Kyosho Optima

ducatikid · #1 10-01-2012

Hi everyone. I started the restoration on my Optima and Optima Pro over the Christmas holidays. So far i have stripped both cars and polished all the alloy with a cordless drill and polishing mops and compound. During this time i had stripped the shock absorbers down and sent the alloy bodies to my friend to get them re anodised, he also re chemically blackened all the drive shafts, king pins and turnbuckles. I have rebuilt the Pro to be a runner so i picked the worse bits from both cars to make it, and have rebuilt it using stainless steel screws. The body had already been trimmed but unfortunately the front was cut short so i decided to use it to try a box art paint job. I used 6mm Tamiya masking tape to get the lines and normal masking tape. This turned out to be low tack and i have had some over spray issues. I didn't realise that the Kamtec shells don't have the overspray film so i had to use 1500 wet and dry paper to remove the over spray. I'm happy the way it came out (especially as it is a runner!), and i used Model Tech Trim Line to do the pin stripes. I have two Optima wheels and need two more if anyone has any spare, and a full set of Optima Pro wheels which i am trying to clean the paint off! The other Optima will be ready hopefully in the next few weeks so keep watching!!

Pictures can be found here:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_m...12275&id=22564

Cheers Lee

VintageRacer · #2 10-01-2012

Looks nice, might manage to get my runner back on the track one day!

Gayo · #3 10-01-2012

Wow, that Optima is clean!

My first RC

terry.sc · #4 10-01-2012

It's obvious it's a Kamtec body, they are moulded half an inch too short! The front is cut according to the cut lines, but the body is too small. For the Pro shell definitely go for one of Marwans replicas, Kamtecs Optima Pro undertray is also too narrow to fit nicely over the chassis.

racingdwarf · #5 10-01-2012

I agree, kamtec is ok for a runner, but a little to short at the front for a shelf queen

ducatikid · #6 10-01-2012

Yeah i knew it was a Kamtec shell, but wanted to practise my painting skills! This will be a light runner as i used to race one years ago. I'm currently rebuilding another to Optima spec, just ordered a carbon fibre top deck from Steve at Fibre Lyte, new arms are on their way, new wheels, tires and a Marwan shell and decals. I may buy an Optima Pro shell and tires later on as i have the wheels already. Just finished my Turbo Optima MID too. This has the Marwan shell, deals and tires too. I am well impressed with the quality!

Turbo Optima MID here

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_m...11731&id=22564

racingdwarf · #7 10-01-2012

Mine is a runner,I cut the shell to short at the front

,been a few years since I last cut an optima shell out

, anyway it's still nice to put it round the track on a nice dry day.I use the hotshot wheels and tyres to run on, but have a full set of original wheels with new tyres on for the shelf

. painting the shell was prob one of the hardest I have done,so many straight lines!

kartstuffer · #8 30-01-2012

Talking of Optimas does anyone have,or know where to get (at reasonable cost) a set of front Optima Turbo wishbones and hubs(alloy or plastic)
This is for a runner so dont have to be mint just good.

ducatikid · #9 30-01-2012

Hubs can be found here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOOK-VINTAGE...#ht_500wt_1202

Wishbones here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OT-13-Suspen...d#ht_500wt_969

My restoration can be found here:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_m...12568&id=22564

Cheers

Lee

allen · #10 30-01-2012

been on the lookout for an optima for a while now, my mates dad has one in his shed, not bothered with it for years, moment i said I'll have it/buy it, he sudenly wants to restore it??

that was 6 months ago, maybe longer, guess what its still there