Hot Shot 2 vs Terra Scorcher

[Tamiyastef 3073]

I plan on joining the Tamico Offroad cup in 2024. Motor must be Tamiya's Torque tuned and only Tamiya's plastic tub chassis are allowed. As I currently don't own a 4WD Offroad Tamiya I'm in the market for one. I have no experience with either the HotShot or SuperShot family of buggy's.

I always liked the HotShot 2 and this sounds like the perfect excuse to get one but I'm a bit afraid I will be disappointed by its performance vs for example the Terra Scorcher. (I'd go for the Terra Scorcher as it is about the same price (+ €10,00) as the HotShot2 but comes with universals, bearings and stabilizers. The HotShot2 and the other offerings in the Supershot family do not if I'm not mistaken?)

Are there known flaws with either chassis that could ruin my "racing" weekend if I don't carry spares?

Tips for avoiding common mistakes, necessary hop ups,...?

Or should I go for the retro 2WD class and get myself a Novafox or WildOne? I'll enter the "fighter" class (also 2WD) with my Sand Viper and switching from 2 to 4WD might be more difficult than staying just 2WD... 

Or just enter only in the "fighter" class for the first year and look if I enjoy it as much as I think I will before buying more stuff... 

Dilemma, please advice 

[Twinfan 2452]

Hotshot series cars have sealed electronics boxes which make working on them a real pain.  Personally, I'd get a Terra Scorcher (open chassis, easy to work on, fully hopped up) and if you're allowed to run them a set of VQS Hi-Cap dampers (47455) as they are smoooooooooooth and will be really nice for racing:

https://tamico.de/Tamiya-47455-Alu-Hi-Cap-Oil-Damper-VQS-2020-22

[Kowalski86 4984]

Between the two I'd go with the Terra Scorcher and upgrade Part A5 to metal, the kit part cracks fairly often. The bearings alone are worth the extra price.

Look into running steel shafts/e-clips for the suspension arms instead of screw pins. It'll help your arms last longer.

[Twinfan 2452]

1 hour ago, Kowalski86 said:

...upgrade Part A5 to metal, the kit part cracks fairly often.

Agreed, or get a brace - they work just as well  

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225240319530

[Frog Jumper 4457]

The ThunderShot / Terra Schorcher chassis is the final evolution of the Hot Shot series cars...

[Gebbly 873]

5 minutes ago, Frog Jumper said:

ThunderShot / Terra Schorcher chassis

They are the same chassis? Interesting to note.

And good lord those tires are huuuge.

I like the colour coordinating of the body to the arms and shocks, nice job.

[Twinfan 2452]

I guess it depends how you define "evolution".  I don't see the Hotshot and Thunder Shot cars as the same in any way - completely different chassis', gearboxes, parts trees etc.  I'm not sure they share any parts aside from CVA shocks?

I see them as two very distinct series' of cars.  The Boomerang/Super Sabre is the final evolution of the Hotshot series IMHO.

 

[Frog Jumper 4457]

34 minutes ago, Twinfan said:

I guess it depends how you define "evolution".  I don't see the Hotshot and Thunder Shot cars as the same in any way - completely different chassis', gearboxes, parts trees etc.  I'm not sure they share any parts aside from CVA shocks?

I see them as two very distinct series' of cars.  The Boomerang/Super Sabre is the final evolution of the Hotshot series IMHO.

 

I'm just blah-blahing what it says on TamiyaBase...

"The Thundershot chassis is the replacement of the then aging Hotshot chassis. The chassis is much lighter and more durble than the Hotshot. Still the basic configuration is more or less the same, independant suspension, closed gearboxes, and prop shaft. The chassis is now an open bathtub type making access much easier. The Thundershot is still much loved by the Tamiya enthusiasts, and was re-released in 2005 and 2008 with only minor upgrades."

https://tamiyabase.com/chassis/41-thundershot
 

[Twinfan 2452]

I think the key word there, which backs up my opinion, is "replacement"  

[ThunderDragonCy 9082]

I think if you are racing, the Terra Scorcher is the one. I have a Thunder Dragon (same chassis as terra scorcher) and a Hotshot 2, and although the Hotshot 2 looks amazing, the arms are more fragile, it's stock steering is much worse and it's also much narrower track. With some modern wheels and tyres on it the Terra Scorcher will be the better option IMO. 

 

[Tamiyastef 3073]

25 minutes ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

With some modern wheels and tyres on it

It's for the Tamico off road cup. Wheels and tires are limited to Tamiya ones.

[Twinfan 2452]

Can you go more modern though? The Terra Scorcher has the same width wheels front and rear, but if allowed you could fit hexes and Egress or Top Force wheels and tyres so you can fit a thinner front...

[Saito2 8448]

If it can be any plastic tub Tamiya, the DF01 Manta Ray/Dirt Thrasher/Blazing Star/Terra Conqueror would be ideal. They tend to be far more neutral handlers and are basically plastic Top Forces. The problem? None are currently produced.

I prefer the Hotshot series to the Thundershot/Terra Scorcher series, so there's my totally biased opinion. I've been tinkering a lot with the Thundershot/Terra Scorcher of late, trying to tone down its somewhat "pointy" nature. The latest issue has been how easily this current batch of re-releases' front arms seem to split and pull out of the inner hinge pins with relatively minor knocks. The arms are quite soft. 

However, if I were being completely honest and put aside my comfortableness with the Hotshot series, the Terra Scorcher is the superior vehicle and is well equipped with goodies like bearings and universals.  

For plastic tubs, there's also the VQS to consider as well...

[Twinfan 2452]

Not sure I'd go with a VQS as getting spare parts might be an issue?

[ThunderDragonCy 9082]

2 hours ago, Tamiyastef said:

It's for the Tamico off road cup. Wheels and tires are limited to Tamiya ones.

Df03 wheels or star dishes would be good. Some tamiya spikes rear and maybe dual block c front depending on surface. 

@Saito2 has a point though. A DF01 would be better and with the biggest 21t pinion would run nice with a torque tuned. 

[Saito2 8448]

32 minutes ago, Twinfan said:

Not sure I'd go with a VQS as getting spare parts might be an issue?

The G11 part is supposedly weak (an upgrade is now available) though I never broke one BITD. Yeah Racing makes some alloy hubs that are nice to have. As long as the Egress or Egress Black Edition are hanging around, they share many parts with the VQS. A good many of the VQS's parts are glass-reinforced or PA/nylon are well. The VQS is not cheap and is a special beast however. It takes a certain amount of dedication to campaign one vs the DF01 which is a much easier go. 

[Jonathon Gillham 4715]

41 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

The latest issue has been how easily this current batch of re-releases' front arms seem to split and pull out of the inner hinge pins with relatively minor knocks. The arms are quite soft. 

 

So its not just me then!  I've split 3 front arms as you've described with relatively little running.  Have you found a solution?  Mine have the xtraspeed alloy A5 part and the pins with e-clips, not the screw pins and plastic.  I was wondering if the pins are too thick and I should revert to what came in the box?

As for the original question - I find the Thundershot series to have better handling than the Hotshot series, but as mentioned above the DF01 would be the way to go.  I'm comparing Boomerang, Fire Dragon and Top Force here, and the Top Force has hicaps and a few other things.

Of whats currently produced the Terra Scorcher would be the way to go as it has everything you need included.  But buy all the arms you can as they seem to split if you look at them funny.

[Saito2 8448]

15 minutes ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

So its not just me then!  I've split 3 front arms as you've described with relatively little running.  Have you found a solution?  Mine have the xtraspeed alloy A5 part and the pins with e-clips, not the screw pins and plastic.  I was wondering if the pins are too thick and I should revert to what came in the box?

Nope, you're not alone. I have an alloy A5 as well but am using the factory screw pins that come in the kit and the arms still split. The older re-re and vintage ones don't seem to do this. My guess is the nylon's plastic formulation is a bit off this time around. There is a mold seam running around the arm at the split point however, so that might be involved even if the seams seem clear of flashing demonstrating mold wear.

[Tamiyastef 3073]

1 hour ago, Twinfan said:

Can you go more modern

Yes you can!  As long as it is Tamiya wheels and tires. So Egress and Topforce wheels/tires are an option. I learned to drive 4WD buggy BITD with a turbo Optima Mid, that had equally width tires/wheels front and rear and I never had any issues with that. Never drove one of these Tamiya 4WD's.. I'll have to find out.

And off course I want to be competitive but first "concern" is to have fun. That also means being able to run and not drive all the way over there to see others run and have my car broken down with no available spares in the pit after a minute or 2. So I need reliability or when parts break I need to be able to get spares. Cars not currently in production are not an option IMO.

I've seen some footage again on Youtube and there was a Vanquish, several TopForces (with the plastic chassis), a Dirt trasher, several Manta Rays and Terra Conquerors but also Terra Scorchers and HotShots. In the retro 2WD there was even a Bear Hawk! How awesome is that. It's certainly owned by a braver and much better driver than I am.

[Tamiyastef 3073]

1 hour ago, Saito2 said:

None are currently produced.

That's a no go for me. I will break parts (I'm not that good of a driver) and (except in love) not a lucky guy so if I can't get spares within a week or 2 it will be a very short adventure and nowhere near as "fun" as I imagine it now to be. 

 

1 hour ago, Saito2 said:

the Terra Scorcher is the superior vehicle and is well equipped with goodies like bearings and universals

That seems to be the consensus.

1 hour ago, Saito2 said:

the VQS

That will set me back 1,5 Terra Scorcher in real world money + the VQS is not without flaws either IIRC + missing bearings and universals. I have the impression (could be completely wrong though) that there are not that many VQS's around so spares ill probably be more of an issue. And I think the Terra Scorcher shares most parts with several other kits which is always a good thing for a runner IMO

[Tamiyastef 3073]

1 hour ago, ThunderDragonCy said:

Df03 wheels or star dishes would be good. Some tamiya spikes rear and maybe dual block c front

I'll keep those in mind to try if the stock ones give me trouble

[Tamiyastef 3073]

1 hour ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

the Top Force

Only the EVO seems currently available and isn't allowed. The original green one had ball diffs IIRC and I'm not a ball diff guy (to put it politely) 

 

1 hour ago, Jonathon Gillham said:

But buy all the arms you can as they seem to split if you look at them funny.

That seems to be a real issue. Is it the same when using the screw pins? Or only when using the shaft and e-ring construction?

[Tamiyastef 3073]

48 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

using the factory screw pins that come in the kit and the arms still split

Okay, that answers my earlier question. Bummer. 

 

49 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

older re-re

Is there a way to tell the difference between an older re-re and a newer one? 

[Tamiyastef 3073]

50 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

Have you found a solution?

I was just looking at the manual online and I think you can use a steel tube of the right diameter, split it (ironically) on one side so you get a C- profile and sand enough of the outside of the arms where the pins/shafts go through so the split metal tube can slide over the arm without rubbing on the gearbox and A5 part. The split () metal tube should prevent the plastic arm to split that easily I think.   

[Tamiyastef 3073]

Thanks to anyone that responded, got some really good advice. Will sleep on it and decide later. Whatever it will be, will post a picture as soon as it arrives