TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
#1
Thread Starter
TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
Guys I recently stumbled across a new in box Tamiya Madbull model 58205. I've been encouraged to do a build up of the car here on RCU so over the next couple of weeks I'm going to document the assembly process and hopefully get a vid or two posted of the completed project. I'm not sure where the project will go from there but i have plans to do some simple mods and see how well the car responds. Parts for this model are kind of hard to get so i'm going to keep the mods pretty tame. No brushless systems on 3S for this model
From what I can tell in the limited research I've done it appears that this model was not very successful for Tamiya. When compared to other models there seems to be very little info out there and almost nothing in the way of hop up parts.
Here's a little back ground on the model.
The MadBull is model number 58205. From what I can track down it was released somewhere between fall 1999 and spring 2000. The Madbull is an interesting combination of off the shelf parts. It's shares it chassis with only two other cars in tamiya's line up. The Fighter buggy and mad fighter. The wheels and tires are pulled direct fro the Lunchbox and the body is a lightly modified version of the hard plastic shell used on the Grass Hopper 2. All of this was combined to create this unique half truck, half buggy thing.
In talking to people over the last week I've learned that people have very different opinions of this car. Some have refereed to it as the first truggy while Others have called it a moon buggy. Some really like it while other have made comments I can't post here This is certainly something you will either love or hate and I know it will not have to following of some of the more common buggies like the Hornet or Grasshopper.
Below are a few links and pics i've found on the net. There's a little info out there but not a whole lot. Here's what I've found.
We'll start with the link to Tamiya's site
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/ite...oduct-id=58205
Link to the Madbull on TamiyaClub.com
http://www.tamiyaclub.com/car.asp?id=211
Here is the link to Tamiya's promo video for this car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaQAhdPtyx4
Here's another misc Youtube Vid of the Bull. There are a few of them but most are poor quality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9N1B5g2gKM
Pretty decent review
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...1/ai_n9010581/
There is a little more info out there but not much.
I'm planning to start my build sometime next week. Until then I'd like to encourage anyone that has one of these cars to post up some pics, tell us your story and please sit back and enjoy. I know this isn't the most exciting car Tamiya ever produced but it certainly is an odd one.
From what I can tell in the limited research I've done it appears that this model was not very successful for Tamiya. When compared to other models there seems to be very little info out there and almost nothing in the way of hop up parts.
Here's a little back ground on the model.
The MadBull is model number 58205. From what I can track down it was released somewhere between fall 1999 and spring 2000. The Madbull is an interesting combination of off the shelf parts. It's shares it chassis with only two other cars in tamiya's line up. The Fighter buggy and mad fighter. The wheels and tires are pulled direct fro the Lunchbox and the body is a lightly modified version of the hard plastic shell used on the Grass Hopper 2. All of this was combined to create this unique half truck, half buggy thing.
In talking to people over the last week I've learned that people have very different opinions of this car. Some have refereed to it as the first truggy while Others have called it a moon buggy. Some really like it while other have made comments I can't post here This is certainly something you will either love or hate and I know it will not have to following of some of the more common buggies like the Hornet or Grasshopper.
Below are a few links and pics i've found on the net. There's a little info out there but not a whole lot. Here's what I've found.
We'll start with the link to Tamiya's site
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/ite...oduct-id=58205
Link to the Madbull on TamiyaClub.com
http://www.tamiyaclub.com/car.asp?id=211
Here is the link to Tamiya's promo video for this car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaQAhdPtyx4
Here's another misc Youtube Vid of the Bull. There are a few of them but most are poor quality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9N1B5g2gKM
Pretty decent review
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...1/ai_n9010581/
There is a little more info out there but not much.
I'm planning to start my build sometime next week. Until then I'd like to encourage anyone that has one of these cars to post up some pics, tell us your story and please sit back and enjoy. I know this isn't the most exciting car Tamiya ever produced but it certainly is an odd one.
#2
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
Nice!! I just got a NIB too!!
It is so weird that I figured that I must have one! (oh right, like I need any reason for another Tamiya! )
It is so weird that I figured that I must have one! (oh right, like I need any reason for another Tamiya! )
#5
Thread Starter
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
Really. I found mine at a garage sale. When I started doing the research after I bought it I e-mailed Tamiya because I saw them on they're site but they told me they where sold out and they would not be making any more.
#6
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
Yeah, I think it is heading to extinction, unfortunately..
But yeah, I did get it from Tamiya.. [8D]
But yeah, I did get it from Tamiya.. [8D]
#7
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Alburn, IL
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
I was actually considering getting one of these too a little while back. $90 for a older Tamiya kit I assumed was totally discontinued is a good deal the way I see it. I settled for a used Fighter RX and Grasshopper 2 rolling chassis off e-bay instead. Sort of interesting seeing as most of the parts come from those two buggies. I suppose I could barrow the wheels of my Wild Willy 2 and sort of "kit-bash" a Mad Bull.
Anyway, I'm glad to see some people still appreciate this kit as odd as it is. From what I've seen it looks like a pretty fun buggy to drive. Goes better off-road that a typical buggy does too.
This looks to be an interesting build. [sm=thumbs_up.gif]
Anyway, I'm glad to see some people still appreciate this kit as odd as it is. From what I've seen it looks like a pretty fun buggy to drive. Goes better off-road that a typical buggy does too.
This looks to be an interesting build. [sm=thumbs_up.gif]
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: GORE, NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
I am looking foward to your build up and what hop ups you do for this model. I have bugger all experience in building models but do have one of these Madbulls. I brought it about 6 years ago for a bit of fun then it went into the garage to gather dust.
Recently I brought it back out as my kids are old enough to play with this great toy and see rc cars as a good past time for us. Unfortunatlly I broke the diff while trying it out for the first time in years. So that part is on order.
I would like to do some mods to the vehicle to make it run faster etc but really have no idea about what sort of motors and battries to get for it. I want to do it up as its a tough car and heaps of fun.
Recently I brought it back out as my kids are old enough to play with this great toy and see rc cars as a good past time for us. Unfortunatlly I broke the diff while trying it out for the first time in years. So that part is on order.
I would like to do some mods to the vehicle to make it run faster etc but really have no idea about what sort of motors and battries to get for it. I want to do it up as its a tough car and heaps of fun.
#11
Thread Starter
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
I'm not quite ready to begin the build but I couldn't help pulling everything out and giving it a quick look over. Here are a few teaser pics.
Outside of box.
Contents of box. God I love Tamiya. No better kits on the market.
Big parts
Contents of the brown box
Contents of the red box
Over all there's not a whole lot of parts there. If you look close you will notice that the Steering and the shocks come pre-assembled.
For the guy at home building this without documenting the process this should easily be a single day build. Even if you don't know which end of a screw driver to use
Outside of box.
Contents of box. God I love Tamiya. No better kits on the market.
Big parts
Contents of the brown box
Contents of the red box
Over all there's not a whole lot of parts there. If you look close you will notice that the Steering and the shocks come pre-assembled.
For the guy at home building this without documenting the process this should easily be a single day build. Even if you don't know which end of a screw driver to use
#14
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
I don't have much self control..... [:@]
ORIGINAL: Casper06
I thought you were done with new cars for the year LB?
I thought you were done with new cars for the year LB?
#17
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
Yeah, that's why I asked John to start the thread.. I didn't want to get blame for getting people into buying it, you know.. (joke)
ORIGINAL: Kitsune
I think this thread is going to spur anyone that doesn't alread have one to get a Madbull.
I think this thread is going to spur anyone that doesn't alread have one to get a Madbull.
#18
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Alburn, IL
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
I found this in a search for "Grasshopper 2" on youtube:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR0YCzjENpM[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR0YCzjENpM[/youtube]
#19
Thread Starter
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
I've never seen that video before but I think it's really interesting that they had GH2's running around with LB wheels on them way back then. I've actually done a number of Hornet to truck conversion in the past but never used LB wheels and tires.
After looking at the video again. The orange model shown at the end of the Vid is actually a GH1 with a GH2 body and LB wheels and tires. Notice the front springs and short arms.
After looking at the video again. The orange model shown at the end of the Vid is actually a GH1 with a GH2 body and LB wheels and tires. Notice the front springs and short arms.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Harleysville, PA
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: TAMIYA MADBULL INFORMATION AND BUILD THREAD **THE BUILD HAS BEGUN**
Ha, the first link posted to Tamiya's site has it still for sale, $89.
Eric, i knew you'd have one
Eric, i knew you'd have one