Why Five cells in the M18?

[Dynamite Arrows]

Does anyone know why Xray chose to go with five cells on the standard layout rather than six. Can a five cell Xray compete with a six cell Micro RS4? It's a bit of a shame that it seem's you need to buy an optional chassis to run 7.2v saddle packs, with the motor mounted high. The high motor will get more air to it, and being fairly light, the handling won't be affected much. It's just strange why they chose five cells? :-

[joatham]

You can put 6 cells in it, by using a 3+3 layout - I'm not sure what size the batteries would be but I think they are smaller than the standard stick-packs anyway. I should think that a double 3 stick will be available when the car arrives, or if not it shouldn't be too difficult to make one if you don't want to use saddles.

It looks like a nice car though. another one to add to my shopping list ;D

[DA_cookie_monstA]

If you managed to sit through the flash animation about it, it says it is designed to run on 5 or 6 cells layout, so, that is either 5 down the one side, or 5+1, 4+2, 3+3, I can't see there being a problem running it 4 cell either.

[Dynamite Arrows]

I've sat through the animation plenty of times, however the chassis shown there is either, the optional one or a pre-production version GRP chassis, NOT the chassis being put into the standard kit. The kit chassis has no cut outs for the cells at all. On contacting Xray they have said that the plastic semi-tub chassis will only be able to run with 5 cells and that the motor must be raised to use 6. To quote the Xray ad. in this month's Radio Race Car magazine - 'optional chassis for 6 cells'. I think when the car was first on display with the GRP and SSG chassis, they were all for making the car suitable for 3 + 3 saddle packs, but now the basic car is here it's just 5 cells in std form. I still have one on order as I'm convinced it will trounce the Micro RS4! Just strange we have to run on 6v when paying £30 more than the RS4 and no motor either?! :o And Yes, running with different cells is a problem when I run Micro meetings, as we all need to run to one set of rules, why should a superior car run at a disadvantage to an inferior car with more power?

[DA_cookie_monstA]

HPI RS4 runs on either a special pack from HPI (which looks like four sub-c's) or you can run it on six cells, but they are of the AA variety.

Oh, and this isn't a defined set of racing as yet, so there isn't a definite set of rules, so manufacturers are designing cars to what they think people will want to use.

[Dynamite Arrows]

???It's pretty clear you are uninitiated in the world of Micro's, so why reply to this thread?? You may or may not be aware that there are at least four clubs presently running Micro heats. At least two of these have been running these cars for TWO years. As to the cars, the HPI Micro RS4 in standard form comes with a battery holder which can hold 4 AA cells (Alkaline = 6v, Ni-cd = 4.8v) or AAA size (voltages the same) HPI and Orion also do made up Ni-mh packs which have 2/3A size cells, the 6V has five cells, the 7.2V has six cells. In standard form the cars have never ever had the facility to run Sub C cells!! There is nowhere near enough room without a complete re-design. There will soon be at least four cars available following a pattern laid out by HPI on the Micro RS4. All four cars use the same size motor - 180 and of HPI and Xray, the cell size is identical 2/3A - Both allow for 7.2v as the highest voltage - so in that respect they are equal. I understand there are no 'officially recognised' regulations as yet for this class, but surely you can see that for a club organising racing events - it should be kept as fair as possible?? So it is up to each club to say - we only allow 6v as the maximum number of cells (as one club did for some time) or 7.2v max etc.

You appear to be suggesting that clubs should let people run wild with 8.4v batteries mounted wherever etc. - I don't feel this is in the spirit of the sport - don't you think some regulations are neccessary?, even at club level? Surely to encourage racing, everything should be easily available from the high street to keep the racing even. Ever heard of the Tamiya Eurocup ?, a series with it's own rules and regulations, completely separate from BRCA rules.

While a racing class is still in it's infancy it is up to clubs to outline their own rules, surely based on the manufacturers reccomendations, when the class starts as a one make class. Clearly, the Xray M18 adopts the same cell size, motor size, scale, wheelbase, wheels and tyres. Any official rules, whenever released would have to take this into account. Clearly the motor and cells not to mention wheels and tyres are compatible and can be exchanged between the two cars.

So aside from official regulations - and with a shout out to anyone already running a Micro club or racing Micro cars - Any ideas why have Xray deceided on five cells in the production chassis and not six?

[damo]

small car = less room = 5 cells....are they for sub c cells or aa or what if sub c then thats the answer..space constraints...and there really isnt that much of a need to flame cookie either..he might not be an expert on micro cars but then neither are you or you wouldnt be asking this question...politeness counts and being a berk really doesnt help..

[Dynamite Arrows]

Why post in a Micro forum? I have posted this question is another forum and got a sensible answer in minutes.

[damo]

i didnt ask why post in a micro forum i asked if there was a need to take an attitude with someone for offering an answer to your question be that answer correct or otherwise....

[g4t2]

Yeah Damian is right, you started this thread and asked a question, so don't go slagging other people off if you don't agree with them. at least they have taken the time to bother responding.

[damo]

g are you racing sunday?? there is a couple of us doing mod now well 3 more people but andy croxton isnt so there will be 2 more people doing mod than last time...although only michael can probably keep up with you and tom..

[marcoski]

Peter, if you can't be civilised on here, why dont you ask X ray, and post their answer?

[damo]

oh good it wasnt just me then.... ::)

[g4t2]

yeah i'll be there on sunday...ive got to go straight to Over afterwards...should be a laugh...lol. Tom won't be coming on sunday as he has to setup the club. should be good to have some more people in mod. what motor you running? -sorry marcus to be off topic

[damo]

a reedy spec 19 the silver oe been playing with springs and ive got it going very nicely.....michael oldaman is running a 19 matrix and the token american sean is running a 17 but sean will be good for overtaking practice lol....

[g4t2]

lol, i'll just be running my chameleon...nothing special, i'll just rely on my speedy chassis... ;D

[damo]

yeah yeah...pro 3 all the way..... ;D

[g4t2]

i did have a pro 3...a very nice hara ed one. but my tamiya is way nicer... ;D

[Dynamite Arrows]

Ok, I apologise, I take things too seriously, I know it's only fun at the end of the day or at least it should be. I have now asked Xray and will post their reply when I receive it. I guess nobody else knows
The reply I received from another forum was as follows and of course I neither agree or disagree.



5 cell chassis
Maybe just for the money. Many people want to run 6 cell so they need an aftermarket chassis from x-ray. Whith 6 cell chassis there wouldn´t really be the need for another chassis.

But it looks great anyway

[DA_cookie_monstA]

Pete, no worries, and I would of responded sooner, but I got a little one in hospital who has just had his appendix removed, so if my answer wasnt WHOLY correct, then my mind was elsewhere.

[Dynamite Arrows]

Xray have replied to my enquiry with a standard reply '... the standard battery pack is a five cell. There is an option of a six cell pack and a four cell. Options for all! The cars should ship from Xray next week so it's not long and we can test the battery options...'

Measuring up the 2/3 A batteries, it appears a six cell stick pack in the Tamiya layout will fit in the standard chassis. Five cells in the Xray layout are virually the same in length - 84mm, maybe the posts on the side will have to be removed but it appears the battery will fit, so it can compete on equal terms with the 7.2v Micro RS4. ::)

[joatham]

Just seen an ad for this car in a mag, and it is different to the pics on the website, there are no cutouts for saddles, the chassis base is solid for sticks only by the looks of it.

It looks good, but it does seem a bit of a strange decision for it not to accept the same 6 cell packs as the Micro RS4, this will give it a handicap against the competition in stock form.

[redlinezak]

i dont know if i have used the wrong cells or something (they were supplied by my lhs) but i have a 6 cell pack made up in the came config you would run in say a tc3 ie |||||| and they fit fine in the standard m18 chassis?
The cells used are sanyo cadnica N-27AA measuring 29.7mm x 14.1 mm per cell there is no heatshrink or anything on the pack and total length is 85.5mm.

Hope this helps

Nathan

[Dynamite Arrows]

Yes those are different cells, with a smaller diameter, they will fit but they have a lower capacity (350 mah?) rather than the 1000 that most Micros run with, I think they will only last for one five minute race where as the normal Micro packs last for at least two

[redlinezak]

i thought so i have never seen a 2/3A cell so had to take my lhs word that they were right will they last 5 mins with an orion core mod motor do you think?

[Dynamite Arrows]

I've never raced with a big bore motor, but I think it should just last on the lowest gear ratio, maybe?

[Barry_Hughes]

Hi Guys, just thought you might like to know that the standard 6 cell 7.2V 1100mh pack to fit the Micro RS4 fits into the X-Ray M-18.
We have 2 running at our club.
Just leave out the plastic little parts that hold the 5 cell pack in and it will fit, held in place with the standard battery bar.

Are the cars quicker than the MRS4, undecided the two cars ran with foam tyres whilst the Rs's were on rubber, resut top 2 places to X-Ray, cars handled well but did not appear to have the speed of the RS4's.

Now all I need is to get the foams and then we will see ;D

[Dynamite Arrows]

I actually beat the 1/10 stock class with my M18 at our club last week, mainly due to our track being fairly small and partly driving. I think if this class really takes off then HPI will have to think long and hard about how to tackle the M18 as it is like night and day comparing the two, at least from what I've seen. The only comparison that is fairly even is the staightline speed but I think this is down to the fact that the HPI has no rear toe in and the M18 has 4 degrees, hopefully Xray will release some alternative toe links soon.