Kawada Mini-Z Clone?
 

Check out Kawada's new M-24 Tripmate Mid - it looks like a mid-engined Mini-Z!

http://www.kawadamodel.co.jp/m24mid/images/m24mid.gif

http://www.kawadamodel.co.jp/m24mid/m24mid.html

i see some similarities..... have you tried it?

According to that page, they aren't out until May.

It does kinda look like a Mini-Z chassis where the batteries are located, but in the front it looks like Kawada. Maybe it is a Mini-Z chassis cut off in the front.

It definetly reminds me of the Tripmate because of the Kingpin suspension, body mounts, and steering linkage setup.

Oh yeah and the rear axle/dif assembly...

Look at umm, Dinball and Mini-Z Racer, and here! and you can see some pictures of how the front is constructed on the tripmate. Also check out Kawada's site here!

Hey, I never saw that R conversion before - is that to make it mid-engined?

what do you mean by "mid-engined? i thik it just changes teh rear pod and allows you to use a bigger battery...

From the pics it looks like the motor is on the other side of the axle after the mod, = better handling.

I dont get that though tinyrc. It would have the same balance but reversed as before (like on the Mini-Z) right? So what would the advantages be?!?:confused:


And it just doesn't change it to a 'mid-motored " setup, but adjusts the length and width! Engine=combustion, motor=magnitized :cool:

Same as on a Mini-Z w/ midship conversion, the center of mass moves toward the chassis center -> better turning etc. That's why the best handling sports cars and race cars are mid-engine.

Ahhh, had a feeling that was it. Gotcha. :D

Ohh i get it tinyrc...

i thought the kawada r-conversion just adds a rear damper suspension to the back of the car...
basically incorporating more flex with the tbar at the bottom
and controlling the flex with the single rear damper on top...

So it's more like a pan conversionish kind of a thing? I couldn't really tell what was going on from the pics.

Will you be stocking any in May? They look pretty cool.

At the moment we're still looking for a source on the Kawadas.

Where are they made?

tinyrc if I am not mistaken they aren't made anymore. I am not sure so don't quote me on this...

According to one of our distributors a version 3 will be launched at the Shizuoka Hobby Show in May, so we'll probably be importing those.

Oh cool didn't know that

Is the version 3 the one in the pic?

Nope, haven't seen a pic of it yet, like I said they are announcing it at that Show, so I'm not sure if there will be any pics until then.

Kawada
 

The best way to compliment a good product is to copy it :)
I do admit, the steering setup looks much more progressive that that of the Mini-Z.
I wonder if there will be decent hop-ups in the pipeline, like bearings, ball-diffs and so on..

I was going to get a kawada Tripmate M-24, but now I think I'll wait a bit, and see what will be available in May. A pal has a tripmate with the racing kit installed, and the performance is very impressive...