HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
#701
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
I want late March to come sooner than later! ha ha ha I'm gonna put in my order from Tower for my 'Shot, but their site says late March for availability. I already have the bearings, RC Channel metal suspension kit, You-G aluminum wing, Super Stock BZ 23t motor, TEU-302BK esc, and a Futaba 9252 servo (overkill, I know). I even have the color scheme in my head as well, classic racing Lotus style of British racing green with yellow center stripe. I want it now!!!
#702
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Here's a few more old school upgrades to add to my original Tamiya Hot Shot build. I found these parts from a bag of stuff I bought from a LHS back in the late 90's marked as "clearance".
Original Tamiya 8.4 Volt Battery holder. Allows you to use a 7 cell "stick type" battery that was available for the 4-WD Tamiya BIG WIG. It also allows you instant access to your battery. No more fumbling around with those tiny clips to remove the battery from the bottom.
Original Tamiya 8.4 Volt Battery holder. Allows you to use a 7 cell "stick type" battery that was available for the 4-WD Tamiya BIG WIG. It also allows you instant access to your battery. No more fumbling around with those tiny clips to remove the battery from the bottom.
#703
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
The problem with the standard three point triangle plastic hub common on the Hotshot series 4-WD buggies is they crack simply from over tightening. Here's an old school solution from Parma, an aluminum hub designed for use with the standard plastic wheels and the aftermarket aluminum wheels by Hot Trick. These Aluminum drive hubs are machined to fine tolerances and are far more durable & reliable than stock. No more fumbling around with those tiny stainless pins to secure the hubs to the driveshaft. No more replacing lost pins from loose hubs. Another plus using this mod is the quick change of tires during race day at the track.
#704
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
I'm not quite sure if this old school mod will do anything to improve the performance of the Original release Hotshot. It sure does look good though. It's a variable "wing" designed by Trinity for the Tamiya Hotshot. It's made of "duraluminum" and has a variable wing adjustment to gain maximum downforce on the rear tires.
#705
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Harleysville, PA
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
ORIGINAL: gulfstreamI
Here's a Tamiya Hotshot Re-Release kit that's loaded with mods. This leaves me drooling! [X(]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-57eN-XtqBk[/youtube]
This is the same dude that made that modified Tamiya Grasshopper re-release into a serious work of art!
Here's a Tamiya Hotshot Re-Release kit that's loaded with mods. This leaves me drooling! [X(]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-57eN-XtqBk[/youtube]
This is the same dude that made that modified Tamiya Grasshopper re-release into a serious work of art!
Yeah that guys got some nice buggies. The independent suspension Grasshopper is insane
#707
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Well as soon as Tower gets them back in stock I'll have a Hotshot coming my way, but I wanted to know what your thoughts are on the Supershot underguard as an upgrade. I have several questions about it. How does it mount to the chassis? I have never seen one installed, so does anyone know if it completely covers the battery cover? (pictures?) And if so, would it require a swing-out 8.4V battery holder like Gulfstream has on his original shot? And finally, what about just makingsome sort ofundercarriage protection out of a sheet of lexan? Any and all thoughts/ideas, please! Thanks.
#708
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
ORIGINAL: DirtBug
Well as soon as Tower gets them back in stock I'll have a Hotshot coming my way, but I wanted to know what your thoughts are on the Supershot underguard as an upgrade. I have several questions about it. How does it mount to the chassis? I have never seen one installed, so does anyone know if it completely covers the battery cover? (pictures?) And if so, would it require a swing-out 8.4V battery holder like Gulfstream has on his original shot? And finally, what about just making some sort of undercarriage protection out of a sheet of lexan? Any and all thoughts/ideas, please! Thanks.
Well as soon as Tower gets them back in stock I'll have a Hotshot coming my way, but I wanted to know what your thoughts are on the Supershot underguard as an upgrade. I have several questions about it. How does it mount to the chassis? I have never seen one installed, so does anyone know if it completely covers the battery cover? (pictures?) And if so, would it require a swing-out 8.4V battery holder like Gulfstream has on his original shot? And finally, what about just making some sort of undercarriage protection out of a sheet of lexan? Any and all thoughts/ideas, please! Thanks.
If you look at the SuperShot, it was basically a Hotshot on steroids. It had full ball bearings, a slightly different Wing at the back, new stickers & paint scheme, Modified 540 class motor, Gold plated wheels were and spiked off road tires which were offered optional parts for the Hotshot. The handling and overall performance was the same on a fully modified Hotshot . The 8.4 volt Battery holder was standard on the Super shot and Hotshot II buggy. Using a piece of lexan sheet to protect the battery & undercarriage would be a good idea. [sm=thumbup.gif]
#709
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Original Hotshot from 1985. I rebuilt this classic 4WD buggy for the 2nd time a few years back. It has a few old school mods and has the Throp L.S.D. fitted in the rear tranny. I used hex hubs to mount wheels from the Tamiya Manta Ray buggy.
#710
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
I fitted this classic 4WD buggy with an early Parma dual shock conversion mount from the late 80's. This dual shock conversion gave Hotshot owners an alternative to the Supershot conversion being offered at that time. Side by side comparison between the two dual shock conversions. The Aluminum shocks are from the Asssociated RC 10.
#711
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
I also fitted this buggy's front suspension with "dust covers" for the ball pivots. The plastic parts & metal ball wear out very fast when exposed to all that dirt & grime.
I used rubber boots found on the Frog, Blackfoot, Monster Beetle drive shafts. When replacing those torn rubber boots on my MT's usually only one side is torn, so I reused the other side that's intact and cut it to size just enough to cover that exposed ball pivot on the Hotshot's front suspension. While these boots are not dirt/dust proof they are dirt/dust resistant and do extend the life of the Hotshot's front suspension components. The last pic shows the exposed ball pivot on my shelf queen Tamiya Hotshot Buggy.
I used rubber boots found on the Frog, Blackfoot, Monster Beetle drive shafts. When replacing those torn rubber boots on my MT's usually only one side is torn, so I reused the other side that's intact and cut it to size just enough to cover that exposed ball pivot on the Hotshot's front suspension. While these boots are not dirt/dust proof they are dirt/dust resistant and do extend the life of the Hotshot's front suspension components. The last pic shows the exposed ball pivot on my shelf queen Tamiya Hotshot Buggy.
#712
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Back in the day before the re-release of the HotShot the front suspension parts were difficult to replace as these were the first to be sold out at the LHS. These simpler driveshafts were then the next best thing to replace the "over engineered" half aluminum, half metal drive shafts the Tamiya engineers came up with.
Another part that was difficult to find back then was the front bearing/pivot housing. So the alternative for me was to use the Tamiya TA-02 part that was also moulded in red color. It is angled slightly as shown in the pic and is a copy of the Tamiya Boomerang which was moulded in Blue color.
Advantages of using the TA-02 steering hubs:
- Can be used with the long replacement drive shafts (Part # 5299)
- Alternate choice of wheels using hex drives.
Good thing Tamiya came out with the re-release version. Now replacement parts are easy to find!
Another part that was difficult to find back then was the front bearing/pivot housing. So the alternative for me was to use the Tamiya TA-02 part that was also moulded in red color. It is angled slightly as shown in the pic and is a copy of the Tamiya Boomerang which was moulded in Blue color.
Advantages of using the TA-02 steering hubs:
- Can be used with the long replacement drive shafts (Part # 5299)
- Alternate choice of wheels using hex drives.
Good thing Tamiya came out with the re-release version. Now replacement parts are easy to find!
#713
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
After a few test runs I noticed the LSD on my runner/beater Hotshot was giving "too much slip". I decided to rebuild the Thorp Limited-slip ball diff after no adjustment could cure the problem. The original Thorp pressure plate was worn "paper thin" and original replacement parts are difficult to find. So now I had to replace it with a similar pressure plate from Robinson Racing that has a simplified version of the Thorp LSD. I re-greased the ball bearings after checking them for wear and assembled the LSD as before.
#714
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Installed dust boot covers on both front and rear drive shafts on my shelf queen Hotshot. I am unable to install these dust boot covers on the front inner drive cups due to lack of space.
#715
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Finally!! I just ordered my Hotshot from Tower and I can't wait to start building! I now already have a nearly complete "parts" 'Shot that I've built up from a bunch of new parts I gathered here and there. I figured I wanna beat the piss outta this thing so why not stockpile a messload of parts for it. Hey gulfstream, I love the rubber boots at the drive joints. I was thinking of doing something like that myself. RC Channel has the boots for sale on their site, 8 boots for $10 plus shipping (a little pricey). I've looked for the Frog boots you used but can't find any. Maybe I'll hafta fork out the cash.
#716
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Finally got my Hotshot and built it up. This is my first 4wd buggy and I love it! It's decently fast enough for me with the Super Stock BZ motor, though the motor gets a little hot second battery in. I'll hafta put a heatsink on the motor to keep temps down. And as can be seen in the pics I already had a collision mishap to the front end, but I'll bend it back. And the paint job came out kinda crappy cause tha can of yellow I had came out like lumpy gravy, but oh well, it's just paint.
#717
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Well I'm gonna put up some more pics causeI love this car! Also, the RC Channel susp. and steeringkits get the job done and just look Badass!! I am sincerely unapologetic to the purists who think I ruined the car by removing its quirky, over-engineered monoshock setup. Ha ha ha. Nah, just kiddin.
#719
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Hey thanks kaiser. This is actually my first 4wd buggy and I love it. I've had several Tamiyas over the years; a Rover Mini Cooper back in '96, a Dyna Blaster, andcurrently a Bronco CR-01 and a Buggy Champ. I know it's no racer, but I am surprised how fast it is. But then again all I have to compare it to is my older cars which were all powered by the stock silvercans, a crawler, and my sport tuned powered Buggy Champ.
#720
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
I havent been on here in a couple of years, nice piece, I got that suspension kit also but hasnt been off the shelf since, Best car ever with that kit, until the news of the Avante that is.
#721
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
ORIGINAL: DirtBug
Well I'm gonna put up some more pics cause I love this car! Also, the RC Channel susp. and steering kits get the job done and just look Badass!! I am sincerely unapologetic to the purists who think I ruined the car by removing its quirky, over-engineered monoshock setup. Ha ha ha. Nah, just kiddin.
Well I'm gonna put up some more pics cause I love this car! Also, the RC Channel susp. and steering kits get the job done and just look Badass!! I am sincerely unapologetic to the purists who think I ruined the car by removing its quirky, over-engineered monoshock setup. Ha ha ha. Nah, just kiddin.
Here's a few updates I made to my Vintage Hotshot.
Fully adjustable camber suspension arm made by Parma intended for the Tamiya Fox but can be used on the Hotshot.
#723
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Hamilton, ON, CANADA
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Nice part there, would be nice if tamiya re-produced them for those that wanna maintain the perfect finish on their new re release hotshots. Where did you get it?
#724
Senior Member
RE: HOTSHOT RE-RELEASE BUILD!
Thanks. I got it from a hobby shop closeout sale. Getting A NIB unused under chassis skid plate is still available at "flea-bay".