Turbo Optima Mid SE-X

[HKS_TRD]

So, I always wanted to have Lazer ZX wheels on the SE, and I have a set of those for it which will be installed at some stage. I also have a brand new set of SE Wheels which will get their turn on it. However I always liked gold wheels, and back in the day I really liked the style of the Turbo Optima wheels. I also had a pet hate for wide wheels on the front of a 4WD.
So I combined all this into one set of wheels, Pargu aluminium version of the Turbo Optima Mid wheel, narrow at the front and anodised gold. The gold C hubs also helped me decide to got for the gold wheels as well as another reason that I will get to in a future post



I also had some gold Kyosho wheel nuts which were just the thing



So this is how it sits now









Here you can see the Kyosho battery and yellow battery straps I got for it recently and the second pic is it sitting next to my Turbo Otpima Mid Special that is patiently waiting for a paint job. I have some more electrics for it but the next step is going to be the shell, wing, and undertray

[HKS_TRD]

Hey dude.
If you want I can make the wingstay out of carbon to you.
PM me if intrest.
Will work superb to this car.
Jerzi

Hi, thanks for the offer. I actually have the wing mount in Carbon but its not in my hands yet, should have it soon. I have been toying with the idea of a wire wing mount but I think the carbon one would look right on this car

Your project looks very nice!

[HKS_TRD]

So I have a few decisions to make for the last few parts of this build, all opinions welcome.

My SE was painted yellow however I had seen a write up on the SE in a magazine which had the standard stickers but was painted gold and it looked awesome, even with the SE wheels, so I'm thinking thats what color I am going to paint the wing and body on this project.

Keen eyes may have noticed the chassis posts are missing, the plan is for these to be anodised gold, but I'm not sure what if anything else to have anodised gold. I'm thinking the ball joints on the end of the rear stabiliser bar and maybe the plate that sits on the spur gear, though thats not all that visible.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

I don't want to ovedo it with the gold so I can put other wheels on it and not have them look out of place

[GoMachV]

Re anodizing those platinums gold would be amazing! Unfortunately even if you wanted to its pretty much impossible to do anything with the ball in the cap. It would be a great head scratcher tho!

[HKS_TRD]

I thought about doing the platinums too, I have a spare set.

The problem is the bodies aren't aluminium from what I understand so they can't be done anyway

I thought about putting gold velvet shocks on it and maybe getting the blue pieces on those anodised gold as I don't want any blue on this however for the nostalgia aspect of the build it has to have platinums on it, otherwise its not acutally an SE anymore if that makes any sense

[keithrc]

Looking good Dan. Did you buy the gold wheel nuts or have them anodised? I have plans of doing a Mid project which will involve anodising, just wanna put this out there now to show I'm not copying anyone elses ideas.


Keith

[HKS_TRD]

The wheel nuts were gold from Kyosho.

Three of my other projects will involve anodising and another project will involve polishing everything, those knuckle arms were reserved for that project but I can polish up another set

[keithrc]

Are the wheel nuts hard to find? I'd like to get a set.


Keith

[HKS_TRD]

I bought them ages ago on eBay, I don't think they are as common as the blue ones but shouldn't be too hard to find, have a look on eBay

[THUNDERSTRIKE1]

Their lookin sweet .Wish i had the cash do the two turbo mids and the optima turbo and a sweet all stock ultima pro se. But their not my type of car lol.DON

[Coelacanth]

Are the wheel nuts hard to find? I'd like to get a set.


Keith

You don't need to focus your search on Kyosho-brand 4mm gold wheel nuts. You can find ordinary gold-anodized nylon lock-nuts, usually in packages of 5 or 10, all over eBay. I bought a set for my gold chassis Optima.



Here's a Kyosho set on eBay:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Kyosho-Nylon-Nut-Set-4x4-5mm-Gold-KYO1-N4045FNA-G-/110692012381?pt=US_Radio_Control_Control_Line&hash=item19c5c2115d

And a set of Yeah Racing nuts, 10 for a buck or so more:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Yeah-Racing-4mm-Aluminium-Lock-Nut-GD-LN-M4-GD-/130539219051?pt=US_Radio_Control_Control_Line&hash=item1e64be686b

Dynamite Racing brand:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Dynamite-4mm-Aluminum-Lock-Nut-Gold-10-DYN8560-/181099132203?pt=US_Radio_Control_Control_Line&hash=item2a2a59752b

[Coelacanth]

I bought them ages ago on eBay, I don't think they are as common as the blue ones but shouldn't be too hard to find, have a look on eBay

I really love the gold wheels, they really up the "class factor" of this build! And I'd love to get my hands on a set of those gold C-carriers for my gold chassis Optima.

[HKS_TRD]

Small update

I have cut out the shell, however I tried something a little different and left the part of the shell behind the shock tower on rather than cut it off. I think it looks pretty good. I'll put a sticker on it after I paint the shell

The wing mount is from my Lazer ZX, I have a carbon one on the way though still debating if I attempt a wire wing mount.
Also the wing is from the TOMS, I think for the SE I will actually use the rear most holes on the wing to bring it closer to the body, the ZX uses these holes and when I test fitted that wing it looks better having the wing closer to the body on the short car IMHO

I plan to use the body posts from a LWB that go on the rear of the chassis, the custom chassis has the mount points for them, it also has the fronts but not sure if I need those. Using the posts just helps keep the shell low and the side pods horizontal for a sleeker look.

I am 99% decided on painting the shell gold and using the stock SE sticker scheme, but now I am wondering if I need gold shocks, or the platinums will contrast well against a gold shell and compliment the polished knuckles. You can have too much gold! I have a spare set of platinums I could tinker with but how on earth do you get the ball out of the cap?
Maybe a custom front shock tower and medium length gold velvets would be just the thing for this buggy

I'll be sending the chassis posts and rear sway bar end links along with a spur gear plate to be anodised gold shortly.

Any way enough of my rambling here are some pics.

[RichieRich]

This looks fantastic. Top job!

[Coelacanth]

Yes, looking awesome! I personally wouldn't have chosen flanged lock-nuts for the wheels as they might bite into and scratch the anodizing. I'd use plain unflanged 4mm lock-nuts. Anyway, what color are you planning to paint it?