My first 'real' RC car!

My friend bought this car new in the early 1980's. We assembled it and then beat the heck out of it. When the car was suitably trashed, my friend sold it to me. I put it back together as best I could and then bashed it again for a few more years. Eventually it was unusable and I took the radio out and put it into a new car.

All of the stupid things done to this car (painted battery box, cut up body, lost parts) are all my fault. I have some new parts and hope to make this one run again.

Update - Feb 2003

For the first time since 1986 (or so), my Rough Rider has actually moved under it's own power. It sat in various states of disassembly until a few weeks ago when I took what was left apart and re-assembled. I haven't had it outside yet, just in the basement for a minute.

It's running it's original early 1980's Futaba servos, what looks like the original Futaba receiver (but this one has a legal frequency) and an original plastic Tamiya humpback battery.

I picked up a few parts here and there on ebay from Darryn, jsourbeck and a used speed control from some guy in Arizona (US). I was able to glue and reinforce the original radio box, but was forced to re-paint the radio box after my paint stripping attempt went very wrong, and it ended up etched white.

It's not anything close to restored. It never will be a nice looking car as it would need a body, radio box, bumper, rear cage, dampers, wheels and tires. Not worth it. Mechanically, it's actually pretty sound. I think it needs a longer steering servo horn to make it turn tighter.

Unlike in the 1980s, I was finally able to get everything into the radio box properly and have it close tightly. I could never do this when I was a kid. I still don't know what they were thinking with that radio box. At the very least, they should have left the battery connector accessible.

Update - late Feb 2003 - Unbelievably, I picked up a NIB radio box for $35(US) shipped. I'm not going to put this radio bix in this RR yet. Actually, I probably never will, as I think I'm going to leave *my* RR as it sits with it's original parts. **Update** Radio box sold summer 2003

Update Dec 11 2004 - In the last year I found a decent front bumper and nice Rear wheel/tire on ebay, as well as a nice Radio box.

I've also done some major work on the body. Repaired most of the damage to the main shell.