Hotshot Doubleshot

[ap6318]

Hey all!

My next project to do over the Christmas break (and probably well into 2010) is a pair of original Hotshots. I bought these of TC member Sandyian some time ago and finally pulled them out to see if I could make one good runner from two cars.

Much to my surprise, I think I may be able to make two runners

First up - here is what I am starting with:

Now looks like this:

So far there are only a few missing/broken parts which I should be able to source from a re-re kit.

One original part I will have to find it the hex style prop shaft and front/rear gearbox joints.

Next step will be to strip all gearboxes - this will be the decider if I can make two runners or not.

[NJhopper]

Nice! I think you have two good runners right there, after you give em' a good cleaning! I think your off to a good start!

[MAD RACER]

Looks like you will have a good time in restoring them. Im in the same boat too.

You might be better of buying a re relise kit for parts. SO Cheap at $220 with freight. I might have to buy another kis again.

I just got my Hot Sot II's.. Scored 3 of them with 2 box,s. and bits and pieces

In similar nic but 3 times the work.

Might bring them to Boondal for you too look at.

Cheers.

Mark.

[ap6318]

Better put up some progress hey...

Both front gearboxes stripped, cleaned, ball raced and re-greased

Rear gearboxes not as nice. made 1 good from 2. Need new main spur gear and thrust bearing

At this stage I will only have one runner and 1 for parts. Will decide further in the build if it will be worth making the second runner as there are now some key parts missing. Just noticed there are no front drive shafts on the second car either

[ap6318]

One complete front and rear gearbox.

Many hours cleaning the gunk of the parts. One car was covered in what looked like cement dust. Came up ok with soap and water and the plastic doesn't seem brittle at all.

Maybe I will make 2 runners after all....

Motor is the 540j motor and 15t pinion that was in the car when I got it. Spins fast and free. I will probably upgrade to a TZ or RZ after a few runs I'm sure.

For now I will get one car completely running and then order all parts for the second one

[bjr250]

Great to see some progress on the Hotshots.

I hope to see at least one of them going around at Boondal soon.

[redzone]

for sure! i take it you know about the dishwashing machine method for cleaning old rc car parts? just do it when the wife's not looking

[ap6318]

for sure! i take it you know about the dishwashing machine method for cleaning old rc car parts? just do it when the wife's not looking

I wouldn't dare - wife would see me bringing parts in from the shed and would bail me up before i got them in there. By the way... how do you work a dishwasher?

Getting heaps done lately.

Cleaned the house paint and grot off the driver head ready for new paint.

Driver head and body done. rear gearbox on chasis.

Shocks polished and re-oiled with 35 weight.

Front gearbox and shocks mounted.

Electronics fitted. Running generic 15t ESC (self setting so never need to reset throttle position) 3003 servo and Eurgle 2.4ghz rx. With this set up I should never have to drop the radio box.

I'd say it will be ready for Boondall next saturday. Just the cosmetics and testing the driveline.

[Old Falcon Lad]

Looking really good there! Out of interest, what did you strip the paint with, and what polish did you use on the shocks? Your car looks so clean - how did you clean up / polish those plastics so well?

Paul

[ap6318]

Looking really good there! Out of interest, what did you strip the paint with, and what polish did you use on the shocks? Your car looks so clean - how did you clean up / polish those plastics so well?

Paul

Thanks Paul

For the plastic parts is old fashioned dishwashing liquid, a toothbrush and alot of scrubbing. for alloy parts I use a product I buy here in Oz called "Brite Shine" cotton wadding metal polish. It's raw cotton with a metal polish. You need to be light handed as it is a cutter as well and can leave some nasty swirls if you try and work to fast. Also have had good results with Autosol in the past.

Here is a before and after of the 2 roofs

OK, Public Holidays are great for getting things done

Cage and window netting fitted

We have a running car!!!!

Time to work on the body. Going to strip the old enamel metallic car paint and paint it a niceboxart red - hopefully preserve the decals as they look quite good.

[TA-Mark]

Dishwashing liquid is good, but give Selley's Sugar Soap a try. Dilute as directed and put in a spray bottle. I use this product to clean my plastic parts and bodies before painting to remove any oils and the nasty staining red dirt we have here. It will even clean nicotine stains from the walls/roof of the house before repainting.

[ap6318]

Stripped old enamel car paint with Mr Muscle oven cleaner - left it on for 20 mins making sure none touched the outside of the shell with decals. Then back to the old toothbrush and soapy water again.

Pretty happy with the results

3 coats of Tamiya red and we have

[Missile]

looks great, is that a hard shell or the thin polycarbonate stuff?

[HunterZero]

looks great, is that a hard shell or the thin polycarbonate stuff?

Hotshot shell is polycarbonate.

Caustic soda in oven cleaner will destroy polycarbonate, so lucky the paint that was there was removed quite quickly.

So come on - where's the pic of the car with the shell on?

- James

[ap6318]

Hotshot shell is polycarbonate.

Caustic soda in oven cleaner will destroy polycarbonate, so lucky the paint that was there was removed quite quickly.

So come on - where's the pic of the car with the shell on?

- James

That's right. I find that if you only leave a product on for minimum time and wash it off in warm soapy water straight away you will only do minimal damage if any.

I've used nitro fuel and brake fluid on poly shells and always had ok results as I limit the exposure to the paint only and not long enough to destroy the shell.

First car totally finished.

Now with lights and aerial

Took her for a run at Boondall last weekend and had time for a cup of tea waiting for it to run the main straight Will definately be putting the RZ motor in after I've finished the second car.

Progress on that one coming up...

[ap6318]

...Speaking of the second car, all parts arrived and fulll speed ahead on this one. I have already traded the car with a friend and we are doing the rebuild together quickly so we can run them together at the next Boondall run.

Front and rear gearboxes ball-raced rebuilt - re-re driveshafts and spur gear.

All other parts sourced are vintage including prop shaft - thanks Mad Racer!

Speaking of original parts, got the mechanical speedy up and running just for the laugh. Going to leave it in for the maiden run - this could end in tears, but saying that, my 3 year old could probably run faster than the car flat out and catch it if it does take off

Just some assembly and we will be racing... well, pulling display laps.

[30cms]

super nice resto job on that first hotshot.

the hotshot is a joy to build, whether from a new kit, or from a strip n clean

my old hotshot BITD used to pop the front balljoints on a regular basis, due to wear (the ball on the top of the steering knuckle that goes into the metal plate on the front arms)

for a quick fix (if you are out and about) a cable tie from the upper arm and the lower arm will stop it happening

of course the better fix is to replace the little metal plates, and associated parts - but back in the 80's we had no internet / ebay - had to go to the LHS, place an order, and wait . . . . .

[BangkokBulldog]

Those two look fantastic mate!

Great work!

[Live Steam Mad]

I'm enjoying the pictures greatly!

Cheers,

ARG

[Azkuma]

Brilliant restoration on those two Hotshots.

I got one off the bay in the post this morning and boy it is a total mess, but the only saving grace was it had the Super Shot suspension kit fitted and for £35 it was well worth it for those alone. I've stripped off those parts and after looking at the rest of the car, holes where they shouldn't be (can only see one on top but there are more), wrong size screws used to hold things in place, 540 motor witha 13T plastic pinion, and about the only other thing i've seen that is remotely useful are the ball bearings in the wheel housings, but they can stay until I need them.

My re issue is on the left plus 2 x vintage with recent acquisition in the front. The look belies what horrors I found inside (even had pieces of wood in the electronic compartment where there should be two red inch long plastic spacers to hold the steering servo in place ). One at the back is a solid runner and just needs a repaint I think as the black has peeled off but it works fine.

You've given me inspiration to continue and I congratulate you on your perseverance on rebuilding two classic motors.

Good job.

[squarebomb]

Great job on the Hotshot restoration. I'm in the process of restoring my own original 85 Hotshot that's been hibernating at my parent's house all these years. I'm actually going to be doing this with my 3 year old son who happens to be into cars like daddy. Already got the instruction manual to make sure I do everything right. Also got a few replacement parts from eBay but still a long way to go. No rush on our side though as we only have a few minutes a day to work on it. Already, he is so excited to see it run. Nice work on your two Hotshots. Looking forward to seeing the second one completed.

Erwin

[ap6318]

Cheers everyone for the compliments.

Unfortunately I traded the second Hotshot not long after the last photos were taken. It is now complete and running. The best thing is I now get to race against it

Here is a photo of the twins re-united at the track