TOPIC:

Edou wrote:

TommieG wrote:

Btw The reason I suspected this to be a early mk1 part is that the job lot came with a mk1 bumper and some mk1 arms as well.

Are the holes in the arms maybe also smaller?

I'll have to check that when I get home from work.

Tom

The grooves for the balls in the mk1 front suspension arms are of the same size as in the mk2, rere etc.

Okay, thanks. I've been checking the other uprights released before the Hotshot.
Looks like it is also not part of a "red batch" from an earlier model...

A little bit more info:
The odd uprights are threaded for balls with 3mm screws, while the screws on the "normal" balls are 4mm.

After studying the Hotshot mk1 manual that Lars have uploaded here:

www.tamiyabase....anual.html

I believe we can conclude that the odd uprights I have indeed are mk1's, thus meaning that we can add the front uprights and balls to the list of differences between the mk1 and mk2 Hotshot.

If you see on page 7 in the mk1 manual, the threads for the balls are tapped with a 3mm screw, instead of the 4mm wheel axle stated on the same page of the mk2 manual.



This in on par with my observations studying the parts, as mentioned earlier in the thread.

Now where the heck can I get me some of the mk1 balls

Thanks to Lars for scanning and uploading the mk1 manual.

Aha! Mystery solved... a part unique to the Hotshot.
But also a very particular size ball end.

Not cheap but these might be worth investigating :

Thanks Edou,
I bought one of each of those bags, just in case.....

I'm also waiting for the mailman to bring me these:


Not Tamiya parts, but vintage hop-ups. These balls are mounted with seperate screws, that looks suspiciously like 3mm screws....

Great item. I love hop ups but even more when they're vintage.
Here's another pic with a clear shot of the thread :


I think you're safe with both purchases.

I got the Thorp balls today, and they fit!

I now have mk1
-front arms (NIP)
-rear arms (NIP)
-front uprights (like new)
-Thorp balls (NIP) -waiting for some Tamiya ones (NIP) that I hope will fit as well
-bumper stay (like new)
-bumper (lightly used)
-bumper plate (lightly used)

Seems like I'll have to put together another Hotshot, so I'll better start searching for yet another of those badword propeller shafts and some driveshafts (I only have one spare of those).