless steel, and £179 ($237) for titanium. Early-bird quantities are limited; an early-October report noted that one early-bird model had only 12 of 1,750 units left at the time. The same report described the campaign as nearing the million-dollar mark with three weeks still to go.

The Precision Grip follows MetMo’s earlier Pocket Grip campaign, which was inspired by a 1912 double-ended parallel wrench design and raised $1,024,727 from 3,593 backers against a $13,253 goal. MetMo ships worldwide from the UK, and estimated delivery for backers is June 2027.

Final call for LEGO Insiders members: 19 October 2026 is the last day to earn Double Insider Points on purchases from LEGO.com and official LEGO Stores.

The deadline is already shaping up to be a busy one. The 40909 Restaurants of the World: Italy gift-with-purchase has sold out worldwide, and big-ticket sets like 76294 X-Men: The X-Mansion have also dropped out of the lineup. Jay’s Brick Blog says that points to plenty of fans making the most of the 2x points event.

How the double points work

The promotion runs from 13 to 19 October, with Insiders members earning 10% of their purchase value back in points rather than the usual 5%. On a €99.99 set, for example, normal earning would give 750 points, worth €5 off a future purchase; the double-points boost increases that to 1,500 points, worth €10. Points can be redeemed for discounts on later orders or for exclusive rewards.

Double points apply to the full range in the LEGO Shop and official LEGO Stores. That includes exclusive sets, new releases, models marked as retiring soon, accessories and Pick a Brick loose parts. Pre-orders placed during the event also qualify, with points generally added to the account after LEGO ships the order. Gift cards and shipping charges do not earn points.

Why stock is already disappearing

LEGO has set 31 December 2026 as the end date for more than 300 sets, but that does not mean every model will remain available until then. Once the remaining units sell through, a set can leave the assortment earlier. The X-Mansion is one example of a set that has already gone, and fan guides have also flagged 10326 Natural History Museum and 75192 Millennium Falcon as retiring models that still qualified for double points. Fan guides are steering last-chance shoppers toward the retiring list before the promo expires.

Last-minute ways to use the promo

One of the most popular uses for the event is Pick a Brick. Loose bricks are almost never discounted, so the double-points boost gives builders a good reason to restock their part inventories. Jay’s Brick Blog also points to newly released Pick a Brick elements and, depending on the shopper’s region, sets still listed in LEGO’s sale section.

Pre-ordering is another way to put double points to work. Orders placed during the promotion for upcoming releases qualify, as long as they are placed before the promo window closes. The promotion terms at checkout should be checked before ordering, as points are only credited after LEGO ships the order.

The free set that accompanied the promotion is no longer available. 40909 Restaurants of the World: Italy was offered with qualifying orders of £160 / $180 / €180 or more. The 317-piece model is a small Italian pizzeria with a minifigure, a stone pizza oven and a large pizza slice on the roof. It measures 15 cm tall, 9 cm wide and 8 cm deep, and it belongs to LEGO’s Restaurants of the World series.

What’s next after today

After today, the next major LEGO shopping windows are LEGO Insiders Weekend on 21–22 November 2026 and Black Friday 2026, which starts on 27 November 2026. Last year’s Insiders Weekend included 2x Insider Points, and LEGO typically uses the event to drop Insiders-only offers and special gifts with purchase.

M5Stack has introduced PaperDIY, a pair of low-power ePaper development kits built around Espressif’s ESP32-S3. Both pair a 4.7-inch grayscale electrophoretic display with a dual-core controller, and the company dates the two models to 16 October 2026.

Two kits, two assembly paths

The series splits by how much assembly the buyer wants to handle.

The PaperDIY Assembly Kit (K159) is the hands-on route. It ships with a main control board, the ePaper display, a 140mAh lithium battery, and an acrylic screen pressure plate, while the user completes the hardware assembly. There’s no enclosure included, and the open layout is meant for makers who want to build their own peripheral structures around the board.

The PaperDIY Complete Kit (K159-B) keeps the same electronics but is factory-assembled inside a 3D-printed PLA enclosure. The enclosure model is open-source, so owners can reprint the shell or change the design.

M5Stack lists desktop information displays, custom labels and signage, maker DIY projects, and embedded hardware experiments as the kits’ intended applications.

Same ESP32-S3 heart

Both kits are built around an ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 module with a dual-core Xtensa LX7 processor running at up to 240MHz, 16MB of flash, and 8MB of PSRAM. Wireless connectivity is single-band 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. The ESP32-S3 silicon does carry Bluetooth Low Energy, but M5Stack’s PaperDIY spec sheets omit BLE, which may mean the stock firmware does not expose it.

The board includes a microSD slot, USB Type-C, a 3.7V battery connector, and an M5PM1 power-management IC. The microSD slot lets users add storage beyond the 16MB of on-board flash. Power can come from the 3.7V battery, USB Type-C at 5V DC, or a 5V pad. There’s one power button, a pair of user buttons, and two 12-pin FPC expansion connectors. The bundled battery is rated at 140mAh, and M5Stack’s spec lists typical operating consumption at 4.2V and 40.95mA, with peaks up to 161mA. Operating temperature is rated from 0 to 40°C.

Physically, the Assembly Kit measures 115.3 × 62.5 × 5.5mm and weighs 26.4g, while the Complete Kit is 120.0 × 68.2 × 6.3mm and 43.1g.

Display details

The screen is a 4.7-inch electrophoretic panel, model ED047TC1, supporting 16 levels of gray. M5Stack’s store pages list the resolution as 960×540, while Hackster’s launch coverage says 900×540. The lack of a backlight means the panel is only clearly visible in decent ambient light and refreshes more slowly than active panels. Because it’s an electrophoretic screen, it holds its image without constant power; the electrical draw happens when the displayed content changes. M5Stack also notes the screen does not support touch.

M5Stack warns that any M2 mounting screw used with the Complete Kit must have a thread length below 3mm, because longer screws can press into the panel and damage it.

Firmware and documentation

The documentation includes an M5PaperDIY board profile plus Arduino examples, according to Esp32.co.uk. The same article says the display example requires M5Stack board package 3.3.10 or later, M5Unified 0.2.26 or later, and M5GFX 0.2.33 or later. The factory-demo repository for ESP-IDF lists ESP-IDF 5.5.1 as the toolchain and includes examples for battery-voltage monitoring, Wi-Fi scanning, microSD access, and button feedback. The roundup also notes the available material documents Arduino and ESP-IDF, not a ready-made ESPHome configuration; a Home Assistant-connected dashboard would still need its firmware and data path implemented and verified.

Price and availability

Pricing starts at $25 for the Assembly Kit, while the Complete Kit is listed at $29.90. At the latest store check, the Assembly Kit was available to order and the Complete Kit was out of stock on M5Stack’s store.

Team Yokomo has officially unveiled the Master Speed MS2.1, the latest version of its 1/10 electric touring car, with a revised front suspension, a lower center of gravity, and three chassis options. The announcement was accompanied by a video and follows an earlier CAD image teaser plus “coming soon” notices for the new kit.

Yokomo frames the car as the next step for its top-level speed platform:

The world’s top-class touring car reaches new heights. Specifications derived from real-world race data bring a dramatic evolution to the speed category.

Revised front suspension

Much of the update centers on the front end. Yokomo says the new front suspension geometry gives the car a more aggressive feel at the wheel while taking some strain off the driver, a combination the company ties to faster lap times. The front suspension lever ratio is now selectable, so drivers can adjust cornering behavior to the road surface and decide how aggressively to push the car based on tire choice.

The front suspension arms are 1 mm longer than before. Yokomo designed a new front shock tower and changed the lower damper pivot to suit, optimizing lever ratio and shock mounting position. The front shocks themselves are shorter, thanks to changes in shock length and shock caps. Yokomo says the longer arms reduce front roll slightly, helping high-grip cornering and overall response.

The shock absorber parts have also been revised to lower the center of gravity, with the mounting angle reset to match the longer front arms. The new parts list includes aluminium front lower shock mounts, aluminium rear upper shock mounts, aluminium shock ends, 18 mm shock shafts, and 4.8 mm shock cap balls.

Three chassis options

The MS2.1 will be released simultaneously with graphite, aluminium, and steel chassis versions so drivers can pick the package for their usual track environment. The graphite chassis is designed for wide surface compatibility, providing moderate chassis roll and flexibility even on low-grip surfaces for responsive driving.

Yokomo also updated the steel chassis to the next generation. Screws for the 1.5 mm aluminium and 1.2 mm steel chassis now use a 2 mm hex head. The new kit also includes a graphite front shock tower, a front stabiliser wire, and FH socket screws with 120-degree heads.

Drivetrain and motor mount changes

Yokomo says the new motor mount raises the motor position slightly, helping optimize weight balance when using thinner chassis. Earlier coverage listed the motor position as raised by 0.5 mm. The layshaft and motor mount have been updated for better tolerances and to help prevent spur gear failures.

The center pulley area was also reworked. The shaft holding the center pulley has been extended, bringing the pulley bearing position closer to the spur gear offset. Yokomo says this reduces wobble and helps prevent spur gear damage under heavy modified-motor loads, while also improving drive efficiency with stock motors. Another described change moves the rear belt position closer to the battery and widens the gap between the two center-pulley bearings to improve retention accuracy and reduce pulley wobble.

Conversion kit for MS2.0 owners

Owners of the current Master Speed MS2.0 will also get an upgrade route. Yokomo says a conversion kit for all current MS2.0 users will be released, allowing them to bring the car up to current spec. The conversion kit was part of the rollout plan from the start, mentioned alongside the initial “coming soon” announcement.

The new parts list rounds out with a graphite front suspension arm, a graphite front shock tower, a black steel main chassis, and an aluminium motor mount. In all, the changes touch the suspension, drivetrain, chassis, and hardware.

Yokomo’s announcement video and product details are now live on the official Team Yokomo site, and the MS2.1 will be released in graphite, aluminium, and steel specifications.