My latest Tamiya

[Roop]

Ta-daa...! Here's the latest TamTech Gear buggy from Tamiya. It's a smaller version of the classic Hotshot, based on an all-new GB-03 4WD chassis. As usual I am in the process of hopping it up and so far it's got a Team Tekin Mini Rage 5.8kV brushless motor (for those unfamiliar, this turns the top speed from 5pmh into around 35mph) and also a Futaba FASST 2.4GHz receiver so I can use it with my FASST wheel transmitter. Also chucked on an alloy pinion as the plastic ones quite simply cannot handle the power of the upgraded motor. I also use Integy 1400 NiMH cells.

To come are oil shocks, titanium turnbuckles and ball connectors to get rid of slop and provide geometry adjustment. Upgraded universal-joint driveshafts and ball differentials (it currently has gear diffs).

Verdict so far...? Love it...!

Pics with my restored original 1/10th Hotshot for comparison...

[vrooom]

Look very nice, all you need to do is find those gold rims for it


Jay

[Roop]

vrooom said:

Look very nice, all you need to do is find those gold rims for it
Jay

The gold wheels are on order So far so good with the buggy but they have cheapened some areas over the 2WD TamTech Gear series. The diffs are allegedly gear and not ball (allegedly as I have not checked and there's not oo many of these things around yet). The universal shafts are the same plastic / metal combo but are fixed with a spline and interference fit rather than pinned. Front suspension geometry is not adjustable out of the box etc.

Lot of upgrades on the way - it'll make a formidable little machine when finished.

[northandy]

I used to race a Hotshot nearly 20 years ago !... actually when I say it like it makes me feel very old...

I progressed to an Kyosho Optima... and then onto the Schmaker Cat... I loved my 1/10 scale racing back then...(not that I was any good)

[Simond001]

All you need is the correct white rims on the hotshot. Only the supershot came as standard with Gold rims.

Nice cars though, i remember when the Hotshot was the car to have. Especially once fitted with four shocks, shortened chassis, UJ wishbones etc..

[Roop]

Simond001 said:

All you need is the correct white rims on the hotshot. Only the supershot came as standard with Gold rims.

This is true, but my Hotshot is made to look "box art" and on the box, the car is fitted with gold wheels which as you say were actually only fitted to the Supershot as standard.

Simond001 said:

Nice cars though, i remember when the Hotshot was the car to have. Especially once fitted with four shocks, shortened chassis, UJ wishbones etc..

Yeah, a bit too complex for their own good and massively lossy transmission (how many bearings...??? ) I have the Hotshot HP suspension set (upgrades the car to the Supershot style four long stroke CVA shocks) but then it's not box art, so it's staying put for now. I have a re-release Hotshot that I might build and upgrade for a laugh and bung the HP set on it.

[merlin-thewizard]

Where did you get all the bits for your TamTech from?

[Roop]

merlin-thewizard said:

Where did you get all the bits for your TamTech from?

Various places. 2.4GHz Rx came from Japan, Brushless motor and ESC from the US, Shocks, wheels, turnbuckles etc from HK. All hobby dealer places (eg: Stella Models, Tower Hobbies etc).