MS Chassis

MS Chassis with N-02 nose and T-02 tail equipped.

The MS Chassis (MSシャーシ) is a Mini 4WD chassis introduced by Tamiya in 2005. It is the first double-shaft-motor-driven chassis, and it is exclusively belongs to the Mini 4WD PRO car line-up.

General info

Instead of placing the motor on the front or the rear, the motor was relocated to the middle of the chassis. To do this, Tamiya and SMC Motor co-developed and co-produced the double-shaft motors for the new chassis, resulting in 50/50 power transfer. The batteries are now moved to the sides of the chassis.

The normal MS Chassis is also a module-like chassis. It is divided into three main parts: the nose, the center and the tail. There are different noses and tails for the MS Chassis, while there is only 2 center parts. There's even the nose and the tail without the bumpers at all.

The chassis however, was heavier than any chassis, which can be countered by using the light-weight center parts. Motors, as well as terminals made for eariler chassis, are not compatible with the MS Chassis as it requires new parts made exclusively for Mini 4WD PRO. Due to the motor and battery being placed at the middle of the chassis, narrow track large-diameter wheels are no longer compatible.

The basic MS Chassis components would later reused and redeveloped in the MA Chassis.

Technical info

Length/Width/Wheelbase: varies/varies/80 mm
Ground clearance: 1 mm (with low-profile small-diameter wheels)/4 mm (with large-diameter wheels)
Driveshaft's length: 60 mm (72 mm with N-04 and T-04 units)
Compatible gear set(s): 3.5:1, 4.1, 3.7:1
Terminal type: MS-type terminal
Weight (Chassis frame only): weight depends on the chassis combination

Trivia

• The N-04 and T-04 units were the only nose and tail units that required the 72 mm drive shafts, which, up until then, was made exclusively for Super-X Chassis.
• It is the first Chassis to have the new double-shaft motor.
• Some bodyshells made for earlier chassis requires modifications in order to fit them into the MS Chassis.
  • At the launch of the MS Chassis car, Tamiya's staff accidentally listed Strato Vector (which required a front motor chassis) in the list of compatible bodyshells on the official website. It has been since removed.