312T4

[arcticwolf]

A Ferrari 312T4, if all goes well. An incomplete, partially built and then dismantled Tamiya kit, plus a disassembled ancient metal Protar kit to hopefully supply the missing and/or broken bits, plus some photo etch sheets and some decals. Or more simply, a large box full of scrambled parts. Might just be enough to build this, lol.

I do have Tamiya's instructions online for some guidance. So, the tub, risen from the dead:

For those curious, the tub is painted with Tamiya TS83. Nice result but it shows every scratch!!

[hurtubise56]

Wow, now that's optimism, hoping Protar parts fit a Tamiya kit! Protar parts don't even fit Protar kits! Good start, Paul! I have an extra Tamiya 312T4 kit, cheap, if you get too frustrated!

[arcticwolf]

May 22, 2022 8:01:12 GMT -5 hurtubise56 said:

Wow, now that's optimism, hoping Protar parts fit a Tamiya kit! Protar parts don't even fit Protar kits! Good start, Pau;! I have an extra Tamiya 312T4 kit, cheap, if you get too frustrated!

Yep. That's why I'm building the Tamiya instead of the Protar.    Thanks for the offer, I have 2 312T parts kits I can cannibalize if I need to for oddball parts. I also have one still shrink wrapped, I should be building it!

Looking in my closet, I think I need to buy a lot of red paint. 

[kyledehart5]

Well I look forward to seeing this one. Always love a Ferrari. I used TS83 on my Peugeot 206 WRC build and quickly realized that I’d never be able to touch it again. 😂

[Gary Davis]

May 23, 2022 18:14:55 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Well I look forward to seeing this one. Always love a Ferrari. I used TS83 on my Peugeot 206 WRC build and quickly realized that I’d never be able to touch it again. 😂

Now that's a bummer Kyle.

[kyledehart5]

It’s ok Gary. Just an excuse to build another one. I’ve always loved the 206 and that’s such a great little kit I wouldn’t mind doing a different livery. The silver one remains finished in my display cabinet with a minimum of scratches. Lol

[Gary Davis]

May 24, 2022 10:47:08 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

It’s ok Gary. Just an excuse to build another one. I’ve always loved the 206 and that’s such a great little kit I wouldn’t mind doing a different livery. The silver one remains finished in my display cabinet with a minimum of scratches. Lol

LOL...cool. You can always pick it up wearing white cotton gloves.

[indydog]

Damn that tub looks great! I'm gonna have to get me some TS83.

[arcticwolf]

May 24, 2022 16:12:36 GMT -5 indydog said:

Damn that tub looks great! I'm gonna have to get me some TS83.

Looks great, I agree, but Kyle is right. It shows every imperfection, scratch, fingerprint ............

Truthfully, I like the colour but probably the wrong choice for a rebuild, in retrospect. On a new kit, yeah, for sure!

[arcticwolf]

So, some progress. This is going together easier than I thought. The hard part is literally finding the part, they're all loose in a box. 

I got to a point where I realized the next step covers the back of the instrument panel, so if I want it wired (I do) I'd better do it now. Normally I leave all this stuff as late as possible, no such luck here. It will be a PITA for a while but no options I can see.

Seat belts from another Tamiya kit I think, but I used photo etched hardware. Tubing and wires from my warehouse, followed the instructions mostly plus added a few extras. So far I think all the parts are Tamiya, other than a few needed new pins, it's been actually pleasant.

I'm sure that won't last. 

Paul

[Gary Davis]

Looking good Paul.

[kyledehart5]

I like where this is headed!

[arcticwolf]

Basic engine and trans together

All the detail on the front of the motor is for nothing, it butts up tight to the firewall. Some new holes, toothpics and clamps and let it set up

So far it's all going back together.

[hurtubise56]

That engine looks great, Paul!

[arcticwolf]

Jun 1, 2022 14:55:58 GMT -5 hurtubise56 said:

That engine looks great, Paul!

Thanks Brian. I'm doing a scruffy car (mainly because it's recycled pieces) so the engine is Tamiya  Titanium Silver (seriously) with an AK dark brown wash that I normally use for ship decks and stuff. Then both engine and trans got MIG "engine grime" lightly overcoated. I think the effect might work out OK, hey we only learn by trying, right?

So far this beast is going back together a lot nicer than I thought it would, and the Protar parts are staying in the box (or the metal recycler, lol).

The bad news is my freshly repaired computer lasted three whole days and then did another knees up.

cheers mate

[kyledehart5]

Continuing to look great!

[arcticwolf]

Some progress

[hurtubise56]

Nice progress! Still no Protar parts used?

[arcticwolf]

Jun 9, 2022 10:13:05 GMT -5 hurtubise56 said:

Nice progress! Still no Protar parts used?

Thanks Brian. I'm not sure, some of the small engine parts might be mixed in, it's hard to tell. But 99% is Tamiya.

The Protar will go in the parts box, but I'll need a lot of Ferrari parts down the road. 

[kyledehart5]

Starting to look like a race car! Love it

[arcticwolf]

Just a note of interest, but the two kits are not quite the same scale. Shouldn't be surprised, really. The Protar body would not fit the Tamiya chassis, it's slightly bigger in every dimension. It's like it really is 1/11.5 scale if you know what I mean. I think the rest of it is off a little too.

No loss, I have enough to finish this car and lots left over. I might end up with a 312 display engine if I'm lucky.

[arcticwolf]

Here's a good one. I just drove to Lindsey and back, a guy swapped me a brand new Tamiya body shell - actually all the red parts - for the 4 tires from the Protar kit. Apparently his are dissolving like the one on my 126C2 did.

$30.00 in gas but still I like deals like that! 

[kyledehart5]

Ah. That’s really cool Paul! Nice to be able to help each other out.

[arcticwolf]

The new body shell fitted to the redone side pods. Very nice fit so far.

Hopefully it still fits that well when it's all put together.

I finished the sidepods so they have lots of time to cure before I try installing them on the chassis, I'm expecting a fight.

Decals are from a Studio 27 sheet (I think, they came from Spotmodel), but I was missing the strip along the bottom so some leftover Indycals did the trick. They are both fine but I'd say Michael's are easier to work with, even being several years old. Anyway it's close enough for my liking.

Cheers

Paul

[Gary Davis]

That really looks good Paul!

[kyledehart5]

Looking great!!

[arcticwolf]

The plumbing and wiring on this thing is never ending. Installed the rad and oil coolers (and more plumbing). The photo etch didn't really look much better than box stock, so I dry brushed some engine grime (brush on, wipe off, repeat), it's got a bit more realism to it now.

I can see why the original builder gave up on it, it's the exhausts, but after a day or two I sorted them out - ignore the instructions, as always, just look at the pictures! A little Alclad highlighting to simulate the heat stressed areas. Parts of the rear suspension installed so that I could line up everything. Steel pins were used to replace the broken plastic ones, which probably helped.

Never overlook the underside of a car.

Still a long way to go.

[hurtubise56]

The weathering is bringing this baby to life! Looks real!

[kyledehart5]

Man, the exhaust is wild on these old Ferraris. Great work. It’s really looking fantastic now.

[arcticwolf]

Progress. The side pods fit, so I CA'd them on before they changed their mind.

And I test fitted the body just to make sure

One weird way to build a race car.