Tamiya Buggy Champ - 2009 Reissue Rough Rider

[GreenBar0n]

Can never have enough.


Calling the TS-10 layer done, smoothed this out to 3500 grit.

When this dries completely in a couple of days, will mask it for TS-26.

Driver is up next.

[GreenBar0n]

Trying to get the wheels and driver finished up still.


Need to put the last coat of tire paint on, will get the symbols on the rear wheels on the next round.


Got carried away with the flat black paint on the face, looks like the Wolfman under there:


Or Bigfoot.


Will clean the fur off the drivers face, and tighten that all up.

In the past I always avoided models with the driver in them, or just left them out. This model is all about the driver, going to have to get good

Trying to replicate the driver in this pic, ultimately, which I believe to be Malcolm Smith:

[GreenBar0n]

Got everything to finish the paint now. Will mask the body tonight, and spray the white tomorrow.

Trying to figure out how to paint the yellow stripes on the arms of the driver, the shirt is not flat, and will be difficult to get the lines straight - I've seen other guys do it, somehow.

[GreenBar0n]

The vintage boxart Blue version has thinner white stripes on the hood, than the orange version does.


Where the roll bar begins at the windwhield location, it's blue, not striped.




Got about 80% of the masking done.


Will look at the hood again tomorrow to see if I should widen the white stripes anywhere, then finish masking behind the driver.

[GreenBar0n]

Got the steering wheel, gauge panel, and headlights sprayed in semi-gloss black.


Thinking about spraying the lights chrome, to match the front roll bar. In a real race car the reflections could be blinding, but as a model, it could add another layer.

Drivers arm stripes are up next, not looking forward to this, got a #00 brush. Going to attempt painting eyes on this driver too.

[GreenBar0n]

This 1mm masking tape looks pretty good for the arm stripes, better than I could paint those on there.


If those won't stay stuck on, will try the Tamiya 1mm white vinyl curve tape, and paint it yellow.

Flat white for the gloves should be here tomorrow.

[GreenBar0n]

Getting closer on the driver.


Didn't know if I was going to be able to get through this masking job. Definitely the hardest I've attempted yet.


The hardest part of all of this, for me, is the top behind the driver, where the black pen marks are, that radius and fit overall about made me give up.




Too windy to paint today.


Going to let this sit and look it over again tomorrow, before spraying the white - serious make it or break it moment coming up.

[Dangeruss]

Didn't know if I was going to be able to get through this masking job. Definitely the hardest I've attempted yet.

The hardest part of all of this, for me, is the top behind the driver, where the black pen marks are, that radius and fit overall about made me give up.

Going to let this sit and look it over again tomorrow, before spraying the white - serious make it or break it moment coming up.

One of the coolest parts about following your build threads is how you push yourself to undertake new and difficult techniques. Frustrating as they can be, the effort and results are always inspiring.

[GreenBar0n]

Really appreciate it, thanks! Hoping someone gets something out of this, or decides they can do this too.

Also appreciate the positive contribution you provide to the threads you visit here, the vintage scans/articles are great, thanks again!

[GreenBar0n]

Went ahead and painted the rear of the lights, and the roll bar with Revell Chrom Spray.


In person the chrome is mirror-like. The chrome fingerprints pretty easily with finger oils - will wear gloves when adding the decals and mounting them.


Persevering through the masking still. Any split in the tape, or crooked line will stand out in bright white, like neon. Have to get the lines right.


Going to redo the top section behind the driver today. Will fold the tape section in half, and cut both curves at the same time, in order to get a perfect match on both sides.


It's 95°F out back today, can't paint today, but will sharpen the tape lines as best I can get them, and spray the white tomorrow. Not in a hurry to ruin anything after all of this work

[GreenBar0n]

Called the masking done, probably should've waited another day, and kept going over the lines.




Was a really windy day today, should've waited, have two drips behind the driver as a result of fighting the wind. Should wet-sand out, hopefully.


Hard to say how bad it is under there yet, may have some bleed too.


Will peel this in a couple of hours and find out how bad it really is.

[GreenBar0n]

From 5 feet away, it passes inspection, it's a 5-footer.





Jagged paint lines where the tape was too tight in the corner of the front fender is starting to show, even at 5 foot away.




Hood stripe on the left is wider, and has an uneven line on the hood.


It looks worse up close, can't leave it like that.

Will 3500 grit wet sand all the overspray and jagged lines, then re-mask and spray the hood stripes and right fender in white.

[GreenBar0n]

Got the two drips behind the driver wet sanded out. I knew it was too windy to paint, and I did it anyway - it cost me the same as all the other times that happened.


Getting the hood lines even in width and placement.

Hard to tell what's happening there: That's Tamiya 3mm white curve tape outlining the side and nose stripe, anything that's Blue in this pic will be white, and hopefully a clean straight line this time.


The rough white paint lines should clean up well with the Tamiya white vinyl tape.

I'll always use the Tamiya white tape for the edges, no exceptions for me. Small price to pay to have absolutely no bleed and razor sharp lines.

Also learned not to tape in to the crease of a 90° angle, or corner, but instead tape right up to the line, not in it.

The jagged lines are from peeling tape that was in the crease, it ripped the paint line above it when peeled.

Will finish masking the rear, spray the white for the last time, hopefully, then mask it again in spots and fix some of the blue.

[GreenBar0n]

Calling the wheels done, the front tire on the right is the rough one.


Aluminum rear cage.


Installed.





Body masked for what I hope to be the final time. Every edge has white vinyl Tamiya tape, and then the Tamiya yellow masking on top of the white. Any blue not covered will be white, and should sharpen the lines.






I may have to redo the nose, will look at it again tomorrow.


Will spray the TS-26 white and finish the stripes tomorrow, if all goes according to plan.


Hoping to be spraying the TS-13 Clear, by early next week.

[XLR8]

I admire your persistence. You keep after it until it's perfect.
I'll give my paint jobs one shot and just live with all the imperfections. If I try to repair my mistakes, I always make them look worse.
The wheels and tires look amazing!!