Tamiya Hotshot

[Dangeruss]

In 1985 Tamiya launched the Hotshot as their first foray into the 1/10 4wd electric off-road buggy ranks. Distinctive in many ways the Hotshot and its two-piece ABS clamshell chassis rode on a four-wheel independent suspension system with long ball joint double a-arms up front supporting red plastic uprights while shorter rear double a-arms held red plastic hub carriers. Tamiya employed a unique monoshock dampening system on the Hotshot that used aluminum bodied oil-filled coilover shocks with spring loaded internal floating pistons and valve adjustable inserts. The front monoshock ran between the lower a-arms while a more complex trio of bellcranks out back allowed suspension of the car's rear with just one longitudinally mounted coilover. Though spring tension was adjusted via the shock mounts the entire system lacked any natural roll resistance so anti-sway bars were installed using a pair of fiberglass towers up front and mounted across the gearcase out back. Steering was a simple adjustable tie rod with spherical ends mounted directly to the Kimbrough style servo saver sitting in front of the mechanical speed controller and radio gear sealed inside the mechanism box of the chassis while the battery was mounted externally in a transverse bottom loaded manner and held in place by a fiberglass plate. Eccentricities continued with the drivetrain as the pinion, spur, and bevel gear differential housed inside a gearcase that doubled as the rear bulkhead appeared to be standard fare, but the Hotshot featured an additional bevel gear and output which led to a hex-ended propshaft that ran forward to a double counter gear bevel differential to drive the front wheels. Ball bearing equipped output shafts and dogbones connected to single piece gold plated plastic wheels grasped by 12.50-20 Super Gripper R directional rear tires and 9.80-20 Supper Gripper R directional front tires. Crowning their 4wd achievement was a single seat lexan body with an external plastic roll cage and clip on lexan wing as well as a large front bumper, side battery guards, mechanical speed controller, Mabuchi RS540S motor, bushings, and Crash Cramer driver figure. Not only an influence on future Tamiya buggy's the Hotshot would also be revised as the Supershot for 1986 and Hotshot II in 1987: