Tamiya Mini 4WD Setup Guide

Introducing the foundation you want to know in order to enjoy mini 4WD setting!
Even though it says “to make Mini 4WD faster”, machine seasoning depends on the course, depending on the strategy, such as fast machine and fast machine in the corner. On this page, we introduce the basic knowledge useful for machine setting and custom for those who are planning to challenge mini 4WD!

motor catalog

The speed of the machine is controlled by exchanging the motor!
There are various types of motors such as those focusing on acceleration, those with emphasis on maximum speed, and average type, and when you replace, the characteristics of the machine will change drastically. For a course with many uphill slopes and corners, it is important to accelerate, and for a course with many straight lines, the highest speed emphasis is a standard, but which motor is the best is “course-dependent.” Regardless of which type you choose, if you replace the motor from a normal motor, the machine will be faster, but the speed of cornering will also increase, so the probability of course out when the parts other than the motor is the kit standard is greatly improved. When changing the motor, it is indispensable to upgrade the performance of the whole machine according to it.

■ Further fine tuning with gear exchange!
A gear set for setting is useful for finer tuning . It is possible to enjoy delicate tuning according to the course by combining with the motor, such as adjusting the acceleration-oriented motor slightly to emphasize the highest speed, putting importance on the motor with the highest speed priority for a bit, and acceleration power … and so on .

■ Tire & Wheel “Size” more finely!
Even with the same motor & gear setting you can adjust to “Focus on Acceleration” if you decrease the “Diameter of Wheel”, you can adjust to Maximum Speed if you enlarge. Furthermore, when attaching the tire thin, emphasis on acceleration, focusing on the highest speed if thicker. Motor type + Gear + Wheel diameter + Tire diameter. Let’s explore the best setting for the course by combining it well!

Check the mini 4WD motor!
Check the setting gear!

The axis of the rotating part is smooth!
By maintaining the rotating parts such as bearings and gears of rollers and shafts to move smoothly (with less frictional resistance), it improves to maximum speed, acceleration, cornering speed, and even running time. The basis for reducing frictional resistance is careful grease-up as per the explanatory diagram. Also, as garbage adheres during traveling, it is also important to periodically clean and grease up again. However, too much grease will itself become resistance, so be careful with overexposure. In addition, it is more effective to use high-performance grease such as “Mini 4WD F Grease (Fluororesin formulation)” or oil pen etc. which is smoother than Grease attached to the kit!

■ More smoothly with the introduction of a bearing!
If you aim for a smoother machine, where you want to think about bearing bearings where large friction occurs. Bearings that can be used for each part, such as gears, bearings, bearing loaded rollers, etc. are prepared, and by replacing these parts, frictional resistance can be greatly reduced.

Bearings & shaft list
F Ferris wheel
Watch the oilpen

Is not necessarily a fast grip tire fast?
In the actual race, the grip performance of the tire is emphasized, but soft tires to be gripped are tires with large frictional resistance when changing the point of view. With mini 4WD, the cornering speed will be reduced because the friction with the road surface at cornering increases with soft tires. But it is also true that cornering will stabilize as speed decreases. Do you run through as if you slide through the corners with a hard tire, or do you place emphasis on stability with soft tires? Would you also change the alignment of the front and rear left and right tires? . . The best setting will change depending on the course!

■ Grip changes even with tire width!
Width is important as well as softness. Even with the same tire, if the width of the tire (the part in contact with the road surface) becomes thinner, the frictional resistance will become smaller. A tire with a rounded ground surface like a barrel tire, although it looks wide, is only slightly in contact with the road surface. Therefore, the speed down in the corner is very small.

■ In addition, the grip changes even with the distance between the left and right tires! When
the distance between the left and right tires (tread) becomes wider, the frictional resistance at cornering increases due to the influence of the inner ring, more stable orientation (speed reduction at cornering) It becomes the setting of. Offset tread tire is a unique tire that can adjust the tread width according to the direction of installation. When used in combination with a barrel tire, it is possible to set three types of tread width, inside, middle (barrel tire), and outside.

Check tires & wheels for Mini 4WD!

Jump is controlled with brake & mass damper!
If the machine gets faster, you can also go out of the distance as the flight distance goes beyond the jump section. “Brake unit” and “mass damper” are helpful to prevent it. In the case of a brake unit, you can control the flight distance and flying attitude by controlling the speed before jumping, by adjusting the sliding condition of the sponge in contact with the road surface, the number (area) to be installed, height, and so on. And the impact of landing after jumping is controlled by the mounting position and weight (number of installed) of “mass damper”. Whether it is a weak brake & lightweight damper that can clearly clear the course, or is to be the first safety heavy brake & weight damper of safety. Even if you can clear the course safely, if you set the speed-oriented setting where rivals have taken risks … setting according to course and rival is important!

■ The best landing form depends on the course and the machine!
The basic condition of the landing is to landing on “a condition that can be accelerated quickly”. If the machine bounces after landing, it will be late to accelerate by itself, leading to time lost. Front soaking landing to the uphill slope and falling down to the descending slope are not easy to absorb the shock even with the mass damper, so be aware that the machine tends to bounce.

■ Determine which section is the most important Setting! If you
have more than one section jumping on the course and the landing point is flat, climbing uphill or downhill, finishing in a setting that determines the ideal landing in every section is very It Is difficult. In these cases, it is likely that the landing at which section is likely to affect the most time (eg, the straight after landing is long) or which section is the most dangerous (eg, there is a section that becomes unstable after landing) It is fundamental to judge and set the corresponding setting accordingly.

Look at the damper and related parts
Look for brake system parts

Light is justice! However…?
What is important in the world of racing is weight reduction of the machine. As the machine gets lighter, the burden on the motor will be lighter, so even with 1 gram of the same motor machine it is advantageous for lighter machines with either accelerating power or fastest elongation. Also, when weighing is done, it can not be missed that the position of the center of gravity changes. In general, the center of gravity is lower, more stable in the center is possible. For example, in a case where only the chassis is made lighter in weight and only the body has been reduced in weight, the center of gravity is lowered and the body is stabilized by lightening the body. Let’s remember that “To lighten things above” is the basis for weight reduction!

■ When the center of gravity changes, the attitude of the flight will also change! If the
weight of the machine is reduced, the position of the center of gravity will change, but if we reduce weight of only the bonnet of the body, for example, we will change the flight attitude during the jump . If you prepare several bodies with different weights and centroid positions, not only the look but also the range of the settings will expand.

Check body related parts!

Roller position and machine width are key!
Roller is indispensable to get through the corner smoothly with Mini 4WD. In the official competition, the number of rollers that can be installed is decided to be six pieces, and the running of the machine will change depending on the way of choosing these six rollers, the position to install (As of February 2018, the number of rollers is unlimited as a special rule It is becoming. One criterion is whether you can stand upright alone with a roller when you stand the machine sideways. There are many kinds of rollers with many types, and diameters, thickness, weight, biting to the wall (friction resistance) etc. are different, so let’s choose according to the course and machine.

■ The full width of the machine is up to 105 mm including the rollers! In the
official recognition competition, the full width of the machine is determined to be 105 mm including the roller. If you use a large diameter roller or combine FRP plates etc. to expand the full width of the machine, the machine will run inside the course rather than in normal condition and you can goal with a shorter mileage It is advantageous to broaden the whole width). However, since corners running inward become more tight, do not forget to set up accordingly!

Check it for the corner! Stay & roller!

It is also recommended to start with a set for beginners!
As introduced so far, it is the charm of the mini 4WD that you can enjoy various settings, but do not know where to put your hands … so do not worry. There is also an item called “Starter Pack” which is a set of high-performance motors, rollers, stays, mass dampers, brake units and basic upgrade parts and mini 4WD. There is also a “Fast Trial Parts Set” where basic upgrade parts such as rollers and mass dampers are prepared, and if you purchase it along with your favorite machine, you are ready to challenge for circuit running at once. It is also recommended to debut using these set items!