The Mini 4wd thread!

[Raman36 1749]

On 7/29/2022 at 4:22 AM, Willy iine said:

Honestly I never understood the appeal of the Mini-yonku besides the cool looking cars themselves.  I mean at least with slot cars you have throttle control in real time.. even train sets.  

The closest resemblance is the Pula-rail (sp?), but even that has real time track selection where you can decide the train’s destiny..

Mini-yonku is like playing with Choro-Q that won’t stop until the battery dies.   and without a track it’s like chasing an Energizer bunny to no end.. (?)

My only useless contribution.. 

I’ll take it a step further.. nothing irritates me more when I see new releases on TamiyaBlog for Mini 4WD, And 0 on RC.  I just nod my head and cry why Tamiya, why

[Willy iine 18831]

10 minutes ago, Raman36 said:

I’ll take it a step further.. nothing irritates me more when I see new releases on TamiyaBlog for Mini 4WD, And 0 on RC.  I just nod my head and cry why Tamiya, why

Yeah, I tell myself their Mini-yonku sales generate budget for staffing, production, engineering and development, and this is all positive things in support for our RC.. 

Of course I could be completely disconnected from Tamiya’s realty . 

[alvinlwh 7419]

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[Bwaaatch 629]

2 hours ago, Raman36 said:

I’ll take it a step further.. nothing irritates me more when I see new releases on TamiyaBlog for Mini 4WD, And 0 on RC.  I just nod my head and cry why Tamiya, why

Wow! I know that’s a joke, but it’s a contender for the award for most extreme Tamiyaclub comment ever 😜 Still, I guess if that’s your maximum level of irritation then life must be pretty good!

Seriously though, I’m do recognise the feelings you’re articulating here, and I’m sure I have trigger topics, too. I know in the Lego community people worry about ‘slots’ being taken up with product lines they don’t enjoy, and this sounds similar.

But Mini Yonku don’t mean you any harm, @Raman36. Toys, they are.

(but also, they are not toys!)

😉

[Bwaaatch 629]

On 9/5/2022 at 5:28 PM, Busdriver said:

How do RC subs work then. I didn’t think they had to have a surface aerial?

This

 

On 9/5/2022 at 2:31 PM, Gabranth said:

If the water is shallow enough and antenna pipe is still above the water, will it work (assuming all other electronics are doing okay)?

BTW, that underwater mini4WD league is still ongoing

 

This reminds me of the Takara, amphibious Mini 4wd (the Gulltech) that is inspiring my current RC build. Went googling and discovered this cool promo vid (needs a vimeo or google login). Freakin love this! I have one of these (a clone brand, I think) somewhere in a box. Will have to dig it out.

 

 

[BuggyGuy 1143]

Another wet stage!

 

[Willy iine 18831]

@BuggyGuy Okay.. those folks have waaay too much time on their hands!       maji kayo..

[Gabranth 217]

(English sub available)

Three things I learned from that video

-Apparently mini4WD was (is?) very popular in Italy compared to other European countries

-That "Italian Roller" setting looks absurd but actually works

-Mini4WD with 7.4v battery is a deadly projectile

To put in context, Japanese mini4WD youtubers are having time attack challenge with no rules, hence crazy entries like this one with 3D printed chassis and definitely not competition legal battery

[alvinlwh 7419]

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[BuggyGuy 1143]

Well thanks to this thread I now have a Japan Cup 2021 Dual Ridge Jr on the way....

https://tamiya.com/english/products/95143/index.htm

Unfortunately that led to the ordering of the following:

https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/95145/index.htm

https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/95148/index.htm

https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/95144/index.htm

https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/95146/index.htm

Should be a fun little thing to fiddle with 

Will have to try and build a track in the spare room now

[alvinlwh 7419]

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[Gabranth 217]

Have you guys seen video from Tamiya official channel where they test mini4WD cars in Toyota GR Europe wind tunnel facility? I wish there is class or race type where aero does matter, because as of now it seems the only thing where bodyshell make a difference is the weight

 

[alvinlwh 7419]

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[Gabranth 217]

Yes, AR chassis has underside that (tried to) emulate real race car with diffuser and such. I kinda doubt it does anything though. The thing with mini4WD is that it's too small and the race is too short for any aero advantages to mattered. I envision some kind of long endurance race type where things like tire wear, heat management, and battery consumption comes into consideration. And if aerodynamic body only has miniscule per lap advantage over something like Brocken Gigant body, then a much longer race is where it can shine.

[alvinlwh 7419]

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[Bwaaatch 629]

Unfortunately I now can’t make the Mini 4wd race day In Gloucester, UK in November. But I’d love to encourage a good turnout. Here’s the link: https://mini4wd.uk/mini-4wd-racing-uk

Date is 12 Nov.

I’m sure lots of people here have only a passing interest and may not want to race competitively, especially when you can be easily out-spent and out gunned at the higher end. But these events do feature a ‘box stick’ class — like a silver can race, but no hop ups at all! — where it’s all about how well you greased your gears, trimmed your sprues, cycled your batteries and broke in your motor. No extra parts needed. That sounds like a great extra point, and hopefully a fun day.

I’m frustrated not to make it, but wish everyone a fun day!

[Gabranth 217]

On 10/11/2022 at 1:20 PM, alvinlwh said:

Sure, maybe you can always set up your own race series/rules where everyone uses batteries from the same pack/brand/make and race until it stops - OR - until one laps (ram) another. That will factor aero and tyre wear into it. Hmmm... An idea... 

I'm thinking of long endurance Le Mans style race where pit stops allowed to change batteries, tires, setup or do some repair, while any car that got out of course will be allowed to return but with heavy time penalty as long as they're not completely broken. With the current track that has lane change the difference in speed will make the cars bunched up in one lane eventually so yeah, need some redesign on the track to avoid that. It's a tall order, but if the community can come up with something like B-Max regulation or Street Mini4WD then I don't see why not.

[Gabranth 217]

Well it seems Google can read my mind as I keep getting this video in my recommended feed. Uploaded 12 years ago, the actual video looks like to be much older. A lengthy race with pit stops and "driver" change, close to what I envisioned. One of the kids even rebuild the entire gearbox mid-race.

 

[Bwaaatch 629]

8 hours ago, Gabranth said:

Well it seems Google can read my mind as I keep getting this video in my recommended feed. Uploaded 12 years ago, the actual video looks like to be much older. A lengthy race with pit stops and "driver" change, close to what I envisioned. One of the kids even rebuild the entire gearbox mid-race.

 

@Gabranth, search YouTube for ‘Dash Yonkuro English’ and you’ll find episodes of the 1988 carton. It’s great fun, and features a huge variety of (improbable) race types, including these kind of pit and rebuild affairs.

You’ll also get to see some cool RC action in several episodes, including some bullies being tricked into wrecking their RC Clodbuster thanks to the ingenuity of our hero, Yonkuro, and his Mini 4wd Boomerang.

[Gabranth 217]

4 hours ago, Bwaaatch said:

@Gabranth, search YouTube for ‘Dash Yonkuro English’ and you’ll find episodes of the 1988 carton. It’s great fun, and features a huge variety of (improbable) race types, including these kind of pit and rebuild affairs.

You’ll also get to see some cool RC action in several episodes, including some bullies being tricked into wrecking their RC Clodbuster thanks to the ingenuity of our hero, Yonkuro, and his Mini 4wd Boomerang.

I grew up watching Dash Yonkuro actually. The anime was aired during the first Mini4WD boom in my country, and I remember my family bought me and my brother a Manta Ray Jr. Black Special. I also enjoyed other anime like Lets & Go and Avante Bros manga, which introduced me to Avante and Vanquish RC. But yeah, the races were epic in those anime, I was kinda disappointed to see that most actual races only lasted 3 laps or something. However I've heard Mini4WD fans in Italy managed to make Street Mini4WD where you steer the car with a stick like in Dash Yonkuro becoming reality, so anything is possible.

[Bwaaatch 629]

Well this is a fun video! A (rather professional) team have put together this live action version of some standout moments from the 'Let's & Go' Manga for the early/mid-nineties. 

Manta Ray for the win!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJLz0s9GfbM

 

[alvinlwh 7419]

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[ad456 470]

@alvinlwh Is that all of the track ya bought or is there more?

[alvinlwh 7419]

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[ad456 470]

Cool, I did think you’d bought two indeed. Looks smart. Once I’m over this stupid cold or whatever it is I’ll have to pop over and see it.