Tamiya Buggy Champ - 2009 Reissue Rough Rider

[GreenBar0n]

MCI has both sheets for the Rough Rider.
https://mciracing.ca/products/1-10th-tam-58015-racing-buggy-sand-scorcher-rough-rider-sheet-c-decals


https://mciracing.ca/products/1-10th-tam-58016-racing-buggy-sand-scorcher-sheet-b-decals


Ordering now.

[GreenBar0n]

I made myself finish the Sand Scorcher before starting this one. Have the MCI vintage decal sheets, and the Pargu wheel covers that look like Centerline wheels.




I had to borrow one of the Gumout stickers from the Rough Rider MCI decal sheet, for the Sand Scorcher project. That means I can't do the orange box art for the Rough Rider without that Gumout decal, this will be the blue version instead.



Going to see how far I can get on the chassis today.

[GreenBar0n]

I always build the wheels before anything else, and in keeping with tradition, I took a look at the reissue tires. The front tires are missing the writing, Sand Blaster Jr., the rear still has that.



That's really disappointing, why have it on the rear but not the front.

Lost enthusiasm for this project, going to walk away from this for a bit, while I see if I can find the right front tires.

[mtbkym01]

Yes, Tamiya changes the front tyres slightly on the re-re kits, and as a result, omitted the labelling. There was a vendor on ebay re-producing the correct tyres a few years ago, I used them on my original restoration and they are perfect copies IMO. Maybe search there to start

[GreenBar0n]

Found vintage front tires for this project that will be here in a while.

Need to figure out which blue to use.


I have a TS-10 French Blue/TS-26 Pure White Sand Scorcher:


A TS-15 Blue Tyrrell P34:


Thinking about making this Rough Rider TS-44 Brilliant Blue:


and maybe TS-7 Racing White


But probably TS-26 Pure White.


Going for this, ultimately:

[GreenBar0n]

After 10 years of using the same phone, a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, I just switched to the newest S25 Ultra - the pictures have a blur to them now - looks worse to me in every instance in low light pictures. I need to figure out how to fix this.

The build has begun.





Will see how far I can get on this today, up to Step 4.

The vintage Sand Blaster tires should be here from Hong Kong in a week or so hopefully.

[GreenBar0n]

Got as far as I could yesterday, going to see if I can finish this today.

[GreenBar0n]

Chassis is done.


Was going to use the front bumper, but thinking about something else now.


Testing the Centerline wheel covers. The vintage tires will be the last detail - looking forward to adding the tire writing, the Sand Blaster lettering is huge compared to the Sand Scorcher tires, should be easier.


Sand and primer is next.

[GreenBar0n]

Sanded with 2500 grit sponge, Dawn soap and rinse, and three coats of primer.


The Blue for this project is difficult to figure out which to use.

Left to right: TS-93 Pure Blue, TS-10 French Blue, TS-44 Brilliant Blue, TS-19 Metallic Blue.

For me, it's between the lighter TS-44, and darker TS-93. In person, the TS-93 more closely matches the decals. But maybe some color level change is good with a shade lighter on the body in TS-44?

Going to let the primer cure over night, and look at the choices again tomorrow.

[Dangeruss]

Chassis is done.

Was going to use the front bumper, but thinking about something else now.

Chassis is looking sweet

I always liked the tubular front bumper... if ya don't mind me sayin'.

[GreenBar0n]

Funny you should say that, I was thinking about taking that exact front bumper from the Sand Scorcher, for the Rough Rider:


and getting the more box art shaped front bumper for the SS.




Haven't decided yet.

[GreenBar0n]

In the reissue Buggy Champ manual, there is no blue version shown, only the TS-12 Orange.


The reason for that, I believe, is because they only wanted to have to make one set of decals. The white stripes with the orange decal scheme built-in:


In the vintage Rough Rider manual, the blue version is shown, but they don't say which color blue to use - it would appear to be TS-10 French Blue in the manual, especially in contrast with the dark blue decals.


Going to have to think about this for a while.

[Dustydrone]

The build is looking great! I have a rere Buggy Champ on the to be built shelf. Thanks for documenting the build and sharing your thoughts and tips along the way. I'm glad you pointed out the issue with the missing lettering on the front tires. I purchased a Super Champ and it just happened to have a nice set of Sand Blaster JR's on the front. I'm looking forward to see how you paint the lettering

[Dangeruss]

Funny you should say that, I was thinking about taking that exact front bumper from the Sand Scorcher, for the Rough Rider and getting the more box art shaped front bumper for the SS. Haven't decided yet.

That'd be really cool... those four-point front guards look perfect on the Sand Scorchers.

[GreenBar0n]

The build is looking great! I have a rere Buggy Champ on the to be built shelf. Thanks for documenting the build and sharing your thoughts and tips along the way. I'm glad you pointed out the issue with the missing lettering on the front tires. I purchased a Super Champ and it just happened to have a nice set of Sand Blaster JR's on the front. I'm looking forward to see how you paint the lettering
20250429_162059.jpg

A vintage Super Champ - Nice! That rear mono-shock and bottle of oil is a really cool design, it just looks pro.

And thanks for the encouragement on the Buggy Champ/Rough Rider!

The vintage Sand Blaster tires arrived in the US, from Hong Kong, and are waiting to go through Customs, might have them early next week.

That'd be really cool... those four-point front guards look perfect on the Sand Scorchers.

That settles it, going with the cage style up front for the SS. Need to figure out which model, I won't be driving this roughly, if ever, but the ground clearance is obstructed by this design:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/256591370160


This other one I didn't like at first, because it slopes at an angle, and the bolts aren't countersunk, suppose I could modify this one though:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/205210478152



The paint choices didn't get any easier today, knowing the manual may be pointing to TS-10 French Blue.

TS-10 French Blue, TS-93 Pure Blue, TS-44 Brilliant Blue

Still can't decide.