FWD

[Busdriver]

Looking through my cars I realised that I have most forms of RC cars apart from a true Monster truck like a Clod or a FWD car. For one reason or another the Clod route doesn’t appeal, however the M07 concept chassis kit looks good value. I have various sets of M chassis wheels and tyres, a torque tuned motor, servo and radio so all I need is the chassis and a body. I believe this chassis can be built in med & long format. So two questions? a) is the chassis good choice for tennis court bashing, and possible future postal racing and b) what are some suggestions for bodies that will fit? They need to be fwd, front engined cars, no Porsches or Beemers. I originally returned to the hobby to get a Mini Cooper, until I realised the cost. Possibly an mini pickup or van. L&L do both but not sure how good they are?

[alvinlwh]

Dare I suggest something totally different? 

It drives surprisingly well with a silver can, and is currently built to the LWB version. I have the NSU body on it at the moment. 

[sosidge]

M-07 is a race chassis but it would be fine on a well prepared tennis court.

There are loads of FWD bodies out there. For scale looks and known quality I'd start with Tamiya.

[Mad Ax]

The M07 is a capable chassis on the racetrack, although as far as I have been told (I haven't raced one) it takes more setting up to get it running nicely than an M05.  For tennis court bashing and postal racing, the point is moot - it will be a fun chassis for hacking around.  Low ground clearance is normal for M-chassis so if your tennis court has bits of gravel or rough surfaces, it might get thrown around a bit.  The M07 is much more touring-car-like in its design, being a major step away from the TL-style box chassis of the M03 and M05.

For what you're looking to do, there's not much to separate the M07 from the M05 - in other words, don't discount the older model for a basher if it's more economical to go that way.  The M07 doesn't come with a body, and as far as I can tell it doesn't come with motor or ESC either.  You are also limited to MWB and LWB with an M07, so you can't build a classic Mini (AFAIK the estate, pickup and van bodies are MWB or LWB).

You can buy the M05 with various scale bodies.  The Suzuki Swift is a great-looking scale body but IIRC it comes pre-painted in yellow (which might be a good or bad thing for you).  The Yaris GR is a hugely detailed body and looks fab.  There are some oddball RWD bodies sitting on the M05, but a good deal can be found on the MX5 if you want to trade the body for something else.  Tamiya's CRX body is another good looker, not sure if they're still available, and I think another company makes the later CRX.  HPI's old Civic body was a fave of mine, such a shame these aren't around any more, I don't think their classic Mini Cooper body is around either, which is a shame.  There are still a few older Swift bodies around if you hunt them down (I got an NIB one in 2020 for book price).

As you've spotted, L&L have got a fair supply of M-chassis style bodies in.  Another one work a look is Racecraft RC, they stock a range of M-chassis bodies.  Some of them are GT-style so not really FWD appropriate, but they work well on the racetrack so they sell well.

https://www.racecraftrc.co.uk/m-chassisbodyshells

Phat Bodies make a couple of classic Mini options if you want to go SWB with an M05.

[whahooo]

50 minutes ago, Busdriver said:

For one reason or another the Clod route doesn’t appeal

Do you need a reason?

 

You can make that out of a Clod, or a Agrios, or a TXT, or an Axial SMT10 or a MST MTX, or the Losi LMT.

 

Parma has an Schoolbus Body that would fit a Clodbuster just fine:

https://parmapse.shptron.com/p/1-10-school-bus-clear-040-body

 

But you can also make an Londonbus or something. I would love to see a red UK Bus on a Monstertruck Chassis!

 

Do you now have a reason?

 

[Willy iine]

My M03 continues to be my favorite FWD M-chassis by Tamiya. I have M05's and some sort of special version M05 and all, but at the end of the day M03 is the only car that was able to keep up with my Sabre M-chassis (TOP Racing) at the track. 

So I suppose if it does not have to be Tamiya, I would check to see if you can find a Sabre somewhere.  They are the best FWD m-chassis out there and I am highly subjectively biased with no scientific data to show.   

For bashing at a tennis court, any of the FWD m-chassis will do just fine, imho. 

[TurnipJF]

The short, tight tracks typically used in the postal racing are great equalisers when it comes to the equipment used. While on a normal indoor carpet track my M-07 is clearly superior to my M-05 and M-03, there is really not much difference between them when it comes to their potential for postal racing. (My closest suitable surface is smooth tarmac, but I see no reason why the outcome when driving on a tennis court would be different.)

As for MWB FWD bodies, my favorite so far is the Fiat 500. The rounded shape means that it seldom gets caught up on corner markers, and the curve of the windscreen and roofline means that if you roll it, there is a very good chance that it will go through a full 360 degrees and land on its wheels again, requiring less marshalling. Plus there are several non-Tamiya options from Matrixline and the like that are very close to genuine Tamiya quality but significantly cheaper, so you can have a genuine one for the shelf and a fake for running if you wish.

[Dakratfink]

Bitty Designs also makes a non licensed replica of the current 10th Gen Honda Civic hatchback ( based on the Type R ) If I ever get a FWD chassis I may get one because my wife’s daily 1:1 is a 2017 hatch with a mild tune, I would get that shell if I ever get a FWD chassis

[Busdriver]

1 hour ago, whahooo said:

Do you need a reason?

 

You can make that out of a Clod, or a Agrios, or a TXT, or an Axial SMT10 or a MST MTX, or the Losi LMT.

 

Parma has an Schoolbus Body that would fit a Clodbuster just fine:

https://parmapse.shptron.com/p/1-10-school-bus-clear-040-body

 

But you can also make an Londonbus or something. I would love to see a red UK Bus on a Monstertruck Chassis!

 

Do you now have a reason?

 

You try driving one every day!!!, believe me the shine soon wears off, and I’ve been off sick for just over a year!!!!

[alvinlwh]

40 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

As for MWB FWD bodies, my favorite so far is the Fiat 500. The rounded shape means that it seldom gets caught up on corner markers, and the curve of the windscreen and roofline means that if you roll it, there is a very good chance that it will go through a full 360 degrees and land on its wheels again

Funny you mentioned that, I just came back from a speed run with my NSU shell and it did a 720 and landed on its wheels and I just carried on. The scars on the GPS speedo shows that it actually saved the roof. (picture in the done what today thread) 

[Busdriver]

2 hours ago, alvinlwh said:

Dare I suggest something totally different? 

It drives surprisingly well with a silver can, and is currently built to the LWB version. I have the NSU body on it at the moment. 

Yes I did think about this. Paranoid about the customs man!!!

[Busdriver]

Thanks for all the input. Just looked at the Yaris. Wow that’s the one!!!! Anybody able to tell me the bearing count for M05 and are there any other things I need. Steel pinion obviously, any idea of options that make a real difference for a bit of bashing. Probably will only run with torque tuned motor 

[TurnipJF]

2 minutes ago, Busdriver said:

Thanks for all the input. Just looked at the Yaris. Wow that’s the one!!!! Anybody able to tell me the bearing count for M05 and are there any other things I need. Steel pinion obviously, any idea of options that make a real difference for a bit of bashing. Probably will only run with torque tuned motor 

Bearings, steel pinion and oil shocks are the essentials, alloy motor mount and steering assembly are also nice to have. To fully ballrace it, you'll want 12x1150s and 6x850s

[Willy iine]

6 minutes ago, Busdriver said:

Thanks for all the input. Just looked at the Yaris. Wow that’s the one!!!! Anybody able to tell me the bearing count for M05 and are there any other things I need. Steel pinion obviously, any idea of options that make a real difference for a bit of bashing. Probably will only run with torque tuned motor 

Apparently per below..

• (6)       5x8x2.5
• (12)       5x11x4

https://www.fasteddybearings.com/tamiya-m-05-chassis-sealed-bearing-kit/

M05 is a sound kit.. good for bashing.  

[Busdriver]

3 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

Bearings, steel pinion and oil shocks are the essentials, alloy motor mount and steering assembly are also nice to have. To fully ballrace it, you'll want 12x1150s and 6x850s

Which shocks does it need?

[TurnipJF]

1 minute ago, Busdriver said:

Which shocks does it need?

Super Mini CVAs work well - that is what I am running on mine.

[Busdriver]

10 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

Super Mini CVAs work well - that is what I am running on mine.

 

10 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

Super Mini CVAs work well - that is what I am running on mine.

Great fusion have everything in stock. What size pinion do I need?

[alvinlwh]

1 hour ago, Busdriver said:

Yes I did think about this. Paranoid about the customs man!!!

I had no issues with customs, I believe that since Brexit, they only target EU packages and >£135 packages. But I actually worked it out, it costs about £70 (depending on exchange rate of the day) delivered from HK, 20% VAT + 8% (?) customs duty + £8 RM "fine", will bring it to just below £100 (about £98), still excellent value when you consider what is inside and how much it will cost to bring a M-05 up to the same level. (I do kit have a M-07, so no comments on that) 

Just something for a change if you know what I mean. Since this one, I now also ordered a MST TCR-M to try out other options of the MTC sized chassis. 

[TurnipJF]

40 minutes ago, Busdriver said:

 

Great fusion have everything in stock. What size pinion do I need?

For a Torque Tuned, I'd go for the 20t option. 0.6 module as usual.

[Busdriver]

26 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

I had no issues with customs, I believe that since Brexit, they only target EU packages and >£135 packages. But I actually worked it out, it costs about £70 (depending on exchange rate of the day) delivered from HK, 20% VAT + 8% (?) customs duty + £8 RM "fine", will bring it to just below £100 (about £98), still excellent value when you consider what is inside and how much it will cost to bring a M-05 up to the same level. (I do kit have a M-07, so no comments on that) 

Just something for a change if you know what I mean. Since this one, I now also ordered a MST TCR-M to try out other options of the MTC sized chassis. 

I’ve worked out that if I go to fusion I can get the Yaris, super mini cva , bearings all for £114 as I have some fusion points to use up. I think I have 16,18 and 20t pinions in my spares.Or I could go for the M07 with most of the above included for about £110 then get a body. Downside can only do m& l bodies???

[alvinlwh]

29 minutes ago, Busdriver said:

I’ve worked out that if I go to fusion I can get the Yaris, super mini cva , bearings all for £114 as I have some fusion points to use up. I think I have 16,18 and 20t pinions in my spares.Or I could go for the M07 with most of the above included for about £110 then get a body. Downside can only do m& l bodies???

Really, it is up to you between a M-05 and M-07. I had built the M-05 and MG Evo so can compare between both. Here is my build thread with the list of hop ups, adding to double the ticket price of the kit. 

It is after totalling up the costs of my past few Tamiya builds that made me try something else. 

[Busdriver]

Just pulled the trigger on Yaris+ bearings+Super mini CVA's for £114 from fusion. The M07 looked cool but it worked out as almost exactly the same as the M05 without motor, wheels, tyres and a body. Added advantage of the M05 is I could build a Mini if I can find the right body.

[Willy iine]

Congrats, @Busdriver

Yes, cracks me up those Tamiya MiniCooper bodies cost like over $200 now..

I bought mine 6-7 years ago $30 shipped.  

[Willy iine]

@Busdriver  Maybe try Phat Bodies Cooper bodies in this case?   It's a 210mm wheel base and with your painting and assembly skills, I'm sure you can make them look real nice.  I believe they are in the UK.

[Grumpy pants]

20 minutes ago, Busdriver said:

Just pulled the trigger on Yaris+ bearings+Super mini CVA's for £114 from fusion. The M07 looked cool but it worked out as almost exactly the same as the M05 without motor, wheels, tyres and a body. Added advantage of the M05 is I could build a Mini if I can find the right body.