Grotty Otty

It would be... If you had three hands... 😁

Super Hotshot wasn't to bad, Avante was really great but more because its such a lovely thing to put together, and I wanted it to last. Now the CAT XLS that's an entirely different kettle of frustrating, annoying and blue languaged fish!! Very rewarding once done however. *******er does fight you all the way...

It never slows down.... Ever. Like a snowball rolling downhill getting ever bigger and faster... Enjoy!

Happy New Year all! Hope it brings many a Tamiya treat.

Seconded. Please carry on 😁

Its not to tricky just a little bit fiddly but if building lego over Christmas has taught me anything, it's little fingers are way better at assembling small things than me!

Wow, no kidding! Any chance of a build thread of the Ultima? Such a cool buggy.

A very merry Christmas and a happy new year everyone 😁

*waves... Wotcha! Ask away, there's an amazing wealth of knowledge amongst the members 😁

I'm half German and my surname is Ott... The rest is my sunny disposition 😉

Gun metal looks better than the silver I did mine. Badass 😎

Hate it when that happens... 😉

Yup same here, awful lot of kit for your hard earned. Complicated enough to really slow the build without to much repetition and keep it really interesting. Finished article is pretty big (with loads of scope for modifications) and with the cantilever suspension always cool to tinker with. Think the Rocksocker is still around €200 at Tamico.

That the original ThunderDragon and Firedragon bodies fit perfectly on the Hornet chassis.

I kinda like it... But the pink doesn't do it any favours agreed!

Zahhak DN-01 is showing as a 24th Feb 2020 re-release on Fusion Hobbies. £125 seems pretty good value to.

@stew_mac excellent work, following with interest. One question, how do you cut your carbon? I've experience of carbon handle bars which I've always cut down under water or with a mask and goggles with a hoover fixed to take away particulates. Looking forward to seeing just how quick it goes.

You should be able to simply add a 5mm spacer to the piston rod before you pop it back in the shock body. This will mean disassembling the shocks and re filling with oil but it will be much easier than trying to cut four springs to the same length. No problem with the springs being under a little more pre load with the chassis now lowered, they'll be a touch stiffer to keep the car at its ride height.

That looks great. The body looks spot on, especially where you kept extra depth at the front. Like 😁

CAT XLS front belt tension. Only way to get it right is to remove the entire front suspension, then try to pull on the front outdrives evenly whilst attempting to tighten one of four bolts with a screwdriver and socket! Aaargh! Second shout out to the Hotshot series that require splitting chassis in two to re-arrange or adjust the electrics. Made more painful if it is a Super Hotshot that needs its' underguard removing first...

Fitted the hard titanium piston rods (54042) as recommended by @ThunderDragonCy to my DT-03 front shocks I'd put on my Super Hotshot. Length now perfect for full travel and bottom out beyond the chassis tapping the ground first. Used the longer eyelets and longer spacer above the lower spring retainer to get the correct travel. Only thing to be aware of is the shims required a couple of washers to keep it snug between the e clips on the piston rod. I went with the three holed ones as the washer partially covered the holes.

Fair enough, had only seen it at £350.

I agree plus that's the retail business for you but if you're going to do a "Black Friday" special it's probably best to be aware that people are pretty savvy to prices before hand. I'm sure most of us track a particular model that we're after and wait for the best price we can afford, or maybe that's just me!

Sadly the Modelsport "deals" appear to be no different to their current sale price. I've been eyeing an Egress and got excited when I saw it in their Black Friday section. It's exactly the same price as it has been on their site. Weirdly the Couger KC went from £189 to £199?! Not knocking them as I've used them lots, but does seem a bit disingenuous..

Longer piston rods to lengthen the DT-03 front shocks I fitted to the Super Hotshot as recommended by @ThunderDragonCy. Got some rears in case I want adjust those as well.