SteveU30's Vintage Mk2 Sand Scorcher Resto

[SteveU30]

So I picked this up a couple of months ago and have just been looking at it while I plucked up the courage to make a start (it's my first ever vintage resto).

As far as I can see it has the usual Scorcher problems:

Missing sunroof

Missing wipers

Missing/broken lights

Missing mirrors

Missing licence plates

Missing exhaust

Missing driver

Missing door handles

Broken/repaired front fender

Broken rear cage

Worn front ball plates

Badly repaired front arm grub screw

Cracked front nose cone

All minor/trivial things really which are easily repaired/replaced. On a positive note the chassis itself is in great condition with nothing broken at all, plus it even has a complete radio box with all electrics inside and a full compliment of working cam locks! The gearbox turns smoothly and all of the wheels and tyres are in pretty good nick with just the lettering in need of painting.

Anyway, before I start with the resto progress here's how it looked before I started:

[SteveU30]

My original intention was to make this an occasional beach runner but after realising that the standard shocks are a nightmare maintenance wise if running on them and also the fact that this whole body and chassis is in such good condition I've decided on a shelf queen instead.

I did consider fitting a load of RC Channel stuff to it also but have changed my mind on that idea too as I think I'll save all that for my next project which will definitely be a beach runner. I will be ordering a box art front bumper however as this is going to be a full box art restoration!

So I've acquired some bits already including a new rear cage, a pair of headlights and a ready painted stinger exhaust. The Scorcher also came with a small bag of goodies but frustratingly only 1 of each item so I'm going to have to keep my eyes peeled for these.

I've ordered a full set of bearings, 8 rubber sealed for the ones exposed to outside dirt and 4 normal for inside the gearbox (these were ordered prior to me deciding on it being a shelfer). I also have a TC member supplying me with the front suspension parts that I need (1 front arm and a set of ball plates).

OK, on to the restoration:

Chassis in bits:

Started cleaning up the alloy pieces with a brass wire wheel in a Dremel but I've gone through 2 already and I'm not even halfway through the parts. Have ordered some steel wire wheels instead as these should last longer and probably do a better job.

Comparison of before and after:

Before:

After:

Brass ones don't last very long!:

More to come soon!

[OldSchoolRunner]

Looks like a good resto project! If I were you. I would rebuild this one and get a re-re for your beach running. After you put all that work into it, it would be a shame to mess it up.

OSR

[SteveU30]

Yeah I've kinda settled on this one staying on the shelf, I think it's gonna turn out nice, too nice to be run with it being all vintage.

[SteveU30]

Got some steel wire wheels & brushes for my Dremel today and man what a difference to the brass wheels!

Top arm is with the brass, bottom arm is with steel:

Shiny bits:

It's a bit time consuming but it'll be worth it in the end I'm sure!

[hedge]

These old girls clean up a treat :-)

[OldSchoolRunner]

Lookin good! I like this resto! Makes me want to resto the one that has been sitting on my shelf for the last 3 years. Maybe next fall.

OSR

[SteveU30]

OK, so the chassis is back together now:

On to the original body. Started off by rubbing it all back to see if there were any hidden suprises. All looked OK apart from the odd imperfection so I then preceded to filling in the gaps with Milliput. Once this has set I'll sand it all back and see how it is:

[kalsh]

Looking good. Are you not going to strip the shell back to plastic to bring all the details out? The grey primer looks very thick. Good advice on the Drexel wire wheels.

[kalsh]

What type of milliput are you using? Standard yellow grey? As I have a few projects that need some work with putty.

[SteveU30]

I've rubbed the primer back a fair bit since the first pics but I didn't want to go too mad as there's a few splits in the body which the primer is helping to conceal. I am going to rub it back some more before paint to get some more detail exposed. Yes I'm using standard Milliput, never used it before so am learning as I go!

[mongoose1983]

Anyway, before I start with the resto progress here's how it looked before I started:

Oooooh, gotta LOVE the Sand Scorcher!!!

[SteveU30]

Haven't touched this is in a while due to being sidetracked with other projects. I'm kinda glad in a way though as now I've come back to it, I feel it would be wrong to not do it properly so I'm now in the process of stripping the paint back to bare plastic. I'm using brake fluid as it's kinder to the plastic but it ain't half taking a while. This is the progress after about 5 days of brushing with brake fluid and then gentle scrubbing each night:

[Grumpy pants]

SteveU30. I've got a sunroof you can have, it's a proper old Skool one tatty but definitely reusable.

[SteveU30]

Wow yes please! PM on it's way!

[SteveU30]

Am getting there:

[BangkokBulldog]

Cant wait to see this completed! Good job Steve!

[SteveU30]

So after weeks of brake fluid I seemed to have hit a brick wall as it just wasn't lifting any more paint and this is as far as I had got:

I then decided to break out the big guns and set about with Desolvit graffiti remover. Now at this point I was nervous as it's an old shell but I read and re-read Johnny Retro from Tamiyabase' excellent guide here: http://www.tamiyabase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=145:paint-stripping&catid=54&Itemid=554 and applied the Desolvit:

Another application, a little bit of elbow grease with a toothbrush and a rinse with the garden hose yielded this:

A couple more goes and an hour later I ended up with this excellent result:

The last tiny bits of paint left in nooks and crannies I'll just scrape out with an exacto knife then on to sanding it nice and smooth. I'm glad I've gone to these lengths now as I know it'll be worth it in the end.

[ChrisRx718]

Long way to go yet Steve!

I'm not sure of any differences but were you aware that the entire bodyset for the re-release was available from Banzai for less than £17? Obviously postage will come into it but I've found you don't get stung on just bodysets - it's when you have them combined with other stuff...

[SteveU30]

Thanks Chris, I did actually buy one of those when I started this project to use as a runner body and it's almost finished:

My plans have changed now though and the vintage scorcher is going to be a shelf queen as the shell and chassis are far too delicate. The re-re body is going to now be used on a runner chassis that I'll be building with RC Channel and Radshape goodies but I need to clear a few projects first lol.

[BangkokBulldog]

Come on Steve! Get that original body painted!!!!

[SteveU30]

Shell sanded and keyed ready for primer:

First coat of primer applied to show up the imperfections:

Front end needs a lot of sanding and work:

Sanded and more filler added:

It'll all be worth it when it's done I'm sure.

[Percymon]

Keep at it Steve - its easy to get disheartened or cut corners , but the prep is what will make or break the finished result

[neverfollow]

Wow this awesome. Great, great work!

[biggamehunter]

following with interest steve , the alloy parts came up great with the steel wheels ! the shell looks like a good un !

cheers shaun