Turbo Optima Mid SE-X

[Lonestar]

nice build with proper emotional bavkground behind it!

the reedy krypton is more of a late 90s-early 00s motor

Paul

[DennisM]

I don't plan to run it, but I do have an A&L finned motor plate that I could put on it
Actually I have two, the second one has been anodised and found a home on another project, I'll be starting a separate thread for it but here is a sneek peak

And the blue one is even worse

[HKS_TRD]

I still haven't painted the shell but in the meantime I have had all the gold parts (bar the wheels) re-anodised to match the Kyosho Gold on the vintage Gold Shocks along with having some additional parts anodised

More pics as these parts make their way onto it.
There will be a few other changes made at the same time and then it will finally be time to paint the shell

[EvolutionRevolution]

Looks nice! When will you have the chassis dressed up with those parts?

[HKS_TRD]

I'm now partway through putting all the parts on, I took some pics along the way.

I was worried the tinted gear cover may obscure the view to the gold motor plate but it looks great, I didn't want to switch to a clear one because I thought the tinted one would match the gold painted body and smoked window color scheme I have planned

The upper deck is off and I need to do the steering next

I have a set of Trinity gold turnbuckles for an Ultima that may find their way onto this build

The last step is going to be to change the front shock tower to a taller Lazer style tower and then switch to either vintage gold shocks or Kyosho Gold Velvet shocks, at this stage I am leaning towards the latter because nearly every other Mid variant had the gold shocks so even with the mediums on the front it still won't be different enough.

[Coelacanth]

VERY nice! That looks like a very close match to the Kyosho "champagne gold" color of their Option House gold parts. This will be a beauty when it's built!

[HKS_TRD]

VERY nice! That looks like a very close match to the Kyosho "champagne gold" color of their Option House gold parts. This will be a beauty when it's built!

Thanks. I provided a sample gold shock cap for the anodiser to try and match the color, I think he did an amazing job, I am considering getting another set of Pargu wheels done for my Gold Celebration chassis Optima (the ones on this car were anodised by Pargu) along with the option house skid plate seeing as the match was so good. Even the Kyosho bits vary from batch to batch as it is anyway so a slight difference is acceptable

The only things really left are the alloy bellcranks to replace the A&L bits that are now on there (they are slated for another project) and also to decide if I do use the gold trinity turnbuckles. Not sure with the turnbuckles if I revert to the same setup as the standard mid with the plastic drag link or I modify a CF Lazer steering plate I have here (it will need a notch like the metal on on the 21st Century Mid) the only issue I see is that the alloy bellcranks are a little taller than the standard ones so the steering plate would have to bolt up from underneath.

I'm a bit confused about the bellcranks as I have another set that are really tall that came with a Lazer I bought and then I have another set that are slightly SHORTER than the mid ones that are supposed to be for a Lazer IIRC

Oh yeah the other thing to do is change the front shock tower to the taller one so I can put medium length shocks on the front

[HKS_TRD]

I have started mounting up some of the new gold pieces

Starting with the chassis posts, rear bulkhead and the rear pivot block that sits in-front of the gearbox



Then the motor plate









And here you can see the rear pivot block that sits on the back of the gearbox along with the sway bar links



Then it was time for the motor brace that used to reside on the 21st Century Mid (on left) to make its way onto this project





Then the layshaft collar, motor spacer and motor could go on







And lastly the gear cover



I will get some better shots before the upper deck goes back on, I will be doing a bit of experimentation with the steering and I may need a different set of bellcranks anodised and/or a custom steering link made up

I will probably swap out the shock tower and shocks first along with adding the suspension shaft collars though I forget if I was going to put them on the front or rear lol

I am also considering taking the polished knuckles off and switching to a set of black plastic OT-16s or perhaps getting a pair of 3 Racing knuckles milled down and anodised gold though I think that would be too much gold.
I'm just thinking that the polished knuckles will be out of place with the platinum shocks gone.

[Coelacanth]

I am also considering taking the polished knuckles off and switching to a set of black plastic OT-16s or perhaps getting a pair of 3 Racing knuckles milled down and anodised gold though I think that would be too much gold.

No dude, you simply can't have too much gold! I wouldn't put any polished aluminum parts on this chassis, it would have to be either gold--or black. I even have a suggestion for a great project name for you, in keeping with the "Mid" name: The Turbo Optima "Midas"--for the Midas gold touch!

I'm pretty sure I've seen 12mm gold hexes too...

[HKS_TRD]

I am also considering taking the polished knuckles off and switching to a set of black plastic OT-16s or perhaps getting a pair of 3 Racing knuckles milled down and anodised gold though I think that would be too much gold.

No dude, you simply can't have too much gold! I wouldn't put any polished aluminum parts on this chassis, it would have to be either gold--or black. I even have a suggestion for a great project name for you, in keeping with the "Mid" name: The Turbo Optima "Midas"--for the Midas gold touch!

I'm pretty sure I've seen 12mm gold hexes too...

The only thing that was stopping me was the fact that I am also going to build a Gold Celebration Chassis Optima but thinking about it a little more that has gold in different places so it makes sense to put gold turnbuckles on this build

Well not only do I think it makes sense I went and did it, so far only the rears are on, the set is for an Ultima and in theory should work on a Mid because they use the same length rods but it seems the range of adjustment is a little different, I have the rear rods on minimum length using the Trinity rod ends which are shorter than the Kyosho rod ends and overall the rods are bang on the length depicted by the scale drawing in the Optima Mid manual. I wouldn't mind a little more camber just for looks, I could always file the rod ends down and the threaded section of the rods but I will save judgement for when I have the final ride height which I want to be rather low as a tribute to that pic in the first post of my Original SE basically scraping on the ground

The front will be a similar affair but I am changing a few other things at the same time at the front

I may temporarily install some vintage Golds from a ZX-R but the long term plan is to install a set of Kyosho velvets (in the modern darker gold) which I have already bought and are waiting to be built. The blue adjuster nuts will complement the blue stripes on the box art decals nicely I think

I agree about the polished knuckles, you can see a pic of them installed in one of the posts from when I first put this together, I was planning on installing Andys knuckles but they foul on the C hubs, so black OT-16s will be the go (I have a pair here just need to find them lol) I think gold hubs against gold knuckles will be a bit much, the gold works best against the black to give it contrast

[HKS_TRD]

OK I put the rear Kyosho velvet shocks on and the look great, I have Kyosho gold springs on them but I don't have any medium length springs, are there any aftermarket gold springs in Medium length that fit the Kyosho shock?

[HKS_TRD]

I have had a few more pieces anodised gold for this project.
I now however find myself in a bind.
I wouldn't mind some gold knuckle arms in lieu of black plastic OT-16s however the guy that anodised all the other bits isn't anodising anymore. I thought a pair of3Racing knuckles re-anodised in gold and modded to fit would have been perfect.
Any other options?

[Coelacanth]

I have had a few more pieces anodised gold for this project.
I now however find myself in a bind.
I wouldn't mind some gold knuckle arms in lieu of black plastic OT-1s however the guy that anodised all the other bits isn't anodising anymore. I thought a pair of 3Racing knuckles re-anodised in gold and modded to fit would have been perfect.
Any other options?

I see that you already have gold-anodized front C-carriers, so it might be a challenge to find a set of 3rd-party steering knuckles that fit. I solved that problem with my OptiMutt build by finding sets of both knuckles AND carriers for the same car, that way you know they'll fit. They also gave me a bit more caster angle. The one thing I can't answer is how these parts change the length of the CVD's you'll require, and you will need Tamiya-sized bearings for the front. (OptiMutt is a RWD-converted build, not 4WD.)

I don't know if it will help you, but more details and part #'s are here:

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=30216&start=60#p327991

[HKS_TRD]

Thanks for the info, I'll still have the same problem of having to get the parts anodised gold though.
Couldn't find it in the parts list, what brand are those blue ballstuds you used for the bottom shock mount.
Also where did you get the gold turnbuckles from

[Puffdogg]

Great project. I remember drooling over this kit when i was young. Funnily over the years its the only vintage electric buggy i ever really liked and still want. If it gets re released i will most likely get one.