Prototype 2wd Optima

[Phin]

Happened across an old auction for an Oct. 86 issue of some Japanese RC magazine with what looks like two "prototype" 2wd buggies based off an Optima rear end:

https://aucview.aucfan.com/yahoo/w1074389000/

Can anyone read the article and give a summary of what it says? I'm curious if it was just someone's homebrew, or if it was Kyosho developing the Ultima.

[MarkyDents]

1986 you say, that chassis shape is suspiciously familiar……

[Frankentruck]

.
The other writing is too blurry for Google Translate to use.

[Phin]

Heh totally forgot about translating with a phone.

Picked up some of what's said on the other pages, and it seems like it's a homemade car someone built because the RC10 was too expensive in Japan at the time. It mentions that the front arms are off a Hirobo Tomcat.

[Frankentruck]

From a gearbox standpoint, I don't think the Optima gears and gearing provide any significant advantage or difference vs using the Ultima gearbox. It just mounts to the chassis differently. I'm certainly not against custom builds though and it is cool.

[Phin]

From a gearbox standpoint, I don't think the Optima gears and gearing provide any significant advantage or difference vs using the Ultima gearbox. It just mounts to the chassis differently. I'm certainly not against custom builds though and it is cool.

The big advantage the Optima gearbox offered this car was availability....the Ultima release was several months after this article was published.