Finally; My Kyosho Javelin Collection, Repro 'ed Roll Cage

[optiman]

Always loved the Javelin, sleek lines, unique look... probabbly one of the best looking buggies of all times...
So after getting my hands on the orange one, I also wanted to get the yellow and green to add to my collection... Yeah right!!!
Everyone knows how rare are the yellow and green are, not to mention the high prices. So after seeing one go in ebay go for $600+ for a plastic bag with flimsy yellow plastic parts inside!!!! So this marked decision time for me, and so the decision was made; If I wanted all three I would have to make my own...

So, finally... After countless hours on Cad design, custom made forming and bending dies, laser cutting, three jigs, multiple skin burns, one busted roll cage and three pilot roll cages... It's done... I've mastered the delicate lines of the mighty Javelin!!!

It's amazing how a simple roll cage can get so darn difficult to make. Needless to say the end product looks just like the original, with the exception that mines are made out of metal, stainless steel to be precise.

I just returned home from the shop today, after taking the day off just to work on my roll cages it finally paid off... I'm soooo darn tired.
Tomorrow I will be spending the day giving the final touches and giving them the paint job; One in green, one in yellow, one in gold and black for Goldie, one in red, one in blue, one in black, one in.... whatever color I feel like too :thumbsup:

Pictures comming soon!!!!

[DanB4]

Always loved the Javelin, sleek lines, unique look... probabbly one of the best looking buggies of all times...
So after getting my hands on the orange one, I also wanted to get the yellow and green to add to my collection... Yeah right!!!
Everyone knows how rare are the yellow and green are, not to mention the high prices. So after seeing one go in ebay go for $600+ for a plastic bag with flimsy yellow plastic parts inside!!!! This marked decision time for me, and so the decision was made; If I wanted all three I would have to make my own...

So, finally... After countless hours on Cad design, custom made forming and bending dies, laser cutting, three jigs, multiple skin burns, one busted roll cage and three pilot roll cages... It's done... I've mastered the delicate lines of the mighty Javelin!!!

It's amazing how a simple roll cage can get so darn difficult to make. Needless to say the end product looks just like the original, with the exeption that mines are made out of metal, stainless steel to be precise.

I just returned home from the shop today, after taking the day off just to work on my roll cages it finally paid off... I'm soooo darn tired.
Tomorrow I will be spending the day giving the final touches and giving them the paint job; One in green, one in yellow, one in gold and black for Goldie, one in red, one in blue, one in black, one in.... whatever color I feel like too :thumbsup:

Pictures comming soon!!!!

Sell them! You'll make a killing ;)

[bigred5765]

nice

[optiman]

In a matter of hours I'll be displaying the first "Javesteel" out of the mill, finished and painted!!!! Woohooo!!!:D

[HKS_TRD]

I'd love to see one polished

[optiman]

I'd love to see one polished
Hmmm... mirror finish.... not a bad idea!!! It would be a killer for both the looks and my fingers, but totally worth it!!!:thumbsup:

Anyways... as promised... PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladys and Gents... I give you; Mr. Green

http://www.oople.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=979&pictureid=6208

[optiman]

Yesterday was a busy day and only got chance to finish painting just a few Javesteel roll cages. The paint was uncooperative and seemed that it would never dry. I took Mr. Green all tacky back home from the shop, hang it on one corner of the house and assembled it this morning into my Optima chassis, hope you like it!

PS: Javesteel are officially for sale!!! Will add them to my website's store, come up with a price and special oOple friends special price ;)

The Javesteel roll cage will include; All TIG welded, handcrafted roll cage complete with roof and number plate, inner roll cage bar, fabricated side guards just like the one the Optima has installed in the pictures.
Will also include for the first 10 buyers a bonus motor guard.
More details on my next post.

[Crashtest33]

What bloody fantastic work!! If I was old enough to know what a Javelin was, I'd want one!!
Respect dude

Nick - CAA Qualified TIG welder

[optiman]

What bloody fantastic work!! If I was old enough to know what a Javelin was, I'd want one!!
Respect dude

Nick - CAA Qualified TIG welder

Thank you very much Nick!
I have to be honest; Cutting, bending and welding all those tiny rods is starting to get into my nerves!!!! I am use to welding, designing and fabricating stuff, heck that is what my business is all about, but those tiny rods... They never seem to end!!!

Gentlemen you will have to excuse me, I know I said that today I would post prices, purchasing method, etc.. But I simply did not have the time today. Today we finished several more roll cages that will get coated tomorrow. I can give a heads up, colors available will be green, yellow, orange, blue, red, black and gold.

[Hcp22]

Well done indeed! :thumbsup:
Do you consider making them in aluminum?
And where exactly do I find these for sale!

[optiman]

Well done indeed! :thumbsup:
Do you consider making them in aluminum?
And where exactly do I find these for sale!

Thank you.

I might concider doing it in the future, but for now I will work with stainless. Major problem with aluminum is the welding. For me since there are a lot of small parts I usually take my welding gloves off to get a better grip on what I am working on when working with small things/low heat. Stainless gives me more time between the welding and the heat transfer than aluminum, in other words this would mean more burns!!! :thumbdown:

Anyways, shop is open!!!
Here is how is going o work; "The oOple friends daily special"
I have 10 roll cages ready, but I am going to keep one(Goldie's). That leaves 9 available which two of them are already separated by Naushad and DanB4 whom they both each told me they wanted one from day 1. So that leaves me with 7 roll cages ready available.

Each roll cage set will include; roll cage, roof panel and number plate(both already attached), a set of fabricated side guards(rod is not attached by screws, but welded) and a bonus, free custom made motor guard. The motor guard looks similar, but not exactly to the original. It attaches by slidding it thru the bar that attaches the plates together. I will post pictures later, anyways is a freebie.

So, the first 7 people to complete a purchase via Paypal thru the website will get the roll cage with the free motor guard.
IF there is a 8th or more purchases I will contact the buyer(s) and do the following; (A) Cancel the order as per buyers request or (B) Buyer will wait for the next batch of roll cages to be done, but no free motor guard will be included. Also, it is very possible that there will be a slight increase in the price of each roll cage after some period of time. These little things are painstakingly hard to make, it takes hours just to make one, so the price you will see now is for oOple friends eye's only and it will not last that way very long.

Note to all buyers, I will need to know the color and if the buggy has installed stabilizer bars. If the buggy is equipped with stabilizer bars the roll cage needs to be a 1/8" shorter. The original Javelin did not came with stabilizer bars and the roll cage is plastic and is super flexible, stainless is not.

Well, here is the link to my store:
http://bermudezcustomdesign.ipage.com/store/page6.html
By the way, I am a serious and responsable human being. I've done hundreds of transactions overseas, all over the globe, my reputation as a seller is top notch. Just do a quick search of "bbsdesigns turbo" which is one of my business that deals with people around the globe and you will know me better.

[Gayo]

Wow Optiman this is AMAZING! That golden Javelin is so nice it hurts :lol:

[optiman]

Lot's of thank's Gayo, really appreciated!!!
Let me say that is not going to be easy parting out of all of this candy, they surely look nice on my shelf. I only wish I had 3-4 more chassis :woot:

[stephenianjames]

Fantastic work! So impressed I just ordered a gold cage...hope I got one in time.

Kudos for putting the time and effort into such a great product...I'm sure they'll be very popular.

Cheers,

Steve

[optiman]

Fantastic work! So impressed I just ordered a gold cage...hope I got one in time.

Kudos for putting the time and effort into such a great product...I'm sure they'll be very popular.

Cheers,

Steve

Thank you Steve!
Your order will go out tomorrow.
Seems like everyone is going for the gold:thumbsup:
Have to admit... Is the best ;)
http://www.oople.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=979&pictureid=6222

[optiman]

Teaser pic ;)

http://www.oople.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=979&pictureid=6223

[optiman]

Fantastic work! So impressed I just ordered a gold cage...hope I got one in time.

Kudos for putting the time and effort into such a great product...I'm sure they'll be very popular.

Cheers,

Steve

Steve pm sent!! Javesteel's tracking number!!!

[keithrc]

They look very nice Optiman. I had the idea of trying to make a cage from 6mm alloy rod a fears ago. I got as far as ordering the rod and that's as far as it went.

Have you considered doing the nerf bars in the rod as well instead of the Option House type?


Keith ;)

[optiman]

Hi Keith and thank you very much!

Yes, there was a debate at first, but we decided to go with the option house style. Why? Easier to make. The original style are harder to make, meaning more cutting jigs and fab jigs as well as the screw tabs, plus more grinding/polishing = higher costs :thumbdown:

Since the option house style looks better and are easier to fabricate, plus they do add a little of attitude to the Javelin, we decided to go with them. :thumbsup:

[optiman]

Well what started as a simple wish that I carried back from the 80's to own the orange Javelin ended up in hoping to one day also getting the yellow and green... jaja I never imagined that I would endup with neither of those colors!!!
So after coating all kinds of colors in different Javelins, I ended up with one gold for Goldie, one glitter gold for the original orange Javelin and one "Turbo Javelin" tribute roll cage for my Turbo Optima. If I die today I would die a happier man :)

So giving it's propper closure to this thread and this endeavour for the Javelin collection here are the pictures of all three, enjoy!

Now I think I will get a break from the R/C vintage scene...

[Lonestar]

Can't believe I haven't spotted these before... HOLY COW THAT'S BRILLIANT!

Having two Javestics on my shelf I'm not interested (at the moment!), but I bow to your determination and skills, Sir... Keep it up!

Paul

[optiman]

Can't believe I haven't spotted these before... HOLY COW THAT'S BRILLIANT!

Having two Javestics on my shelf I'm not interested (at the moment!), but I bow to your determination and skills, Sir... Keep it up!

Paul

Thank you very much! :)

[sn8k eyez]

Hello everyone. Finally got the chance to fit this Turbo Optima with one of Ed's roll cage. I got a primed cage and painted it a metallic blue to match the rims. Big thanks to Ed for the hook ups :D

[optiman]

:drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:: drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:
OMG.... man why did I had to see those pictures... now I am not happy again... I want one in blue!!!!!! Right now l am looking at my glitter gold Javelin with very bad intentions.... who needs two gold Javelins anyway???!!!

Alan that Javelin looks fantastic!!! and the wheels are to die for!!!! CONGRATULATIONS:thumbsup:

[optiman]

Hi there,
I just wanted to share this pictures of a Turbo Javelin that a friend sent me.
His name is George, very great guy! Unfortunately he is not a member here, but he has very nice large collection of vintages, enjoy!

[optiman]

Rear

[sn8k eyez]

Hey there Ed. Here is a shot of the other cage I got from you. :D Another Turbo Optima with the gold Javelin cage. This was a replacement for the cage that had a bent nose due to USPS mishandling that Ed was kind enough to replace at no charge.

Hmmmm. I might paint it a different color. ;)

[sn8k eyez]

:drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:: drool::drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:
OMG.... man why did I had to see those pictures... now I am not happy again... I want one in blue!!!!!! Right now l am looking at my glitter gold Javelin with very bad intentions.... who needs two gold Javelins anyway???!!!

Alan that Javelin looks fantastic!!! and the wheels are to die for!!!! CONGRATULATIONS:thumbsup:

Lol. Thanks Ed. I thought that since you made these that you'd have multiple cages with different colors on hand. You can switch it every week depending on your mood.:D

[optiman]

Wow Adam that gold one looks stunning! You should take a pic of the blue and gold side by side.:drool:

Lol, I have three roll cages of my own; one polished coated in gold, one glitter gold and the turbo Javelin. And a small stock of uncoated ones on the shop, but those are for sale in case someone orders one. The truth is that since I dont have no more rolling chassis for a roll cages to put in it, it didnt make much sense for me to have more roll cages of my own. It takes several man-hours and some dough $$ to make each so for now I preffer just to sell them to cover up for the money invested.
I am concidering maybe changing the glitter gold to a metallic green and make something similar to what you did, but I am seriously toying with the idea of making the aluminum version; "The Javelloy". If I do it I will try to find someone who can anodize it in green, with green shocks, wheels etc..
We also need to get a powder coating system, paint coating the roll cages is becoming a true headache; paint flying everywhere, long curing time, stainless steel parts getting coated, high humidity and ruined finishes, etc... It's just a PITA.:thumbdown:

[optimaforever]

Jeez what an awesome work, Edgardo!
I discovered this post too late and now your rollcages are long sold out!
Even if Kyosho and Akira Kogawa rerelease the Javelin 2015, these would remain as incredible craftmanship jewels! :drool::drool::drool:

[optimaforever]

Hey there Ed. Here is a shot of the other cage I got from you. :D Another Turbo Optima with the gold Javelin cage. This was a replacement for the cage that had a bent nose due to USPS mishandling that Ed was kind enough to replace at no charge.

Hmmmm. I might paint it a different color. ;)

Adam, may I publish these gorgeous Javelins on my blog?

[optiman]

Jeez what an awesome work, Edgardo!
I discovered this post too late and now your rollcages are long sold out!
Even if Kyosho and Akira Kogawa rerelease the Javelin 2015, these would remain as incredible craftmanship jewels! :drool::drool::drool:

Hi Ryu, and thank you for your kind words.
I am currently super busy with other things, I barely have time to work on my hobbies and/or build more rollcages, but this does not means I will not make more eventually, probabbly make one every now or then in my spare time and put them for sale.

There is one or two more projects I will like to make, a Salute inspired rollcage and a Blue/White Turbo Javelin.

Currently I am working, when I do have the time, in my unfinished Green Monster (Green Javelin) and the Silverblack, the 100% full metal built Javelin.

I'll post a pic of my Javelin collection later.