Hotshot Or Boomerang?

[mtbkym01 4173]

So i've now got an SRB SS Re-Re, a Frog Re-Re, to go along with my Fox NIB, and Fox runner.

I'm really afraid this stuff has bit me hard, and now want a 4x4 Tamiya kit to go along with my others, and I'm not sure what one to get, help me out please. These cars will not be run very much, but will all be runners if that makes sence

I've also got my projects being, Optima 4x4 (just picked up a complete car, so I've now got 1 1/2 cars to build one), Schumacher CAT XLS, and Marui Big Bear

Cheers

[Percymon 2185]

If its as much for display as it is for running then i think the Hotshot has more interest with its monoshocks front and rear. For running the monoshock isn't the best apparently , but i doubt in general bashing use you'd notice much difference with the twin shock rear of the Boomer.

I'd also say the Hotshot is possibly the more involved build, albeit marginal. I've really enjoyed restoring my Hotshot, a heck of a lot more enjoyable than the Rising Storm 4wd i built for my son at new year.

[WW-nut 0]

Boomerang, only because it's cheaper! Though I still prefer the looks of the Hotshot.

[Old Falcon Lad 0]

You seem to have it bad, so obviously the answer is both!

[mtbkym01 4173]

Boomerang, only because it's cheaper! Though I still prefer the looks of the Hotshot.

Yeah, I can save about $40 AUD on the Boomer

You seem to have it bad, so obviously the answer is both!

Only gonna be one initially, I also have an Avante in my sights

Thanks guys

Oh yeah, which one is more rewarding to build? I'm imagining they are fairly similar in their build.

And, do either of them come with full bearings, or would I need a bearing kit for either?

Cheers for the responses so far

[HunterZero 77]

Oh yeah, which one is more rewarding to build? I'm imagining they are fairly similar in their build.

And, do either of them come with full bearings, or would I need a bearing kit for either?

They are almost identical in terms of build, they're almost the same chassis. The Hot Shot has rather cool rear suspension linkages, funky collars for setting the springs and you have the roll cage and netting to assemble which is really cool, but the Boomerang has a better steering setup assembly and twin rear dampers. The Hotshot looks much cooler, but the Boomerang is a better runner out of the box with better dampers/springs and better steering (the Hotshot has bump steer).

So the Hot Shot is a marginally more involving build.

Hotshot and Boomerang come with only 4x 1150 and 2 thrust bearings if I remember correctly. You need another 13x 1150 and 5x 850 bearings to fully ball race them. You can get an official Tamiya Hotshot bearing kit that has the remainder of the needed bearings, or you can just get a third party set.

- James

[mtbkym01 4173]

They are almost identical in terms of build, they're almost the same chassis. The Hot Shot has rather cool rear suspension linkages, funky collars for setting the springs and you have the roll cage and netting to assemble which is really cool, but the Boomerang has a better steering setup assembly and twin rear dampers. The Hotshot looks much cooler, but the Boomerang is a better runner out of the box with better dampers/springs and better steering (the Hotshot has bump steer).

So the Hot Shot is a marginally more involving build.

Hotshot and Boomerang come with only 4x 1150 and 2 thrust bearings if I remember correctly. You need another 13x 1150 and 5x 850 bearings to fully ball race them. You can get an official Tamiya Hotshot bearing kit that has the remainder of the needed bearings, or you can just get a third party set.

- James

Ok, thanks for that,

Hmmm, pretty torn here, really struggling to decide

Stuff it, i'll get both I reckon

[taliesin 260]

Hmmm, pretty torn here, really struggling to decide

Stuff it, i'll get both I reckon

You'll do just fine here. Good man.

[HunterZero 77]

Ok, thanks for that,

Hmmm, pretty torn here, really struggling to decide

Stuff it, i'll get both I reckon

If it helps you cope, there are many other TA members (that's Tamiyas Anonymous) here who have both...

- J

[tamiyoman 2]

If it helps you cope, there are many other TA members (that's Tamiyas Anonymous) here who have both...

- J

Boomerang, better looking, not as fragile and its cheaper

[Old Falcon Lad 0]

Stuff it, i'll get both I reckon

Told you so!

[tamiyoman 2]

Sorry i had not realised my own opionion was wrong and you were right LMAO.

I was referring to the overly complicated suspension set up and the INABILITY for easy access, meaning you strip it down to change xtals, not an issue on the boomerang, plus boomerang is better looking (again my OWN opionion,!)

Cheers

[Percymon 2185]

I'd assumed the OP was buying new kit, so the Hotshot will have the top access cover which helps (a bit anyway!) get to the electronics.

Very much horses for courses - i went for the hotshot purely based on my starting point,although i suppose it could quite easily have been made into a boomer. For me the Hotshot was a bit more iconic (although that coud be a nieve view), and the monoshock suspension (with its inherent running issues) made it different o my other buggies and imo is a bit of Tamiya engineering history.

[MAD RACER 566]

I have had alot to do with both.

The Boomerang is way more advanced than the Hot Shot,

Has a tub chassis (easy to get to all electrics)

Better Mono shock front end.

Better dual shock set up in the rear.

Has 1dg more rear toe in ( Slightly more rear grip)

Better steering set up. ( No bump steer.)

Lighter. (Better acceleration )

Bumper is better ( Hot Shot is fragile)

Better under guard. ( Hot Shot is a lot better with a Super Shot under tray but aren't Cheap)

Well i love my Hot shot too but my Boomerang is very quick

In fact a was racing in Sport Tune class at a vintage meet and was on a Top Force behind for Lap after lap. I had a tiny bit more grunt out of the corners. He had a ever slight more top end. he went a little wide and a got through. Got third in the final. Only thing a changed was shocks.

Boomerangs ROCK....

[tamiyoman 2]

I have had alot to do with both.

The Boomerang is way more advanced than the Hot Shot,

Has a tub chassis (easy to get to all electrics)

Better Mono shock front end.

Better dual shock set up in the rear.

Has 1dg more rear toe in ( Slightly more rear grip)

Better steering set up. ( No bump steer.)

Lighter. (Better acceleration )

Bumper is better ( Hot Shot is fragile)

Better under guard. ( Hot Shot is a lot better with a Super Shot under tray but aren't Cheap)

Well i love my Hot shot too but my Boomerang is very quick

In fact a was racing in Sport Tune class at a vintage meet and was on a Top Force behind for Lap after lap. I had a tiny bit more grunt out of the corners. He had a ever slight more top end. he went a little wide and a got through. Got third in the final. Only thing a changed was shocks.

Boomerangs ROCK....

Great post, hope rosey dont disagree waith ya lol

[MadInventor 3886]

Having had both myself I would only add the following:

When you roll them, the hotshot seems to suffer less damage to the body as it lands on the roll cage, leaving the main body undamaged If you leave out the pins that hold the spoiler mount to the roll cage, the spoiler will detach in a bad roll and not suffer too much damage. Also the hotshot roll cage seems to be tougher when reversing into things, I've broken rear bumpers (gearbox guards ??) on the boomerang, but not the hotshot. The boomer rear body mounts can easily be broken, and also the battery tray on the boomerang has a tendency for the plastic hooks at the back to snap off. Overall I'd say the hotshot is tougher, but the boomer is definetly faster, handles better, and easier to maintain.

[MAD RACER 566]

Good point about the body shell.

Mine is still good with a few tumbles it has.

But the Boomerang will eat a Hot Shot on the track.

For some reason they are cheaper in parts as well and to buy.

[mobias 0]

I'm probably about to buy a re-re Boomerang for a runner. I had one in 1988 when I was 16 so it'll be fun to own again. I bought and built a re-re Hotshot when they first came out a couple of year back and it was a little radio control dream come true because I loved them back in 80's but could never afford one. It sat on the shelf though and I ended up selling it as I needed the money. Given the choice I'd probably buy a Hotshot again simply because they look better. Lets face it if we wanted a great handling 4WD buggy in this day and age we wouldn't choose either. Its looks and vintage nostalgia and there the Hotshot wins hands down for me. However for some utterly strange reason its at least £50 more expensive than the Boomerang most places I've seen it. Its odd as the Boomerang is clearly the more advanced kit. Maybe its just because the Hotshot has more parts? Anyway Boomerang it'll be for me, I don't have the money for an Avante, much as I'd love to build one.

[Buggy Boy69 0]

I have had alot to do with both.

The Boomerang is way more advanced than the Hot Shot,

Has a tub chassis (easy to get to all electrics)

Better Mono shock front end.

Better dual shock set up in the rear.

Has 1dg more rear toe in ( Slightly more rear grip)

Better steering set up. ( No bump steer.)

Lighter. (Better acceleration )

Bumper is better ( Hot Shot is fragile)

Better under guard. ( Hot Shot is a lot better with a Super Shot under tray but aren't Cheap)

Well i love my Hot shot too but my Boomerang is very quick

In fact a was racing in Sport Tune class at a vintage meet and was on a Top Force behind for Lap after lap. I had a tiny bit more grunt out of the corners. He had a ever slight more top end. he went a little wide and a got through. Got third in the final. Only thing a changed was shocks.

Boomerangs ROCK....

Hi

I would get the Boomerang as a runner for all the reasons Mad Racer says. He loves his Boomerang and as I also own one with a brushless motor.

Also the re release Boomerang according to this website is discontinued.

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=58418

So get the re release Boomerang first and get the re release Hotshot at a later stage as the Hotshot should be around for a while.

Thanks

Ian

[BeetleLover 4]

Also the re release Boomerang according to this website is discontinued.

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=58418

So get the re release Boomerang first and get the re release Hotshot at a later stage as the Hotshot should be around for a while.

I suspect that the Hotshot is already becoming increasingly harder to find and is now in limited numbers, more so than the Boomerang, if you were worried about which one to get due to availability I'd get the Hotshot first and then the Boomerang within the next 6 months...

James

[MAD RACER 566]

Hi

I would get the Boomerang as a runner for all the reasons Mad Racer says. He loves his Boomerang and as I also own one with a brushless motor.

Also the re release Boomerang according to this website is discontinued.

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=58418

So get the re release Boomerang first and get the re release Hotshot at a later stage as the Hotshot should be around for a while.

Thanks

Ian

Oh yeah Ian

How can I forget your Boomerang is unreal with a Brushless in it.

You have a great point about the availiabilty of them.

[mobias 0]

I suspect that the Hotshot is already becoming increasingly harder to find and is now in limited numbers, more so than the Boomerang, if you were worried about which one to get due to availability I'd get the Hotshot first and then the Boomerang within the next 6 months...

James

Damm! I didn't know the Hotshot was being discontinued too. Its a difficult choice because my head tells me to go for the Boomerang but my heart says go for the Hotshot. What's annoying is the price difference between the two. I just don't see why the Hotshot should be so much more expensive.

[BeetleLover 4]

I attempted to order a Hotshot through a Tamiya Distributor and was told it had been discontinued, that was well over 18 months ago! I suspect what is out there is what's available and no longer being manufactured, I think the same might be said about the Boomerang which was released about the time that the Hotshot was discontinued. I also think this has contributed to the Hotshot kits holding their value...

The question is what number of each of these kits did Tamiya produce? I have a strong feeling that the majority of the the re-re's have a manufacturing window of a year to 18 months and produced in far less numbers than the modern kits... I think also some of the Asian Distributors may sometimes have stock piles of kits which can give the sense of it always being available post being "Discontinued"

Get in there sooner than later before a re-re becomes another vintage kit!

I'm still betting the Hotshot is the one to get first

James

[mobias 0]

Some of the re-re kits like the Frog, Hornet and Grasshopper have been going for years. The Hotshot re-re came out about 3-4 years ago so its had a reasonable run. I think the Boomerang actually came out a good year or 18 months after the Hotshot if I remember rightly so if its been discontinued too then it hasn't had as long a run as the HS.

ps. It actually doesn't seem like yesterday that these forums were buzzing with excitement at the news of a Hotshot re-re, no one could believe that Tamiya would actually do it. Time flies....

[tamiyoman 2]

Haha i said in my first post that the Boomerang was the slightly more advanced buggy and i still stand by that. It definitely isn't as iconic as the Hotshot however and neither is it as attractive, subjective i know.

I also said that i would choose the Boomerang over the Hotshot so i'm not entirely sure what point it is you are making aside from pulling my chain Tamiyoman

Mad Racer's opinions are from his personal experience, personal of course being the operative word and so it doesn't entirely mean that the same is true or accountable to everyone. I have had both and the Boomerang was the worst out of the two for me so what does that say???? Perhaps i am being rather pedantic here and for what reason, either buggy will be fine and ultimately your choice depends on aesthetics and how deep your pocket is

Get them both, you will not be disappointed with either of them and both have since ceased production anyway so don't deliberate for too long!

Pulling your chain fella, your oprinion is for the hotshot, mine swings the other way to boomerang, having had both as vintage buggies and as re-re's i still prefer the boomerang as its a better runner and (in my mind) not as fragile and has much easier access to everything you need.

Call it a difference of opinion (we all have our own)