Tamiya Razorback 18713: FM-A Kit and Body Guide
Razorback (item 18713) puts a 2018 Mini 4WD Design Contest-winning body on Tamiya's front-motor FM-A chassis. The award was for the design, not a racing result. Its wild-boar ridge and hot-rod shape make this a specific visual choice, while the black and green FM-A underneath gives you a standard platform to build and maintain. Tamiya sells it as Mini 4WD REV Series No.13, a snap-together assembly kit with a motor. It is a good pick if you want a body with a story and are willing to check its tall shell against future add-ons.
Where the Razorback design came from
Tamiya identifies Razorback as the Top Award winner in its 2018 design contest. The concept combines a wild boar's raised back with a hot rod's muscular shape. Look along the gunmetal ABS shell: the ridge gives the car its name, while the FM-A motor cover becomes part of the body design instead of disappearing beneath a smooth hood. Tamiya also points to rear slots, tail-light details and metallic stickers. These are sensible features to focus on when decorating the shell. Do not read the slots as a proven lap-time gain; the manufacturer describes the intended airflow design, not a controlled test against other bodies.
The kit is 156 mm long, 97 mm wide and 46 mm high in Tamiya's assembled specification. Height is worth noticing here because Mach Frame, another FM-A contest design, is listed at 36 mm. That does not make the taller Razorback unsuitable for racing, but it tells you to test-fit body-mounted and chassis-mounted additions instead of assuming a stay that clears a low shell will clear this one. If you are new to shell fit, read the Mini 4WD body guide before changing body parts.
What is in the FM-A package?
The chassis is black ABS with light-green, low-friction A parts, including the underpanel and skid components. Dark-silver six-spoke wheels come with low-profile tires. Tamiya specifies 4.2:1 gears and includes the motor. Two AA/R6 batteries are separate. The FM-A layout puts the motor near the front; the underside provides access for routine motor and setup work. Its aero side stays offer mounting points for compatible Grade-Up parts. These platform traits are useful, but they do not establish that a new Razorback will be faster or more stable on every track than an AR, MA or another FM-A kit.
Before choosing upgrades, assemble the car as supplied. Check that the front motor seats firmly, the shaft and gears turn without binding, and the underpanel closes completely. Snap the shell on last, then look at it from both ends to make sure it sits evenly. The FM-A chassis tuning guide can help after you have this baseline. It covers tuning the platform; item 18713's shell and included parts are the reasons this guide exists.
Plan clearance before changing the look
Razorback's boar ridge and sculpted rear make it tempting to choose parts by appearance alone. Do a dry fit first. With the body attached, check that roller stays do not press on the shell, that the wheels can turn without rubbing, and that the body catch is accessible. If you later use a different tire diameter or a mounting plate, repeat those checks. Tamiya's published 46 mm height is the complete stock car, not a guarantee that every aftermarket setup remains within an event's size or body rules. For organised racing, check the current rules and the organiser's inspection standard before altering the body.
The metallic sticker sheet supplies the intended graphics, so you can get the contest-design appearance without painting every panel. Position the crest and body color blocks carefully before pressing them down. A collector can keep the stock shell and wheel colors intact; a racer can use this same body as a starting point and tune only after learning how it behaves on a particular course. Both uses are valid reasons to choose the model.
Razorback or another FM-A kit?
Buy Razorback for the boar/hot-rod shape, Top Award design origin, gunmetal body and its 4.2:1 stock package. If you prefer a multipart, motorcycle-and-jet look, Mach Frame item 18714 is the sibling contest design with different body construction and 3.5:1 kit gears. Neither award label predicts a race winner. Compare the bodies and included tires, then choose the build you want to maintain. See the Razorback product page for the exact stocked listing.
Frequently asked questions
Did Razorback win a Mini 4WD race?
The cited award is Tamiya's 2018 design contest Top Award. It does not document a race victory.
Does the kit contain a motor?
Yes. Tamiya lists a motor and 4.2:1 gears; two AA batteries must be supplied separately.
Is Razorback the same kit as Mach Frame?
No. Both use FM-A, but their body assemblies, tires, colors and supplied gear ratios differ.
Source checked 26 September 2026: Tamiya item 18713. Descriptions of handling are manufacturer design statements, not independent race measurements.