Tamiya Super Hotshot Build

[@shoryuoiso]

I bought SuperShot as my first RC, and I still have it. SuperShot is my startline. I think it's good to see now. Thanks!

[@astolk8783]

Great video again Glenn. Super shot is defo top 10 for me. Cool buggy great driving!!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks buddy 😊👊🏻

[@HugoHocknell]

The Super Hotshot is definitely one of the Tamiya greats. Looking forward to the next vid!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Agreed my friend 😊😊😊

[@rcstories_ca]

Thanks Glenn for bringing back so many childhood memories: good times and good friends. I’ve never owned a Tamiya, but have fond memories of all the classic buggies. I bit the bullet this week and ordered a couple of re-release kits: Grasshopper and Hotshot. I know I’m probably entering a world of hurt with a huge learning curve, but let it begin. I love that the re-releases are relatively affordable (I’m coming from RC crawlers) and owning these classic cars is not just a hobby for the filthy rich. These are toys for kids if all ages after all, and I’m glad that I’ll be able to share these cars, and hopefully this hobby, with my daughter.

[@RCHobbyShed]

I think the Supershot, or in this case Super Hotshot is one of Tamiya's best looking buggies ever. There's just something about the two roll-over antennas, like two hands raised in victory. OK I'm dribbling now but you get what I mean. 😂👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Haha I really do get what you mean 😎👊🏻

[@mattmclafferty6265]

I love this car, enjoyed building mine too.. Cheers Glen. Gauranga.

[@yuthokr01]

Man, this brings back great memories. My first RC was a used Mugen Bulldog, but my first new kit was the Supershot. What a great buggy, and in 1985 I ran it for 3rd place in the PNW Summer Series.

[@voodootrucker]

Such a cool classic. The gold wheels and twin antennas always looked so good.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks for watching buddy 😎👊🏻

[@MalcolmCraigHistorian]

The first time I ever saw proper RC racing was an indoor event in Falkirk Town Hall, probably in 1985 or 1986. My dad took me along after endless pestering. Loads of original Hotshots being run with 2WDs in mixed classes, and I thought they were just the coolest buggy I had ever seen (a couple of friends had Grasshoppers, which were already pretty cool). There was no way I'd get one, so as soon as I got home I tried to build a Hotshot (or what I thought was a Hotshot) from Lego (with Technic suspension and everything). I never ever did get a Hotshot/Supershot/Hotshot 2. That's something I'll need to rectify at some point in the near future. Thanks for all the videos!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Fantastic comment Dave, it’s all about the memories and nostalgia my friend 😊👊🏻

[@RCACTIONAUSTRALIA]

A lovely Build 😎 Think Mines in storage to build! Sold my built one

[@TAMIYALegends]

Dammmmm you have nib kits in storage 😇

[@RCACTIONAUSTRALIA]

@@TAMIYALegends I have a garage full of nib kits & parts ranging from Vintage, previously re re and current re re. Good to have stock when they are hard to get. They will all be built at some stage. I actually purchased a bulk lot years ago so I picked up many items for an awesome deal

[@estefanopassatore8150]

My 3th rc car was the Tamiya BigWig, my 1st 4wd car indeed back in the 90s. Neven won a race with it, to many gears, to many plastic, to many weight. Next I got the Cat XLS, boom! a winner 👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Cat Xls 😍😍😍

[@wadebeaumont7570]

Love the Supershot. I had a boomerang in the day so always dreamed of owning one. Such noisy buggy’s to drive with those gear boxes but I think it’s part of their charm and they look fantastic as well. Congrats on 25 000!!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks Wade 😊👊🏻

[@thecretanbull4784]

Good morning Glen!!!!! Loved this one!!! You know I already have this one ready and built!!! Still love watching these videos! Thanks

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks Chris 😊👊🏻

[@stevenwallman2346]

I just got done building a re-release of the original Hotshot. It came with a TBLE-4S esc so, just for the hell of it I put in a brushless Tamiya motor. It was pretty easy to program the esc for a brushless motor but I am running a NiMH battery so it really doesn’t run appreciably faster than a brushed motor. Getting all four wires to the motor, however, was a pain in the butt and required a bit of trimming to get them all to fit. To tell the truth, it really wasn’t worth the extra effort, if I ever do it again, I’ll just put on a hotter brushed motor and leave it at that. I kind of like the design of the Hotshot, even if it is a bit quirky and not terribly robust, because it is fun to build. I liked your build of the Super Hotshot and I might get one sometime. I look forward to your next video.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Excellent thanks for watching and leaving a comment Steven 😊👊🏻

[@leemollison7508]

Depending on the wind of the motor vs the current the tble-04s can handle, you should be able to run the tallest gearing on the buggy to gain more speed, and depending on the battery maybe more acceleration at the same time. I've had buggies set up with tble-02s, 13.5T brushless on stock gearing that gained both more acceleration and speed when swapped to longer gearing on a tble-02s, even running NiMH. Worth a shot for a pinion change to see.

[@markmerrin1606]

Great car mate..brings me back my childhood... Can't wait to see it running..👍🇬🇧😎

[@jasont2074]

Did one of these last year, black wheels and anodised shocks, looks superb with a few mods

[@sylvainlegall210]

Those Hot Shots are definitely at the top of the list of my favorites, and they are actually surprisingly good at driving considering their age. Love them. Thanks for sharing Glenn!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks for watching and commenting my friend 😊👊🏻

[@theibault]

One of my favorite Tamiyas to build. I've actually built 8 of these now (3 for me and 5 for friends). I find the shocks bed in well after a few runs and I run mine stock with a large spacer on the rears and a small on the fronts. SUPER TIP: leave the rear screw out of the battery holder on the drivers left side. Allows you to easily lift it over the nub and swivel the battery holder out for easy battery changes.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Excellent thanks buddy 😊👊🏻

[@lionelplunkett9428]

G'day Glenn thank you for sharing that build with us I'm a Hot shot super shot lover one of my all time favourites cheers mate 👍😃👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks buddy 😎👊🏻

[@jone7940]

Some great commentary during the build Glenn. The Super Shot is a special one for me. Loved since I first laid eyes on it at school in 1987. Tough looking thing even today. Looking forward to seeing the body and finished product!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks Jon 😊👊🏻

[@butchmeister80]

Well done this is one of my faves not sure if I’ll ever build one I’ll see!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thank you for watching my friend 😊👊🏻

[@adrianharrison5208]

Such a cool classic Tamiya 😎 I have a Hotshot 2 but I've never built one, after seeing this I really want to buy one and give it a go.. Really is a special and important Tamiya and what a time to be into RC cars when this came out

[@johnhill2075]

The hatch on the Hotshot family of cars goes back to the days of 27mhz radio gear and sometimes needing to change frequency crystals, open the hatch and there's the top of the receiver, plastic part underneath hatch plate stops receiver sliding over into the propshaft 👍😎

[@denozed6554]

What a cool looking buggy love the vintage designs.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks for watching buddy 😎👊🏻

[@rcicons4915]

Always loved the hotshot family. The super shot was my favorite as well. It was nice to get the techno power with it back in the day. Great video my friend.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks as always my friend 😊👊🏻

[@Sammyjk23]

Literally just picked one of these up this week, great work as always Glenn!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Fantastic enjoy the build my friend 😊👊🏻

[@rcdreamers119]

Thanks for another vintage Tamiya video Glenn, I drool over all that NEW and shiny plastic lol, I would love to have one or two new kits to build 👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thank you for watching my friend 😊👋🏻

[@70monkey]

Nice Glenn these cars are awesome. I think the cover may have been for service access to the old msc they used to have.

[@BobRoss2Trappy]

Congratulations on the 25k!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thank you 😊

[@madsrcbuggy]

I've never seen this one being built before, it was really interesting! Like you said, it's a piece of history there, even if it might be annoying to put together. I never got to building a 4wd back in the day, only now I've done a few, way more modern ones. Thanks for sharing, very nice!

[@wayneyates700]

Hi Glenn, funnily enough I've recently rounded the spur off on my hotshot 2 as the pinion wasn't sat perfectly. Your right about the 4 metal slices for different size pinions lol proper old school lol. So just wanted say I now put the motor a pinion on whilst the gearbox is loose (2 screws in) so I can check to ensure perfect pinion placement. Managed get cheap enough replacement's off eBay (Around £10.00 including postage) so bonus. I was running a hpi firebolt 15t brushed motor on 2s Novak dually esc n it's bloody quick, but just bought a LRP V10 spec 6 12x2, can't wait see what it's like then on 2s🤣 anyway back to the video I'm only 3mins in lol❤️👊👍👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Haha excellent I hope you enjoyed the rest of the video Wayne 😂👊🏻

[@wadeskelton7585]

I gotta get one no more excuses 😄 great stuff Glenn!!!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Haha thanks Wade 😊👊🏻

[@barrycheesemore2928]

That does look like a fun build, very old school though!! Great video, can't wait to see thr bodyshell painted and fitted, and the running video 👍😃

[@TAMIYALegends]

All coming soon my friend 😊👊🏻

[@darrengrimmer8541]

Love it Glen.. They really are must have kits aren’t they.. What I like most is they are so old school in their looks.. Fantastic👍👍👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks Darren 😊👊🏻

[@petersieper]

Love your channel and bringing up the smallest details of these awesome Tamiyas. I have a question about controllers, and what controllers you like for a hotshot like this. Thanks!

[@archiscapes1503]

One of my favorite Tamiya Buggies..great video!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks for watching 😊👊🏻

[@philipgreensmith1694]

Another great video Glenn 👍 thank you 😊 Totally agree about the netting, obviously I fitted it but you can never get it to sit right 😪

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks Philip 😊👊🏻

[@amphilbey]

Great stuff, love the gold wheels and really need them for our Hot Shot. Was nervously watching your build for when your expertise showed up my inexperience building a Hot Shot last year 😂

[@SEAN-fx5dm]

Great video yet again Glenn, looks like a really nice thing to put together, I'll have to add it to my list 👍.

[@amc_sounds]

Another beauty! Going box art or something different?

[@MobilJJN1080]

Semngat terus ya kawan hadir nyimak teman

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks for watching 😊👊🏻

[@duncanmcgregor7946]

Encouraging me to build mine! Looks cracking. Box art or surprise?

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks Duncan, this has to be box art my friend 😊😊👊🏻

[@lee4741]

I think I will start building mine next week

[@TAMIYALegends]

Excellent Lee 😊👊🏻

[@AddamsPlayground]

It is a beautiful car for sure. High up there on my wish list at the moment!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks for watching my friend 😊👊🏻

[@Paul__FC]

Now , this is a car I need for my display.

[@jipbutler1157]

Looking good so far dude😎

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thank you 😊

[@allyoucando8486]

I say last time another living Legend A Life

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks for watching 😊👊🏻

[@al0324]

love your videos! i ended up picking up and currently building a grasshopper. got a super hotshot on order. definitely punky brewster nostalgia going on - local hobby store has a frog lol!. BTW - I have nothing but 3s lipos - is that ok to run with a 540 sport tuned 18t on the grasshopper and running on 3s on teh super hotshot? or are most people sticking with 2s lipos?

[@Leonsrchobbys]

Nice job Glenn mate looking good👊🇬🇧😊😎👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks Leon 😎👊🏻

[@jonoedwards4195]

Hot Snot has Sprint car appeal! Wish We could score a Sprint Car from Our Overlords at Tamiya. Beauty Tintin!. Alloy towers rule.

[@paulrobinson9355]

Cracking video and cracking cat, my all time favourite! Have an original nib (minus the Technigold sadly) but just can't bring myself to build it. Have a rere too but as yet can't bring myself to build it as it's so lovely boxed!! How many hours would it take a none expert like myself to build to the stage outbid at here? Could I do it in a full afternoon you think? With work and family time is always an issue sadly

[@TAMIYALegends]

Yeah I’d say it’s a good 6-7 hours without distractions Paul 😅👊🏻

[@alexhardwick2855]

Nice looking chassis, those front shocks are really stiff looking unlike the rear. Great vid Glenn 👍 can't wait to see it with the body on 👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks Alex 😊👊🏻

[@haroldgee5671]

I the electrail cover you mentioned for lubing the msc

[@TAMIYALegends]

No I don’t think so, as the original car that used the msc didn’t have this cut out on the chassis 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@stephenwallace2423]

@@TAMIYALegends Very dependant upon what receiver was installed as to how well this feature worked - or if it even worked at all! - but I believe that the access cover was intended to allow you to switch crystals on the old 27MHz radio sets.

[@vincegee4280]

@@stephenwallace2423 so original chassis all had this trap door?

[@stephenwallace2423]

Original Supershot? Yes, I'm pretty sure, but we are talking 35 years ago, so it's getting hard to remember exactly! As Glenn said, the original Hotshot didn't have this feature, but it was added on the re-re.

[@mad-beerc3818]

Congratulations mate 👏 going great guns mate! keep it up! Great stuff! The Super Shot just reminds me of a badass time in the hobby! Very special for sure!😉👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Totally agree, it’s just pure 80’s Tamiya 😍😍😍

[@mad-beerc3818]

@@TAMIYALegends 😉👍

[@DustyFingersRC]

Locked in for the next one 👍🏼

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thank you 😊

[@ShenRC]

It's a Beauty!😁👍

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks buddy 😊👊🏻

[@ptaylor5014]

Interesting build Glenn, I have never built a "Hotshot" series of cars before and never thought that the chassis was designed like that! I kinda like how it looks without the body shell on lol.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Excellent thanks as always for watching Paul 🤩👊🏻

[@xthumprx]

I'm liking hot my Super HotShot came out, did the Gold look of the 1986 model they produced for one year. Used the stock motor and ESC, it's OK but think it needs a brushless set-up to wake it up.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Excellent thanks for sharing my friend 😊👊🏻

[@schuttrostig5729]

Phantastic car, just the front suspension is a little strange since it doesnt have much travel and a lot of bumpsteer. It drives great though, so the strange front works quite well just the shock mounts are getting damaged easyly.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Yeah it’s an odd design but as you say it’s still a blast to drive 😇

[@leehurst6922]

Glenn on the vintage cars only the hotshot 2 had the access hatch. This was for access to the mechanical Speedo. It was copied over to both the re re shot cars

[@SPEXWISE]

Regarding the front shocks: If you plan to run the car leave them as is and see how it performs before changing piston holes/fluid weights. In my opinion I think they might just be right for the handling of the buggy once you get a battery in there and are actually moving. The resistance that you're worried about is what gets you up and over the first half of a ramp/jump so I wouldn't worry. Of course test yourself and come to your own conclusions, that's the fun of RC for me.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Excellent thanks for the feedback Neil 😊👊🏻

[@bradkalman2353]

The elf gave me a super hot shot and I'll be getting the body and mid chassie so I can finish it. I am putting a 4600 KV sidewinder 3 system in it.

[@Waikatotek]

Almost makes me want to drag out my one. I stripped it back in 1994 and it’s been that way ever since.

[@yellomello71]

Belive it or not, I am currently working on a Super Hotshot 😃 Today I finished the chassis and I am just at the position of the end of your video. I am looking forward to the bodywork video. I am so curious how you will do it. I am not sure how to do the long oval holes at the "snout" of the body and on the wing.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Hey 👋🏻 I used a hole Rimer at each end first, then a craft knife to make the join. I also don’t do it on the wing as I don’t think it’s needed for how I run my cars 😅👊🏻

[@bradkalman2353]

The GT tuned motor works really good in a hornet.

[@PrinceBarin77]

TIP FOR CUTTING OUT NETTING: photocopy the template page and then staple the netting over the template to hold in place. Then you just cut round. If you staple the netting to the back of the page, you have clear sight of the template to cut too.

[@terence79chan]

Great video as always Glen! I saw an aftermarket carbon fiber chassis conversion kit for this car a few months ago on eBay. I guess that upgrade would be “overkill” as it looks gorgeous in its original form.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Yeah I agree I don’t think that’s needed my friend 😊👊🏻

[@stevenhogan9724]

The electronic cover was there in it's day to change your Cristal's in the resiver Good old days when I was a lad lol 😂

[@tamiyafrog3220]

Nice👌👌

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thank you 😊

[@darrenh6978]

What mods do you recommend for the Super Hotshot?

[@TAMIYALegends]

Hey I would just run it as it’s meant to be Darren 😇🚗💨💨💨

[@stuartphillips2686]

I restored an original Hotshot, got the HP suspension set, and made it a 'Super' Hotshot with a Supershot body with Hotshot decals, etc.

[@MauzyrockRC]

Wicked! I just finished my Wild one BH ed. I am having trouble finding the right size NiHm or lipo to fit it. Any advice? Thank you.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Yeah the problem with the older Tamiya chassis, the batteries must be the same dimensions as the old racing packs 😅👊🏻

[@bespincustompropsbombarta8300]

Need a smaller pinion for top end speed Glenn, larger for acceleration, guessing that's what you meant to say 😀 The electronics cover is from the hotshot mk2, as there was no access to adjust the original mechanical speed controller on the hotshot and supershot original without taking the chassis apart.

[@stephenwallace2423]

Nope - smaller pinion gear for acceleration, larger for higher speed. If we were talking spur gears, *then* smaller equals faster.

[@bespincustompropsbombarta8300]

@@stephenwallace2423 nope says it multiple websites smaller for top speed and less strain and heat on the motor and also had to do the same on my db pro to run on 3s and get 50mph smaller makes less heat and higher speed

[@stephenwallace2423]

@@bespincustompropsbombarta8300 Less strain and heat I can agree with, but as far as maximum potential speed is concerned, I still have to agree with Glenn.

[@stephenwallace2423]

@@bespincustompropsbombarta8300 Don't want to get too detailed here - typing in KZbin comments isn't the best place for long explanations, so I'll try and keep this short as I can. Ignore the Supershot right now - not really relevant, and the 4WD and all the extra gears just confused things. Instead imagine the most basic drive train you can; 2WD, with pinion gear, spur gear, no differential, and drive to the wheels taken directly from the spur gear. For sake of argument - just simple numbers snatched out of the air for this example - let's say we have a 60 tooth spur gear and a 15 tooth pinion. For each revolution of the motor, the spur gear makes 1/4 of a revolution, and as we have direct drive to the wheels, they make a 1/4 revolution. Now, if we switch to a 20 tooth pinion, each revolution of the motor turns the wheels 1/3 of a revolution. In other words, the car moves further per revolution of the motor. If (and I accept it's a big if - this is where you need to factor in torque, stress, generation of heat, friction, inertia, etc. etc.) the motor RPM remains the same, then more distance travelled per rev, at the same RPM equals higher speed.

[@bespincustompropsbombarta8300]

@@stephenwallace2423 yeah, I just looked at the way the gearbox is driven, compared to my db pro which is driven on one central gear from the motor. I equate the logic to my motorbike small cog on the front, big at the axle, make the front smaller or the rear larger and it accelerates faster with lower top speed and higher revs. Which is confusing for the db pro as it says use the smaller pinion on 3s to stop overheating of the motor and esc and that gearing gives 50mph on it.

[@wallacedouglas2840]

Did you notice the rear gear box to be as tight as on the Big Wig?

[@brandonmcqueen1856]

Nice. I'd say the front is over damped with soft springs; rebound/recovery seems very slow. Would probably result in less front traction ie create an under-steer prone car. Softer oil might help, but try it out as-is BEFORE you change anything so that you have a reference point. No sense in changing something you have not tried yet....

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks Brandon 😊👊🏻

[@brandonmcqueen1856]

@@TAMIYALegends You really are a gent in your interactions with your viewers. As an aside - I have proper jealousy - I lusted after a Suoershot as a 13 year old kid

[@johnhill2075]

The Hotshot 2 doesn't have that long underside plate on it, a shorter and wider piece under the battery, then the bumper and skid plate at the front

[@aquariclean6351]

My step dad has the 1986 super shot still. And still broken when I crashed it from when I was ten 26 years ago now. I’m looking to repair it for him

[@mattluszczak8095]

First

[@TAMIYALegends]

Excellent thanks Matt 😊👊🏻

[@agevan6735]

Red Hot!!

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks for watching my friend 😊👊🏻

[@ironmaiden5658]

Use rubber sealed bearings. Not metal sealed ones. Metal ones will last no longer than the plastic bushings. They rust a cause more friction than a plastic bushing.

[@stuartphillips2686]

Hotshot II did not have the large chassis underplate.

[@ericwood2790]

Pictures never do the HotShots justice , you have to see them in person to really get a feel for how nice they are . Hope you do something a little different with the body Glenn .

[@TAMIYALegends]

I’m afraid not Eric, this one has to be box art for me my friend 😍👊🏻

[@michaelf277]

Difficult to judge by the Video, but I think the front shocks are over damped and the spring is too soft. It seems that the spring ist merely capable of rebound the shock, wegen additional weight ( Body and battery) ist added, it is even getting worse. If the damper has to make fast movements it will get stuck in compression and the car bounces around and will massively understeer. Additionally, the Front is not matched to the rear, from my experience this leads to weird behaviour of the car.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Thanks for your feedback Michael 😊👊🏻

[@GTMatukka]

Rear box roight

[@SPEXWISE]

There's some legends in the comments debating whether or not to build the kits they have in storage. Storage? Bloody scalpers.

[@TAMIYALegends]

Isn’t a scalper a person who only buys, stores for awhile and then sell at a profit 🤷🏼‍♂️ I’m not sure it’s the same as the guy’s in the comments Neil. They just have quite a few nib kits to build at some point 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@SPEXWISE]

@@TAMIYALegends Yeah I know. I was just having a laugh bro. Cos to me if I buy a kit I build it there and then, don't store it that would be silly!

[@SPEXWISE]

@@TAMIYALegends Also I only ever really own about 2 to 3 cars/trucks at a time. They live in the shed and come out every now and then. If I get a new one I sell an old one. I'm not a collector more a tinkerer and basher. Certainly wouldn't put anything I own on a shelf.

[@tonyquicklaps4347]

I had a hotshot 1, my second ever car. So many poor features, racing it there’s no turn lock, ball joints pop for no reason, the electrics with a manual speedo squeezing it all in that silly box, the awful pinion arrangement, but worse thing was the horrid screw in hexagon bumper retainer, one impact and the hexagon would strip and you’d need a new one leaving the bumper riding the floor.The tiny body shell was pointless too. If the battery retainer pins popped out mid race the car would literally cartwheel!! Argh, what frustrating kit. One for the memory cabinet not the track!!!

[@chloedevereaux1801]

nope it wasn't on hot shot 2

[@TAMIYALegends]

Hmmm interesting 🤔

[@stephenwallace2423]

@@TAMIYALegends as Chloe states, no undertray on the HS2. You did however have a different battery holder. Unlike the drop down, quick release part on the HS and SS, this was a solid T-shaped plastic part that bolted between the radio box and the rear gearbox, giving the chassis a solid - if two piece - base. Another commenter mentioned that you could leave a screw off one of the battery arms, so you could swing the arm out, and access the battery from the side; with the solid battery tray of the HS2, accessing the battery from the side was the standard way to do it.