Popular Post Kol Posted September 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 15, 2021 (edited) Hi guys, So my first steps back into RC'ing since the 90's are with the purchase of the below... Today I visited my local model shop (support the local guy FTW) and picked up the a Mad Bull and a starter kit - not sure if it's particularly good kit, but looks similar to what is on offer from other online shops. Also, got the bearing set, but it seams they are not the sealed type, does that matter? I was really tempted by the Blitzer Beetle and it would be a more interesting build. However, for my current needs (first kit back into RC'ing, 4 year old son who loves monster trucks, need for it to take jumps and bashes as well as a Tamiya can) the Mad Bull seems an appropriate, cheaper option... for now😉 I also bought a well used body shell from eBay (apparently 90's body shell, not bothered if it is or not) so that I can use that whilst I paint the other one and also whilst my 4 year old (and myself) gets to grips with RC and pistol grip! I've bought a set of the Mad Bull stickers in blue (my boys fav colour) and I'm going to paint the body in Haze Grey, see spray can in the photo above. So I'll end up with a grey/blue colour palette and yellow wheels, plan to get some generic yellow stickers from somewhere to tie in with the wheels and maybe leave some of the blue stickers off to make space for yellow if needed. Any advice very welcome! Will add further updates as I get through the build👍 Edited September 15, 2021 by Kol issues linking photos 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex97 Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Nice build, make sure you order some bearings for it as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khevolution Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Ive always wanted one of these since the first release when i was young, i may have to scratch this itch at some point 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitroholic Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 I think it's a good choice for a 4 year old. .... and a grown up one. It's not overly fast, but it's got a hint of daft about it. I think a Blitzer driven by a 4 year old...is probably going to spend a lot of time on it's roof... but once he gets the hang of the Madbull....well...Christmas ain't far off ..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kol Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 Thanks guys, appreciate the input👍 I'm going to build the kit tomorrow, any advice re do's and don'ts? The chap in the shop said I need to make sure to center the steering servo before I connect the linkage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitroholic Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 you need to power up the servo and let it centre itself....then put on the servo horn and linkage. Otherwise...you might end up with the steering all the way to one side. It's not a big deal....just saves on messing about 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Build a bearing set into it, its a faff doing it after 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormbringer Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Ditto on the bearing set always easier doing it during the build 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitroholic Posted September 17, 2021 Share Posted September 17, 2021 I still don;t understand why, for the money it would cost...Tamiya don;t just put bearings in the kits. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khevolution Posted September 17, 2021 Share Posted September 17, 2021 6 hours ago, Nitroholic said: I still don;t understand why, for the money it would cost...Tamiya don;t just put bearings in the kits. its madness isn't it? I just dont get there thinking on it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kol Posted September 17, 2021 Author Share Posted September 17, 2021 Ha, yeah I see your point. For me it's nice to be able to upgrade something tbh and for just a few quid! This hobby is going to be way cheaper than the motorcycles I usually tinker with!😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kol Posted September 17, 2021 Author Share Posted September 17, 2021 (edited) Build day today. It went pretty smoothly, and was very enjoyable. I found the electronics at the end a bit baffling at first. With no wiring diagram as such for the ESC and Servo plug into the receiver, it took me a while to sort that out. I did however draw first blood with the scalpel... rookie mistake, cleaning the bits off the sides of the parts!🙈 Cleared off my week day 'work from home' desk (Project Manager) in the bedroom bay window and set this up... A mildly confusing mess, Google soon resolved all issues, as did reading some of the ESC and Radio kit instructions!... Cut some of the posts off the mechanism deck and fitted the ESC and receiver on top. Are they better placed lower into the shell?.... Took it for a run at the rec over the road and it was f**king great fun! Attempted to tweak the trim, if that's the correct word? and that seemed to go ok. Surprisingly I got on really well with the pistol grip. I was hesitant due to having only used sticks back in the 90's, but it was really intuitive. I found it harder trying to judge the speed and turn in points on some of the tighter corners on the paths in the park, but I'm sure that will come with experience. One thing I found really odd is the fact you can't just whack it into reverse, it seems you have to touch the reverse on the trigger and hit it again once it slowed to the engage reverse, otherwise it just doesn't move. I guess that's just the nature of the gear box and ensures it doesn't get mashed. Even with the big tyres, the car got stuck in long grass once, but it managed some jumps down grassy banks with style and it was great fun drifting round the corners on the tarmac paths (the few times I got it right and didn't crash into a bush!😆). The car is definitely not quick, but that's fine, it'll allow me to get used to driving it and it's not exactly designed to be a speed demon. However, from this first drive I can see myself at least fitting a more powerful motor in the not too distant future. My son loved it and was chasing it all over the place and racing it. We shared the controller and he operated one of the controls whilst I operated the other, in a very large area of local rec's football field, was great fun!! He was very sad when the battery ran out and we had to go home for dinner!🤗 Tomorrow the battered shell should be arriving, and we'll be taking it to a local country park. I bought a 2nd NiMH battery, 4500mAh to go with the 3000mAh I got when buying the car. I think I'll get maybe 45mins or so out of the two. Edited September 17, 2021 by Kol additional comments and typos 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kol Posted September 22, 2021 Author Share Posted September 22, 2021 Got the old shell delivered, got to say I like the bashed up, used look it has... I also fitted an old driver figure that I got with another 2nd hand buggy recently. The battery was a bit loose in it's cage so for now I've fitted some foam number plate tape to ensure a more snug fit. Out on the range... Picked up some white wheels to better match the haze grey/blue/white colour scheme. Think I might put some Tamiya stickers on the inside of the wheel rims as well, there's a pretty big empty dish in there. For ref these are the wheels from the Tamiya VW T1 Bus Wheelie 1:12 model RWD Monster truck and are a direct fit for the Mad Bull, as are the Wild Willy chrome wheels. Some point soon I'll get the new shell painted and stickered up and then fit the white wheels😀 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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