At long last.....Turbo Optima Mid
 

Keep watching :)

It'll take shape soon.....;)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...3_182553-1.jpg

That'll do for today.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...823_221500.jpg

I'm sure you can bat this one out in a day!

This is going to be another nice one!!

I like the kyosho screws...compared to the Tamiya and Yokomo ones of the same period, I've found them to be far more durable

Like the carbon fibre stuff...using fibre lyte! I've ordered some parts from them today for a rebuild (not Kyosho I'm afraid!).

:thumbsup:

Looks great!

I have added a SWB Mid to my list of concurrent builds which brings me up to three now.

I will be starting threads for them once my goodies come in from Fibrelyte

Are the SWB battery holders difficult to find?

Thanks guys :)

Today so far....opening the packet for the brand new bumper was hard!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...824_113504.jpg

Unsure about the battery holders as I'm fortunate enough to have access to a few new sets....if you need some just shout.

Very nice build up, Dan! Thanks for sharing :thumbsup:

I just love these cars. Actually I bought another Optima Mid Custom yesterday (local buy/trade site) just to get even more Optima Mid parts for future builds :wub

Keep the images coming!

/j0pp3

I do need a set, PM me with details when you get a chance. I don't need all the other parts that come in the OT-98 blister pack, which can all be used for a LWB build so maybe we can work something out

I have been showing your pics to a friend of mine who has an old Mid lying around and I have convinced him we need to restore it into a super clean runner

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...825_224208.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...825_224226.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...825_224243.jpg

Onto the shell!

Looking great

What do you guys use top cut the shells and wings out, I'm going to start tackling this soon and don't want to make a mess of things

I use proper curved lexan scissors and for the long straight bits just normal scissors.......and time.

Well the camel yellow came out a tad orange and the masking Isnt perfect but here's some final pics.....just need to redo the white tyre text and fit the motor.:thumbsup:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...826_230559.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...826_222531.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...826_230248.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...826_230317.jpg

Whilst I'm a big old school tamiya fan (have a dozen or so) the optima mids where light years ahead in design/function, I'm 80% thru rebuilding a mid-se at the mo, then there's a rocky and a progress.

Any chance of a group pic of your optima's?

Hi Matt I'll take a pic with the Turbo Optima and ZXR tomorrow but for now here are my two mids together.....not too bad for a spray can and a brush ;)

Look forward to seeing your SE. My Lazer ZX and Triumph are on their way and next on my restore list is an Ultima which is currently in several hundred bits on a dinner tray.

Cheers

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...826_232407.jpg

They look great mate. I'm in the middle of re-building an Optima Mid LWB. Would love it if it looked anything like yours.

Where so you find most of your parts? eBay?

Dave

Thanks Dave :)

Parts are a mixture of:

Small selection of bits remaining from my youth
eBay UK
eBay US
oOple
RCTech
Friends from racing over the years
Several donor vehicles

I had a little fun with picsart on my Galaxy S3 just now:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...6010370437.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...10423484-1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...6010455854.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...6010485207.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...6010685099.jpg

You should start a Scottish vintage buggy championship Dave....I'll race my chain drive Turbo Optima when I come back but not the Mids they're too pretty :)

Yeah Dan, I think I'll need to pick a couple of donor chassis.

Vintage class would be cool but we struggle for numbers in normal classes let alone vintage! :thumbdown:

I'll start putting up pics when I get the rebuild underway.

Dave

Wow that turned out great!
Is that the Marwan body you used?
I like the Kyosho sticker on the front bumper, how well did it stick over the Kyosho writing that is moulded in, or did you sand it smooth in that section?

I used to have an undertray on my SE and I want to have one on the new SE I am building, anyone ever seen a SWB undertray?

I can't wait to see your Ultima and Triumph

Thanks mate!

Yes both these Mids, my Turbo Optima and Ultima shells are all from Marwan as are the decals. My ZX-R is a TBG one and the ZX-R decals are from eBay.

The Kyosho bumper decal was an afterthought from a left over sheet, it's simply stuck over the moulding - I couldn't bring myself to wreck a NIP bumper :o

Ultima pics coming soon :thumbsup: my wife ain't happy.

Cheers,

Dan

Deleted

wonderfull car : Thumbsup:

very good restauration work ;)

Jerome

Thanks :)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...827_201942.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...827_201932.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...827_201925.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...827_201952.jpg

My second and third cars are in that line up - looks stunning:thumbsup:

Your collection start to look awesome, Dan. You and I can soon open a museum :woot:

Hope I can inspire you to also build the last SWB some day :)

http://joppis.dyndns.org/misc/optima...ries_small.jpg

Thanks fellow vintage nutters! ;)

The 3 of your SWB's together look fantastic and of course amazing photography as always mate :)

Never felt the urge to do an SE......not yet anyway. My Turbo Mid began life as a fit for the bin SE but I decided to relive my youth and build my 1st ever kit again.

Cheers

Dan

Here you can find some nice vintage parts
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Lenns-RCVin...=p4634.c0.m322

Or here

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Kyo...id=p4340.l2563

Very nice Dan :wub

Dan your collection looks awesome. A salute would look good in the middle of that lot but then why stop there, why not throw in a scorpion, ultimate and a rocky ;)

Cheers matt

Cheers!

I actually managed about 80% of my Ultima build last night so once the shell is done i'll take some pics.

I have a second Turbo Optima which I've been thinking of selling but maybe I could just put a Salute shell on it...what do you reckon? The wheels are mint and I think the Salute and Turbo Optima are identical except for the shell?

Dan

Lovely line up of cars, takes me back to my youth :)

The Mid Optima's definately had a short wheelbase when put side by side with the Lazer ZX-R

Yes they are identical, the Turbo Optima came with the 240S motor while the Salute had no motor included. Then you have the choice of the orange or blue Salute body designs.

Thanks Terry, an invaluable source of Kyosho knowledge as always :)

The Turbo Optima in the pics does indeed have a 240S ;)

I also have a 240ST which I think came in the original Optima Mid kit?

Thanks Arran! :)

The 240ST was standard in the original Mid, Turbo Mid SE and the Mid Custom. The Turbo Mid and Mid Custom Special came without a motor.

Hi Dan
 

I have a Raider and Maxxum FF as well Dan. But they are as new!
Do you need them in your collection too??

Not just yet mate cheers, I'm a bit low on funds after the little lot seen above! :blush::o