User:Donnie Park/Kyosho Optima

Kyosho Optima (京商 オプティマ), marketed in West Germany as a Graupner Optima, was a series of Japanese off-road radio-controlled car by Kyosho. First launched in 1985, it was the sucessor of the revolutionary Progress. It was the company's first 4WD car with modern suspension layout and was notable as it was responsible for popularizing electric 4WD racing buggies.

The Optima was eventually superceeded by the Lazer ZX series at mid-1989. http://www.bigsquidrc.com/kyosho-optima-4wd-buggy-kit-re-release/ http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=27143

Optima (1985)
The original Optima was launched in September 1985 at 21800¥, as a 4WD buggy with a chain drive system and a modern suspension layout. It was a replacement of the revolutionary but problematic Progress, whose complexity caused maintenance and durability issues. As previous models suffered from limited sales distribution and sucesses, the Optima broke new ground as it was sucessful in sales and racing in which it was credited for popularizing electric 4WD racing buggies, encouraging racers to reconsider their decision to drive 2WD cars that dominated racing since off-road racing began. Also, it became Kyosho's most sucessful line of cars. As its superior transmission and solid construction guaranteed racing victories, it was considered at the time to be an early benchmarks for a true competition 4WD grade buggy.

Its solid chassis construction enabled the suspension system to work at all its maximum potential. The camber and steering links were entirely threaded to allow for infinite fine tuning of most critical areas of the suspension. Like a majority of R/C cars, the Optima came with a Mabuchi 540 motor, also it came with plastic and metal bushings which were ball raced. The suspension components was commonly the first upgrade by racers.

Its sucess led Kyosho to sell a number of upgrade parts from its racing division line, Option House. Despite the complexitity of the kit, its instruction manual made it possible for a novice drivers to build, maintain and race Optimas.

Its biggest criticism was the problematic chain drive, although used on several buggies, it was the first fully enclosed system. The problem arose when the chain stretches and bends the links through wear and teat, it would hurt the smooth operation of the drive train. The chain was accessable by a small window on the top radio tray. This problem was solved when the Option House belt drive system was introduced, making the Optima quieter and more fun to race.

The Optima was vulnerable to front-end damage during a crash. As the bumper was connected to the same plate that was used to keep tension on the drive chain, once smashed into a solid object, the bumper pushed the entire front-end back, causing a slack on the chain, therefore jamming it.

The other major weakness was the steering servo configuration, which plague the entire Optima series. As the servo was mounted inside the box frame chassis on its side fastened by a piece of double sided tape. Through usage, the tape would allow the servo to swivel affesting the handling. This wass resolved by use of Zip ties and frequent changes to the tape.

Javelin (1986)
Javelin (ジャベリン)

uses a pipe frame. Some parts, including the damper stay, became optional parts

Optima Gold (1986)
Optima Gold (ゴールドオプテイマ), also known the "Gold Celebration Edition", was built to celebrate the sale of 100,000 Optima kits.

The car and pakaging is similar to the standard Optima with a number of changes. As the name states, it was released with a series of gold plated anodic coating chassis components and came packaged in a special gold coloured box. The wheels were chromed that can later be found on the Turbo Optima.

However, in order to keep costs down, not every gold parts available from Kyosho's Option House parts catalogue are included, just the basic chassis components. Bearings was alvailable separately.

Today, as with 10,000 produced, this is the rarest and most sought after Kyosho kits, although it can be replicated by purchasing the Option House "celebration" chassis set and self-constructing parts.

Turbo Optima (1986)
The Turbo Optima (ターボオプティマ), released in June 1986, was introduced to answer the need for a full-on competition buggy that can be raced straight from the box. It was sold as a level up from the standard Optima and Javelin that was still in production.

Clearly, the main improvment made to the original was the redesigned lexan body, although missing was the driver doll.

Mechanically, the Turbo Optima benefitted from a huge number of improvments on its strengthened chassis, these were a front and rear sway bars, relocated heat sink, fully ball raced bearing set, aluminum full length skid plate, larger tires, as well to accomodate it, a larger eight whole two piece rims and a modified Le Mans 240S motor. Most notable of these changes was a set of larger gold shock absorbers with a better seal and collar design that was superior to all others offered at the time. The shocks are manufactured today by the American Duratrax company without any changes made to the original.

Despite these changes, it still suffered from setbacks from its precessor, one of these was the problematic chain drive system, which was left unchanged. Also it was heavier than its precessor.

Most of all, it was the first buggy designed to run on 7 cells (8.4v) batteries. At the time, there was a need from the American racing scene to encourage off-road races run for four minutes using 7 cells. It was proven to be controversial and was scrapped international events.

Optima Pro (1986)
Optima Pro (オプティマ プロ) wass launched on July 1986 the last Optima to use a chain drive system. Uses an amp (ESC)

Salute (1986)
Salute (サリュート) October 1986 a Turbo Optima with a different frame. The motor was sold separately, resulting in a cheaper overall cost)

Optima Mid (1987)
Optima Mid (オプティマミッド) all of the Optima models below are belt drive models. The location of the motor was changed from the rear overhang to an RMR layout. The frame was made of duralumin and fibre-reinforced plastic

Turbo Optima Mid (1987)
Turbo Optima Mid (ターボ オプティマ ミッド) the upper echelon of the Optima Mid series. Sold with several optional parts

Kyoshos first belt drive - mid motor 4WD

Turbo Optima Mid Special (1988)
Turbo Optima Mid Special (ターボオプティマミッドスペシャル)

the wheelbase of the Optima Mid was extended, and was sold with a carbon fiber frame. Only a maximum of two were shipped per store, as it was a limited model

Optima Mid Custom (1989)
Optima Mid Custom (オプティマミッドカスタム) a low priced version of the Turbo Optima Mid special. The frame is made of duralmin

Optima Mid Custom Special (1989)
Optima Mid Custom Special (オプティマミッドカスタムスペシャル) similar to the Turbo Optima Mid special, but the frame is also made of duralmin, and the body is a "bullet type"