New Member Introduction & Current Project: Optima Mid

[HKS_TRD]

Hi everyone

I've owned a few RC cars many a year ago, and just recently decided to build an Optima Mid with all the goodies.

My last RC car I owned was a Turbo Optima Mid SE which I bought brand new (only new one I had ever owned) and kind of wish I still owned it.

Prior to that I had a Hornet, Boomerang, Supershot (mint, new but assembled when I got it), Hotshot, Nichimo Midships and a brief flirtation with a Yokomo Super Dogfighter.

Before I sold my Optima Mid, I came very close to purchasing the Option House long wheelbase conversion, the store was letting it go dirt cheap but it was in the too hard basket at the time, and I would need to find a body, in those days without the internet it was near impossible for someone still at school. Yes I do kick myself now

So fast forward to today, I want to build the Mid I would always have wanted back in the day, it may end up being a shelf queen but I want to build it with all the good bits, potentially all period correct, and do some detail work like polish any metal parts, I've polished every part in the engine bay of my car and have a bit of an addiction to shiny alloy!

So far I have collected a few bits and pieces including a new LWB metal chassis, but I would really like the carbon one if possible.
My approach has been that I will probably try and find a nice SWB car and then convert it, using Lazer front suspension of it is compatible and any other parts that can make it a little unique. I consider Lazer ZX or ZX-R parts to still belong to the same era as the Mid
Also not sure where besides eBay I can find parts?

Any help appreciated and its good to see I am not alone in having a soft spot for the old school Kyosho electric buggies

[peetbee]

Welcome, still have a soft spot for the Mid and wish I hadn't sold the one I had a couple of years ago.
I don't believe that the Mid and Lazer wishbones are compatible although some other parts like driveshafts are.
Marwan and Kamtec both do LWB shells and someone has started to repro the tyres although the current ZX5 wheels fit if you want to run modern tyres on it.
Ebay is generally your best bet for Mid parts I'm afraid
Are you going for a shelfer or a runner?

[HKS_TRD]

At this stage I am building a shelf queen but I will most likely do a second runner after that

Which of the two bodies is the best one from peoples experiences?

My understanding was that if you used the hubs as well the Lazer wishbones could be used, but info was a little sketchy on that

I may do Platinum Shocks instead of Gold Shocks so I can mirror polish the top sections

I'll get a list going of the parts I have so far and what I am looking for in addition to the donor car itself, Mids seem to be scarce on eBay these days

[alcyon]

yes lazer arms can be used on the Mid, visit my blog to get more info.
http://superturbooptimamidspecialzx-5.blogspot.com/

[HKS_TRD]

Thanks for that link, just took a quick look
So do the lazer arms require any mods on the gearbox side or are they a direct replacement for the mid arms?

One other thing I have been researching is the equalizer dampers, not sure how good they are but I thought it would be cool for the shelf queen to not have gold shocks

As the equalizer dampers are only available in medium length, what front strut tower do I need to use them and will that still allow me to use the replica long wheelbase body without modifying it?

Sorry for all the questions, it seems there is so much more information out there these days than when I owned the SE

[gainsy]

This place does the lwb carbon chassis
http://www.fibre-lyte.co.uk/
Good luck with the build, wish i still had mine from the 80's

[terry.sc]

Originally Posted by HKS_TRD

Thanks for that link, just took a quick look
So do the lazer arms require any mods on the gearbox side or are they a direct replacement for the mid arms?

The complete Lazer suspension fits straight on, I used to use the Mid suspension on my on-road converted Lazer for the shorter wishbones. You will need to use the Lazer uprights with the wishbones and will need the LA-21 kingpins as the lower kingpin is longer than the Optima ones, and the upper link mount on the upright will either need part LA-29 for the ball cup if you are mounting it like the ZX, or LA-63 for the through hole upper kingpin to mount it like the ZX-R. The Mid shock towers will do fine for the inner upper link mounts, but the Lazer shock mounts will also bolt straight on. The steering arms, driveshafts and small hardware are the same between the Lazer and Mid.

One other thing I have been researching is the equalizer dampers, not sure how good they are but I thought it would be cool for the shelf queen to not have gold shocks

As the equalizer dampers are only available in medium length, what front strut tower do I need to use them and will that still allow me to use the replica long wheelbase body without modifying it?

Use the Lazer ZX-R shock mount to mount the medium length dampers, it goes straight on the Mid.

Stick with the alloy chassis, it's stiffer and stronger than a carbon one. The worst chassis material for the Mid is carbon fibre.

For parts ebay is your best source, but there is also http://vintage-kyosho.com which sells the same as he does on ebay but prices are cheaper as there aren't any ebay fees involved.