My restored Optima collection...

[turbowop]

I posted these on the Tamiya Club over the past several weeks, but after finding this site recently I figured I'd share here as well. All three cars were torn down, cleaned up, and refurbished. I placed a few new parts here and there and all three got new repro Marwan bodies that I painted/decal'd. I'm also working on an Outlaw Ultima project and a Team Losi JrT as I had one of each as a kid. I wish Marwan made a repro body for the Outlaw Ultima truck as the one I have is pretty beat up.

Belt converted, fully ball raced, standard Optima setup with a Novak T-4, an old Circus Hobbies JR radio system and a LeMans 360PT. Although not in the pic, I have an unused original Kyosho 7.2v battery going in it. I need to rewire the motor wiring to 16g as the 12g looks a bit funny. It was all I had at the time. I have some wire coming and will get it changed this week probably...







A Turbo Optima. I haven't installed the electrics yet, but it will have a period correct Novak ESC, the original 240s motor and a Futaba radio as well as an original Kyosho 8.4v battery...






And an Optima Mid. Don't have a radio or ESC for this one yet but it will use the stock 240st motor...

[Prince Steve]

Beautiful models!!
You did a great job. Very impessive.

[jaycal]

nice job, you gonna run them or are they going on a shelf?

[turbowop]

I'll probably lightly run them. They aren't perfect, so it would be a shame not to. If I want to thrash something I have a 10yr old Traxxas T-Maxx and Slash 4x4.

[reign79]

WOW beautiful cars somthing to be proud of for sure.

[mikedealer]

awesome cars... hope ya run them and enjoy them.. i always plan to run cars i buy, and never end up doing it lol.. even if i buy a car for $50 that is ready to go, i always hate messing it up more lol.

[Bormac]

Who doesn't love an Optima. For me the original car still looks the best in box art paint scheme.

[turbowop]

Thanks. And agreed on the original Optima. I even love the way the old red shocks look against the box art colors so much that I refuse to replace them with gold shocks.

[CamplinP]

If you are going to run the mid, I will exchange my used tires for those.

[turbowop]

I won't be running those tires. I have an extra set of mid wheels with some Tamiya tires for running. I also have some OT-66 in pretty bad shape I could use for running. My best set isn't even mounted on any of my cars. And somehow, I ended up with three others in really good shape, but it needs a fourth to complete the set. It's hard finding just one that's in similar good shape.

[CNA75]

Thanks. And agreed on the original Optima. I even love the way the old red shocks look against the box art colors so much that I refuse to replace them with gold shocks.

Great restorations you have there! I totally agree about the original box-art colour scheme - it looks fantastic - and the red shocks go well with it. I've thought about replacing them with the Platinum shocks (and polishing these up to a mirror finish) and using the chrome plated original style rims. Think that would look pretty impressive too for a hopped-up Optima.

Does anyone know if the platinum front and rear shocks will fit the original Opima?

[Jirka]

Thanks. And agreed on the original Optima. I even love the way the old red shocks look against the box art colors so much that I refuse to replace them with gold shocks.

Great restorations you have there! I totally agree about the original box-art colour scheme - it looks fantastic - and the red shocks go well with it. I've thought about replacing them with the Platinum shocks (and polishing these up to a mirror finish) and using the chrome plated original style rims. Think that would look pretty impressive too for a hopped-up Optima.

Does anyone know if the platinum front and rear shocks will fit the original Opima?

Platinium shocks are exactly same length as the gold shocks are, so they are too long for original Optima shock towers.

Jirka

[CNA75]

Platinium shocks are exactly same length as the gold shocks are, so they are too long for original Optima shock towers.

Jirka

Thanks. But weren't the gold shocks a hop-up for the original Optima? Or was that the case only if you uprated the shock towers too (if that's a possible fit)?

[Jirka]

Platinium shocks are exactly same length as the gold shocks are, so they are too long for original Optima shock towers.

Jirka

Thanks. But weren't the gold shocks a hop-up for the original Optima? Or was that the case only if you uprated the shock towers too (if that's a possible fit)?

You have to change the shock tower too if You want to use the gold or platinium shocks. See Kyosho Optima Pro http://www.tamiyaclub.com/pictureframe.asp?t=n&id=img14549_13012007211357_1.jpg, that came with short red shocks but with "high" shock towers.

Jirka

[CNA75]

You have to change the shock tower too if You want to use the gold or platinium shocks. See Kyosho Optima Pro http://www.tamiyaclub.com/pictureframe.asp?t=n&id=img14549_13012007211357_1.jpg, that came with short red shocks but with "high" shock towers.

Jirka

Can you tell me what part numbers those higher front and rear shock towers are and do you know where they may be readily available? (e.g. here? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/kyosho-turbo-optima-alloy-front-rear-damper-stay_W0QQitemZ130359380862QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRadio_Control_Vehicles?hash=item1e5a064b7e )