TAMIYA AMERICA, INC
MINI 4WD LINE-UP
ABOUT MINI 4WD Tamiya introduced mini 4WD cars in 1982. A cement-free snap together kit, Tamiya Mini 4WD vehicles are basically “plastic model kits”. There are six series of Mini 4WD cars: The Super Mini 4WD series, the Fully Cowled Mini 4WD series, the Racing Mini 4WD series, the Aero Mini 4WD series, the Mechanical Mini 4WD series, and the latest series, Mini 4WD PRO. The Mini 4WD Pro series is built on the MS chassis. This vehicle features a revolutionary double shaft motor for a dramatically lower center of gravity and optimum balance. The nose, center and tail units latch together to form a box-type structure, which dramatically improves durability and rigidity, while ensuring stability and high speeds. This new series features a twin motor shaft that transmits power directly to both front and rear wheels, which removes the need for a propeller shaft and balancing the motor chassis layout. The newly developed MS chassis is designed with a 3-part detachable chassis that can be tuned-up with a wide range of separately available Hop Up parts to improve and customize performance. All of the Mini 4WD kits have upgrade parts, which are available for performance improvements. For example, using optional ball bearing helps to minimize friction loss and utilize motor power more efficiently. By selecting the right Hop Up parts, you can enhance the performance of your car or the stability in curves during acceleration. Besides enhancing performance, you can customize your Mini 4WD to make it special and unique. Be creative while “tuning up” your car. Try cutting material out of your car to make it lighter or painting it with vivid colors. Tamiya Mini 4WD’s give you the excitement of racing as if you were the car designer, engineer and racecar driver. Mini 4WD’s are reasonably priced and can be considered a learning experience for many kids. They are easy-to-assemble and a great first time hobby for kids and adults. It is something a parent and child can do together. By assembling their own cars and racing them, children gain a sense of creativity and pride. The true appeal of Mini 4WD’s can be found in racing them. Many 4WD fans compete in events put on by local retailers. The excitement of Mini 4WD racing is not just making them go fast, but in analyzing and improving your car. This is what sets Mini 4WD racing apart from other activities for kids and has made it one of the fastest growing hobbies in the world.
! O R P D W h Mini 4
it w n u f e Hav
Japan Cup Jr. Circuit
You can unleash your speed machines on this giant three-lane oval course
Mini 4WD Oval Home Circuit The two-lane course is perfect for enjoying Mini 4WD at home!
These Mini 4WD circuits are made according to the same specifications as the Tamiya Offical Race Circuits. Track can be made bigger with extensions or by joining numerous tracks.
There a re to play even ways off the track!
Game #1
Even without a course, you can use your Mini 4WD Pro for many types of games. Below are a few games that use the vehicle’s straight line performance.
The Long Jump
This is a contest to see who can jump the farthest. You can change the starting point, motor and gears to get different distances.
Game #2
Bowling Contest
See who can knock down the most cans. Add more cans or launch from farther away to make it more challenging.
*Please play in a safe, open area. Unexpected accidents can occur when playing near people.
You can make a barrier with cards, or blocks.
MINI 4WD BASIC KNOWLEDGE You can enhance the performance of your Mini 4WD by using many of Tamiya’s upgrade parts, which can provide increased power or faster speeds. In order to do this, you will need to understand the basic elements of Mini 4WD vehicles. 1. Motor The installation of a tune-up motor is the best way to increase the speed of your car. There are eight kinds of motors available as upgrades. All of them achieve higher performance than the standard motor included in the kit. It is essential to select the right motor since some are designed for top speed, while others are geared more for cornering. 2. Gear Ratio At a given motor’s output, top speed and acceleration are determined by the gear ratio. In comparison, between a 4:1 gear ratio and a 5:1 gear ratio, the smaller 4:1 ratio is more suitable for speed oriented circuits, while the bigger 5:1 produces more acceleration.
3. Tires Tires play an important part when it comes to your car’s performance. Take into consideration tire weight, diameter, and width, to determine what type of tire will work best for the course you will be running. Difference in Diameters Small Diameter: Good for a quick start, but not for top speed. Small diameter tires lower the center of gravity and help your car corner better. Large Diameter: Good for top speed and suitable for long straights. Better shock absorption for bumpy course joints.
Difference in width Wide Tires: Provide stability during cornering. Good for technical courses with banking curves and ups and downs. Narrow Tires: Good for long straights. Less drag on the motor, which may give the advantage of longer run times.
Performance Differences Among The Various Gear Ratios Different gear ratios are available for all chassis. Use a small ratio for high speed courses and a bigger one for technical courses with many curves. Set up the gears according to the track you are racing on.
Difference in Material Rubber: Weighs more than the sponge type, but grips better. Useful for jumps and lower center of gravity. Sponge: Weighs less than rubber type, but has a lower grip characteristic. Reston: Lighter than the regular sponge type and has better gripping. Can be used on all kinds of wheels. Tire Maintenance Use transparent tape to clean your sponge tires. Clean rubber tires with an eraser and remove the eraser pieces with tape.
4. Wheels Wheels, as well as tires, play an important role in tuning up your car. There are various types with different diameters and structures. Select the right one for your application. Most types can be used on any Mini 4WD; however, if you have a Fully Cowled Mini 4WD, body modification will be required if you use anything other than the standard, small-diameter type wheels. Type of Wheels Small Diameter Type: Narrow Wheels (which are standard for the Fully Cowled Mini 4WD), Wide Super LowHeight Wheels and Wheels for semi-pneumatic tires. Large Diameter Types: Included in a Super Mini 4WD snap kit. A lot of designs are available. Pick one that appeals to you. One Way Type: Light One Way Wheels, Wide One Way Wheels, Low Height One Way Wheels, Narrow One Way Wheel. Normal Wheel vs. One Way Wheel Normal: The speed of the wheels on both sides of a car is the same. This is good for the straights; however, the outer wheel tends to be dragged during cornering and this may slow your car down. One Way: The outer wheel rotates faster than the inner wheel does, which ensures smooth cornering and is preferred for technical courses with many curves. 5. Rollers Rollers are a must when racing on walled circuits. Altering the rollers will enable you to set up your car for the demands of any track. Key points in using rollers are their size, location and angle. Make sure you have clearance between the rollers and the body tires. Any contact will slow your car down or even damage parts. Most races have regulations concerning the number and size of rollers. Also the position and size of the rollers can affect your overall length and width of your Mini 4WD. Check the local regulations to make certain that your car is in compliance before you race.
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