optima mid lwb rebuild/cleanup

[bald eagle]

Optima mid lwb (custom) i received recently. As you can see, it looked pretty bad when it arrived, all i have done is strip, clean, and reassemble so far. I have ordered new belt covers and spur/motor cover.

http://www.oople.com/forums/http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/th_053-1.jpg (http://s1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/?action=view&current=053-1.jpg)%20http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/th_058.jpg (http://s1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/?action=view&current=058.jpg)%20http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/th_059.jpg (http://s1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/?action=view&current=059.jpg)%20http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/th_060.jpg (http://s1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/?action=view&current=060.jpg)%20http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/th_061.jpg (http://s1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/?action=view&current=061.jpg)%20http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/th_062.jpg (http://s1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/?action=view&current=062.jpg)%20http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/th_066.jpg (http://s1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/?action=view&current=066.jpg)%20http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/th_067.jpg (http://s1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg496/CraigErnieLloyd/?action=view&current=067.jpg)

[Naushad]

Looks much better ! Good clean up !

Did you use gt85?

[bald eagle]

Chassis (both top and bottom plates) had sticky stuff ranging from silicone sealant, glue of some sort, and the sticky back from Velcro etc. I First washed all parts (non metallic) using washing up liquid, then to remove sticky surfaces I used lighter fluid!! Lol... It's awesome stuff.
After that I washed again. I soaked the bearings in wd40, gave metal parts a clean up with autosol. It's looking ok. Far from mint, but it's capable of running now. ;-)

[terry.sc]

It's good to see a restoration that actually involves cleaning up and restoring the original parts. It makes it much more involved keeping it as original as possible than just replacing everything with new parts.

[bald eagle]

Cheers Terry, ive always wanted to try my hand at vintage cars, granted, it would be wonderful if we could all find NIB cars for pennys, but, personally, i think ( like wheeler dealers on tv) its just as much of a pleasure/challenge to try and bring back cars from our past.
I could go on and on about my history of rc racing/cars owned etc... as could anybody on this forum.
i have a new found hobby, and i hope i can sort a few more cars out like this.
Thanks again.



Craig

[Naushad]

Terry...I do the same. I always try to limit buying nip parts...otherwise it really accelerates the cost. Personally, if I want NIP for most of a kit I'd buy NIB!

Bald Eagle....lighter fluid sounds interesting...I have used paint stripper which is probably similar stuff? But it really stinks! Does lighter fluid smell a lot aswell?

[bald eagle]

Yeah it smells quite a bit, it doesn't linger too long though.