Father/Son Super shot build

[Finnsllc]

As we are all dealing with world events, my 13 year old son asked for and i purchased a super shot. I always wanted one when i was his age and i'm looking forward to this adventure. As i'm sure so many of you have kids im sure you will understand my apprehension as far as " i am not building this kit FOR YOU' we can do it together and i will help and advise. Id love some advise as far as anything i need to know in the build and any hop ups to the SUPER SHOT i really should pick up before the kit arrives. thnaks

[Finnsllc]

Oh, and he wants it "fast" as his friends have pre built Traxxas stuff. I explained the value of what it means to build something for yourself and to work at an end goal. So i suppose we need to make sure this thing is torqued up.

[Cynan]

I say buy another and then you can both truly build one, side by side, AND can race them together

[Saito2]

A steel pinion gear is about all the Super Shot re-re needs. It already has bearings and a GT motor for more zip. I will caution though, the SS, while not a particularly weak or flawed buggy, is a dated buggy. It probably won't hold up to the kind of abuse that kids (and adults) tend to hurl at Traxxas stuff. It doesn't make it a bad buggy, just one that needs to be treated with some degree of respect. While not the cheapest solution, Traxxas does offer the Stampede 4x4 as a kit. You could build the SS for yourself or still together as a team however. I applaud your efforts. My dad helped me with my first Lunch Box way back when and then I took off building on my own. Kids understanding the inner workings of things and developing mechanical aptitude is something I view with importance. Kids have such short attention spans nowadays that the joy of seeing something come to life that they built themselves is a dying art (steps down from old-man soap box).

[moffman]

My lasting memories of the brilliant super shot is when I was a wee boy on holiday (I think pontins in great yarmouth) I bought an rc magazine and it was on the front cover and I just sat and staired at it all week in the caravan! It was one of tamiya's top shelf buggies so I'm thinking like has already be said before just a steel pinion! I always shudder when I hear the word traxxas! There's more to rc than Flying around a car park at a 150mph then ultimately hitting something! If you can afford 2 (which to be honest is quite expensive) then yes build together and race together both equal so it's down to driving skills! Much more entertaining than a traxxas IMO!

[Finnsllc]

so, i am so loving those responses. first, i have no problem building two. But that would take away from my son feeling like he did this build on his own. it will be quite tedious and i am sure will not go as i plan as 13 year old boys can instill their will.That said am quite lucky to have the children i do. @Saito2 please dont take this as a negative respose. As i value all comments on anything i post. My son is in tune with e and i am so lucky to have that.Building this car together is a fantastic thing. i wish my dad sat and helped me. no i learned and educated myself. As far as antiquated technology goes in the kits i am well aware. These builds are life long and valuable, not a plug for tamiya or any other co.  I wont ever buy a RTR as i dont feel that thats car building. there is always something about doing the work that lends itself to being a man. yes i said that.  @moffman yes i completly agree. there was nothing like looking through the tamiyaaa catolog and wanting it all.  i shudder as well with any prebuilt!!!!!   And if he wants to race as his old man i will destroy him.

[Saito2]

Its fortunate that you have a good relationship with your children @Finnsllc. I wish I was lucky enough to have a dad cool enough to get me a Super Shot back in the day . That said, my dad did spring for the radio after watching me save for a year to get the Lunch Box which was great. It is I who should apologize. My comments/concerns about the whole Tamiya/Traxxas thing were generic and not directed at your son in particular. I'm sorry if it came off as presumptuous.  Its great to hear that your son has shown interest in the hobby.

[lesgrandepotato]

We’ve had a super shot for sometime, we have just built a hotshot to race against it. It’s sufficiently different to make it a worthwhile build along side in my view. The linkage suspensions being particularly pleasing to build. 

[Finnsllc]

So, still waiting for kit to arrive. Patients is a virtue

[Finnsllc]

So here we go

[Finnsllc]

[Nobbi1977]

Fantastic 

I have built a couple with my son as he will never get the same experience with 1:1 cars I had with my dad, they are just to reliable now. 

[nginsb]

Fantastic that you're doing this with your boy, I have such great memories of building my first kit, also at the age of 13 with my dad. It was a Marui Shogun and we spent a number of weekends putting it all together. I'm nearly 45 now and I honestly remember those days like they were yesterday. Brilliant memories and the shared experience will last forever (far longer than the car itself - although I do still have that original Shogun). Enjoy it!

The Super Hotshot makes for a great build, I put one together a little while ago, which I posted a few pics of in this build thread (which wasn't started by me but happened to coincide with my own build)

Take lots of pics - and I'm sure you'll soon buy another for yourself so you can race with your lad!

[Finnsllc]

[Finnsllc]

[Finnsllc]

So gar things are going well, My kid is doing the bulk of the assembly with the old man stepping in when asked of as a plastic tree nub slicer. However we have one prob. THE LOWER ARM, F3, is not loose. ITs very tight and i have rebuilt it 3 times. Anyone have a thought?

[kid168]

Does your Super Hot Shot come with an ESC?

[Finnsllc]

6 minutes ago, kid168 said:

Does your Super Hot Shot come with an ESC?

nope, but a gt motor is included

[kid168]

Got a pic of the motor? Also can I get the model number? Thanks

 

[slimleeroy]

On 4/1/2020 at 5:28 AM, Finnsllc said:

As we are all dealing with world events, my 13 year old son asked for and i purchased a super shot. I always wanted one when i was his age and i'm looking forward to this adventure. As i'm sure so many of you have kids im sure you will understand my apprehension as far as " i am not building this kit FOR YOU' we can do it together and i will help and advise. Id love some advise as far as anything i need to know in the build and any hop ups to the SUPER SHOT i really should pick up before the kit arrives. thnaks

Me and my lad built a super hotshot, they are amazing. Definitely one of tamiya best looking buggies ever.  We found that the front dampers if built to kit spec don't allow enough upward travel.  We got around this by not using the nut on the bottom of the shock shaft (knurled nut which the bottom spring retainer screws up against). This does not affect the shock and means the car bottoms out before the shock is fully compressed (how you want it) 

[mtbkym01]

10 hours ago, Finnsllc said:

So gar things are going well, My kid is doing the bulk of the assembly with the old man stepping in when asked of as a plastic tree nub slicer. However we have one prob. THE LOWER ARM, F3, is not loose. ITs very tight and i have rebuilt it 3 times. Anyone have a thought?

Are the bearings seated in the hub correctly? If the outer cup is not all the way out it may cause binding with the drive shaft, try taking the drive shaft out to see if it is still binding

[Finnsllc]

@mtbkym01 i got squared away. to be honest no idea what was wrong. it was just not searing properly on the large ball.

[rwordenjr]

14 hours ago, Finnsllc said:

nope, but a gt motor is included

Where did the esc go? Supposed to include tble02s 

[Finnsllc]

9 hours ago, rwordenjr said:

Where did the esc go? Supposed to include tble02s 

Actually it may have, I have parts all over my workbench so i may have taken it out and not realized it

[lucasan]

Love seeing the pics! What a great project with kids. I'm sure your son will cherish this memory when he gets old and grey like us