Well, they haven't seen the latest craze to come out of Japan - the MicroSizers, a miniaturized Radio Control car that's a blast for the young, and the young at heart.

The MicroSizers retail package

We received our unit from TableTopRacers, arriving in a retail package - a great gift opportunity. As most 'professional' and true hobby cars, this one requires assembly. But it won't take you half a day to get this one working. Total assembly time from parts laid down to usable car was under 2 minutes.

A standard package includes four tires, the rear axle, the motor, a heatsink, the idle gear, a car shell, the actual car base, and the remote control/charging unit. You also get a few extras within the package, including a sheet of punch out road signs and barriers to setup your own driving course.

The complete MicroSizers package

Simple installation procedure: put the tires on the front and rear wheels, install the heatsink, place the motor in the back and close the heatsink, add the idler gear, install the rear axle, and put the shell on. That's it! Add two AA batteries into the controller, turn it on, put the car on the charging contacts, wait 45 seconds... and PLAY.

Everything laid out (except the idler gear)

You read correct - 45 seconds. Underneath the electronics in the car is a small NiCad battery. Advertised, the run time is 2 minutes. But with fresh batteries in the controller, the car can run for quite a bit longer. We were able to use the car for about 30 minutes before needing a charge (does not apply to non-stop use of the car).

All the tires are on...

Snapped in the motor...

The complete base, now time for the body...

Ahhh, the Micro Masterpiece Makes the Mark

Although the specified range of the remote is listed as approximately ten feet, we were successfully able to use the car from 30 feet away with no modifications to the remote or the car. Having fresh batteries on hand and an unobstructed field of view will increase the maximum usable distance.

The controller up close and personal

As with other radio controlled consumer devices, this one comes in two frequencies; the standard 27MHz and 49MHz. This means that you will only be able to race with two cars, unless you decide to control more than one car at the same time. Through TableTopRacers, you can purchase the Japanese import models, which are available in four different frequencies: 57MHz, 45MHz, 35MHz, and 27MHz. By purchasing the imports, you can race up to four cars. Attempting to use the 45MHz and 49MHz together will result in extreme interference due to the near similar frequency. UPDATE: Hobbico has required that all resellers STOP selling the Bit Char-G, as the frequencies they use do violate the rules of the FCC, and therefore, you may not be able to find them for sale anymore by respected retailers.

What would a quality radio control be without accessories? The MicroSizers have a number of accessories available, ranging from faster and slower motors, to different tires, different bodies, and even add-on lights. All these, excluding the lights, are available from TableTopRacers. To compare, the motor that comes with the MicroSizers is a 2.2 model, meaning 22000 RPM. It's a great starter motor. The tires included in the standard model are the 'medium' tires. They are nice standard tires that will get you around, but if you plan on racing these, or want to drive around on your dashboard, then you'll need to use different tires for better performance.

Speaking of dashboards, the MicroSizers make a great time passer for long road trips. Just bring a couple extra batteries to be safe, and you (passenger) can drive them around on the dashboard. Remember, though, that moving objects on the dashboard can be an extreme hazard to the driver, and is NOT something we recommend. If you do want to, please note that it may be illegal, such as having a television in view of the driver.

Modifications for MicroSizers are available on the web, just use a search engine. Various tips and tricks will help you get the most performance out of the car and the remote, or just make it look 'extra cool.' Be aware that some modifications only apply to certain revisions of the MicroSizers, particularly when dealing with the Japanese version - the Bit Char-G. As with popular items such as this, clones and 'knock-offs' are out there. Be aware that it is just like purchasing an illegal copy of software - it may contain problems or issues that just annoy you, or cause it to not work after some time. Remember to look for the genuine Hobbico MicroSizers, or the Tomy Bit Char-G when purchasing. The knock-off brands are available for about one third the cost, but you will end up paying more when you have to keep replacing them.

For the price, MicroSizers will provide endless hours of enjoyment. Whether to keep your children busy, or play around in the conference room at work, it is definitely an item that will not become boring. For those that don't truly understand what the add-ons can do, that's okay - you can always ask us or contact TableTopRacers, they will be glad to answer your questions. At $29.99 (TableTopRacers), and up to $34.99, they are well worth every penny.