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Finally have the proper mask to stay in the fumes, and paint more seriously. Too windy to paint anything today though.

Got three coats of primer on






I need to fix some spots, now that I can see them better.

What is the final grit you guys sand your primer to, before paint?

Honestly, I don't recall sanding the primer.
Maybe if I found sand scratches projecting through the primer or some rough spots, I might have used 1000 grit or finer but only on those spots.
Since I typically use lacquer based paints (i.e. Tamiya TS or Duplicolor) which, I think, melt into the primer (also lacquer based) during those initial final coats, I don't think sanding the primer is absolutely necessary. Well, at least I haven't had a problem doing it that way so far.

I think when I did my scorcher body I did wet sand the primer with 1500 before spraying color on it.

Really appreciate your input, guys, thanks! I'll go over the bad spots in 1000 grit with water, and then finish up with 1500 or above, wet. Wasn't sure if I could do that, this is the first time I've painted with primer.






Thanks again!


Thinking about getting the center gear diff kit for this, it's weird to try and turn the chassis by the front bumper and have the tires lock up and squeal as they skid around in to place, all new experience for me, have always had the diff in the center. I'll give this a drive without the diff for the first run, and then decide.

If you plan running it in dirt and grass the diff is nice but in the sand the stock gear works best.

mikea96 wrote: ↑Thu May 02, 2024 12:00 am If you plan running it in dirt and grass the diff is nice but in the sand the stock gear works best.

Good to know, thanks! Can't imagine putting this in sand after all the work, grass would be about the most this will see, just want to keep this as clean as can be, it's the one I never thought I could have.

One more putty, primer, and wet sanding round has got the nose line nearly gone. One more round to go.




Getting the mold lines above the fenders flat.


Camera flash lit


Burned through the primer on the driver's fender mold-line.


Used an entire can of primer, have another ordered and on the way. Hoping to get the TS-26 Pure White over this by next Wednesday.

Ordered the primer for this project on May 3rd - along with some other Tamiya colors from Amain, them being in Chico CA, and me being less than three hours away from there. Turns out their paint was shipped from Omaha NE, and is still listed as delayed in transit, it was supposed to be here today.

The ground-shipping-only for aerosol cans really slows things down. Need to find a well stocked local spot instead.

Found this video of boxart Sand Scorcher's and a Ranger being bashed on a beach, and while the music should be turned down as low as it can go, or muted, I enjoyed the recklessness.

Got the bad spots fixed, and the last coat of primer on.










TS-26 Pure White will be going on as soon as the wind lets up, this coming week.

Beautiful prep work!

Can't wait to see it with some color.

Oh man, this is gonna be good.

XLR8 wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2024 10:31 pm Beautiful prep work!

Can't wait to see it with some color.

Oh man, this is gonna be good.

Thanks so much! Really hoping to get it right the first time with this paint. I've spent so much time trying to recover from my mistakes - with every last project, I just need to get through these struggling stages, and remember how to do it correctly, once I've finally learned how.

No drips, a few nits, and limited orange peel. I can live with it.

The wind here makes painting more difficult than it should be. Need to make some changes back there, in order to get better results in the future.

Will put the TS-10 French Blue over this when I can get the weather handled. It could all go wrong, fast - with the next masking, and layer of paint. Going to give it plenty of drying time, may wait two days.

Most difficult model I've ever tried, appreciating the challenge though.

The paint looks to have settled, or become a bit smoother today, now that it's dry.


The weather is nearly ideal right now to paint the blue layer, but I need to make sure to let the white dry properly.

Really happy with what I have so far now, but I know the masking and the blue layer could change things for the worse in a blink, if I'm not constantly aware of the prep and weather conditions. Will mask it tomorrow, and hopefully paint too if the weather permits.

The instructions for the Sand Scorcher recommend using a LiFe 1100mah battery. I had set this up to run a 3000mah LiPo shorty, but I decided to use a 1500mah LiPo instead. Ordered a 2010 reissue foam block to fit the 1500 stock size battery.


Getting started on the driver and exhaust stinger.


Haven't decided if I want to use matte black on the exhaust, or shiny chrome.



When I was 8 years old, my Grandfather bought me a brand new 1980 Honda XR80, to ride in his backyard when I'd go back and visit them for the summers. My Dad's younger brother and his sister's husband used to ride street bikes back then, and I remember this model is the same as the Bell helmet that was in my Grandfather's garage, from one of the uncle's, that was there for as long as I was.





Going to try to tribute that Bell helmet on this Sand Scorcher driver. Patriotism was the spirit of the times around 1976, or the bi-centennial era.


Yes, those are fingernail stars for women . They are the perfect scale size to try to make this happen.