Optima Mid - Which One Is It? - Help Needed Please, Optima mid Pics

[Paulstevo]

Hi all,

I am a 30 something who has rediscovered rc cars again. Anyway the old optima mid i used to race is looking to be restored.

What i wish to know is which one do i own? Please see pics

chassis length is 32cm
chassis width is 12.8cm
Length of wheel to wheel is 27 cm
It has a hologram effect chassis (is this carbon fibre?)
4wd
Bubble air vent in body
Gold/brass shocks.
Came with pink wheels as well I think.

I would be extremely grateful if someone would let me know what it is, and also if anyone knows where i can get decals for it as i have a new unused body too for it.

Many thanks in anticipation

Paul Stephenson (UK)

[Si Coe]

Just out of interest - where did you get that car from? Only it looks really familiar. Very much like the one I sold off way back then to get a Yokomo!

Anyway, its probably an original Optima Mid converted to LWB. The reason I suggest that is I don't think they ever sold the carbon chassis as part of a complete kit (it was an aftermarket add on, standard cars were alloy) but they sold a SWB to LWB conversion with the carbon chassis. Thats certainly where mine got its one from.

[NeilD]

I think it's an Optima Mid Custom Special however i am prepared to be shot down on this.

[jimmy]

It looks like one I had which was an optima mid with lwb carbon fibre chassis (and maching lwb shell) - not sure if they released a car with this setup as it's a bit after my time, but the alloy shock towers point to it being a base mid, with the lwb conversion added.

But I could be wrong!

[Paulstevo]

It was bought from my uncle (based in birkenhead) about 1991 so i dont think it is the same!

[Belsten]

alloy shock mounts were the norm although they also had the grp ones. Carbon effect chassis I think was the lwb conversion though, dont think that came as part of the kit though

[Paulstevo]

Here are some more pics of it!

[Paulstevo]

I have received this reply. Does anyone agree?

-------------------
It's an Optima Mid Custom, identified by the long wheelbase chassis with alloy shock mounts and no suspension turnbuckles. It has been upgraded with Kyoshos gold shocks, as used on the other Mids.

If you are happy with repro stickers, Marwan is who you need to contact:
http://www.tamiyaclub.com/trades_mod......470&id=5484

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[Si Coe]

If so, and no reason to assume its not, thats not the normal chassis. I'm sure the Custom had an alloy chassis as standard.

[NeilD]

The Custom Mid did have an alloy chassis but this does look like one.

[Paulstevo]

si coe do you think you may have owned this? It was bought from the northwest

[bigred5765]

i would say its the opti mid custom special lwb,mine came with gold shocks, alloy towers and black chassis looked like carbon but im pretty sure it wasn't,

[Si Coe]

No - I lived in Essex till '93!

Its just the silver trim down the belt covers, the carbon chassis and alloy towers (carbon chassis were rare, and mostly fitted by carbon fetishists who would also fit carbon towers) and the fact you mentioned pink wheels, which mine had.

But then I remembered mine got fitted with Lazer front wishbones and hubcarriers shortly before I sold it, so its not like mine at all.

I still reckon its an original Turbo Optima Mid, fitted with the Option House Carbon LWB conversion. Thats what mine was.

[Paulstevo]

it has the yellow wheels on it now, they are kind of bland with gaps at thr top

[racingdwarf]

Yep I had a custom special many years ago from new and I am sure it had a black chassis and gold shocks, was a lomg time ago mind you. there is a guy some were out in the land of tamiya club who has just finished his collection of MIB Kyoshos....yep every one of them in box, I did see a custom special in there so if you can find him he may well be able to give you the 100% answear.

[Si Coe]

I've been doing some asking of my own and it appears that yes some versions of the Custom Special came with the carbon chassis. The carbon chassis never sold well (it wasn't much lighter than the alloy one, not as strong and cost a lot more) so Kyosho had a lot of stock left before moving to the Lazer. So the last versions of the Custom Special had a carbon chassis as opposed to the alloy of the earlier ones.

[Paulstevo]

Ah that makes sense! I have been looking at the optima mid custom on google and i think that is it, right down to the wheels (off yellow) and shocks. One more problem though - my original shell had a bubble vent in it.

does that give any more clues?

Thanks all for your continued help

[Paulstevo]

oh and it has a wide bumper.....

[NeilD]

The bumper is a Kyosho aftermarket part. It came with a shorter one originally.

[Si Coe]

I think the bubble vent was found on models that came with a manual (wiper) speedo so as to clear the linkage.
Thats not a Custom Special shell for sure. They had a sort of jet fighter style bubble canopy.