Optima Mid SE shelfer

The place for all things Kyosho.

Moderators: scr8p, klavy69

Post Reply
User avatar
XLR8
Approved Member
Posts: 2818
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:46 am
Location: north/central Alabama
Has thanked: 981 times
Been thanked: 741 times

Optima Mid SE shelfer

Post by XLR8 »

So, I just completed restoration work on this SE and thought I’d share it here. Just click the photos to have a better look.
I bought this one from an ebay member a few months ago (think it was 170 shipped) and it arrived pretty much as you see it here sans a body and wing. It appeared to be low run-time car as the gears (and drive train overall), motor, chassis, suspension parts, etc., were like new. Also, thankfully, the wheels were still in good condition and didn’t require repainting. Apart from the missing body, it just needed a good clean-up. Ball diffs and shocks were nice and smooth so there was no need to disassemble them. I just scrubbed everything with hot water, dish soap and an old toothbrush and reassembled the car.
The new body and wing are from TBG (notice the gap at the rear shock plate) and decal set is from MCI. The paint is from a 30+ year old bottle of Pactra “RC57 Daytona Yellow” as that color appeared to closely match the box art car. It’s strange how old Pactra paint seems to have an infinite shelf life (maybe that's also true for all polycarbonate paint?). I used a Sharpie Paint Pen to do the tire letters (kinda tedious). A quick note about the MCI decal set; unfortunately, for some reason, it doesn’t include the “4WD”, “CRAGAR” or air inlet duct decals so, if you want to replicate the original box art car, you’ll need to improvise.
Anyway, the JR Propo radio system shown here also came with the car (not familiar with that brand so is it good, crap or somewhere in between?). The original MSC had been replaced with an early Duratrax ESC and the throttle servo rod was missing. I really want to keep this car as original as possible so I re-fitted the MSC and just need to locate a rod.
I’ve kinda been on an Optima buying binge lately and with this one completed, the Mid runner (posted previously) and a yet to be completed Javelin runner, I have enough parts remaining to build another SE. I’ll probably sell that one when it’s finished – not sure.
Attachments
P1010186.JPG
P1010192.JPG
P1010189a.jpg
P1010196.JPG
P1010199.JPG
P1010190.JPG
Doug

User avatar
NomadRacer
Approved Member
Posts: 1467
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2017 7:29 am
Location: Eastern Shore of Virginia
Has thanked: 83 times
Been thanked: 77 times

Re: Optima Mid SE shelfer

Post by NomadRacer »

Really nice resto! I have a bottle or two of that Daytona Yellow, to include some other colors. :wink:
Bum on Direct Deposit

User avatar
XLR8
Approved Member
Posts: 2818
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:46 am
Location: north/central Alabama
Has thanked: 981 times
Been thanked: 741 times

Re: Optima Mid SE shelfer

Post by XLR8 »

Thanks Nomad.
Me too but mostly I have those goofy '80's colors. :roll:
Doug

User avatar
Coelacanth
Approved Member
Posts: 7349
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:20 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada
Has thanked: 16 times
Been thanked: 270 times

Re: Optima Mid SE shelfer

Post by Coelacanth »

XLR8 wrote: Wed May 23, 2018 2:24 pm Thanks Nomad.
Me too but mostly I have those goofy '80's colors. :roll:
Hey, at least it's not a Losi... :mrgreen:
Completed projects: CYANide Onroad Optima | Zebra Gold Optima | Barney Optima | OptiMutt RWD Mid
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3

User avatar
XLR8
Approved Member
Posts: 2818
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:46 am
Location: north/central Alabama
Has thanked: 981 times
Been thanked: 741 times

Re: Optima Mid SE shelfer

Post by XLR8 »

What's a "Losi"?
Doug

User avatar
Coelacanth
Approved Member
Posts: 7349
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:20 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada
Has thanked: 16 times
Been thanked: 270 times

Re: Optima Mid SE shelfer

Post by Coelacanth »

Seriously? We have a forum section specifically devoted to Losis. :shock:

https://www.rc10talk.com/viewforum.php?f=27

The joke loses its humor when you have to explain it, but Losi cars from that era typically exhibited multiple garish neon colors...lime green front shock springs, Barbie pink rear shock springs, bright yellow or fluorescent orange wheels, blue anodized motor guard and other bits, etc...all on the same car. :P Google Losi XX images for some typical examples.

It was the trend for the time, but didn't appeal to my aesthetic tastes, obviously. :)
Completed projects: CYANide Onroad Optima | Zebra Gold Optima | Barney Optima | OptiMutt RWD Mid
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3

User avatar
XLR8
Approved Member
Posts: 2818
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:46 am
Location: north/central Alabama
Has thanked: 981 times
Been thanked: 741 times

Re: Optima Mid SE shelfer

Post by XLR8 »

Sorry, my memory is really failing me these days. I didn't recall Losi being any more garish than some of the stuff I ran. Unfortunately, I bought into the whole obnoxious color craze of that era. Something I wish I'd forget now - along with the horrid technopop music from that age. :(
Doug

Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post
  • Kyosho Optima Mid and Turbo Optima Mid
    by wydraz » » in Kyosho Forum
    7 Replies
    1957 Views
    Last post by Bo Wallen
  • Optima Mid and Turbo Optima Mid Differences
    by vintage AE » » in Kyosho Forum
    19 Replies
    6150 Views
    Last post by lin6499
  • Turbo Optima Mid - Evolution aka 21st Century Mid
    by HKS_TRD » » in Kyosho Forum
    52 Replies
    10298 Views
    Last post by HKS_TRD
  • Optima/ Mid One way By SRM & MID spur adapter from Brimod .
    by Mad Racer » » in Kyosho Forum
    2 Replies
    723 Views
    Last post by Mr. ED
  • Turbo Optima Mid + Turbo Optima Mid SE build/restore
    by j0pp3 » » in Kyosho Forum
    68 Replies
    18668 Views
    Last post by Garage Hack
  • Optima Mid Custom Special + Turbo Optima Mid Special
    by j0pp3 » » in Kyosho Forum
    22 Replies
    5622 Views
    Last post by j0pp3
  • Optima Mid vs Turbo Optima Mid
    by TomEG » » in Kyosho Forum
    7 Replies
    1715 Views
    Last post by j0pp3
  • When was the Optima Mid Custom Special released? Last Optima
    by mjtown » » in Kyosho Forum
    2 Replies
    1237 Views
    Last post by mjtown

Return to “Kyosho Forum”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests