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Prototype 2wd Optima

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:20 pm
by Phin
Happened across an old auction for an Oct. 86 issue of some Japanese RC magazine with what looks like two "prototype" 2wd buggies based off an Optima rear end:
hotboxproto1086.jpg
https://aucview.aucfan.com/yahoo/w1074389000/

Can anyone read the article and give a summary of what it says? I'm curious if it was just someone's homebrew, or if it was Kyosho developing the Ultima.

Re: Prototype 2wd Optima

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:26 pm
by MarkyDents
1986 you say, that chassis shape is suspiciously familiar……
F8F58A42-9F75-418C-8AE4-90F2864F2A85.jpeg

Re: Prototype 2wd Optima

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:34 pm
by Frankentruck
Screenshot_20230122-203122.png
Screenshot_20230122-203155.png
.
The other writing is too blurry for Google Translate to use.

Re: Prototype 2wd Optima

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:51 pm
by Phin
Heh totally forgot about translating with a phone. :?

Picked up some of what's said on the other pages, and it seems like it's a homemade car someone built because the RC10 was too expensive in Japan at the time. It mentions that the front arms are off a Hirobo Tomcat.

Re: Prototype 2wd Optima

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:14 am
by Frankentruck
From a gearbox standpoint, I don't think the Optima gears and gearing provide any significant advantage or difference vs using the Ultima gearbox. It just mounts to the chassis differently. I'm certainly not against custom builds though and it is cool.

Re: Prototype 2wd Optima

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:12 am
by Phin
Frankentruck wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:14 am From a gearbox standpoint, I don't think the Optima gears and gearing provide any significant advantage or difference vs using the Ultima gearbox. It just mounts to the chassis differently. I'm certainly not against custom builds though and it is cool.
The big advantage the Optima gearbox offered this car was availability....the Ultima release was several months after this article was published.