Kyosho Heaven… Optima Pro and Optima Mid

[@FastToysClub]

I used to compete back in the days with an Optima Pro and I loved it. But it got surpassed quickly by the Optima Mid which was winning most of the races. And when the Optima Mid didn’t win, it was the Schumacher Cat that took the laurels. Amazing souvenirs from that era.

[@mlugin8050]

The optima mid is the most beautiful rc car for me. Never had it. The infernos are nice too. But the optima mid is perfection

[@lawrencejones553]

Hearing your reaction to seeing them side by side just made me smile. I think we all do that don't we?!

[@RCLegends2022]

I honestly think we all do this my friend 🤣👊🏻

[@JDMJDK]

For me back in the day as a kid the exotic unobtainium vehicles were the Yokomo and Schumacher racers. The technical level and presence of the Kyosho vehicles always left an impression though.

[@RCLegends2022]

Hey thanks for watching my friend 😊👊🏻

[@maxgozzard5024]

The toss up between watching/enjoying these vids whilst chilling at home vs knowing im now going be skint for another 3 months after having to buy my first kyosho to see what all the fuss is about...

[@RCLegends2022]

Haha I don’t think you’ll be disappointed Max 😅👊🏻

[@johnmalone8790]

That Optima Pro is one good looking car... Fantastic video fella 👍

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks John 🤩👊🏻

[@jipbutler1157]

“Glenn is nerding out right now”…..so is Ron watching this 🥰 Another set of beautiful cars dude….keep em coming 👍🏻🥰

[@RCLegends2022]

Haha thank you 😊

[@agevan6735]

I had Turbo Optima, so many happy memories, cheers Glenn for all you do!

[@RCLegends2022]

Thank you for watching my friend 😊👊🏻

[@lionelplunkett9428]

G'day Glenn real race cars battle scars and all but clean as brand new. That is why I like your channel you look after your stuff and it always looks clean after its been used not put away dirty and broken good on you mate. 👍

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks Lionel 😊

[@doyouflytoo]

Glenn, Those two are amazing. Seeing what you were able to turn this into is a perfect tribute to these vintage cars. I just finished re watching these cars on your other channel and it was perfect to bring them together here. Your work helps me love these vintage cars even more. I would love to have some of these original but I'm grateful that some rere's are can get us close.

[@RCLegends2022]

Fantastic thanks for the great comment my friend 🤩👊🏻

[@tbrowning9643]

2 great buggies, enjoyed the video once again!

[@RCLegends2022]

Thank you 😊

[@jasont2074]

That optima pro is timeless

[@RCLegends2022]

Totally agree 😊😊😊

[@wadebeaumont7570]

Love the look of the pro being wingless and those wheels are lovely. Very nice.

[@RCLegends2022]

Cheers Wade 😊

[@MikeNineteen76]

Loved the Optima Pro! It was my first proper racer after a Grasshopper and Thundershot. I ran it with a Technigold, at local club racing. Best undertray ever. Keep the videos coming. Super stuff. Cheers

[@richardenglund3075]

Wow! two mean looking icons...looks so mutch better than many of the new models of today. LOVE the gold chocks on the mid!

[@RCLegends2022]

Fantastic thanks for watching Richard 😊👊🏻

[@myisu827]

Beautiful rigs my friend.. I am very envious. The original Kyosho Optima was my first rc ever. I have built most of my rigs since. Last Kyosho was the Turbo Optima Mid SE.

[@rickcorlett]

Things of absolute beauty and a genuinely passionate enthusiast. Great video.

[@christopherbutler3615]

LOVIN IT MY FRIEND! greetz from Bavaria Germany.

[@RCLegends2022]

Thank you 😊 and hello from Ontario Canada my friend 👋🏻

[@christopherbutler3615]

@@RCLegends2022 i was in Medicine Hat with the Army as a Soldier.. long time ago... loved Canada though....

[@rcicons4915]

Absolutely awesome to see them together! They are stunning.

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks buddy 😊😊😊

[@doyouflytoo]

Thanks Keith for helping this happen. Your donations have been outstanding. Seeing what Glenn has turned this optima pro into is amazing!

[@kyleteal5888]

I bought a mix of vintage rc cars about 10 years ago. And lately I've been getting back into rc because of my kids and I didn't even know I had a Kyosho Triumph and a Tamyia Monster Racer in that set.

[@RCLegends2022]

Oh wow that’s awesome Kyle 🤩👊🏻

[@darkstorm303]

Great video stunning buggies Glenn... Tint the windows don't black them out 😎😜👌🔥🔥🔥

[@RCLegends2022]

Yeah tint would be much better, thanks for the feedback my friend 🤩👊🏻

[@keithrx3c]

Two legendary Kyosho's right there. Yes the Pro was the only Optima to have that upper deck and change the position of the steering servo.

[@RCLegends2022]

Excellent thanks Keith 😊👊🏻

[@keithrx3c]

@@RCLegends2022 No probs mate. :P

[@garywilson3582]

Both cars really pop under the lighting your using....The Mid looks amazing and was my favourite from back in the day....Could you compare mid to cat so we can see similarities Plllllleeeaaas

[@Beastnappy]

Loving the content Glenn💪👊

[@RCLegends2022]

Thank you 😊

[@stevebroughton4787]

I raced a Mid4 SWB at my club from 89 to 91....... On the straights, CAT'S and Yoke's were usually quicker, but in the twisty bits, nothing came close as the LWB cars had slow for the bends....or understeer off......yet the Mid4 loved it and sailed through.

[@RCLegends2022]

Excellent thanks for sharing this with us Steve 🤩👊🏻

[@paulphillips442]

Loved the mid moved from racing a super sabre onto a turbo Optima mid, what a fantastic buggy in both wheel bases. I use to switch between wheel bases depending on track layout, I could strip clean and rebuild one with my eyes closed 🤣🤣

[@RCLegends2022]

Haha that’s Awesome 😎

[@rcl300018]

Optima mid looks sexy! Was contemplating getting but ended up letting it go until seeing it now on your vid, resparked my interest.

[@RCLegends2022]

Yeah I’m actually the same, I thought because I had this one that was enough. But I really fancy the re re as a runner 😅

[@onkouth]

You always look back thinking about these cars and how much you loved flicking thru the Magazines as a kid and marvelling at the new designs and colourful shells. It was awesome being into these as a kid and they are just as beautiful and fascinating now as they were back then. They are so special in fact that i remember the Transport museum just outside my home city of Belfast, had around 10 off Tamiya's first 50 cars on display during the 80s, i always thought that was very cool 😎

[@RCLegends2022]

Great comment 😊

[@gazebo4037]

I ran an Optima Mid standard with the Le mans 240 for 3 years and never had anthing break or let go in that time, I won A finals against maily cats at a club in Oldham indoor and out it was absoloutely bullet proof. I moved over to the Lazer Zx and it just never felt as nippy and was a lot more trouble to have consistant runs with. Plus for me the mid along with the dog fighter is the best looking buggy out the box.

[@RCLegends2022]

Absolutely fantastic you got to race a Mid, very cool indeed my friend 🤩🤩🤩

[@nidzdotnet76]

I really want a Turbo Optima Mid SE. The yellow one was my fav and was in all my 80's RC magazines.

[@RCLegends2022]

Oh yeah the SE is 😍👊🏻

[@justbobagian]

Absolutely lovely

[@RCLegends2022]

Thank you 😊

[@barrycheesemore2928]

They are both exceptionally cool looking buggies mate, absolutely awesome!!

[@RCLegends2022]

Totally agree my friend 🤩👊🏻

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Both dream machines from my childhood reading RC car action 😁 great video Glenn.

[@RCLegends2022]

Thank you 😊

[@charlesb7831]

I use to race the original Optima mid se for years o the track, absolutely loved it and regretted selling it. I sold it to change to the Kyosho Lazer ZXR. I used to race my buddy had a Tamiya Avanti and it doesn't hold a candle to the Optima mid. I never broke much with mine. I just bought the rereleased version and bought the 240 Gold brushless motor, can't wait to get it built and running. Just trying to track down the upgrades for it so I can just install them in the initial build.

[@neiltowsey]

Love it Glenn! Back in the day a friend gave me his beat-up Optima Pro, which needed a bit of work to get it back on the road, but at that time I didn't have the money or the patience, being a teenager, and nothing ever came of it. I don't even remember what became of that car. Something I regretted years later... I reckon maybe it's time to invest in the re-re Mid... ;)

[@RCLegends2022]

Oh yeah I’d love the re re Mid to have as a runner 🤩👊🏻

[@DeliriumElectric]

Totally agree the Optima is one of the few cars that look killer without a wing. The other one that comes to mind is the Bear Hawk.

[@RCLegends2022]

Yeah great shout on the BearHawk 🤩👊🏻

[@MikeyB_1972]

So cool!!! I always loved the Kyoshos. They look so sinister with blackened windows. Don’t tell my Tamiya cars!!

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks Mike 😎👊🏻

[@michaelandrew4488]

Nice one - yes, more like this video please. 😀

[@RCLegends2022]

Excellent thank you Michael 😊👊🏻

[@waitthatsgoingtocostyouext5450]

Loving the blue and white on that car. Great video as always and its great to see your subs going up and up!!!👍👍

[@RCLegends2022]

Thank you 😊

[@nathanwilson588]

Great cars!!!! Good too see the Kyosho luv!! 👍

[@RCLegends2022]

Oh yeah I’ve always been a big fan of there’s but now I’ve actually built a couple that’s doubled 🤩

[@chrisclark239]

Back in the late 80s when I use to race. I would beat the Optima Mid weekly. I used a Thundershot as well. My setup was a Technigold with a 15 tooth pinion gear and a 8.4v battery. I had a foam dirt cover on my motor and guys would always try to come over and sneak a peak or ask what my setup was. I would never tell them.

[@RCLegends2022]

Haha that’s awesome Chris 🤩👊🏻

[@AtTonisGarage]

Very nice RC...and an amazing background 👍👍

[@michaelblair4744]

Glenn, great video as always. I raced a TOMSE back in the day in Australia. I had turnbuckles and shocks from a Turbo and a LWB conversion. It held its own against Yokomo Super Dogfighters (YZ10s) and Schumacher Procats when I raced it for a couple of years. I was able to stay in the top 3 in the point score in my class which used to run an A, B and C final. So it certainly performed for me and wasn't overhyped in my opinion. I went to a Yokomo after that and did not have the same success.

[@tamiyafrog3220]

They are both great.😃👌👌

[@RCLegends2022]

Thank you 😊

[@ralphhowing3473]

When I was in my 20's I wanted an optima but it was way over priced so I went tamiya the tamiya Fox to be precise it was awesome, then I got the Hot Shot DAMN what a difference, that baby floated across sand and grass it was fun, I was a 20yr old child!!!

[@martinhsrc6699]

Yes I like the comparison videos 👍👍

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks Martin 😎👊🏻

[@martinhsrc6699]

@@RCLegends2022 would like to see Avante v Optima v intruder etc comparison videos. Just had a thought, you don’t have a Yokomo Dogfighter, a guy who drove one of those was my nemesis back in my club racing days with my Egress

[@amphilbey]

Love the video Glenn, great looking cars. I raced RC 1984 to about 1990 and don't remember the Optima Mid being overrated. Broadly remember a lot of Tamiya, Mardave at the start, then cars like the RC10, Schumacher Cat and Optima (chain first then the Mid) being the cars to have to be competitive in outdoor racing with the British weather, 4wd from Hotshot onwards though RC10 were quick. Plus PB Mini-Mustang, love to see a video on that if you could track one down. More of these videos please 👊

[@RCLegends2022]

Excellent thanks for watching and leaving a comment buddy 😊👊🏻

[@leehurst6922]

Glenn the pro top deck moved the battery position forward which differentiated it from the standard and turbo optimas

[@RCLegends2022]

Fantastic great information as always Lee 🤩👊🏻

[@wayneyates700]

two absolutely gorgeous RC's there Glenn👍👍, don't know which looks the nicest tho as both are sweet, looking forward to seeing em run👍 hopefully your 3s battery works this time 😱😁👍👍

[@RCLegends2022]

2s 🤣🤣🤣

[@andrewmagro7703]

Now There Two Beauties ,and done real Nice too , Yeahhh get it Running why not it deserves it :-)

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks Andrew 🤩👊🏻

[@mad-beerc3818]

Two absolutely stunning buggies l am nurding out too now Glenn! Beautiful buggies. Just to add some info about me on Kyosho, my favourite Kyosho 4wd top 3 buggies and not surprising at No1 the original Optima in boxart of course what a gorgeous thing that is! but the other two a little more surprising l really like the look of the Rocky and Salute! Not that l don't love the rest of the Kyosho line up lol...might have to add the Mid into that top 3 too thinking about it that's a cracker too!😉👍 Great vid Glenn and yeah like the pair up idea👊😎

[@RCLegends2022]

Absolutely love the Rocky and Salute 🤩🤩🤩 I’ll 100% add them to the collection in the years to come 😅 But that Salute body has to be done by a professional painter, it has so much going on with it lol 😂

[@mad-beerc3818]

@@RCLegends2022 yeah definitely one l would not like to try but sure would love one! Cheers buddy.🤩👍

[@alphawlff]

Beautiful buggies. You should black the windows then leave it on the shelf. You have the rere Turbo and Javelin to run when you want to run that chassis.

[@RCLegends2022]

Yeah totally agree my friend and my Javelin handles so well 🤩

[@wadeskelton7585]

2 extremely kick ass cars you got here Glenn!!!! The pro has what is without a doubt my favorite body set on the optima and probably the mids as well. I know a steering servo doesn’t weigh much but the pro overall seems like it had to be majorly butt heavy with all electrics at or behind center - it would be cool to see it run but I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t 😄 More more more!!!!! 🤩

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks Wade 😊 I actually didn’t know how well that Optima chassis ran until I had the Javelin out for a spin 😎👊🏻

[@MrShiva199]

I think the Tamiya Terra Scorcher also looks very nice without spoiler. Well I don’t like most spoilers ;)

[@RCLegends2022]

Hmmm interesting I don’t think I’ve seen one without the wing 🤔

[@rumpelstiltskin6252]

kyosho always were well made had an Ultima DB years ago ,it was tuff as made to last, but finding parts was very hard to find, same with scorpion they new how to make them look good,

[@rc-fannl7364]

I'd leave the windows clear, it just adds a touch of realism imho. Or you could use that window darkening foil, which they use on real cars, so you can easily go back to the clear look at any time.

[@RCLegends2022]

Fantastic thanks for your feedback my friend 😊👊🏻

[@amc_sounds]

Beautiful stuff. I do wonder if the Mids German/Belgian livery is a cheeky nod to Schumacher's livery of the same era.

[@RCLegends2022]

Haha it could well be 😎👊🏻

[@cgrant26]

If you've run a Javelin, Optima or Turbo Optima, you've already run this one too. And in addition to the electronics, you'd have to do something with the shocks too. For the nice condition it's in, better to let it be a shelf queen.

[@cliffordrichardc]

legend

[@martinhsrc6699]

Really really want to see the mid running 👍

[@RCLegends2022]

Yeah hopefully one day I’ll get it out 😎🚗💨💨💨

[@enricodc8329]

Seen the new Schumacher Cougar classic?

[@RCLegends2022]

Yeah looks very nice my friend 🤩👊🏻

[@KaiCityRC]

Great video as always. 👍 I really do hope Kyosho eventually re-release the Optima Pro, just because it is such a good looking buggy. 😎

[@RCLegends2022]

Oh yeah totally agree, I think the Pro is pretty special in the looks department 🤩🤩🤩

[@cgrant26]

The electronics plate on all the other Optimas/Javelins was graphite on the original cars. I have the Turbo Optima rere and the plate looks like graphite on that one too. I think the pro is the only one that had that plastic plate.

[@mattluszczak8095]

Hi folkes! First comment again!!!! Toot toot

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks Matt 😊😊😊

[@johnanders8221]

Love it😎😎👍

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks John 😎👊🏻

[@siswadisupandji1315]

I own that one 30 years ago...

[@philmoffett366]

Excellent video Glenn! Are ordering those tyres reliable for you? At the moment ordering from the UK is a bit (not a bit a total) pain in the arse (welcome to Brexit🤨) so I'm a bit hesitant🙄

[@RCLegends2022]

Yeah I’ve not had an issue yet my friend 😅

[@plops5271]

I think you should paint the windows with a color changing paint so when you run it the windows will change =)

[@RCLegends2022]

Oh cool idea 😅

[@jabone3431]

i had the optima mid. sadly someone stole it from me. i got it a a hobby trade show in puyallup, washington. the same color scheme as yours

[@seanvillage]

Do the Marui cars NEXT!!!!

[@RCLegends2022]

Haha I think the Tomy’s are the next one 😅

[@alfredyost7972]

I had an original Optima Mid. I sold it and have always regretted doing that. However, Kyosho has now re-released this car again. I am trying to get one, but can not seem to get one. I can get parts for the car but can not get the car. Maybe I will be able to get the second batch of cars, I hope. Thoughts?

[@RCLegends2022]

Yeah I do hope there going to make enough of them to satisfy the demand 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@alfredyost7972]

@@RCLegends2022 You know what is funny? I have been buying parts very easily. However, I just can not get a car. Thoughts?

[@bradkalman2353]

I hope you get some nikkotech vehicles that are their hobby grades.

[@kashmurray1199]

I would call them sister buggies. Curious to know why the Optima mid doesn't handle well on track. both look outstanding.

[@RCLegends2022]

Thanks Kash 😎👊🏻

[@rc-fannl7364]

Probably has something to do with the kind of track. I can imagine both cars being a little unsteady on a really bumpy track, where a longer wheelbase might work better. And a shaft driven car might be easier to take apart for maintenenance in between race heats. Or perhaps it's just an urban myth.

[@christopherbutler3615]

omg.. Glen this is getting risky, you are almost bringing me to put in my first order for a rere Kyosho... which one would you suggest? i like the Beetle from pure looks. would love to hear your opinion. greetz from Bavaria Germany.

[@RCLegends2022]

Oh my that’s a tough question my friend 🤷🏼‍♂️ I guess you said the Beetle so why not 😊😊😊

[@mattpowe]

Can now tie these two together (ever further) with the forthcoming Optima Mid 87 worlds replica

[@garywilson3582]

Correct me if I'm wrong but did they do a mid with silver shocks then an upgraded version that came with the gold shocks?🤔

[@MrSneakyGunz]

4:20 R/C Car Action?? I think that was it.

[@19Marc79]

11:10 => Anyone who does not cross the threshold to the NERD-ZONE at that sight, is definitely not a real RC nerd ;_)

[@RCLegends2022]

Haha love it 🤩👊🏻

[@jimbosrcs3011]

This is rc porn Glenn. Beautiful cars

[@RCLegends2022]

Haha thanks buddy 🤣👊🏻

[@SleeplessInDallas]

great video, but how do Brits pronounce Tokyo? that kyo part is pronounced the same as in KYOsho, it comes from Japanese/Chinese character 京, but don't mind me, I'm just an American, carry on.

[@bradleyburge3794]

pure auto porn ,love it

[@RCLegends2022]

Haha thank you my friend 🤩👊🏻

[@bradkalman2353]

You need to get the new MID and run that in a sentence.lol

[@RCLegends2022]

All sold out already 🙊👊🏻

[@bradkalman2353]

@@RCLegends2022 get one from Keith. Lol