Boothy

Hi Skip, It would be great if you could get numbers please Mark I'll go look at the black ones now

Ok I just took the motor apart to see what I could see, the magnets and windings look ok and the motor turns freely. I took this photo of the end bit. I tested votage right onto the ends of what I am guessing are the brushes, the middle bits. One is springy the other seems tight, one looks obviously worn. Is that the problem? Andy

Just tested it straight off the battery and its dead, nothing at all. Not even a hum or buzz?

Hi the motor was just on the bench, I'll test it straight from the battery now.

Well I just set up all my electrics on the bench to test everything now I have a battery and the motor does not turn, I have tested with a volt meter and I am showing over 8 volts (7.2v batt) at the terminals on the motor and this changes with the speed control so I guess all that is fine. Do we have any tips other than junk the motor and spend even more money? I know nothing about motors so I dont know what to look for. Thanks again Andy

I am after some new shocks for my MB restore and really want ones like the standard ones. Does anyone know if the ones from the Hotshot (Tamiya 50304 CVA Long Shock Unit Set ) would fit? it looks like they fit a few different cars but the MB is not listed? I cant seem to find MB ones on the net or e-bay. Regards Andy

Sorry you have got me I'm new at this and have no idea what a separate RX pack is really, I have just used google and I see that an Arc 227 is a receiver and an rx pack is a battery but I am not sure I follow what you mean? This is my receiver... I am guessing mine is BEC as it has it on there, but I am lost as to what all that means I'm going to give it all a go and have just cleaned it all up ready for when the car can go back together. I have another newbie question, I just bought a battery and charger, my battery is a 3700mah and my charger is this one RIPMAX CHARGER CLICKY its switchable between 2, 3.5 and 5 Amps, it came set on 2a but there were no instructions in the box, I put it on charge but its been on over an hour and is still not ready. I have done some digging and it looks like 2a is too low however I cant work out if I need to be on 3.5a or if 5a will be ok? I am guessing 5a is the fastest charge? Also the fact I have done it on 2a will that be ok? I am guessing so but will take twice as long to charge? thanks again Andy

Ah, I should ask these things first I guess Just went to the local hobby shop and picked up a batterey pack and fast charger. I have also just realised that my upper pivot bolts that are missing are slightly longer than the bottom bolts as they go through the front suspension mount. I am hoping the frog screw bag has two of these in it, otherwise will the frog ones work ok? I also just ordered one of mooters ally top mounts as mine is broken, I discovered this when I removed the insulation tape I thought they had used to tie the arial too. Still adds some bling I am now at £160 and still dont have a body or shocks and I am not sure if I should change the old radio gear and MSC yet... Andy

My front shocks with paint on are the yellow ones, I was a little scared to try as last night like a fool I tried nail polish remover (not mine ) on the battery end caps and on/off switch mount and it reacted with the plastic which has just cost me a new A parts section (£22.50 ) Obviously nail polish remover is more aggressive than I thought. I'll pic some white spirit up as I think we have run out but I figured as it looks like acrylic paint NPR would have worked better, I'll remember that for next time. Still I suppose I have a spare chassis now.

Does anyone know if the two battery end caps and the on/off switch mount come up very often? Mine are a mess and after trying to clean them up I just made them worse I have seen they come as part of the chassis which is about £30, other than that I can get the Brat ones for just over a tenner but being anal they are not the same colour. I have had a look on e-bay and in the classifieds but I cant find anything. cheers Andy

Hi Kev, Its getting expensive already Today I got 3 screw bags, the parts with the rear arms, a metal pressed parts bag, the wheel adapters, some Super blackfoot wheels and a set of tyres... £80 gone, I have now figured out I need the top brace between the mounting points I really want new shocks as my fromt ones have paint on them and because I am fussy I really would like a new front suspension mount and a servo cover (I have spotted the modified one off the later blackfoot). I also quite fancy new radio gear and an ESC but I am unsure which speed control I would need to go with my motor. Things are kind of at a halt now until more bits come in

Ok I just ordered all my Frog bit from Goldstar (hopefully they are ok?) and have also ordered some gearbox sides off e-bay. I also ordered the frog wheel adapters so I can get some different wheels as I'll have to wait for some monster beetle ones to come up.

Thanks

Eeek I just remembered I am missing two BA5's which go into the gearbox from the chassis, these machine screws are all in bag A on mine, I am guessing there is a Frog bag for these too? Edit to add, I think its probably going to be worth while changing the gearbox sides because my frinds mate is supposed to of used washers to stop the gears coming apart I am guessing the force of this may have warped the sides? I guess that these are available new too? Is there somewhere I can get the information from regarding the frog part codes to stop me asking so many questions Edit x2 Ok I think I found the pressed parts bag but have found some from a brat on e-bay which are cheaper if correct. One thing I have just found is that as suggested above the pinion gear looks like it has seen much better days, is that a standard part? Thanks again for everyones help.

Fantastic Sorry I am full of questions but as the Frog screw bags dont tally with the MB bags in my instructions will I get the back nuts and washers? My instructions seem to suggest I need screw bags B and C, as the tapping screws and pivots are in B but the nuts are in C, Also I am missing one screw BB5, will that be in the Frog bag? Its a very short tapper fror the front bumper. I have also found that one of my adjusters BR2, has seen better days, is that a standard part?? Can you tell I am new at this?? Well thats if you dont count twenty years ago watching my Dad do it

With regards to this part number, there were non on e-bay but I did turn up Tamiya 9805167 Hotshot Super Shot Small Bevel Gear 3pc and Tamiya 9805060 Blackfoot Monster Beetle Bevel Gear Bag Are these the same thing but sold separately? EDIT<<< looking on the web its cheaper to buy the set than separate, I am guessing the Frog bevel gear ratios are the same as the Beetle?

Thanks guys I will look into all the bits and bobs and get ordering hopefully tonight as its probably not worth doing the gear box untill I have new gears. Do we know the best place to get the tamiya adapters for the wheels? Last night I fully stripped the chassis, de greesed and cleaned it all up and put it back together, these photos show as it is now (today I had to work )

Well there's no turning back now! Sadly it looks like the incorrect screws have caused some damage, not alot as most of the screws seem to be ok but one of the rear trailing arm covers was held on using three incorrect screws, the bottom one was too big and has caused this damage... What would be the best way to repair this kind of damage? also hopefully so the correct type screw will fit again. I guess I now need to trace these three screws and see which screw bag they are from. Would they be available separately without buying a full bag of ebay? The below picture shows the trailing arm shock mount damage, both sides are the same... New arms required? Now then, on both sides at the front the upper wishbone bolts were replaced with standard bolts, this has the problem that you cant tighten it up because it causes the wishbone to go tight. Are these something you can buy? The picture hopefully shows what I mean... I also thought I would show a picture of the motor again to see if anyone knows what it is? back to it...... Andy

Hi Micheal, I am just about to start pulling her to bits I have noticed that some of the screws are incorrect that must be replacing missing screws from over the years. Hopefully the incorrect screws wont have damaged where they tap into. The screws that are shown in the last picture through the upper wishbone (at least that what I guess you would call it) are wrong and should have bigger heads. I have also found that where the rear shocks mount to the trailing arms both sides are cracked so I think I need new trailing arms. The wheels I have seen are Tamiya 9335116 from the super blackfoot, do we think those should be ok? Do we have any tips for cleaning off the paint from the plastic? I am guessing that when I was about 11 scrawling ANDI on the front seemed like a good idea, 20 years on and I have to wonder why... oh and why I used an I and not a Y possibly cool at the time? There is also paint on the front shocks I dont think will come off so I want to replace them. I am going to try Gunk to clean the greese off cheers Andy

Hi Alistair, Thanks for your reply, I have a lot to learn I'll take a look at the thread for the gearbox mod, I have just been having a look and it looks like the suspension mount is moving as there are some screws missing. I have taken some photos, you can see the bodyshell with tastefull paint I think its probably good for the bin as it has a crack in it (not sure what its off, its hard plastic though). I have also tried to show the missing screws at the fron and the motor. It has no markings and is silver in colour, if I remember back to the time technigolds were gold? The radio gear is vintace Acoms techniplus (thats where I got that from then) sadly missing the front sticker. I might get something more up to date. I cant even test it as the battery has had spade clips fitted and the charger is so badly bashed it wont fit into the plug, I'll go and get a new one with proper tamiya connectors. Andy

Hello all, I should start by saying that many years ago when I was about nine or ten I was given a monster beetle for christmas, I had been waiting since what felt like forever and that christmas me and my dad built it together and I had many happy days playing with it. When I was about fifteen I sold it on to a friend of mine as I had stopped playing with it and had lost interest, anyway last year I asked him about it and he said it was still up in his loft somewhere and he would have a look for it, he now lives in London and I am near Manchester so I had heard nothing when out of the blue this christmas he gave it me back My plan is to try and re build it, not as a shelf queen but so it looks good but can be played with. Now onto the problems... First thing I have found is that the front wheels have fallen apart around the ball races so just wobble about, so it needs new wheels. I have had a look about and beetle wheels are thin on the ground but I did find some new super blackfoot wheels, would these work? I think I would need some kind of adapter for the rear? The second thing is the front shock tower moves forwards and backwards, not by much but as I have not yet started to strip it down I am not sure of the cause? is that going to be caused by something obvious? Thirdly my mate fitted some kind of hop up motor, he said a technigold or techniplus?? I am not sure, however he said that later on he started to have problems with the gears being forced apart. His dads friend has put some washers in the gearbox I believe, to stop it happening but my friend said this is making it slower. I have done a search and it seems this is quite common, would you guys just reccomend a new set of gears? which ones would I need to buy? do I need new gearbox sides? Other bits and bobs are that sadly it no longer has a beetle shell so I need to buy one these look pretty expensive these days too. there is some random paint on the chassis I need to try and get off and I think it could do with some new front shocks, the rears are schumacher metal ones I got after the old ones blew when I did a big jump once. Any suggestions for front shocks? Also do you guys have any hints and tips before I start to try and do this? is it an idea to get new screw bags? anything I will need? The last time I did this I was nine I have managed to download and print off a pdf of the instructions which should be a big help. I'll try to get a couple of photos of my rather sad looking bug to show you what I am starting with. Andy

Just been having a look at the Brat which is a total change of direction but looks like a bit of fun (which is what I am after at first) it also uses the same chassis as my old monster beetle so might bring back a few memorys.. In the photos I cant see any front suspension tho? is it unsprung? That would put me off I think? Also am I barking up the wrong tree, is the Brat a bad idea for a newbie after something to bash about? Boothy

I need a little more advice guys please I am having thoughts about going with a more modern car first, I am a little worried that if I get a hotshot and smash it up then I will struggle to get spares for it.. will this be the case? I was thinking about starting off with either a DF 03 or a Durga, I must admit I really like the look of the Durga but it looks like a really tough build for a newbie and I am not sure if its overkill for me tbh, ie would I really be able to notice a difference between a DF 03 and a Durga when driving? I like the Dark Impact but the other DF 03's dont really do it for me and I think its because they dont have the same style as the older kits like Hotshot with all the detail's What do the experts think? The DF03 seems good VFM and you get a ESC thrown in by the looks of it which makes the Durga look more expensive as I am starting out with nothing in the way of gear or should I just go with my heart and get a Hotshot and worry about bashing it up when it happens? Boothy

Cheers for the welcome guys Blakeatron, the shop you are thinking of is Bolton Model Mart, they used to be a big tamiya stockist but seem to of stopped in favor of other brands So what do you guys make of the Hotshot? it seems to be quite an involving build and really harks back to the good old days in the way it looks. I had a look at the lunchbox and pumpkin today but I think it has to be a MB if I am getting a monster truck at some point. I like the look of the Durga and dark impact too but think I really fancy a retro car first. I never really liked the grasshopper and my brother had a hornet and I dont really have fond memorys of it. I think the Fire Dragon is due out soon and I might have a look it that once its out. Whats everyones suggestions? I am really after something quite rewarding to build, it will be used for playing around carparks and dirt locally (no racing) and I will no doubt want to make it go faster than a 540 pretty soon. A few years ago I got a Nitro on road car (cant remember the make) It would do 50mph which seemed like a good idea until I realised you could not drive it anywhere other than the biggest carparks, it chewed through tyres and unless you fitted expensive ones it did not grip and tbh Nitro was a PITA as I was forever flooding it and struggling to get it to go. Plus its really dirty and fter I got it I soon fell out with it. cheers Boothy

Hello there, I am new around these parts so be gentle with me Many years ago I always wanted a Tamiya car and after what felt like years of pestering my dad got me a Monster Beetle for christmas, I ended up with that and a Thundershot but in a moment of madness back when I was about 16 I sold them to a mate. Anyhow I am now 30 and a month or so ago I spotted a Lunchbox in a model shop in the Trafford centre and it brought back so many good memorys I thought I have to get myself another Tamiya. After looking around on the internet I have found the re-re's and I really fancy a hotshot, I live in the Bolton area near Manchester but I cant find any good shops that deal with Tamiya.. There used to be quite a few around these parts but they all seem to be stocking other makes instead. I went back to the Trafford centre today but they are out of stock so I am wondering if anyone knows of anywhere locally I would be able to pick one up as I fancy a play over christmas I have even found out my pal still has my Monster Beetle but he wont part with it, its pretty beat up these days I am told so I think I better wait for Tamiya to re release it. Thanks in advance and merry christmas! Boothy