tamiya re-release...

[beaufort-fj60]

I have a tamiya hotshot that I got back in the 80s... I broke some of the drivetrain parts and the thing has been sitting in a box for 20 years. It looks like you can buy parts for it now. Are there any must haves on a modern r/c? the write-up says they re-designed some stuff on it, but it looks the same as the old one.

Any one have a 80s buggy that can give me some modern update must haves.

Tamiya America Item #58391 | RC Hotshot - 1/10 Re-Release

 

[thumper]

an ESP, electric speed control, is a nice upgrade from the servo controlled old style is a nice step up. other than that, maybe a newer motor? i have a lot of the older tamiya cars and still enjoy taking them out for a spin.

jon.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

thanks.... does the ESP work with the old controller?

 

[thumper]

it should, unless you have the really old receiver with the male pins. it basically replaces the servo for the mechanical speed control. i havent bought anything recently, so i am not sure if they have changed from the normal female type that was 'normal' several years back.

jon.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I raced the crap out of a Hotshot for many years. They kinda sucked due to gear diffs and shaft drive, so unless the rear end was sliding, the front end was pushing. If you had enough power to swing the rear end out it was a handful. Thorpe made ball diffs so you could tune the front/rear torque bias. That finally made the difference and made it competitive with the Yokomo chain- and later belt-drive cars with slipper clutches in the front end.

Mine ended up a "Red Hot Hotshot" by using all the parts available from Hot Trick Racing. It looked something like this, but this one doesn't have the full kit: