Starting my Hotshot build today!

[will04]

I'm starting my Hotshot build today and for you guys who have experience building this kit I was wondering if you have any pointers, do or don'ts, tips or tricks ect.... Thanks!

[SHY69]

I'm starting my Hotshot build today and for you guys who have experience building this kit I was wondering if you have any pointers, do or don'ts, tips or tricks ect.... Thanks!

Check this out: http://www.ymr.no/10orTip8.htm

(if you're gonna run it)

Whole car: http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...1&sid=22039

Enjoy the build! Nothing special comes to mind! Just that I LOVE assembling that mono shock system (even if it doesn't work well)!

[MAD RACER]

Use a cordless screw driver with a good tip will save yor hands.

The plastic is like no other plastic i have screwed in.

Ball Race it as a total strip down is required later if you want to fit them. If you are running it it's a must to ball race it. If you don't the plastic bushings wear in no time and destroy the gears. A Steel pinion it's a must too.

Its a fantastic build youll love it.

[Percymon]

A good screwdriver is essential - i personally wouldn't go the electric driver route as its too easy to slip and damage a head.

A good pair of pliers and some thin rubber to grip the shafts when installing nuts (rear suspension link, dampers etc).

Patience is another good thing - read twice, then assemble

[djaxy]

hi,

tamiya101 has a nice buildreport -> http://www.tamiya101.com/article_tamiya_hotshot.asp

[will04]

Thanks , I did get the metal bearings.

[HunterZero]

I use a ratchet screwdriver for my kitbuilding duties. You will need both a no1 and no2 Philips head, and a good small jewel screwdriver.

Sidecutters for cutting parts from sprues, and hobby knife for trimming.

I used AW grease in the diffs, molybdenum grease in the thrust bearings, very light ceramic grease on the gears (you need hardly any, if you use more than a small amount it just flies off anyway), and a drop or two of oil in the driveshafts and suspension joints.

Attaching the D2/D3 damper parts are a pain, and so is screwing the connector onto the rear suspension ball linkage. Use plenty of masking tape around the shaft to prevent the shafts being marked, and hold firmly with flat pliers.

The most useful tool I've ever bought has been the Tamiya e-ring tool. It makes an easy job of the normally frustrating task of snapping on e-rings. No longer a risky process that could see the e-ring shoot off into the land of lost tamiya parts.

The e-rings that hold the driveshafts in are a bit tricky, but long nose pliers should be good enough for those.

- James

[mtbkym01]

Commenced my build last night also, and I must say, it is a very enjoyable build, When I get home tonight, I start building shocks. Mine also is fully ball raced, but pretty stock other than that, although a 23T Superstock RZ will make it's way into it.

[will04]

Well heres what I've got so far. As far as the front and rear gearboxes go,I used the ceramic grease on all the plastic gears and on the metal gears I used Tamiyas anti-wear grease. Man you guys weren't kidding when you said this stuff was sticky. Everything went together pretty easily. The RC Channel suspension kit was a little tricky and time consuming, but still went together oK. For right now I put a GT Tuned 25T motor in it, just because I waiting on my steel pinion gears and Venom brushless motor. The Venom motor is red with polished fins, which I believe will compliment the red I'm going to paint it and the polised parts. The instructions I found pretty easy to follow. A couple of tools that i found to be pretty valuble were digital calipers, angled tweezers, and a good precision screw driver set. Thanks for all the help.

[mtbkym01]

Hey Will04, looking good there mate

I got a bit more done today on mine, really take your time with the screws into the plastic, even consider a very small amount of ceramic grease on the screws to help cut the threads, the plastic is very hard.

This kit really is quite a time intensive build I'm finding, and really enjoyable, tomorrow I'll start the rollcage assembly, and hopefully get it to a roller stage

Enjoy yours

Cheers

[djaxy]

Well heres what I've got so far. As far as the front and rear gearboxes go,I used the ceramic grease on all the plastic gears and on the metal gears I used Tamiyas anti-wear grease. Man you guys weren't kidding when you said this stuff was sticky. Everything went together pretty easily. The RC Channel suspension kit was a little tricky and time consuming, but still went together oK. For right now I put a GT Tuned 25T motor in it, just because I waiting on my steel pinion gears and Venom brushless motor. The Venom motor is red with polished fins, which I believe will compliment the red I'm going to paint it and the polised parts. The instructions I found pretty easy to follow. A couple of tools that i found to be pretty valuble were digital calipers, angled tweezers, and a good precision screw driver set. Thanks for all the help.

screw brushless in a hotshot imho, better run it with a 23 turn or so and enjoy watching when it moves "slowly"

[beetleman]

I second the advice of a small dab of ceramic grease on every self tapping screw. Makes driving them into the hard plastic a breeze.

I just started building my Hotshot re-re as well, and I must say, having built the modern Durga, the Hotshot feels like a jump through time back to the eighties with its low quality feel of hard brittle plastic, crude and clumsy design - all of which make it a must! I will be running it with stock motor for nostalgic fun only, as IMO it cannot compete with modern buggies, and hopping it up in an attempt to do so is like a gold ring on a pig's nose...

[MAD RACER]

I second the advice of a small dab of ceramic grease on every self tapping screw. Makes driving them into the hard plastic a breeze.

I just started building my Hotshot re-re as well, and I must say, having built the modern Durga, the Hotshot feels like a jump through time back to the eighties with its low quality feel of hard brittle plastic, crude and clumsy design - all of which make it a must! I will be running it with stock motor for nostalgic fun only, as IMO it cannot compete with modern buggies, and hopping it up in an attempt to do so is like a gold ring on a pig's nose...

May not be able to compete with todays buggies but in the early 80,s it was very Hi Tech.

Think about it.

Twin diffs.

Sealed gearbox's

Shaft Drive.

MID motor design.

four wheel independent suspension.

Anti Roll bars F & R..

Not many buggies on the market back than that had all this at the Hot Shot Price.

If built with bearings and run in the drive train is pretty free too.

[will04]

I finally finished my Hot Shot build here are some pics, overall it was a fun build, so fun that I started a Frog restoration for my dayghter and my next project will be the restoration of my Super Champ.

[mtbkym01]

Looks good

[Falcon#5]

Looks good

+1