288LikesTamiya mini cooper
01-04-2012, 08:00 PM
so what are the differences between the M05 and M03, yes the M03 is longer and can be shortened but what else?
I know I can still get a M03 (even if Jim is hoarding them all
) just dont know if thats a better way to go than the M05
I know I can still get a M03 (even if Jim is hoarding them all
) just dont know if thats a better way to go than the M05
01-04-2012, 08:34 PM
The M03 is not longer ... it just depends on what M03 kit you buy . It comes as short, medium or long but all M03 kits can also be built short
The M05 kit can do all 3 lengths
When first released the M05 was a bit harder to get your head around the setup but now I think it is a far better car to race. At some of the fastest Mini racing at TITC in Thailand it is all M05 !!!!
01-05-2012, 12:50 AM
01-05-2012, 01:07 AM
All MWB and LWB ..... but being SWB doesn't mean that the M03 will be faster. It is all about understanding your car 
If you want to see the handling look at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6lWCrFZw4Y
If you want to see the handling look at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6lWCrFZw4Y
Last edited by cannon; 01-05-2012 at 01:20 AM.
01-05-2012, 01:22 AM
Tech Addict
As if they only want collectors/fanboys to buy these things
01-05-2012, 04:04 AM
Y'know, it's not that I hate 4wd minis. I think they have their place in the mini pantheon. It's just that Tamiya's decision makers really need to get their heads out of their asses. After giving us the M-05, which was a tough nut to crack for some, they foisted the over/under engineered M-06 on us. The M-06 - a car with more screws in the gearbox than an entire M-03. Smooth move. (Of course, we all ran out and bought one.) Now I'm back to an M-03 and loving it, as are half the racers I know. I'm hoarding M-03 chassis, btw.
Anyway, Tamiya's busy re-issuing 20-30 year old crap at us , reinventing the wheel, in an M chassis sense, and all the while they're planning this thing. And what is the deal with this anyway? 380 motor? LiFe batteries? The whole flipping world is using 540s and LiPos and they believe this to be a good idea?
Maybe it is the future and I'm getting old(er) and cranky, but the argument
I've frequently heard about 4wd minis, LiFe batteries and 380 motors being hot in Thailand doesn't mean much to most of the world, especially here on the other side of it. We get 30-40 guys at the local clubs running minis and we've all settled in nicely with what we've got...yup, I'm old.
I have to admit, however, that I have been fascinated by 380BL motors recently and how much weight I could shave off my Xevo using one. I've got it down to 934g now, ready to race.
Jim
Anyway, Tamiya's busy re-issuing 20-30 year old crap at us , reinventing the wheel, in an M chassis sense, and all the while they're planning this thing. And what is the deal with this anyway? 380 motor? LiFe batteries? The whole flipping world is using 540s and LiPos and they believe this to be a good idea?
Maybe it is the future and I'm getting old(er) and cranky, but the argument
I've frequently heard about 4wd minis, LiFe batteries and 380 motors being hot in Thailand doesn't mean much to most of the world, especially here on the other side of it. We get 30-40 guys at the local clubs running minis and we've all settled in nicely with what we've got...yup, I'm old.
I have to admit, however, that I have been fascinated by 380BL motors recently and how much weight I could shave off my Xevo using one. I've got it down to 934g now, ready to race.
Jim
Imho as I said to you last year, I think Tamiya is using LiFe because it won't flame up like LiPos can. Liability issue just in case they supply the battery with the kit which they have done before. But the real issue that Tamiya should have realized with the battery problem is lack of space for a regular sized one.
As for the 380 motor who knows what Tamiya was thinking. Maybe they have a bunch of left over ones from the Tamtechs.
Tamiya should have worked off of the 30th anniversary Porsche which had 230mm wheelbase but used 540 motors and regular sized batteries.
Oh I've been hoarding the m03 chassis too. And where are you getting the black version?
Last edited by Sydewynder; 01-05-2012 at 04:15 AM.
01-05-2012, 04:20 AM
@Tony Gray/Tim K
Good 1st part write up. Ya know if rc-mini gives it a good review it'll probably sell well otherwise Tamiya might as well list it as "Discontinued" right now.
Good 1st part write up. Ya know if rc-mini gives it a good review it'll probably sell well otherwise Tamiya might as well list it as "Discontinued" right now.
01-05-2012, 08:33 AM
Looks like Tamiya Canada had some stuff collecting dust. Last I saw there was one left. I may have to snag it. So much cooler than the grey version.
01-05-2012, 08:44 AM
380 systems have their issues, for example:
last night i was running my 4wd mini (abc genetic 210mm wb) with a 540 bl system, vs and traxxas rally 1/16 (225mm wb) with a 380 bl system, both fdr's were very close.
after 6 minutes or so my 540 system was cool to the touch and the 380 was too hot. i was way faster out of the corners, his top end was way too high.
380 systems are a much higher kv so they have much less torque and need to work alot harder to get up to speed. that top speed is alot more, but we all know what too much top end is like, not good.
thats not to mention the difference in run times, i could run for almost an hour (and still be cool to the touch), he could only run for 10-15 minutes (due to the tiny lipo vs my 4000mah full size 2s), but he was heat limited so he couldn't do that without damaging the motor.
380's spin too fast and have too little torque IMHO, and are much less efficient then 540 systems.
m chassis may be small but they are still near 1/10 weight, 380 systems are really intended for the 1/18 scales. again IMHO, as i have no data other then temps, ratios and runtimes.
last night i was running my 4wd mini (abc genetic 210mm wb) with a 540 bl system, vs and traxxas rally 1/16 (225mm wb) with a 380 bl system, both fdr's were very close.
after 6 minutes or so my 540 system was cool to the touch and the 380 was too hot. i was way faster out of the corners, his top end was way too high.
380 systems are a much higher kv so they have much less torque and need to work alot harder to get up to speed. that top speed is alot more, but we all know what too much top end is like, not good.
thats not to mention the difference in run times, i could run for almost an hour (and still be cool to the touch), he could only run for 10-15 minutes (due to the tiny lipo vs my 4000mah full size 2s), but he was heat limited so he couldn't do that without damaging the motor.
380's spin too fast and have too little torque IMHO, and are much less efficient then 540 systems.
m chassis may be small but they are still near 1/10 weight, 380 systems are really intended for the 1/18 scales. again IMHO, as i have no data other then temps, ratios and runtimes.
01-05-2012, 08:55 AM
My LHS got a bunch of chassis in a while back and among the shipment were some black one. They were packed in one of Tamiya's old style parts bags, with the printing on the plastic itself with no cardboard top piece.
Looks like Tamiya Canada had some stuff collecting dust. Last I saw there was one left. I may have to snag it. So much cooler than the grey version.
Looks like Tamiya Canada had some stuff collecting dust. Last I saw there was one left. I may have to snag it. So much cooler than the grey version.
01-05-2012, 08:58 AM
01-05-2012, 01:15 PM
Tech Elite
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Melbourne, Australia. Home of rc-mini.net
Posts: 3,549
Trader Rating: 7 (100%+)
You don't want to know how many I've got....
01-05-2012, 06:45 PM
Tech Initiate
Thanks for the reply. Its front wheel drive, just curious abot the rwd option. Can't wait to race it and I'm sure the giys at the track will have some tips.
Chuck
01-05-2012, 06:47 PM
All MWB and LWB ..... but being SWB doesn't mean that the M03 will be faster. It is all about understanding your car
If you want to see the handling look at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6lWCrFZw4Y
If you want to see the handling look at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6lWCrFZw4Y
what systems were they running in those? and they seem to corner very well for what they are.
01-05-2012, 09:57 PM
My LHS got a bunch of chassis in a while back and among the shipment were some black one. They were packed in one of Tamiya's old style parts bags, with the printing on the plastic itself with no cardboard top piece.
Looks like Tamiya Canada had some stuff collecting dust. Last I saw there was one left. I may have to snag it. So much cooler than the grey version.
Looks like Tamiya Canada had some stuff collecting dust. Last I saw there was one left. I may have to snag it. So much cooler than the grey version.
Only m03 chassis I really want wasn't "plated" by Tamiya was it Tony Gray?