Optima MKI restore!

[ralphee]

Pretty excited, my second restore after my Yokomo. I have this enroute from the US. Missed out on one the other day on Ebay, and then this one popped up, didnt look too bad, so i took the plunge.
Ive managed to buy a portion of NIP parts ready in cluding Marwans gear, but there are quite a few more id like in time, and im sure to find a few niggles once i take delivery.
Anyhoo, im stoked, an Optima at last, one of the sexiest buggies EVER.....and no, i never did own one lol, so im sure to be driving you Kyosho boys to tears with silly questions very soon.

bests........lee

[Bormac]

Good to see Lee. These cars were quite popular back when they were released and their legend continued to grow as Kyosho released revised models right through to the Lazer.

I've just finished building 2 Optima's (pics to come shortly) and I love em!

[DennisM]

Congratulations on this fine buggy - It looks like it hasn´t done the first set of tires yet.
These Optimas are addictive - soon You´ll have to own a Turbo, a Pro, a Salute, a Gold and a Jav.
Looking forward to the pictures.

[Mad Racer]

A very nice start to a restore.

Make sure you get the Hard Final pinion in the gearbox before it's all alloy shavings.

Keep the pic's coming

[ralphee]

Cheers guys, im going to try polish/clean up the alloy as much as, to save on costs, ive bought various plastic parts NIP just 'cos im fussy, new shell, tyres. gearboxes etc.
Struggling on the dampers, really want them nice and clean and red, i did track down a NIP set of Scorpion read damper cylinders, i bought them anyway, so im guessing i can use those, to rebuild the shocks to "almost new" ?
Thats reminds me, new bearing set, always plan ahead LOL.

lee

[Bormac]

I like your spirit on this build Lee. Are you going to adhere to the Mk1 box art car?

[DennisM]

There´s 8 mm and there´s 10mm dampers for the scorpion. If You bought 8mm damper cylinders then You´ll have some very nice pencil holders. The Optima uses 10mm dampers
If they were affordable, it´ll be 8mm.

The alloy for the Optima costs next to nothing (besides the rails and underguards)
So don´t put in to much effort if they´re out of shape.

[ralphee]

Jason, yes, trying to stick as close to box art as poss. Dennis, you may be right, ah, its all good, not a lot of money wasted.
Not sure where to go on the shocks now, may have to look into re anodizing them, ill have to see where i can go for that in the UK?
Did manage to bag a new front bumper too the other day, and i did buy rails as i hear they bend a lot, rest of the alloy looks pretty good, but as you said, its pennies to replace.
Not getting lucky on wishbones, may have to fit Pargu's alloy ones if push comes to shove, either way, she will be a clean runner.

Really last gasp......may have to convert another brand of damper to fit, itll detract from boxart, but give better performance in the end........maybe TRF dampers......they always work well.

lee

[DennisM]

If You´re looking for running capeable shocks and still hold the line, I´d say go for Kyosho´s gold shocks.
You´ll never get the red ones running 1/2 as good. If You´re annoyed by scratches on the red ones, and it´s a runner - You can use a red permanent marker to touch them up with. I did that with my Ultima runner. And with the extreme speed it´s doing, no one will notice

[ralphee]

Dennis, ive seen a few Kyosho Golds about, going to try get some, but i really dont want junk, rather get a nice set, patience is key lol, though i lack it, its just ive seen some really horrible golds around with the sellers off with the fairies in dreamland on prices lol.
Yeah may just run the reds as is for now, they dont look scratched, just annoyingly faded. Oh and im cheating on the body, gonna have it painted for me this time lol, boxart, with painted black lines too, just havent got the time to paint this one AND my Yokomo, with the other stuff i have on right now!

lee

[DennisM]

You have my permission to leave any project for an Optima

I really love the Box art Optima´s, and if I had the skills I would paint one or two for mine.

[ralphee]

Dennis, id say its one of the most attractive boxart paint jobs in history. The design, the choice of colors, not only reek of retro nostalgia, they looked so eye catching in its shelf days in the LHS.
Well, you guys here must really want to throw a spanner in my relationship lol, i get married in five weeks, and i just spent an extra £50 on a NIP set of front red dampers.......ill keep that one on the quiet for a bit eh?

lee

[Coelacanth]

Good luck on your project, Lee! As you're going the box-art route, I probably won't be of much help, but I'm looking forward to the rebuild.

[ralphee]

Thanks buddy, cant say itll be spot on boxart. The wheels on my roller are not great, so im opting for a change f rim, depends what i can get really as there not exactly prolific lol.

Anyhoo, i have now kicked this off in earnest, bought a ton of parts, only today, to find i have to buy many more lol, diffs arent great, and the counter gear and internal pinion are horrible, so they will need replacing.

Before it really gets expensive lol.


Front lower plate, this, really was a mess, heavily grooved and scratched, i think the car at some point was run without a bumper.
A lot of sanding and polishing have turned this up, its not too bad now is it?


Parts collection thus far. Was glad to get new shocks, and a brand new bumper. All alloy on the car will be replaced. Only bugbear was i had to opt for OT69 wishbones. The ones on the car are BAD, but i bagged a used, but VERY clean set for the Mid, which, im sure will be fine? Youll have to excuse, this car really is new ground for me lol.


bests.......lee

[ralphee]

Need some help guys. The servo mount plate on this car, does it exist as an aftermarket part, as i cant find it anywhere, am i missing something.
Mine is whacked, totally stripped and ruined, so any ideas? Do i try hunt one down, scratchbuild one, or, fit an Optima pro top deck and save all the hassle? Also, if i fit a Pro top deck, can i still run my MK1 body due to that battery moving forward?

bests........lee