Formula one

Building the Ferrari 312 T2 1977 from a Tamiya kit 1/12 scale

by Mario Covalski © Modeler Site

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At the end of 1975 the Austrian Niki Lauda (team's second driver) was crowned F1's world champion. Here the man's and machine's successful career begin, the car: a Ferrari 312T. A revolutionary F1 with 12 horizontal cylinders engine (named flat 12) and traverse gear box (this is the T's reason ), with an astonishing aerodynamics and a construction quality early several years to their time.

 

In 1976 the regulations changed, the periscope air intake could not exist anymore, because the maximum height was limited and some extra security measures were imposed in the cars.
Then the 312 T2 was born, with which Niki gave up the Japan grand prix, leaving his Ferrari intact in the box and losing the chance of obtaining for second consecutive time the driver's world championship.

The 312 T2 model evolved until the end of 1977 , when the incredible Niki gets the maximum position and obtains his second championship.
In this way culminates the most successful chassis in the Ferrari's history.

The following year the T2 was replaced by a completely evolved design the T3.

The scale model

In 1976 Tamiya releases for sale, a Ferrari 312T reproduction in 1/12 scale. With representative features for that time but with details that even today amaze those who confront its construction.
With very few addition and very good information we can achieve a nice model that has nothing to envy the most recent Tamiya's kits.

A small Japanese company, Chevron models, manufactures a handmade kit to transform the Ferrari 312T into the last and curious 312T2, that highlights for its water radiators and air exit position.
The new about this "transkit" is its vacuform manufacture, method not used in car modelling.

It also contains some metallic parts ( lead ), and few resin parts.

A sheet of Tamiya's Ferrari 312T4 decals and some adhesive too (that I rejected for being incompatible with my techniques).

About the used materials

The project was based on a well detailed construction. Analyzing the photographic references it becomes obvious immediately the points where the Tamiya's kit needs, besides a good paint work, external additions.
So we need, among other things, the following:

Tamiya's kit 12019 ,Ferrari 312T

Chevron's kit 1203

Styrene sheet of .02" and .04" thickness.

Styrene strips of .02" thickness and .2" width.

Seatbelts with their hardware ( the kit provides them but were replaced ).

Electric cable of .018" (several colors)

Electric wire of .022" (several colors)

A Modeler's hose end set. (ref 421)

A Modeler's mesh of .035" (0,9 mm).

Other things from your spare parts box, can be useful.

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