Blast Arrow 18635: Standard MA Assembly Kit Guide
Blast Arrow 18635 is a standard Tamiya Mini 4WD PRO assembly kit and an early showcase for the one-piece MA chassis. It combines a prototype sports-car-style body, white wheels and a central double-shaft motor with 3.5:1 gears. Those are the facts of the normal boxed product. A separate Monkee Mods “ready to race” listing uses the Blast Arrow name but has a different item suffix and preparation; do not assume the assembled service is included in 18635. This guide is for the build-it-yourself box.
What is distinctive about this Blast Arrow?
Tamiya catalogues Blast Arrow as Mini 4WD PRO Series No. 35. Its low, enclosed body resembles a prototype racing sports car, and a metallic sticker sheet creates much of the finished colour scheme. The kit pairs low-profile tyres with white wheels. The product image shows a painted and assembled example, so regard it as a presentation of the finished model rather than a list of included paint. If you choose a kit primarily for its appearance, the Blast Arrow body gives you a very different visual result from an Emperor-themed or SUV-inspired MA car while sharing the MA platform underneath.
The chassis is not merely a display base. Item 18635 includes a double-shaft motor and the gears required for its published 3.5:1 stock ratio. Two AA batteries are the separately required consumable. Tamiya gives 156 mm length and 97 mm width for the assembled product. Height is not specified on the item page, so use an actual assembled measurement when clearance is important.
MA features that matter during a first build
MA places the double-shaft motor in the middle of a single-piece monocoque frame. Tamiya identifies six individual rollers and a rear skid bar in this kit's MA description. The one-piece gear cover pushes and slides open to reach the gears and motor. For a new builder, that makes it easier to check whether the motor is seated and whether a gear was installed correctly after the first run. Tamiya also points to side stays where compatible option parts can be installed later. Such parts are not automatically included with the Blast Arrow box.
The manufacturer's page describes motor cooling ducts, a smooth underside and the rear skid bar's behaviour on sloped sections. Those are design descriptions, not a measured comparison against another kit. The sensible way to learn what this individual car does is to build it to instructions, verify free axle rotation and run it on your actual track before changing the motor or adding a damper. Our MA chassis tuning guide covers later checks and adjustments without turning them into required purchases on day one.
First assembly and first run
This is snap-together construction. Organise the body, white wheels, tyres, motor and gear-cover pieces before clipping them together. Follow the diagram for gear and motor orientation. After the wheels are fitted, turn both axles by hand, then close the sliding cover and check that it remains seated. Fit the body and confirm no tyre rubs against the shell. Apply the metallic stickers only after deciding whether you want the supplied plastic finish or your own paint; the official assembled photo may use paint that is not in the box.
Install two suitable R6/AA/UM3 batteries, place the car in a Mini 4WD course and record a simple baseline. If it sounds rough, inspect the gear cover and axle seating before attributing the sound to a need for upgrades. Our first-build guide covers that basic inspection sequence. For organised racing, verify current class rules and the completed machine at the venue instead of treating the product description as an entry guarantee.
Standard kit or prebuilt starter?
Buy 18635 if you want to assemble the Blast Arrow yourself and learn how its MA drivetrain fits together. If the appeal is receiving an already assembled, prepared car, compare the contents and service of Monkee Mods' separate 18647-RTR starter listing. Tamiya's own item 18647 is an assembly kit, while the store's `-RTR` suffix identifies a different store offering. Keep those labels clear when discussing price or included work. The standard 18635 box remains a useful starting point because every subsequent change can be compared against a stock build you assembled yourself.
See the standard Blast Arrow 18635 kit at Monkee Mods for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blast Arrow 18635 preassembled?
No. Tamiya sells item 18635 as a snap-together assembly kit with its motor included. Two AA batteries are separate.
Do all MA kits use 3.5:1 gears?
No. Tamiya publishes 3.5:1 for this Blast Arrow, while other MA items have different stock ratios. Check each item number.
Source checked 26 September 2026: Tamiya's official item 18635 page. This article describes the Tamiya assembly kit, not the separately sold store-prebuilt product.