Optima Mid Barn (shed) Find

[Dazzieboy]

So about 6 months ago my cousin and I are chatting about cars (as per usual) and I'm telling him how I'm enjoying being back into RC cars. He mentions that somewhere in his shed is a Kyosho Optima and if he can dig it out I could have it to have a look at and see if its any good. Well today he presented me with this little beaut:



All I know at the mo is that its an Optima Mid of some kind and the fact that it has a graphite chassis and top deck and UJ's at the front means its not just a basic Mid. Can any of you connoisseurs help identify it for me and possibly put a value to it? I'm going to fully strip and rebuild it and maybe even get it running for a few vintage heats. Here are some more pics plus I'll add more as I strip it down:







Thanks

Daz

[Naushad]

Looks like an optima mid

Difficult to say if its a turbo special or custom special. If it's ball diff then turbo special is likely.

The rims are a mish mash - the turbo special had yellow rims (which are sought after)

Maybe this was carpet racer - I think the shock's configuration gives it away.

The bumper is a kyosho, but from a different older model...also seen the same bumper on a zaboon

[mr. ed]

rough stuff. goodluck fixing it up

The rear rims look like tamiya falcon units... though that wouldn't make much sense, unless for a wider offset maybe? Could be interesting to see how he made these work on the mid

[OptimaFan]

I think it's a Custom Special, as it has gear diffs. The set-screws on the diff-outdrives give it away.

Shame about the rust and the bent wing mount. It will take some effort to clean this one up, but on the other hand, every Optima is worth it. It does appear to be fairly complete, so far I've only spotted the brace missing on the left, between gearbox and middle section.

[Dazzieboy]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, after removing the electrics I set to work with a brush, a cloth and some GT85 after which it looked like this:









You were right about the gear diffs too, I was quite surprised by this:



I'm thinking its between a turbo optima mid and an optima mid custom special, what were the differences between these two cars as from what I've read they both had gear diffs and gold shocks?

You were right about the rear wheels they weren't even on the hexs, I've fitted a set from my lazer ZX5 for now.

[OptimaFan]

It's not a Turbo Optima Mid Special, as the Custom Mid Special has gear diffs, and the Turbo Optima Mid Special has ball diffs.

[Dazzieboy]

I was thinking Turbo Optima Mid but I've just read that is a SWB, this has a wheelbase the same as my ZX5 so it looks like a Mid Custom Special which is quite cool as I think that was the last in the line before the Lazer came along?

[OptimaFan]

The LWB Mids came just before the Lazer. Fine cars indeed.

[terry.sc]

Originally Posted by Dazzieboy

I'm thinking its between a turbo optima mid and an optima mid custom special, what were the differences between these two cars as from what I've read they both had gear diffs and gold shocks?

The Turbo Mid is short wheelbase, with a narrow alloy chassis and you can only run a stick pack battery in it. The Mid Custom Special is long wheelbase, with the wide black fibreglass chassis with the option of running saddle pack batteries.

Originally Posted by Naushad

The bumper is a kyosho, but from a different older model...also seen the same bumper on a zaboon

The bumper is technically a Mid bumper. At the time the BRCA rules included a rule that specified the front bumper must be at least 60% of the width of the car. Ripmax got around this with the Mid by taking the 1/8th Kyosho Burns bumper and drilling two holes in it to let you bolt it on a Mid or Lazer. It worked fine with standard Mid wheels, but when we went to 2.2" wheels you ended up having to cut the corners off the end of the bumper.

[daz75]

Lol I remember racing my mid with the bumper cut like that never knew why till now

[optiman]

In order to "repair" the wing stay just geta good hair blower and heat it up nicely once is very hot mold it back straight and quickly dip into cold water. I have repair a few that way, perfect results. Please dont burn yourself!!!

[DanB4]

My vote goes for standard turbo mid that has then had the Kyosho LWB conversion kit fitted.

[Dazzieboy]

That's interesting Dan, what makes you say that? Tell me more about this conversion, would it have included a new bodyshell or would the standard turbo mid shell still fit?

Thanks

Daz

[OptimaFan]

I'm curious too, how to tell these apart after a conversion. Also, wouldn't a standard Turbo Mid have stabilizers? A Custom Special also lacks stabilizers.

[Dazzieboy]

Another question people may be able to help with, I have found a manual on retromodelisme but there's not much info on rebuilding the diffs. What type and how much grease do I put in? Is there a "how to" anywhere?

[Naushad]

I put lots of high pressure black AE grease

[DanB4]

Duplicate post

[DanB4]

It's difficult to know for sure.

The motor brace would have helped but is not present on this car.

The conversion kit didn't come with a body or undertray and would then need a LWB shell.

Some people have fitted swb shells to lwb cars but it looks a bit weird.

I have a NIB conversion kit if anyone needs one!

[DanB4]

Sway bars could have been removed or just not refitted after conversion.

I ran a converted lwb mid with a zxr shell for years.

[mr. ed]

It keeps surprising me why people go through so much effort to identify the 'right' mid. The beauty of the models was their compatibility. You got what you could afford, or was available or thought was best, and then upgraded it as you wished when breaking parts,obtaining funds or on advise of others.
Who cares how it started