New to Micro

[Glen Anderson]

Hi guys. Im new to these boards and I am curently looking into buying an xray M18 but want to find out a bit more information about micro racing in general first. I used to race 1/10th touring cars and am curently running a B4 in summer, the M18 will be for winter racing.

The main things I would like to find out are:

- What tires are normally used on carpet? What is the best type of tire to use? eg. Orion Med Foam (not combinations of two types)

- What battery pack configurations are used? 6.0/ or 7.2v? Li-Ion or Ni-Mh?

- What motors are normally used?

- What servo is normally used in the M18 or are there a few different ones?

- Can anybody tell me where I can find a list of all xray option parts with prices?

I know there are no official rules for micro cars at the moment but Im asuming that there are unwritten rules like everybody using a particular battery configuration and so on.

Thanks in advance for any help given.

[Dynamite Arrows]

Hi Glen, Not keen on the rubber front foam rear tyres then - I'm not too keen either!

From what I gather, the Xray kit rubber tyres grip pretty well on primatrack carpet. Xray have also recently made a softer tyre which could work well?

I currently run Orion Medium foams on the back and HPI Carpet rubber tyres on the front. I'm not keen on this configueration, but it works on the track and I have found it to be the fastest combination I've tried so far. I realise if there we're any rules, this would not be allowed for a few reasons! I've been told that I am actually overdriving the front wheels as they are fractionally larger than the rear tyres.

I will be trying some Orion hard foams or Medium foams to match the rears and go on the front. The rears are fantastic, they really plant the rear of the car - I don't think any other rears can match them. They do put some strain on the motor though as Mario Hudy has said in press releases. So long as the foam front grip enough to steer and not oversteer then it will be good.

The standard battery pack for the M18 is the 6 volt five cell pack, which places the cells side by side in the chassis between the posts. At our club we have always raced with six cells and 7.2 v in the HPI Micro RS4, so we automatically went straight for the 7.2 v Six cell option. It is a fairly straight forward practice to put six cells in the standard car, all you need to do is build up a set of six cells in two sticks of three. These just fit in exactly the same place as the stock six volt pack.

There is currently a governing body (in the US??) called IMCRA, who HAVE set up a large set of rules for the cars, however these have not been internationally accepted as yet.

Basically their rules propose that people run five cells with a 180 size motor or six cells with a big bore 280 size / speed 300 type motor.

I think Xray followed this when they issued the car to suit five cells and advise a 180 motor being used. Our club and at least one other in the UK stick to the 180 motor but with six cells - mainly because this is how the HPI cars have been run for the last 2 years plus.

Xray recommend a 180 motor to be used in the kit chassis, at our club we have three M18's running - two run with the HPI Micro Modified motor and one with the Mabuchi 180 type. (The HPI Micro Modified motor is a 180 sized can, but is a modified)

In the M18 there is only sufficient space to fit a Micro type of servo -
Xray provide a servo in the 'Power Pack', there is also the Hitec HS-81 MG. At the moment I am trying to find an alternative to the Hitec, I've found them - but there appears to be no market for the ones I've chosen. (See separate thread, I have been waiting 2 months plus for one and 1 month plus for another!) The Hi-tec is a nice price and pretty reliable. Alternatively the Power Pack from Xray includes all you need apart from a receiver and transmitter (but the ESC is only made for a 180 motor)

I'm not sure if the Xray M18 option parts are listed with prices on a UK site, probably - I know they are definitely listed on Serpent's website with prices in US dollars.

Apart from running with the six volt battery that people run in the Xray - most drivers overseas race with a stick pack of 7.2 v see www.one18th.com for more info on the cells.

Hope this helps - I will change my tyres soon, it's a bit daft running with foam one end and rubber the other (hey it works though??!!)

There is also the IMCRA website at www.imcra.org (absolutely loads of information on Micro racing, cars, tracks and more!)

hope this helps!

[Glen Anderson]

Thanks for taking the time to make that reply.

If using Rubber tyres on the front works best with Orion Med Rears a Hard Front Med Rear Combo should work well I think.

So as far as cells are concerned 7.2v is what is used. Im not quite sure I understand how the 7.2v pack fits in the m18. Got any pics?

Im asuming the Orion Motors (other than the big block) are also 180 size. Do people use the Orion Micro Modified Motor, the coreless one? Or do people tend to run the brushed motors instead?

Is the servo xray supply adequete or is it not upto scratch? I read that it does not work with the KO 301 reciever but I think it would only not work if you use the 301 with a high speed transmitter, can anybody confirm this?

Thanks for the info. It has certainly made things clearer for me. :)

::EDIT::

So far I think I will be getting:

Xray M18
Orion Micro Modified Motor (unless there is something better)
7.2v Li-Ion battery pack
Micro Servo
Orion Foam tyres

Will use my LRP quantum speedo and KO radio.

Would I be able to race at most meetings with this set up?

Only things I think would cause problems would be the Motor (being coreless) and using a Li-Ion pack.

[Dynamite Arrows]

I think the Xray servo, could be a better bet than the Hitec - but can't comment as I haven't tried one - I know it's not compatible with everything.

Take a look at this link to a VERY early pic of my M18 taken at the begining of December, before my M18 ran or was finished!

http://www.one18th.com/showtoy.php?id=1406

This is my car with a made up pack of six 2/3 cells of the standard size micro cells. Basically they are arranged as a miniature version of the Tamiya Racing Pack - as supplied with most basic deals. They just look like a miniature Tamiya pack! They only just fit! not 1mm to spare!!

I forgot to say the cells are Nimh - The best cell by far to run in Micro is known as the KAN 1050 mAh - It knocks spots off any other and that's when it's not even matched - plus they are cheaper than the Orion packs. They are available through a well known model flight battery supplier. At the moment I don't think Orion do cells for the M18, only the HPI Micro RS4.

It's strange how so many people wonder how the six cells, fit straight in the chassis! On the One18th website, there are lots of pictures of chassis with these cell layouts.

Never tried an Orion micro motor, lots of people do though, but as you say - it depends on what the club will allow - at our club we only outlaw the big bore motors (at present) we allow any type/ wind 180 size stock or modified.

[Glen Anderson]

Ah I get it now. I overlooked the 3 sticks bit and asumed you meant a saddle pack ::) Thanks for clearing that up.

Thanks for all the info, it has been very helpful. Once I have researched servos a bit more I'll be getting myself a car and everything else I need ;D Once I have got hold of the funds anyway :-

[lewist]

where are you looking to race it??

**cought** HWMSC **cough**

:P

[Glen Anderson]

Currently Im looking at Stevenage and Harlow. Im know Stevenage run HPI but im not sure if they would allow M18s. Harlow are also considering running a heat for 1/18th scale cars.

High Wycombe is a little far for a Monday night but if you race on Sundays I may come along then. Bear in mind that it wont be for a little while because I havent got anything for it (except what I have from other cars) and dont have enough money floating around at the moment to buy it all :(

[jimbo_wa]

Glen

You have a PM!