Similar to last year when MIP offered the ORV chassis ball differential as a special test-the-waters pre-order, this Hotshot ball diff pre-order will need to sell a minimum of 250 units before it will be approved for production by MIP. If they do not receive enough pre-orders, the project will be cancelled and future Tamiya products from MIP may be in jeopardy.
Last year the ORV ball differential pre-order was successful and the hope is that this pre-order will follow in the same footsteps.
Once again it is Alberto (Pintopower on TamiyaClub and TamiyaBase forums) who is leading the effort to get MIP to make these products.
Here is a link to his post on TamiyaBase regarding this pre-order: https://tamiyabase.com/forum/16-anything-else/19333-mip-prepared-to-build-ball-diff-for-hotshot-family
For convenience, here is a direct copy-and-paste from Alberto's first post in the thread on TamiyaBase linked above:
I wanted to let all the Hotshot owners in on the MIP ball diff update. MIP has the design completed for the Hotshot Ball diff! Here is where we are tentatively.
1. This will be moving forward with the presales campaign just like the ORV unit did.
2. The presales campaign will be discounted and include BOTH diffs for the Hotshot
3. The trans case will need a modification to work due to simplification of the diff. Without the mod, the diff cost would have been many times more than the projected cost.
4. Cost not finalized but will include the tools needed to make the modification
5. The is be focusing on the Rerelease version
6. The diff itself is compatible with all cars that use the HS diff but it is unknown what would be needed on a car like the Bigwig
7. This will not be sold through a distributor
8. Presales are planned to start the week before xmas and units are scheduled for shipment in mid February 2018 (recall that the orv units shipped early)
Cars that this should fit in are here (note that rere axles are different and therefore the cars will need updated units to work):
58047: Hotshot
58054: Super Shot
58055: The Boomerang
58057: The Bigwig
58062: Hotshot II
58066: Super Sabre
58391: Hotshot
58418: The Boomerang
57330: The Bigwig
We are using a rere and an original HS for these builds. Should you have a concern or feel there is an error with any statements I have said, it is critical that you let me know.
Please remember that these parts are designed, engineered, manufactured and mailed form Southern California. These are not trash parts. MIP is the last RC Car manufacturer that makes products in the USA.
This is what I need from you all. If you want this to come to fruition, I need everyone to splatter this information all over the web. Every forum, every FB page and every Instagram post. Remember, if you speak a different language, translate this! This is how we got the ORV diff into production.
In order to build this, MIP will need 250 orders in their presales campaign. You will need to pay for the units as before and when we hit 250, you will get yours as soon as production starts and units are completed. If this is a success, MIP is looking at other parts for the ORV (like telescopic driveshafts) and machined arms for the Hotshots. The only reason MIP is moving forward with this is the fact that the Blackfoot Diff was a massive hit. If we fail here, say good bye to anything else from MIP.
Remember, 250 units and we get some ball diffs for the Hotshot Line!
Like before, this will not succeed without you all. I will i keep you updated as I get more info.
As of this post, pre-order pricing does not appear to be known yet, so I would recommend checking the TamiyaBase forum thread regularly for more information as it becomes available. I will try to check for updates and post them, but I could miss important, timely information due to the holidays.
