After all the restoration projects almost finished I've come up with the idea of creating an Optima rally car. A big reason for this particular combo is that I've got an original Kyosho Citroën ZX body unpainted and with N.I.P scale accessories. It's from a rally series based on the Raider chassis from around 1991. It just happened to have the same wheelbase as an Optima Mid LWB. I've started doing some custom work, copying an original aluminum LWB chassis to create an FRP version. This also means I will create FRP towers, top deck etc. The towers will have a slight change in the design to make it more unique.
Update! So.. a few days later and a lot of cutting in FRP with the Dremel. I took an original aluminum LWB chassis and traced it. Kind of happy with the result. It almost looks like a Mid Custom Special chassis. This will be the sturdy base for my rally car. Next on the list is to craft some shock towers in the same material.
Seabass wrote:Good work on this, glad to see you back here.
Jake
Thank you Jake, feels great having you here, Mr Engineer!
Let's have an update!
First out, I found some original scale parts (Kyosho SI-12) for the body a while ago. Kind of rare stuff.
Then some build progress. Went through the Optima pile and found some good gears and a belt. The white center gear is probably a Thorp 5022. Got it with a donor car and it feels tough! Standard gear differentials all around. Took a classic see-through-photo of the drive train. My home crafted chassis works!
I totally agree. Collecting NIP parts and hide them in bags like an investment is a whole different hobby. I would rather be day trading on the stock market. Anyway, I think this is my first Thorp upgrade ever. Yes Lars, you can laugh now Another planned upgrade will be an Alec & Lane steering setup.
Further more I'm thinking of adapting the suspension a bit to fit rally/onroad rather than buggy/offroad. Kyosho made a Ferrari F40 based on the Optima Mid and they changed the shock geometry a bit compared to the buggies. I will probably make the chassis a bit lower and use harder springs or something. There are many options as I'm about to craft the towers myself in the same material as the chassis.
I have one of those F40 Mids, well not an original. It's been converted to from a LWB Mid, just need to get around to painting and trimming the bodyset, ahh.....too many projects.
j0pp3 wrote:Further more I'm thinking of adapting the suspension a bit to fit rally/onroad rather than buggy/offroad. Kyosho made a Ferrari F40 based on the Optima Mid and they changed the shock geometry a bit compared to the buggies. I will probably make the chassis a bit lower and use harder springs or something. There are many options as I'm about to craft the towers myself in the same material as the chassis.
The front shock tower is the same, while the rear end only uses the lower mount. You'll also need one of the Scale Car body mount sets to mount the body (or come up with something yourself).
Thank you EvolutionRevolution! The bumper you are using, does it fit the Optima Mid without any modification? I have only seen it on models based on Ultima.
I found three full sets of Optima Mid Custom shocks yesterday. The black plastic ones. One of my ideas is to use short shocks all around like modern Tamiya rally cars and craft a custom rear tower.
On the 8th of February, which is today, I raced my LWB mid in the 4WD class. as you all know the vintage class is non existent here, so I had to pit my Mid against all the modern cars. In total we had 15 guys racing today.
The competition consisted...
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ohh..so thats you on youtube. Your cars look amazing and you have great driving skills. I am just worried about damaging the scorpion on sbs..which is a much more difficult track than the one in your video..besides the XXXXXX traction too and...
Trinity Yokomo wheels with Schumacher tires
Carbon shocks towers, hingepin mounts, camber link mount and transmission brace.
Lazer suspension.
Steering is shaved T2 Fasttrax ballraced bellcranks with ZX ballraced link.
AE 1. gen. slipper modified to...
Does anybody out there know where to source LWB belts for the Optima mid? I do not have BST status yet, and have even tried the original manufacturer MBL. 254XL014 are the markings on the belt. Any help would be great!!!
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Yes I have been told that as well! Along with the Hyperdrive belts coming from the cash register industry! They are just timing belts after all.
I am new on the forum hi everyone
I got an old Special Custom with the gold flat aluminum or steel chassis.
I have no upper deck.
Chassis could maybe be run this way but has a bit of flex.
Can a Lazer zxr upper deck work?
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This FactoryWorks upper chassis plate is awesome! Thanks so much!
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I am building an Optima Mid LWB. It is an SWB to LWB conversion.
I apparently have an Optima Mid Custom Special graphite chassis and an LWB belt.
I checked that the belt has 127 teeth and is apparently the correct length (one groove is...
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Yes, later! Unfortunately I don't have a PC with a card reader here so I cannot post photos before I get back home :)
Also I'll open a new thread for this Optima Mid project.
Ok after about 2 years of R & D, which included the testing and eventual ruling out of the twin belt system on the Optima Mid, I am glad to announce the success of my 48P conversion. Special thanks to Linus from Sweden who worked with me to suggest...
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I have a Turbo Optima mid. I believe it’s the SWB version. Would you be able to tell me what other accessories I would need to get to adapt the 48P conversion? Is it only a question of getting the LWB baseplate?
I found this chassis lurking in my pile of optima parts. I can't seem to find good source of what optima mid model it came with or if it was some kind of after market chassis.
First I thought it belonged to the Optima Mid Custom Special but when...
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Tanks for your input.
I restored my OMCS with the graphite version as it was more rare. I would also replace the alloy chassis on my OMC if I could.
For runners I prefer to craft my own chassis so that I'm not dependent on original- or expensive...
I plan to start the build of my Turbo Optima Mid Special and am looking for pictures of period airbrush bodies or pro pics for inspiration regarding the paint job. Any help appreciated !
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Whenever I'm thinking of an old school paint job, I go here first to see one done really well: There aren't any pro's pics I don't think...