Mini 4WD

Mini 4WD (ミニ四駆, Mini Yonku) is a powered toy car generally 1:32 in scale equipped with 4WD.

Mini 4WD
Product typeModel car
Produced byTamiya
CountryJapan
Introduced1982
MarketsWorldwide
Rising Trigger from Tamiya and upgradeable components
Racing Mini 4WD Dash-3 Shooting Star from Dash! Yonkuro
5 lane track taken in 2014

History

The Mini 4WD originated in Japan in 1982, when toy manufacturer Tamiya introduced Mini 4WD race cars. A Mini 4WD race car is a 1:32 scale kit featuring four-wheel drive powered by an electric motor using a pair of AA batteries. A single electric motor turns both axles. These kits snap and screw together without the need for glue.[1]

By the late 1980s, the Mini 4WD hobby was well-established in Japan, and it began taking off in the United States as well. In February 1989, several American and Japanese companies unveiled their versions at the annual toy fair in New York.[2] In late 1989, an average Japanese boy owned eight to 11 Mini 4WD cars.[3] By November 1989, Hasbro introduced their Record Breakers: World of Speed series of cars, imported from Japan. Mattel, Matchbox, and others were also expected to release their own versions.[4]

By the 2000s, many other companies had ventured into the Mini 4WD market, including Tokyo Marui, Kyosho, Academy, Aoshima Bunka Kyozai, Matchbox, Revell, Hot Wheels, Tonka, Hasbro, and Bandai.

On June 23, 2019, the Tamiya Mini 4WD Asia Challenge was held at the Glorietta shopping mall in Makati, Philippines. Over 200 participants (including 87 foreigners) attended the event.[5] To commemorate the event, Tamiya released a 1:32 scale mini 4WD car of the distinctive Jeepney named "Dyipne".[6][7]

World records

According to the Guinness World Records, the world record for Longest Mini 4WD Track was created on November 3, 2019 at 3,191.58 meters at Amagi Dome in Izu, Shizuoka, Japan. It took a Mini 4WD car 12 minutes to circle the entire track.[8]

Design

In a standard 4WD design, the separate four wheels are allowed to rotate at different speeds through the use of differentials, to allow for cornering. The body is designed from hard plastic or Lexan.

There are three specifications that characterize all motors: RPM, torque, and power-consumption.[9] RPM is the speed the motor provides, and the torque its strength. A higher RPM means higher maximum speed, higher torque gives more acceleration and allows the car to better withstand the difficulties of climbing slopes or running through turns.

Different types of gears have different ratios of rotation of the motor and the wheel, and they include (3.5:1), (3:7:1), (4:1), (4.2:1), (5:1), and "Special" (ratio varies but are usually 6.4:1). The higher the ratio, the better the acceleration rate and torque; the lower the ratio, the better the maximum speed.[9]

See also

References
  1. Onorato, Paul (2019-05-31). "The Tamiya Mini 4WD Phenomena". RC Driver. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  2. Kanner, Bernice (1989-12-11). "Star Vehicles". New York. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  3. Harrington, Richard (1989-11-24). "Hottest Toys Under the Tree". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  4. "Toys: Fuzz Busters Not Included". Time. 1989-11-27. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  5. Martin, Lije (2019-06-28). "Tamiya holds Mini 4WD Asia Challenge in Manila". Top Gear Philippines. Summit Media. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  6. Arcadio, Ryan (2019-06-03). "Tamiya creates jeepney Mini 4WD kit". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  7. Cruz, Cheryl Anne (2019-06-06). "Japanese Toymaker Tamiya Releases Special Edition, Jeepney-Inspired Model Kit". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  8. "Longest Mini 4WD race track". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  9. "Mini 4WD Racing Tech Tips". Tamiya USA. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
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