Kyosho Optima

[iGP81]

Need some advice... I've never owned a Kyosho before and on the verge of purchasing the Optima Mid 2022 or Koswork Edition however, unsure whether to splash the extra cash on this variant yet? Anyway watched a few video reviews on YouTube and the whole package quality looks outstanding! Anyone own or had hands on experience with these kits?

[Twinfan]

I've got a Koswork Edition in my build queue.  When I bought it the price difference between that and a regular kit was around £40-£50, now it's £100.  So it's not quite the deal it once was.  However, if you want the universals and carbon etc it's still a good deal plus you get the Turbo decals and extra wing if that's your bag.

Mine will be dressed up as a Turbo with JC Racing wheels and modern tyres when I get round to it.

[iGP81]

23 minutes ago, Twinfan said:

I've got a Koswork Edition in my build queue.  When I bought it the price difference between that and a regular kit was around £40-£50, now it's £100.  So it's not quite the deal it once was.  However, if you want the universals and carbon etc it's still a good deal plus you get the Turbo decals and extra wing if that's your bag.

Mine will be dressed up as a Turbo with JC Racing wheels and modern tyres when I get round to it.

I've sourced the Mid 2022 for £310 and Koswork at £395 however, is it worth the £85 for the add-on's?

Scrub that... Just purchased the Optima Mid 2022 for £300 brand new.

Edited March 24 by iGP81
Now even cheaper

[Twinfan]

Nice!  Where was that?

Cracking price!

[iGP81]

Just now, Twinfan said:

Nice!  Where was that?

Cracking price!

Purchased from a registered business on eBay, has 3/4 left and being delivered tomorrow by DPD.

Here comes the technical question which I'm hoping you can answer?

So, obviously building for off-road use on a mix of terrain such as loose gravel, grass etc and thinking of packing the diffs with oil... what would you recommend (k) wise for the front/back?

[Twinfan]

Not my area of expertise by a long shot!

The manual suggests 5k-30k.  I have 5k lined up for mine.

[Twinfan]

I forgot to say, if you've bought from the guy I think you have with a best offer then he's a great seller.  I've had a couple of kits from him  

[iGP81]

9 minutes ago, Twinfan said:

I forgot to say, if you've bought from the guy I think you have with a best offer then he's a great seller.  I've had a couple of kits from him  

The username is adrwo-2811. Has great feedback and swift communications. I always have doubts when purchasing from eBay, so contacted them before committing and proof provided that all was genuine, new and sealed etc.

15 minutes ago, Twinfan said:

Not my area of expertise by a long shot!

The manual suggests 5k-30k.  I have 5k lined up for mine.

I think I saw a brief snip of this in one of the videos also, I might already have these oils at hand, a 7K for sure.

[Twinfan]

That's the dude - he's top  

[iGP81]

Just now, Twinfan said:

That's the dude - he's top  

Ah, great to know this as he has a few other kits including the Optima Turbo and Javelin making my choice all the more difficult. 

Had my eyes set on this kit for quite sometime, just over a year in fact. This will also need to go into the build queue for now, summer and holiday is looming.

What brushless motor would you recommend 17.5T?

[Twinfan]

I would say the car can take a 13.5T or 10.5T easily, lower if that's what you fancy.  I've got a 10.5T lined up for mine.

[iGP81]

1 hour ago, Twinfan said:

I would say the car can take a 13.5T or 10.5T easily, lower if that's what you fancy.  I've got a 10.5T lined up for mine.

What model ESC/Motor combo are you planning?

[Twinfan]

Hobbywing QuicRun 10BL120 and matching 3650 G2 10.5T brushless motor  
 

[iGP81]

18 hours ago, Twinfan said:

Hobbywing QuicRun 10BL120 and matching 3650 G2 10.5T brushless motor  
 

Funny you mention this kit as I just bookmarked it.

@Twinfan Any essential hop-ups you recommend?

Edited March 25 by iGP81
Hop-ups

[egalsim]

2022 Mid is a GREAT choice.  If you ever plan on racing it and need 2.2 wheels, JC Racing makes pepperpot 2.2 wheels for it.  I love my 2022.

[Twinfan]

On 3/24/2025 at 1:03 PM, iGP81 said:

 

@Twinfan Any essential hop-ups you recommend?

I'm not really an expert, I tend to just throw Option Parts or Hop-Ups at cars for the badword of it!    I have a pile of stuff lined up for mine.

I suspect for general bashing around the park or garden, the stock kit is more than capable as it is.

[iGP81]

9 minutes ago, egalsim said:

2022 Mid is a GREAT choice.  If you ever plan on racing it and need 2.2 wheels, JC Racing makes pepperpot 2.2 wheels for it.  I love my 2022.

Wish a club existed where I live however, I have a huge playground behind my house... mountains, huge gravel fire roads and tons of flat open land to race on.

[Wooders28]

I've an original mid custom, managed to nail in a Schumacher multi plate slipper, and it's running a 5.5t without any issues.

The best all rounder tyre I've found without going for the donk wheels, is the Schumacher 2" blocks in the blue compound, nice grip on pretty much all surfaces (turned out to be quite good racing on dry astro, needed the 2" full spike for wet though).

 

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/schumacher-block-rears-blue-cat-2280 

 

My re re Ultima recommended 5k-30k cst oil for the diff, not sure what the Mid recommends, I went for 15k, as I had some sat on the shelf, and it seems okay on a track, but oil isn't expensive so going to get a better selection on my next modelsport order (postage is the expensive bit, if just getting one bottle)

[njmlondon]

On 3/24/2025 at 8:54 AM, iGP81 said:

Anyway watched a few video reviews on YouTube and the whole package quality looks outstanding! Anyone own or had hands on experience with these kits?

I have not bought an Optima but have just finished a Scorpion 2014 and now onto a Turbo Scorpion with a Javelin en route.

As a life long Tamiya builder I was ready to be disappointed by another brand, but how wrong was I!? 
 

I don’t know if the original Optimas and Scorpions were this good, but these Legendary Series cars are immaculate.
 

The engineering is perfect, parts are delicious and the instructions so clear. I am blown away by the quality and have actually sold a NIB Fighting Buggy to fund the Javelin. 

I build for pleasure and drive for fun, not racing, and these cars hit the spot better than any Tamiya buggy I have owned, including the Avante and my original Scorcher. Quite an accolade. You will love it.

 

[iGP81]

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