The new Tamiya ME Chassis is getting quite a bit of attention right now - it's the first NEW new chassis designation in quite some time. On top of that, it's preceding a strong platform that is great but does have it's handling issues - ie, the MA bounce.
In it's first release, the ME comes topped with the Raizzan body set, a sleek-looking shell from designer Kota Nezu, creator of other famous lids like the Raikiri and Eleglitter. The Raizzan has the option to be run in a combination of ways 1) full body, including the tinted parts and red roof/front fenders or 2) tinted parts alone. The tinted undershell also has molded seats into it with the option to add a Tamiya character driver.
With a bit of time with the car already (run in Box Stock, Basic and now Tuned), I've found 5 interesting features that some may not yet know about it - and here they are!
1) Removeable Front / Rear Roller Stays
Yes, this is a biggy!! The original MA is a solid, one-piece chassis from the tip of the front roller stay to the tip of the rear. This, unfortunately, means it is somewhat limited on optional tuning parts or, in some cases, needs its own dedicated parts. While it's not that big a deal, this is rumored to be the reason the MA is very track-dependent. With the ME having removeable stays (think of it as a cross between the MA and VZ), this opens the door to WAY more tuning and, hopefully, a much better car with which to reach the podium!
2) Battery Straps Stays Connected to the Top Deck
Another neat feature of the ME is the fact that the Battery Strap is installed on a 'swivel' setup, meaning it stays connected to the top deck at all time. Apply slight pressure to the release and the strap tilts forward, giving you access to the batteries (which can now also be pushed up and out through the holes in the bottom of the chassis). A simple change, but one that means one less thing to keep track of when rushing to the track before your race.
3) ME Top Deck Works on the MA Chassis
Yes, it is confirmed that the ME Top Deck will work on the MA Chassis (and vice versa, if that's your thing). The good news - if you're set on running your MA Chassis, you can take advantage of the ME's flip-up battery strap without any hinderance on your setup!
4) A Lighter-Weight Setup
Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the New ME Chassis - A Lighter-Weight Setup
5) The ME is MA-Body Compatible
That's right - all of your MA bodies will fit the ME platform! No cutting, filing or fudging - just a direct fit. As with the MA chassis, you might still need to be creative with your tuning program but, with the ability to add the entire range of fiberglass or carbon stays, this might not be much of a problem any more!