Questions about M18?

[Lee Carr]

Does any one know what Micro RS4 parts will fit on the Xray M18?

I know wheels and tyres will fit ;D But will the inner wheel set, springsbody posts etc....?

Why do you think Xray have opted to only having 2 width settings on the front and 2 on the back? compaired to HPI Micro RS4's 3 front ant 4 rear?

[Dynamite Arrows]

Hi, I have two of each car, but I still can't answer your question fully!.

Maybe Xray thought that only two widths were neccessary by looking at the widths the HPI drivers were normally using? Maybe two were never used? Looking at the two cars, the solid axle HPI Inner wheels are much further in than the independent M18 inner wheels. I don't think the rear are interchangable. The fronts might be?, it would depend o bearing sizes? etc. The body mounts are VERY similar, they might be a few thou different but one will probably adapt to the other.

The springs will NOT fit at all, the Xray shocks are much bigger, the shocks and or springs won't fit without fairly major modifictions.

The width issue could be down to bodyshells? HPI bodies may have a lot of different max widths?

I think the only things that are interchangable are the parts that Xray say in the advert. The wheels and tyres, motor. The cells are the same size but in a different format, the Xray pinions are much bigger than those on the Micro RS4. I think the body posts must be the only other things that might fit. I'd have to disassemble to see if inner wheels fitted.

[Lee Carr]

Thanks Peter for the reply ;D

I have just read the review of the M18 in Radio Control Car Action (March issue).

It says quote "The dog bones and yokes (but not the axles)are compatible with the Micro RS4's front universal axles" unquote.

It also says quote "The M18's drive train is so friction-free that you can literally make the tires spin just by blowing on the spur gear" unqoute :o

What do you make of this?

Which in your own preferance do you prefer between the two cars?

I personally like the idea of the enclosed gearboxes ;D

[Dynamite Arrows]

Hi, yes I read the RC Car Action piece yesterday, so those bits fit too.
I can't say I tried blowing the spur gear to turn over the transmission but I imagine it is true, I can see it working. The drive train is super free and the bonus is that the bearings only use light oil not thick grease.

In standard form the M18 is quicker into and out of the corners, it is very low to the ground, the radio is lower than the RS4. I actually have all my radio flat to the chassis, even the receiver. One downside to te M18, maintenance wise, is that unless you use the Xray speedo, to change the motor, you have to remove the speedo from its tape(if it's mounted next to the motor) the Xray one screws down to the chassis, so can easily be changed.

The plus points of the M18 over the RS4, are mainly the above plus the rear independent suspension and shaft drive makeit so good through the bends. The gearboxes you mention are brilliant substantial mouldings, very clever in design.

One thing other people have picked up on, is that if the Micro RS4 is modified it can compete on a virtually level field with the RS4. (I still think the M18 has it) If you make a chassis to mount all the radio low on the RS4, it will handle better, I still think the solid rear axle has it's drawbacks.

One thing we used to find, with the RS4 was that the belt and pulleys can pick up debris and radically affect the speed of the car, and that's still after vacuuming the track, that was a major pain with the RS4 in our experience, with the M18 it can't happen. The other thing I should mention about the M18, is that as well as the radio being fairly cramped, the steering servo must be a micro/mini servo, normal ones won't fit.

[Lee Carr]

Thanks again Peter for the reply.

I owned a RS4 Micro, but like you said found it was like a magnet to fluff and bits from the carpet

I think my minds made up now! I'm gonna get s/h one that I've seen for sale with the power pack?

I'm also thinking of entering some of the races just for the Xray cars, which was mentioned in RRCi