Pushing more...! (tshot2)

Up and running original Thundershot.

This model needed the following work to be done

Approx. half the screws needed replacing
New steering servo
New steel pinion
New A5 front brace
New XT-12 Modelsport ESC
New 14T etronix motor (swapped with other Tshot)
New orange 2.4ghz RX
New ball bearings

Used parts needed to be changed over inc.
Swapped original front and rear hubs for later models
(will keep these safe!)

2x triangle wheel mounts
1x rear gearbox half
1x Diff case (original owner had used 3mm screws!)
1x rear bumper half
1x driver/chassis cover (havent got a proper benny head though!)
Front shock tower replaced
Both front shock supports replaced
1x shock piston rod (original was bent)
Body needed shoo goo repairs
Front stabilizer needed bending back into shape
Added additional 3mm washers for stress relief on chassis
Flipped blue arms over to hide scratched sides
Tyres had all split on both sides, so superglue then shoo goo splits

All done and goes like a rocket

UPDATE 05/08/2014
A front wheel suffered a breakage from fatigue, epoxy-ied it back together!

UPDATE 26/10/2014
I thought a front bearing had gone, but upon inspection a front upright had split!

UPDATE 15/11/2014
One of the bald tyres finally gave out, so I swapped all of them for another used set that had more knobbles!

UPDATE 19/11/2014
After 50+ hours of running, the 14t motor has given up, its had a lot of running but its still not lasted as long as a genuine tamiya one

UPDATE 01/12/2014
Just for fun I am using an old tatty Thunder Dragon body to mix it up a bit! (body now sold)

UPDATE 03/12/2014
New RZ 23T tamiya super stock motor arrived and installed

UPDATE 12/02/2015
A side impact smashed a battery retainer to pieces, a clean up is also required!
A triangular wheel piece also broken, bonded back together!

UPDATE 10/03/2015
While driving, it seems a front wheel is buckled!? Needs a closer look
While cleaning, the ESC switch fell apart, so its been sent off to Modelsport for repair

UPDATE 18/03/2015
Superb warranty service by modelsport, esc fixed, back up as a runner
Changed the buckled front wheel!
New updated pics showing painted driver head and looking a lot dirtier!

UPDATE 25/04/2015
Another front wheel looked buckled, upon inspection the other upright had split in two
28 years (possibly) isn't bad! Changed and regreased shafts and cups and cleaned and refilled oil shocks,
one shock screw was bent! so replaced as well
Replaced wheel with another oldie...

UPDATE 27/04/2015
MAD-BEE kindly let me in on his secret to getting a few extra mph out of his cars!
Cornish flags! I had doubts let me tell you! but after paypal-ing a weeks wages over to him he kindly
despatched some flags for me to try!

Unbelieveable! they do the trick, the Tshot seems much faster now!
Thanks again James! ;-) ;-)

UPDATE 27/05/2015
A rear wheel flew off and upon investigation it was caused by the vibration of a bent drive shaft, so drive shaft replaced

UPDATE 08/06/2015
Cleaned the Tamiya RZ motor commutator and replaced the brushes

UPDATE 02/07/2015
Tried all round DF03 wheels and tyres, ok, very grippy...it ultimately was less fun than original wheels
and tyres and no chance of any power sliding so sold them on!

UPDATE 25/07/2015
Both previously repaired front wheels (due to plastic fatigue) broke again today, so replacements were installed

UPDATE 20/09/2015
Todays run revealed a slight change in handling, which upon inspection seems to be down to the front
shock was loose and had lost most of it's oil
A shock clean and rebuild was completed (all 3), a clean and regrease of shafts and joints was also carried out
Joints and shafts showing real signs of wear now so won't be too long before all need replacing

UPDATE 22/09/2015
The front lower arms are slightly warped (as they do), so added washers to stop slop like rear

UPDATE 08/12/2015
Noticed a small crack in the front gearbox, maybe soon will be time to call on the backup
and put this aside for strip down...

UPDATE 13/12/2015
Todays run went ok apart from plastic fatigue on a front wheel, replaced with another
old spare (I had knocked it a few times before it failed!)
The motor seems to have stopped, looks like the bit that was left on the brushes
finally wore down in the rain and puddles, needs inspection

UPDATE 14/12/2015
This Thundershot is 'not in service', NIS
After 100+ hours of running, will now be stripped completely and re-built
Tshot 4 will become main runner to start 2016

UPDATE 30/03/2016
Well tshot4's motor didn't last long so this tshot is back already as main runner!
transferred across electrics, body and wheels
I had no s/h left uprights in stock,so used a right sided one, flipped over
It works but introduces a bit of bumpsteer!

UPDATE 10/04/2016
During todays run I lost an old wheel nut and the nearside front bald tyre split due to running on rough tarmac!

UPDATE 17/07/2016
After todays run the motor stopped working...
Cleaned comm then installed new brushes
Not bad that it continued on from last December, 50+hours on those brushes...

UPDATE 01/09/2016
New set of tyres and wheel nuts installed, long overdue!

UPDATE 16/04/2017
After todays run a rear driveshaft had bent, replacement installed

UPDATE 17/04/2017
New rear tyres and wheels installed

UPDATE 26/05/2017
After numerous runs while taking advantage of the weather, inspection shows gearbox joints and shafts are on the brink of failing and motor brushes down to minimum, looks like a full overhaul will be needed soon

UPDATE 02/11/2017
A service was required
Gearbox joints and drive shafts replaced, very worn
Cleaned up all shocks and replaced all o rings
Installed new 13t steel pinion to replace 15t, will help motor brushes last even longer

UPDATE 29/12/2018
Another service for the Thundershot
Cleaned up shocks and drive shafts/cups
New tyres installed
A few new pictures at the end

UPDATE 10/05/2020
Yesterday took a trip to the local clearing, a bit of loose gravel and lots of undulating jumps later.....
3 bent driveshafts, 2 body pins lost and all round maintenance needed......

UPDATE 10/11/2020
Approx. 150-170 hours run time through this model since rebuild in 2014.
Tyres bald again, another clean up and new pics soon, plastic steering arms worn and wobbly but still do the job!

UPDATE 14/01/2021
Looking over the buggy etc one of the rear body post broke through plastic fatigue so now is the time to demote to project, repair and clean up....

UPDATE 30/01/2021
Repaired, replaced body mount and both wheel hubs (found one split), cleaned up and regreased shafts, tyres haven't got long left, getting very thin

UPDATE 24/03/2021
Good run today, however skidded into a boulder and bent the anti roll bar (again!) So bent it back and flipped it over....all good

UPDATE 11/04/2021
Today the buggy did not move but the steering did.
I haven't cleaned the com for a while so got it setup to clean and change the brushes, nothing!
I then spotted the esc switch had failed and was intermittent, so replaced the switch, sorted the motor, tested and saw the centre prop was like a banana! Replaced it and all is good again

UPDATE 16/04/2021
Esc failed again, it won't complete setup, I wanted a trident xt-20 esc but I'll have to wait because it's on back order.....

UPDATE 24/04/2021
Trident XT-20 arrived and installed, all tested, back on the road......

UPDATE 04/07/2021
Front tyre split today....Approx. 200 hours in total running time now from 2014
Will schedule a clean up and new tyre set soon

UPDATE 12/07/2021
Upon inspection with the split tyre both F parts were split so replaced. Chassis cover split so shoo gooed, replace wheel nuts and cleaned shocks and drive shafts