MA Chassis Mini 4WD Kit Guide
Tamiya sells the MA (Midship AERO) chassis only inside a complete Mini 4WD PRO kit — there is no bare MA chassis SKU, so choosing "an MA chassis" means choosing which boxed kit to buy. That runs through body style, what the box includes, and which class or track you plan to run it on. For shaft alignment, gear mesh, roller-height matching and damper placement once a kit is on the bench, see the companion MA chassis tuning guide — this article stays on picking the kit itself.
What the MA chassis is, briefly
MA stands for Midship AERO, one of Tamiya's midship, double-shaft "Mini 4WD PRO" platforms alongside MS and ME — the motor sits between the front and rear axle centrelines and drives all four wheels directly, with no propeller shaft. What sets MA apart structurally is that Tamiya moulds the chassis, six low-friction roller mounts and a rear skid bar as a single-piece monocoque, rather than a plate chassis that takes separate bolt-on FRP or carbon stays. An MA kit therefore assembles quickly, but roller position is fixed by the mould — you adjust height and tension within that geometry rather than relocating a roller the way an MS or VZ builder can.
MA chassis reference specifications
These are Tamiya's published figures from its official chassis reference, with the weight given on two bases: 78 g as moulded, or 125.9 g with motor and batteries fitted on low-profile small wheels. A finished car's actual width, height and weight change once wheels, tyres, rollers and any added stays are fitted.
| Spec | Published value |
|---|---|
| Chassis type | Midship, double-shaft (Mini 4WD PRO) |
| Frame construction | Single-piece monocoque, six integrated rollers, rear skid bar |
| Length | 156 mm |
| Width | 97 mm |
| Wheelbase | 80 mm |
| Tread | 59.5 mm |
| Weight | 78 g as moulded (125.9 g with motor and batteries, low-profile small wheels) |
| Ground clearance | 2.2 mm |
Before assuming an MA kit is the right platform for a build you already have parts for, check which of those parts actually list MA as a compatible chassis — see the chassis compatibility list for how to read a part's stated compatibility rather than guessing from "midship" alone.
The three families of body currently sold on MA
Tamiya's current Mini 4WD PRO Series numbering runs a long, continuous line of MA-chassis releases, and the bodies split into three recognisable groups rather than one generic "MA car" look:
| Kit | Item No. | Series | Body style |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCR-01 | 18646 | Mini 4WD PRO No.46 | Original racing-car design (DCR line) |
| DCR-02 | 18650 | Mini 4WD PRO No.50 | Original racing-car design (DCR line) |
| Toyota GR Supra | 18655 | Mini 4WD PRO No.55 | Licensed road-car replica |
| Lexus LBX Morizo RR | 18661 | Mini 4WD PRO No.61 | Licensed road-car replica |
| Tri Gale | 18638 | Mini 4WD PRO No.38 | Original fantasy/character design |
| Rise-Emperor | 18643 | Mini 4WD PRO No.43 | Original fantasy/character design |
| God Burning Sun | 18644 | Mini 4WD PRO No.44 | Original fantasy/character design |
| Hexagonite | 18653 | Mini 4WD PRO No.53 | Original fantasy/character design |
DCR bodies (DCR-01, DCR-02 and similar) are shaped as dedicated racing machines with a low canopy and minimal overhangs — a sensible default if you want the body to add the least drag and the least guesswork. The licensed road-car replicas, such as the Toyota GR Supra and Lexus LBX Morizo RR, carry more overhang and a taller canopy line that can need clearance-checking against larger rollers or a wide front stay. The original fantasy and character designs — Tri Gale, Rise-Emperor, God Burning Sun, Hexagonite and others in the same numbered run — vary the most in scoop shape, wing size and canopy height kit to kit, so treat body clearance as a per-kit question, not an assumption carried over from a different MA release. Full details and official images for any specific kit are on its Tamiya product page, linked from the base kit category.
What is actually in the box
An MA kit ships as a complete Mini 4WD PRO base kit, not a bare chassis. Based on the DCR-01 kit's published contents, a typical MA box includes the white monocoque MA chassis, a double-shaft PRO motor, the six integrated low-friction rollers and rear skid bar already part of the frame, large-diameter spoked wheels with low-profile tyres, a multi-piece body (front and rear cowl sections, sometimes an optional canopy piece), and a decorative sticker sheet — commonly built around a 4:1 gear ratio out of the box. Two AA batteries are not included and must be bought separately; only Tamiya-branded AA (R6/UM3) cells are permitted for racing use. Assembly is snap-fit and needs no cement, which is why an MA kit is a reasonable choice for a first Mini 4WD PRO build, not only a second chassis for an experienced racer. If this is your first kit of any kind rather than your first MA specifically, start with the beginner's roadmap before choosing a chassis family.
Matching a kit to the class you intend to run
Tamiya's general race regulations set hard limits that apply to an MA build like any other: overall width under 105 mm, height under 70 mm, length under 165 mm, ground clearance at least 1 mm, total weight (with motor and batteries fitted) at least 90 g, tyre diameter between 22 mm and 35 mm, tyre width between 8 mm and 26 mm, and only Tamiya-branded AA batteries. Chassis modification is limited to cutting away plastic material or holes from the stock chassis — homemade chassis are prohibited, and disassembling a motor to alter its winding is explicitly banned. Stock Class layers further restrictions on top of that baseline: chassis cutting and shaving are not permitted at all, only Tamiya Mini 4WD, R/C Mini 4WD or Dangun Racer parts may be fitted, and a body may be shaved or trimmed but not split into pieces beyond the kit's own instructions. None of this tells you whether a specific local event, BMAX class or club night accepts an as-built MA kit — organiser rules and on-day technical inspection are what actually decide that, so confirm current wording against Tamiya's official race regulations and Stock Class regulations before entering, and see Stock Class vs BMAX for how those two rule sets typically diverge.
Frequently asked questions
Is a DCR body faster than a licensed road-car body on the same MA chassis?
The chassis, motor and gear ratio underneath both are identical — the body mainly changes weight distribution, canopy height and how much clearance you have for larger rollers or added stays. A DCR-style body's lower profile makes fitting wide roller setups more straightforward; a road-car replica with a taller canopy may need a wide front stay or a different roller size to clear the same components. Neither shape overrides drivetrain condition, which the tuning guide covers in detail.
Can I buy the MA chassis on its own without a full kit?
Not as a current standalone SKU — MA is sold as part of a complete boxed kit, and the base kit is the only source of a fresh MA frame, motor and wheel set together. Individual MA-specific option parts, such as the tune-up parts set or the MA side mass damper set, are separate purchases meant to upgrade a chassis you already own from a kit.
Do all current MA kits use the same gear ratio out of the box?
Tamiya varies stock gear ratio by kit within the Mini 4WD PRO Series, so check the specific kit's published ratio rather than assuming every MA release matches. Once you know your kit's stock ratio, the motors guide and motor and gear ratio matching guide cover choosing a replacement motor and ratio pair for your course.