Best wishes for 2013!

Optima box art

Hello fellow optimaniacs!
It's been a year since I last wrote on my blog so I guess it's a bit of a surprise but I'm still alive and kicking! :D
I've had a lot of things to do last year (but nothing on the optima front except some spare parts for the mini-z optima) so I left the blog unbusy... What's the status of the Optimania these days? Each day there are people posting new pics on vintage forums so I don't think the craze is over yet. On Ebay there is no shortage of spare parts (the repro market is very active; tires, bodies, shock collars, ...) and on Tamiya Club for instance, the SIG is full of pictures. This year I'll finish my 3D Optima Mid for sure and I'll paint some Mid bodies as well. Sure! :D

PS I've begun a new blog about mini-z autoscales if you care :D

OT-66 are here!

Besides, a new RC shop has open the gates for us, vintage lovers!

Marwan's (yes THE Marwan) new webshop proposes his well-known bodies, decals, tires repros at a more interesting price than ebay.

You should try the new marwanrc.com shop.

The long awaited for OT-66 are finally available. I'll post some comments when I get mines. :D

OPTIMA re-released

Ok...ok... Not really a true re-release, but now that Avante 2011 and Fast Attack Vehicle 2011 were released, kyosho fans were waiting for their own nolstalgia series rebirth.

I was delighted when I opened the Kyosho global website today, because I've rarely seen the blue yellow white livery of the original optima there!!!

Now, the actual news is about a new Mini-z BUGGY series, and the first batch of bodies are the Optima and the Lazer ZX-5 FS.

And it's not really a news because the mini-z buggy has been announced in august but I've not published anything since... well, you can see that :D

From the website:

"Nostalgic body style combines with latest chassis design!

Dynamic palmtop size buggy with Readyset!
New generation 4x4 MINI-Z chassis creates spectacular racing action!

Longtime fans of R/C will recognize the distinctive form of the OPTIMA body straight away. But the nostalgic exterior hides the very latest in R/C design technology. The precision chassis features a shaft driven 4WD with a two-differential drive train incorporating a slipper clutch to protect gears with oil shocks on the 4-wheel independent double wishbone suspension, just like the original Optima 1/10 racing buggy. The result is the exceptional performance expected of a 1/10 scale R/C buggy, but concentrated into a racing machine that fits on the palm of your hand and the best off-road performance achieved in the history of the MINI-Z. With most of the precision components protected within the dirt-proof shell, the chassis has the rigidity and durability for hardcore off-road action. Based on the MINI-Z Racer, control circuit board has been tuned for off-road with a special separated design. The ICS function allows precision setting adjustment of controls including the optional gyro unit through your PC while the Chase Mode feature fires up the intensity of racing action. Also, the newly designed steering servo is equipped with 7-stage gearing. High torque and precision control combine to produce the MINI-Z’s characteristic steering feel and linear control. As the famous Optima body is pre-painted and is packaged as a Readyset, just purchase and set batteries into this legendary racing buggy and watch the latest MINI-Z technology tear up any dirt track."

Length	163mm
Width	105mm
Height	46mm
Wheelbase	115mm
Tread (F/R)	F:89/R:89
Tire(F/R)	F:φ16mm/R:φ16mm
Weight	200ｇ(approx.)
Motor	130-Class
Battery	AAA-size alkaline batteries x 4 or NiMH batteries x 4 for chassis.
R/C System	KT-18(incl）

More pics here

New Alu Shock collars for Optima?

Korea's Pargu is very active in the vintage kyosho field and it's always a pleasure to stumble upon a new item of his on ebay. This time it's the red shock collar for Optima, you know, the one that breaks easily when you overscrew it. He says it's handmade but what does it mean exactly? Just wondering... Anyway, it's way tougher than the originals, I guess, and if he succeeds to make some of them, it will probably be a huge win for him (and for us optimaniacs).

I don't post a link here but every optimaniac should know how to check it out :D

Marwan's OT-66 repros are there!

Here we are!

As I suggested a few months ago, after the optima's OT-30, someone finally has tackled

the challenge of reproducing the famous OT-66 tires. You probably were looking for this final achievement for the beloved Turbo Optima or Optima Mid shelfqueens (not to mention Ultimas), but finally the wait is over!

Kuwait's Marwan AlNusif did it again. I don't know if the quality is up to the original but I guess Marwan did not cut the angles to improve his knowhow after the OT-30 episode... Hey, Marwan, would you mind sending me a pair of OT-66 to let me tell optimaniacs about the quality of these? :D

You're a god, mate!!! Full respect.