Kyosho Optima Project

Awhile back I picked up both Kyosho Optima and Ultima rollers to restore. I ordered up bodies and decals for both as well as tires for the Optima and then they've been untouched for the past several years. Since I've been lightening my projects backlog I've been able to work on some of the ones I am most interested in - a couple of which being the Optima and Ultima.


I recently set out hunting down parts for both and have uncovered some troves but focused mostly on the Ultima so far. Although for both cars I've been hunting down reasonably priced box art wheels - which are not an easy score by a long shot. Both are available NIP on ebay but for more than I paid for either project cars and I just didn't want to plunk down that much cash just for the wheels (more than Bigwig wheels, which I thought were the benchmark for expensive wheels).


Anyway - a week or two ago while trawling ebay for Kyosho parts I stumbled on a second Optima parts car that - miracle of miracles - was fitted with almost new box-art wheels. It also happened to have a bunch of the parts I had already flagged as needing to complete my other chassis, such as the front piece that supports the nose plate and bumper. It was listed for $100 BIN or best offer. I put in an offer for $80 and the seller accepted! The NIP wheels alone are going for $88 minimum, so I got my wheels, by nose brace, nicer shocks, most chassis parts in better condition plus an MSC / driver post / etc, etc. Good deal.


The bodies that came with both rollers are going to go into a parts lot along with the bits from both rollers I decide not to use, which will probably recoup the cost of the second roller. The body and decals are about to make their way to my buddy and TCer Mincemeat who's done a few bodies for me in the past and is going to take a stab at a nice box art finish. I'm super excited to see how it turns out.


In the mean time, I mounted the new tires on the 'new' wheels and consolidated some of the better parts onto the chassis that had the working drive-train. Pictures below. Am excited to see how it turns out. Will post pics of the Ultima soon as well.