Racing as a kid, I don't ever remember seeing an Optima or anything close at the local track. Mostly RC10s (which I now have), production-class Tamiyas, etc. were the mainstream. So it wasn't until my adulthood after rediscovering my childhood passions that I got this Optima.
On the surface, it was not too dirty, but I really just enjoy taking things apart, cleaning and fixing, and making it new again. I especially love seeing how things work.
![Image](http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y429/lifeIsAnalog/Kyosho%20Optima/1024/100_3853m1024_zps589f2789.jpg)
Body off; ready to take apart:
(and today, randomly, the battery in my PS3 controller down there won't hold a charge anymore
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
![Image](http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y429/lifeIsAnalog/Kyosho%20Optima/1024/IMG_5283m1280_zps2d9cad28.jpg)
Worn tires, but not too bad. Still, I plan to buy (repro?) replacements. Maybe they should be called "Reprocements" ?
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Image](http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y429/lifeIsAnalog/Kyosho%20Optima/1024/IMG_5288m1280_zps85552f7d.jpg)
![Image](http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y429/lifeIsAnalog/Kyosho%20Optima/1024/IMG_5289m1280_zpsc25f6a28.jpg)
Overall, it's in decent condition:
![Image](http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y429/lifeIsAnalog/Kyosho%20Optima/1024/IMG_5290m1280_zpsd3f1affe.jpg)
![Image](http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y429/lifeIsAnalog/Kyosho%20Optima/1024/IMG_5292m1280_zps1c7290f5.jpg)
And the teardown deepens:
![Image](http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y429/lifeIsAnalog/Kyosho%20Optima/1024/IMG_5294m1280_zpsbc40be0a.jpg)
I was not expecting to find the key components of a bird's nest inside the gearbox:
![Image](http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y429/lifeIsAnalog/Kyosho%20Optima/1024/IMG_5297m1280_zps6218fb82.jpg)
Off to clean...