Tamiya 58517 - 1/10 RC Super Hotshot 2012 4WD buggy kit, shaft-driven 4WD chassis  [58517]

Tamiya 58517 - 1/10 RC Super Hotshot 2012 4WD: a shaft-driven revisit of a historic buggy layout

The Super Shot name traces back to a mid-1980s release; this reissued Tamiya 58517 Super Hotshot 2012 carries that lineage into a 1/10 scale assembly kit. The model retains the original layout priorities: a shaft-driven 4WD drivetrain, four-wheel double wishbone suspension, and an emphasis on mechanical clarity rather than ultralight competition packaging.

Chassis and drivetrain characteristics

The chassis follows the classic shaft-driven architecture that defines the Super Hotshot lineage. Drive is routed through a central shaft to front and rear differentials, giving a mechanical feel and serviceability familiar to builders who have worked on revival kits. The basic layout supports heavy-duty components such as full ball bearings and a GT-tuned can-style motor.

Suspension and damping

Four double wishbone arms and four oil-filled dampers provide the suspension foundation. The kit specifies oil dampers rather than friction-type units, giving a conventional damping approach for a model of this design era. A chassis under guard is present to protect the lower profile and keep routing tidy when running over mixed surfaces.

Wheels, tires, and bodywork

Visually the package leans into period detail: spiked tires mounted on gold-plated wheels, a polycarbonate body shell and a matching rear wing. Those elements reinforce the model’s intended look and scale presence, offering a display-ready silhouette once assembled and trimmed.

Mechanical inclusions and intended audience

The kit ships with a full ball bearing complement and a Tamiya GT-Tuned Motor (25T). This combination, paired with the shaft-driven 4WD layout and oil-filled dampers, positions the kit toward hobbyists who prefer hands-on assembly and a mechanically faithful reproduce of a classic buggy rather than a turnkey racer.

The Tamiya 58517 Super Hotshot 2012 4WD is a deliberate revival of a classic shaft-driven buggy, presented as a 1/10 assembly kit that emphasizes period-correct mechanics and hands-on assembly for hobby builders and collectors.