Optima Mid options

[Percymon]

I've nearly finished (at long last) my Optima Mid Custom (LWB Custom Special Chassis topped with the square cockpit Custom body). Its set up with gear diffs front and rear, powered by 13.5T brushless

I have amassed a fair few parts along the way, helped by buying two incomplete Optima Mids, to the poitn where I now have 95% of the chassis parts for another build.

So I need a bit of help from those who've used and abused these cars over the years on what spec to build the second one up to.

Wheelbase - I have the optional FRP LWB chassis plate and radio deck, and also a stock SWB chassis plate and radio deck.

Front Diff - I have front gear diff and a front one way

Rear Diff - this will be a gear diff, since the limited slip one i have is too worn in the gear teeth for my liking.

At this stage I'm erring towards the SWB chassis (purely on the basis that the one i just built is a LWB) and using the front one way. However, I wonder whether this will be too sharp when steering and twitchy in the handling as a result ?

Any comments/recommendations ?

[MadInventor]

Personally I like the one way rollers for good cornering and getting the power down on loose surfaces. They usually help the car to maintain controllability on loose surfaces or using monster power. Of course they're rubbish if you have to stop in a hurry. Can't comment on the chassis layout as I've never owned one, but there's probably a good reason kyosho and Schumacher both went from SWB to LWB cars when trying to win races in the 80s/90s

[MAD RACER]

I run both versions of the MID.

The SWB is great on a tighter track. loads of steering with good rear end bite.

The LWB Mid is a Custom with SE ball diffs and is slightly better over rougher terrain.

As for Diffs the rear gear diff case is worth stupid $$ so I use ball diffs as the crown gears are cheap as chips.

I always use a harder compound tyre up the front to stop the car being too twitchy. Like M4 at the back & M3 up the front in Pro Line for example. ( More so with a SWB car)

I run a 12t Z run which is very quick. They all went to LWB due to the cars being too twitchy. The tyre grip was very poor back then. Interesting to note that Tamiya started with a LWB buggy in the Hot Shots & Thunder Shots but then went to SWB with the Avante then back to a LWB with the Egress .

Hope this helps

M/R

[Percymon]

Many thanks guys - some good points there.

Think I will go SWB, purely because i'm not a fan of the other LWB shell and don't really want two similar looking cars.

So SWB with one way up front and gear diff in the rear - can always help the handling a little with tyre options, plus there's a lot more choice of shock oil hese days so probably easier to tune the bump/rebound than back in the day.

So off to order a body and a belt.

Doh, also need a set of shocks - probably committing a huge sin but anyone using aftermarket shocks like yeah or 3racing ?

[MAD RACER]

iuse Yeah racing shocks on most of my Tamiya's with good results with a few mods.

Just bought a set of 3 racing DT02 shocks & look nice but spring rates are like a 8th scale so you will need change springs & AE B3/4 fit.

Yeah Titanium shocks are very good with 3 sets of springs included.

[mtbkym01]

I also quite like the Yeah Racing shocks, after recommendations from MadRacer, got a set for my Top Force resto that's waiting its turn

[Percymon]

Should have waited another 30 minutes, have ordered the 3Racing ZX5-01 alloy shocks from rcmart. I do have a set of gold shocks that went wrong on re anodising so hopefully I can use the springs from those.

Also got a swb belt and OT-73 motor plate ordered up.

[Daves956]

Personally I think I'll be going with ***** bodies more often. I'm glad to hear those diff cases are worth something before I pitched them.

I went with the gear diffs in the mid because they seemed more robust and most of the ball diffs in my bag of diffs had wear issues and I didn't want to put something in just to be taking it back out.

Softer tires seem to make a huge difference in how these hook up. The really soft and wide ones on my mid really help it a lot

[Percymon]

has the tyres as well & that makes postage easyer

all in one hit . .

The reason i went that supply route too

[Daves956]

I had to formally pass on the tires before the body got shipped.