Optima Mid Custom Special full chassis build

In this video we build an Optima Mid Custom Special chassis from nib.

[@Chunky246]

Great video as always. Really appreciate you actually break the blister packs open and actually build the car. Such a refreshing change - these things should be built.

[@rcicons4915]

I agree although I also have kits that will stay kits. If I only have one, rule of thumb is it gets built.

[@bullmangotti]

I came back and watched for the history of car and the 6 different variants. Awesome stuff, I've never seen a kyosho in person due to my hillbilly location

[@rcicons4915]

I get that! Had to import one from Japan to see them in person.

[@bullmangotti]

Keith, awesome thanks for sharing. I'm living through your videos buddy!

[@robcraighill6315]

The Kyosho build quality looks awesome, thanks for sharing Keith 🙂👍

[@rcicons4915]

It was awesome. Great quality.

[@Geo_art_RC]

Thanks Keith, I have no experience with Kyosho so it's great to see this getting built. Hard to believe it's from 1989! Quality!

[@rcicons4915]

Thanks George. Awesome kit!

[@Bormac073]

Back in the 80's when the Mids were released the aerodynamic body of this model really appealed to me. With the Procat, the 870c and this mid with its cockpit designs these cars looked super fast out on the track. Thanks for sharing your build of this icon Keith

[@rcicons4915]

Great insight. Thanks Jason.

[@RCACTIONAUSTRALIA]

Lovely looking Chassis & Build. 🤩

[@rcicons4915]

Thank you Adam

[@koenallard]

Great build, Keith. 👍 TIP: If you have google translate on your phone, you can use the camera to reconize text and translate it. Set it on 'Japanese to english'. Point the camera to the Japanese text and you get the english translation on your phone. I even tried it on a still image from this video on my computerscreen when you hold up the manual and show us a page with step 5 on it and it shows me '5 attaching the rear damper stay' 😃 And BTW.... thanks for the TIP on that E-clips tool. I bought it after you previous mentioned it and it's truly a lifesaver (no more near heart-attacks 🤣) I paid 22 dollar/euro now on Amazon.

[@rcicons4915]

Thanks for the tip. Yes, that tool is a must have.

[@ulysses2010]

Great presentation! I built one in 1989,😁. It was an absolute beast on the race track, easier and faster to drive then the Optima Mid.

[@craiglloyd8123]

Ooosh! Holy grail nib right there! What a joy to watch it being built! Thank you 😊

[@rcicons4915]

No problem, I loved the whole process.

[@tbrowning9643]

Another awesome car! Always enjoy your videos.

[@rcicons4915]

Thank you

[@leehurst6922]

I think the yellow belt pulley is just a belt guide. The rear drive is driven by the gears and the front diff is driven by the belt around the rear diff

[@rcicons4915]

Thanks, someone was saying the same thing. I wasn’t really thinking about it like that.

[@LUQWONG]

Definitely a beautiful chassis, no reenactment here, actually making history!

[@rcicons4915]

I agree, the chassis is spectacular.

[@keenlyside283]

Your videos are just getting better and better really rapidly! Well done and thank you so much.

[@rcicons4915]

No worries. Thank you

[@RCLegends2022]

Cracking build my friend 🤩 Can’t wait to see it finished 😎👊🏻

[@rcicons4915]

Thanks buddy.

[@buildrestorecustomise2060]

Absolutely superb video and build. Really looking forward to part 2👍

[@rcicons4915]

Thank you

[@Johnwick-ed7vo]

You know technology has come a long way since the 80s , I know some manuals still come in a non English form, but there is a way to translate this stuff now, it takes more time, but you can understand stand the words with the pictures, and all you need is a smart phone, or, tablet, or computer, just hit up Google translate up and let it do it's thing, it is not perfect, but works, and I'm sure you know, this is only being put up in comments for those that are as slow as I am lol took a few heaches before I figured it out, so to all those that love to build full kits still, and only know English this tip is for you. It's also so interesting to see how much older racing technology is used in modern basher vehicles, blows me away how much things have changed yet still very much the same, when you were talking about e clips and how difficult it could be back in the day if you didn't have gumption to build ur own tools, e clips were around when I was helping my dad and grandpa with building their rc's lol old technology. But long story short, they had become outdated by newer parts and ways to hold things together and for decades e clips seemed to disappear, pretty much from New kits, but now Arrma are actually bringing them back as a way to lock gears down so you don't loose them when the grub screw gives way and comes loose, I think they call them another name safety d clip or something but it is pretty much an e clip goes on the same, can fly across the room the same, concept for it is the same, it is a direct descendant, if not actual e clip I don't own a arrma model that has these on it,, but working on getting one, agin some people out there are like what is this guy going on about, well I'm 50 and I came into the hobby when it was not popular, very expensive and there were more built from scratch models than build your own kit, yeah sound the same but very different, you design it, source and manufacture your own parts, then build it and work the kinks out, lots of plane and boat kits, but not alot of truck and car kits, so I have a bit of history and there are those that have more than me, so I have seen quite a bit come and go, and when you see what was said to be old and inferior parts and technology start to come back into main stream rc you really got to smile and go wow the hobby really is coming full circle for the few chapters that you are a part of it, it's just so cool.

[@rcicons4915]

It is so true. I have a ton of modern bashers and crawlers. Db02 was a shaft driven 4wd flop. Needed to be shimmed. The xmaxx, Kraton, and most models now are the exact same thing just shimmed and refined.

[@Johnwick-ed7vo]

@@rcicons4915 true

[@KoenigSpecials]

I always been a Tamiya guy but the quality of these Kyosho cars is making me want one! (or 2,or 3)

[@rcicons4915]

I am a Tamiya guy as well but there are so many great manufacturers from back in the day.

[@wadeskelton7585]

You did a hell of a job on this one Keith I’ve never cared much for the body on this one but the way Gavin had his done changed my mind - it can be very special looking to be sure! Can’t wait to see you line up all the mids in a future video 😃

[@rcicons4915]

Thanks Wade. Going to do a separate video on all the kids together. The body video is as long as the chassis and it would have gone way to long.

[@andrewm8506]

Much appreciated video, I liked the commentary as you build it as well. The box art is great on this, I’m looking forward to seeing the finished car.

[@rcicons4915]

If you look on my community page you will see a pic.

[@feipooh5690]

Awesome video! I am glad that you are still paying attention to this car! It looks like you bought an earlier version of the kit which came with an alloy chassis just like the optima mid custom. The custom special I got when it came out has a FRP chassis.

[@rcicons4915]

I am glad I got the alloy. It is gorgeous.

[@wadeskelton7585]

I think I got the FRP as well, I was wondering about this 👍

[@CalsRcworld]

What an awesome kit! I could watch Kyosho’s being built all day long. Love it! 👌🏼

[@rcicons4915]

Same here!

[@FullOnRC]

Awesome Keith. Love the Kyosho Kits after building a Optima Mid and Ultima. Looking forward to seeing it run.

[@rcicons4915]

Me too. I have never run a Mid before.

[@martinhsrc6699]

Great detailed build 👍

[@rcicons4915]

Thanks Martin.

[@peterrenaud9639]

It feels like I built a car this morning 😜 Thanks for the great video 👍

[@rcicons4915]

No problem. Enjoyed every minute of the build.

[@MrMelton77]

Awesome build Keith. Google translate is always handy on instructions 😄

[@rcicons4915]

I will have to try it. Thank you

[@shawnh1890]

Beautiful... The c clip tool tip just saved me on my TA08 pro build... Thanks man!

[@rcicons4915]

Awesome. Great chassis to.

[@chrisgraf1304]

Beautiful buggy Keith. I am very much considering this kit. Looks awesome! Thanks as always for sharing

[@SimonHP]

Really interesting video, thanks for putting this one on your channel. I'm on the hunt to add a NIB custom special to my collection and I was interested what sort of price i should expect to pay? TIA

[@philipgreensmith1694]

Beautiful buggy 👍excellent video, thank you 👌

[@rcicons4915]

Thank you

[@urmilpatel1721]

My guess why the tolerances on bearings for the wheels hubs are large; if I'm thinking it through: Cast alloy hubs, steel/stainless steel bearings; on a car that is meant to be competitive racer (in its era). The metals have different rate of expansion under load with resistance. I'm guessing if stainless expands on a tight tolerance cast alloy hub, there'd be a whole lot of seized bearing and/or cracked hubs. Rear bearings and carriers can have a tight tolerance because the plastic carrier/hub will give. Just a guess.

[@rcicons4915]

A answer that makes sense. Thank you.

[@mrforeman7443]

Really enjoying your videos Keith, although I'm all about tamiya you make non tamiya interesting too . Hard to believe your channel is so new.

[@rcicons4915]

Thank you. Glad you are enjoying it.

[@bigpaulrc3531]

Hi Keith from Yorkshire England I ran optima mid back in the day I wish I still had it 😢😢😢

[@philmoffett366]

Excellent video again 👍 I've only ever seen those when they've been raced within an inch of their lives and looking sorry for themselves so I'm looking forward to seeing a new boxart one!

[@rcicons4915]

Appreciate you watching. If you look on my community tab you will see the finished product. Part 2 is coming soon.

[@mad-beerc3818]

That's a very classy bit of kit Keith

[@rcicons4915]

Thank you. It was an awesome build.

[@mjrcrawler]

My 15yr old self has a huge smile 👍 this is the G.O.A.T buggy to me great job

[@rcicons4915]

Awesome, glad you liked it.

[@pydpipper]

Had the same problems with the bearings on the rere mid. Got told by kyosho that's normal

[@rcicons4915]

Doesn’t seem right.

[@Aro800]

Awesome video mate. Didn't rate it before I watched your video. Growing on me.

[@richardlingham9400]

Great video as always, if you are concerned with scratches from your table you can always use lining paper. Not sure if you have it in the states but it’s basically unfinished wall paper. It’s available in different weights and the great thing is grease oil dirt no problem as when dirty throw it out cut another piece. Brown paper isn’t as good as is to thin. Anyway you make great content and can’t wait to see it finished 👍

[@rcicons4915]

Thanks for the tip. The table top is white pvc so easy to clean. I just worry about dirt or debris from the build process. If you want to see a pic of the finished car there is one on my community page.

[@richardlingham9400]

@@rcicons4915 looks fantastic 👍

[@rcicons4915]

@@richardlingham9400 thank you

[@michaelfrancis865]

Gday Keith nice build. I have one of me missus old thin yoga mats on my table to protect the car parts when building them.

[@rcicons4915]

@@michaelfrancis865 awesome. Thank you. My wife puts up with a lot already as far as Rc goes. If I take her yoga Matt, it might put her over the edge.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Another great video. I alway said tam ai uh wasn’t til I got back into it and watching KZbin that I said tam ee uh

[@rcicons4915]

I know right!

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

@@rcicons4915 and then there’s the 3rd pronunciation which I can’t phonetically write but there’s more accent on the tam . The Kiwi pronunciation lol

[@mrforeman7443]

Iowa ,that's exactly how we say tamiya, tam-ee-uh in London/England, I've never mastered kyosho though 😅

[@rcicons4915]

@@mrforeman7443 lol

[@chriswatson9519]

Great build video Keith I cringe every time you open up the old stuff 🤣🤣

[@rcicons4915]

So do I, lol

[@therealavolpe]

I built this with my grandad Christmas day 1990 ☺️

[@kenblockx2010]

On tamiyaclub you can see many optima mid custom special's and different colors

[@rcicons4915]

I nailed it in the end but took a while to get it right.

[@michaelblair4744]

I hope Kyosho do a rere LWB mid. Great build video Keith but yeah don't you hate it when you run out of storage space on your camera/phone!

[@rcicons4915]

Pain in the a&#! Took almost 3 hours. Lol

[@lrmbvv]

was wondering if the reproduction body from Marwan, would fit on the Optima Mid re-release ? would save me about 3 thousand sheckles, understand your rare vs, actual rare position on re-issue, those yellow wheels look nice, because they are rare

[@eltomasoable]

Its very similar to the mid, I have the rere and its got much of the same stuff design wise. But also different. Id like to see a toms build, hint hint=)

[@rcicons4915]

My Tom’s is already built. I bought my Tom’s as a new build never run.

[@garywilson3582]

The one car I've been looking for to finish my collection...would you take a procat as a swap?

[@rcicons4915]

Unfortunately not. It would leave a hole in my mid family. One will find you some day though.

[@garywilson3582]

@@rcicons4915 like you say all.stupendous amounts of money....bring on rere

[@rcicons4915]

@@garywilson3582 I agree, first these cars are way overpriced. Second, a long wheelbase rere would be epic!

[@amc_sounds]

Absolutely beautiful 👌 Kyoshos take the best of Tamiya and add a little magic to elevate them that bit more. Really looking forward to seeing the final build.

[@rcicons4915]

Thanks you. I totally agree.

[@traxxasfans]

You could try Google translate on your phone

[@rcicons4915]

I will have to try it. Thank you

[@kenblockx2010]

weird that it has an alunimium chassis, the mid custom has the aluminium chassis and the custom mid "special" should have a carbon chassis and not aluminium.....

[@rcicons4915]

Apparently the Early custom specials came in alloy. I have seen other kits come in the alloy as well as well as frp. Haven’t seen it in carbon though. Wouldn’t be surprised if it did though. Kyosho did a lot of different variants of their cars.

[@davidchapman5694]

The mid custom and the mid custom special had a mix of chassis types depending on which production run they were from. My current mid custom has the FRP and my custom special has the alloy. Back in the day my mid custom had an alloy. The only mid with an carbon chassis was the TOMS or a LWB conversion kit car. The belt idle pulley on the upper shaft is just an idler drive for the belt comes from the diff case.

[@rcicons4915]

@@davidchapman5694 awesome info. Thank you