Which Optima Mid is this?

[howsyouraspen]

So I thought I'd post these up here for your Kyosho pro's. I just picked this up for 20bucks. I know it's a MID, but which one? A turbo, a Mid SE? Looks like its got an aftermarket chassis, and homemade shock towers? A&L steering. That's about where my knowledge ends. (I'm not sure why both buggies have truck wheels on them?) Just needs some cleaning.






Also, paid 20 bucks for this bad boy too. Dude had no idea what it was...




Thanks guys!
Alex

[Mr. ED]

I hope they took the front transmission out before trying to run that second creation!
still a very good find for the price: excellent for some worry free scratch build project

[losiXXXman]

IDK if AYK had a rear motor 4wd, but that second cars' ladder chassis plates, and arms look very Radiant-esque. You may throw that picture up in the "other makes" section for more clarity.

[naushad]

The second car is a AYK radiant and this was rear motor chain driven 4wd.

Just looks to have different wheels making it look somewhat grotesque!

Nice nice find....would make a good restoration.

i would re-anodisize the rear skid plate / motor guard.

Look for some wheels/tyres/repro body and you'll have a fine car.

There is no mechanical speedo. For the AYK, these seem difficult to find, but I'm sure you could fit another vintage speedo such as a novak to match nicely.

[howsyouraspen]

IDK if AYK had a rear motor 4wd, but that second cars' ladder chassis plates, and arms look very Radiant-esque. You may throw that picture up in the "other makes" section for more clarity.

Yeah, I knew the one was a Radiant, which I've always wanted, but they're always sold so quickly, or too much to justify purchasing. So I saw these show up on a local classifieds add. And I jumped on it. He had it listed as an Optima(also), which I knew he had no clue what it was. Once I met him I noticed it didn't have the front driveshafts or the long drive chain. He said his bro wanted to make it a 2 wheel drive... But for the price I figured over time I could complete this bad boy. So excited.

But as for the other one with the paddles and the purple chassis? I'm uncertain which Optima Mid this is? I've been reading about SWB, LWB models and chassis? So Im not sure where to start on that one. Not sure I'll even keep it. Wouldn't mind turning it into a runner.

[howsyouraspen]

The second car is a AYK radiant and this was rear motor chain driven 4wd.

Just looks to have different wheels making it look somewhat grotesque!

Nice nice find....would make a good restoration.

i would re-anodisize the rear skid plate / motor guard.

Look for some wheels/tyres/repro body and you'll have a fine car.

There is no mechanical speedo. For the AYK, these seem difficult to find, but I'm sure you could fit another vintage speedo such as a novak to match nicely.

Lol yeah I agree about the tires and wheels. I think the front ones are actually off an old Tamiya Subaru Brat.

About the anodising.. would they be able to match the gold do you think?

[Mr. ED]

Once I met him I noticed it didn't have the front driveshafts or the long drive chain. He said his bro wanted to make it a 2 wheel drive...

Just as I said above: running it in 4WD with those very different sized front/back wheels would have caused some serious stress on the transmission.

[howsyouraspen]

Once I met him I noticed it didn't have the front driveshafts or the long drive chain. He said his bro wanted to make it a 2 wheel drive...

Just as I said above: running it in 4WD with those very different sized front/back wheels would have caused some serious stress on the transmission.

True, I agree. Not sure why he would want to do that. Looks ridiculous to boot! Im syked to pull this thing apart and clean'er up.

Any info on the Kyosho? Does the chassis look familiar or maybe homemade?

[Mr. ED]

Not sure if you can ever find out what that was originally as the only original parts left, are pretty much common for the whole series.
The cast front knuckles and gold rear shocks are probably the best clues: if they're original. The presence (or lack) of U-J's would add another clue for the experts.
Do i see that right; no turnbuckles?
brace over the moter was removed: may have been the version for use with a mechanical speedo. Another clue

Shocktowers look homemade, chassis kind of makes me think JG or bullet racing long wheelbase conversion. Better check the wheelbase before buying a top-plate.
The front shocks look a bit like the early losi shocks, and there was a run of gold colored ones.

[GoMachV]

If it ends up being a JG I am pretty sure I have the matching upper deck new on a peg hook somewhere.

Ill trade it for the Radiant? lol!

[keithrc]

Going by the alloy brace on the rear gearbox, standard tierods (not turnbuckles) and assuming they're original to the car I'd say it's a standard Mid. If there are no UJ's (which they don't look to be) and it has gear diffs that would more or less confirm it. The chassis looks to be a LWB version, then again if is an LWB, maybe it started out as an Optima Mid Custom.....


Keith

[Mr. ED]

it just struck me that even though the front and rear shocktower look custom made for monster truck bodies, they kept the body mount points in the middle of the tower. Maybe to run a buggy body underneath? (I remember people doing that with their proline truck conversions for the rc10's = before the the 10T came out)

[howsyouraspen]

If it ends up being a JG I am pretty sure I have the matching upper deck new on a peg hook somewhere.

Ill trade it for the Radiant? lol!

Haha. Done send me that upper deck, and I'll send you the Ayk. The chassis on the Kyosho looks like they tried to dye it black. I know some old wheels I RIT dyed black back in the day almost have a purplish hue to them now. keithrc, you are correct. There aren't any universals on this, and def looks to me like its original tierods.

Going by the alloy brace on the rear gearbox, standard tierods (not turnbuckles) and assuming they're original to the car I'd say it's a standard Mid. If there are no UJ's (which they don't look to be) and it has gear diffs that would more or less confirm it. The chassis looks to be a LWB version, then again if is an LWB, maybe it started out as an Optima Mid Custom.....


Keith

it just struck me that even though the front and rear shocktower look custom made for monster truck bodies, they kept the body mount points in the middle of the tower. Maybe to run a buggy body underneath? (I remember people doing that with their proline truck conversions for the rc10's = before the the 10T came out)

Yeah, with the sketchy pattern and cuts of the shock towers def seem homemade. Does anyone know the what the length should be for either LWB or SWB? I could throw a tape measure on it.