TWS CTS chassis kit

[89Industries]

Anybody ever run anything from TWS? I saw this on big squid and it seems like it might work for a possible project to waste more of my money on.

TWS CTS advanced kit

I'm not looking for it to be the best thing since sliced bread or super durable. Just decent and useable. This is about the length and width I think I need and seems reasonable. Made in Taiwan which is more appealing than China to me.

Otherwise, what is out there in the 255-260mm wheelbase chassis that uses mostly 1/10 crawler stuff?

I'm also considering a Capra UTB18 as a starting point.

Haven't seen a Tamiya crawler chassis in person but pictures don't impress me much. Could be convinced otherwise.

Or figuring out how to shorten a chassis down to that short length. I'd be concerned about an Element because the driveshaft angles are already big at stock 313mm lengths. Maybe an lcg chassis would do better in that regard.

Ideas?

 

[JatoTheRipper]

No experience with TWS and I probably wouldn't take the gamble because they are expensive for being an unknown brand. They do have an awesome CJ body though! It's the Jeep I want.

If you buy one, please make a build thread and keep us updated every step along the way!

 

[Speedy-Triple]

I do not have experience with the TWS stuff but from my understanding is that they had some of the engineers from MST on their team for their release ... hence it looks very similar to my MST-CFX. The MST is small and capable for its own probably would run laps around a Tamiya or similar, its an ok base to start and fun to use for more scale appearance for the smaller shorter bodies. The MSTs are pretty reasonable but not easily available here. I built one of the MST CFX and it is a pleasure to drive ... the bronco in my avatar is sitting on it.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I do not have experience with the TWS stuff but from my understanding is that they had some of the engineers from MST on their team for their release ... hence it looks very similar to my MST-CFX. The MST is small and capable for its own probably would run laps around a Tamiya or similar, its an ok base to start and fun to use for more scale appearance for the smaller shorter bodies. The MSTs are pretty reasonable but not easily available here. I built one of the MST CFX and it is a pleasure to drive ... the bronco in my avatar is sitting on it.

That would make total sense if MST engineer(s) now work at TWS. I also thought these looked similar to the CFX/CMX.

I have a CMX and quite like it. It's very high quality, fits the tamiya short wheelbase bodies like you said, and perform admirably for such a small chassis. I got mine when AMain was clearing them out.

 

[89Industries]

Good reminder on the MST. I think I had looked at those for this same idea as well as they have a van but shipping costs plus price of kit kind of killed it for me. @Speedy-Triple where did you get your MST's?

Will do on the build thread. Might be a little while. Just in planning/thinking stages right now.

I've been thinking I should do build recaps on my last couple of "builds" but documentation doesn't rank very high in my priority list.

Plus my builds are pretty mild compared to some of the stuff I see here and other places.

 

[Speedy-Triple]

Good reminder on the MST. I think I had looked at those for this same idea as well as they have a van but shipping costs plus price of kit kind of killed it for me. @Speedy-Triple where did you get your MST's?

Will do on the build thread. Might be a little while. Just in planning/thinking stages right now.

I've been thinking I should do build recaps on my last couple of "builds" but documentation doesn't rank very high in my priority list.

Plus my builds are pretty mild compared to some of the stuff I see here and other places.

I wish I gotten mine from amain like Jato but I took a bite at asiatees a few years back when I built it and it was sub- 250 shipped back then. As mentined the quality is really good and the transmission even though sits a bit high TBH it is incredibly smooth.

 

[89Industries]

Thanks for the info. The MST do look quite nice. Trying to figure out difference between the cmx and cfx on my phone is challenging.

Unfortunately the cheapest shipping asiatees offers is still over $100, but I could get it in 2 days.

Looking at shipping on the TWS the shipping for a kit is under $40.

Some kind of weird stuff on the tws like what looks like a whole lot of king pin inclination. Having some is certainly good but more may not always be better.

And down the rabbit hole I go.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Thanks for the info. The MST do look quite nice. Trying to figure out difference between the cmx and cfx on my phone is challenging.

Unfortunately the cheapest shipping asiatees offers is still over $100, but I could get it in 2 days.

Looking at shipping on the TWS the shipping for a kit is under $40.

Some kind of weird stuff on the tws like what looks like a whole lot of king pin inclination. Having some is certainly good but more may not always be better.

And down the rabbit hole I go.

In simplest terms, CFX = front motor/transmission and CMX = mid motor/transmission

I have the CMX which is a centered trans like the OG SCX10. The CFX puts the motor and trans up front, but at the expense of being much higher.

CFX:


CMX:

 

[ferp420]

ive always liked that little geo traker body but way more than i want to spend for it

 

[JatoTheRipper]

ive always liked that little geo traker body but way more than i want to spend for it

Agreed until AMain cleared out the RTRs and I got my CMX Unimog for $167 shipped.

 

[89Industries]

Well damn, this would be a no brainer at that price. I'm always late to the party.

 

[MAGNUMB]

I also find the MST CMX and CFX really enjoyable to drive now and again. The fit and finish and quality of their plastic is some of the best i've run across. The CFX planetary gearbox was a fun build, but if i had to pick one it would be the CMX as the CFX puts the motor a little too high for such a small lighter weight rig. But the CFX drivetrain is soo buttery smooth
Plus the body choices are fun for these. Have the Bronco, Jimny and Chevy C10 and they are just a nice scale

MST is probably one of the most underrated crawler companies out there. That 1/10 Land Rover Discovery looks very nice! They seem to just crawl over the terrain nicely. Asia Tees has good selection of MST parts...FYI the MST MTX-1 monster truck is also sweet! The plastic tube chassis and smaller scale solid axle makes it fun for a smaller backyard

Max Speed Technology-PRODUCTCARS - OFF-ROADMTX-1 RTRMTX-1

MAX SPEED TECHNOLOGY

www.rc-mst.com

 

[soze]

So, I'll chime in. I have a TWS VTR kit, and an unbuilt TWS Chassis kit v1 that I plan to build with their Jeep body. They were started by some people who jumped out of MST and more focused on crawlers than MST which has drifting/on-road as their main thing.

They stick with the Tamiya CC01-02/MST CFX-CMX sized 1/10 scale though. Which actually gives you a lot of lexan body options.

The transmission is really smooth. Overall a very fun little rig.

Here's a video of my TWS VTR and my friend's TWS based chassis with a modified WPL Jimny body.

 

[89Industries]

Thanks Soze. Glad you re-engaged in this forum since it seems like you have a wide variety of trucks and knowledge of them.

I'm fairly new here and really have no brand loyalty. Just looking to make some fun and cool projects so my brain is all over the place looking for stuff to do it with.

I'm still liking looks and details of the tws CTS advanced, just need to wait until finances open up a bit I think. Definitely need something for when the snow flies here.

 

[soze]

Thanks Soze. Glad you re-engaged in this forum since it seems like you have a wide variety of trucks and knowledge of them.

I'm fairly new here and really have no brand loyalty. Just looking to make some fun and cool projects so my brain is all over the place looking for stuff to do it with.

I'm still liking looks and details of the tws CTS advanced, just need to wait until finances open up a bit I think. Definitely need something for when the snow flies here.

If you're looking to build a cool little scale/trail rig. The TWS is a good chassis for it. If you're looking to build a small hard line crawler, then you probably want to just pick up UTB18 axles and transmission and an aftermarket chassis like the IERC Merge UTB18 (which I also recently did a build on).

 

[89Industries]

this one will be a scale/trail rig. Thanks for the info. I'll probably also drive it a bit more kindly than some of my others. I expect more work to go into getting everything to fit and work so won't want to unnecessarily destroy it.

 

[diezel666]

Personally I have a lot of likes and dislikes of it, and due to such won't purchase one new.

I like the idea of a planetary gearbox as it does save some space and help disperse gear loading. Using the plastic outer case for it, I can't agree with. I simultaneously like and dislike the transmission mounts. I don't think scale anything needs it.