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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.

Kyosho published a build video with Akira Kogawa...

silvertriple wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2024 12:12 pm 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?

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!

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.

XLR8 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2024 2:02 pm 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.

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.

ahenderl wrote: ↑Wed Aug 07, 2024 3:44 pm 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 ?

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.

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

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

GoMachV wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 9:07 pm 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

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

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.

ahenderl wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2024 7:57 pm 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.