Legendary series Optima Pro

[Coelacanth]

To me, it's not a surprise they made some refinements to the front/rear balance because the original Optima had understeer issues on acceleration. It would've been better if they found a way to mount the battery longitudinally.

[silvertriple]

Kyosho published a build video with Akira Kogawa...

[XLR8]

Kyosho published a build video with Akira Kogawa...

That's a great video, thanks for posting a link!
It's clear that the Pro includes changes to make it more competitive but it seems odd that it lacks a wing. Apparently the Javelin and Salute are the only rear motor Optima's that included a wing. All Mid buggies came with a wing.
I guess Kyosho felt a wing wasn't needed for the Optima's but can anyone recall a ROAR or IFMAR off-road championship competitor that didn't run one?

[sundevil67]

Dammit Kyosho! With my Optima Pro pre-order taking so long, and all of this talk about how this version isn't all that different from the original Optima... I still have an NIB OG Optima waiting to be built, a Turbo re-re I run regularly, an unfinished Turbo Mid SE restoration project, AND an original Optima Pro NIB.

I just checked Amain to see if there was an update (got an email from Kyosho Japan featuring the car, so I thought maybe...), and stumbled across the USA-1 Nitro, which for some reason I thought had already been released & discontinued. It'd probably cause about the same wallet-wound when all said & done (especially after I break down & buy the overpriced but very shiny & fancy LeMans electronics), and could satisfy the nitro MT jones.

It might ease the sting of the seller's remorse from letting my old pristine example go for too little $, my super rare & just as ridiculous dual -engine GigaCrusher DF NIB, and the Losi MTXL (super cool but impossible to start & discontinued almost immediately),,,

Damn you Kyosho for manipulating me with nostalgia!

[ahenderl]

Just ordered mine on EBay from Kyosho America...says they are in stock but the Kyosho America website still says out of stock.

It said 10 available when I placed my order and now it says 9.

I love the body but there's no way I'll go box-art with this one. I just can't get excited about the tan & brown decals.

[sundevil67]

That's a great video, thanks for posting a link!
It's clear that the Pro includes changes to make it more competitive but it seems odd that it lacks a wing. Apparently the Javelin and Salute are the only rear motor Optima's that included a wing. All Mid buggies came with a wing.
I guess Kyosho felt a wing wasn't needed for the Optima's but can anyone recall a ROAR or IFMAR off-road championship competitor that didn't run one?

I took my Turbo Optima to the track without a wing, and it handled the jumps pretty poorly, with inconsistent ability to control it in-flight. I bought a wing-stay & what I think is the wing that came with the Javelin, and the difference was immediately noticeable. I think aesthetically for some reason this particular model *looks* better without the wing, but when I take mine to the track (if I actually get it at some point), I'll be adding the wing.

[ahenderl]

Mine was delivered yesterday....haven't opened it yet. If the forward battery isn't an issue I may build it into a "Javelin Pro". I've got a few extra cages...we'll see.

[sundevil67]

Mine was delivered yesterday....haven't opened it yet. If the forward battery isn't an issue I may build it into a "Javelin Pro". I've got a few extra cages...we'll see.

From where did you order ?

[ahenderl]

Guess I got lucky. KyoshoAmerica listed 10 of them on eBay for $319 & free shipping. I bought the 1st one. They were gone that day and now show out of stock.

[sundevil67]

Thanks. Guess you got lucky! I see a few on eBay from Japan, but to say I'm getting impatient is an understatement lol. I don't have time to build it right now & I have a few projects ahead of it, but for some reason I want the box in my closet right now next to my original. I feel like Cartman in the Southpark episode where he freezes himself because he can't wait for the Nintendo Wii to come out

[GoMachV]

In stock on Amain, just nabbed one with the $30 off coupon aug3024

[sundevil67]

In stock on Amain, just nabbed one with the $30 off coupon aug3024

I just got the notification! Still says "waiting for stock" on my pre-order

[ahenderl]

Opened mine up tonight. I'm digging the gunmetal aluminum pieces.

[ahenderl]

I wanted to do something similar to box art but change it up by scanning the factory decals and using different colors for the stripes. In the end I took the easy road using single color paint and I dug up some extra Tomahawk decals I had laying around.

[R6cowboy]

I wanted to do something similar to box art but change it up by scanning the factory decals and using different colors for the stripes. In the end I took the easy road using single color paint and I dug up some extra Tomahawk decals I had laying around.

Wing definitely looks right on this one. Very nice.