Ferrari 312T 1975

Bought an original 1970s part built kit from eBay.
I've always wanted one of these, a dream purchase.  

This was as far as the previous owner had got, some parts were broken, and it had an awful covering of silver paint. 

Managed to disassemble most of it to the bare tub. 

Dry fitting parts as I make the engine up. 

A good base to start off.  

Unfortunately the top of the footwell monocoque was so well glued, I had to chisel it off, I'll repair this later. 

Built the rear oil coolers up. 

I added weight to my 312T, I just like the feel of it better with some heft to it, nuts and bolts glued inside, holes covered with plaplate, when the engines attached, you won't be able to tell. 

With wiring, plumbing and everything else, you won't see the rear bulkhead later.  

Front water coolers were removed and repainted. 

Everything was sanded down for re painting.  

Black vallejo matt paint, I tend to use it instead of primer.  

Transverse gearbox and brakes, with the big fibreglass air intakes.  

Not a huge update, as I've had a few days away from modelling. Finished the coil springs on both sides and the right upright and drive shaft. Haven't got to finishing the anti-roll bar yet, as I'm changing the support rods for thinner wire, so it looks more in scale. More soon. 

Soon I shall return to this kit. Need more practice before I build my MFH Tyrrell. Cool stuff to come.  

1970s F1 Cars really were big go karts, basically a huge engine attached to a big fuel tank, with wheels, next to no safety even in 1975. No crumble zones or driver safety aids. Things would stay very much the same until the late 80s, only real changes would come after the deaths of Aryton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994. 

Back to working on the Tamiya 1/12 1975 Ferrari 312T. Today was just to get reacquainted with the kit, remember where I was, what I had planned, and where I'm going. Tested the fit of the rear wheels and tyres, everything is just friction fitted so far, a long way to go yet. That's how good Tamiya kits are, even forty eight year old kits fit together so well. Work will continue tomorrow with the rear anti-roll bar system, as im making the connecting rods more in scale. This is going to look awesome finished. #classicf1 

New rear anti-roll bar system. More in scale. 

Looking good so far. 

As usual not a lot new to see. With one thing or another I've been busy with other things recently. But back to the rear of the 312T. Finished the gearbox, and rear suspension, anti-roll bar adjusters. Replaced the kit parts with pins, for a finer appearance. 

As usual not a lot new to see. With one thing or another I've been busy with other things recently. But back to the rear of the 312T. Finished the gearbox, and rear suspension, anti-roll bar adjusters. Replaced the kit parts with pins, for a finer appearance. 

Sloooow work continues on the 312T. The Ferrari Tipo 015, 2,992 cc (182.6 cu in), flat 12, naturally aspirated, engine is a mini kit in itself. Its going to be a complicated, Spaghetti wiring job, there's twelve wires for the fuel injection and twelve wires for the electrical ignition system. Then all the water and assorted pump plumbing. but it's going to look very cool. I am going to add a few things here and there, and I've sourced some air funnel mesh guards. Also I'll be assembling the Octopuss exhaust system of twelve pipes too. Proper Italian plumbing nightmare, but it is a Ferrari lol ? all this is just dry fitted for now. 

Mixed bag of modelling today, shook sticks at a few different kits. As winter is approaching, looks like I've got Ships and F1 cars in my future. I've been putting the Ferrari off for months as I worked through my Sci-Fi backlog, soo work will commence on the 1975 world championship winning F1 car, my birth year. Doing the bodywork air-intake mod, and scratch building the fibreglass valve covers, plus adding a lot of missing details, wiring and plumbing, swapping nuts n bolts, scratching the accelerator assembly, and spray painting the final bodywork for the first time... a lot to do, but it'll look very cool. 

Finally starting to paint the engine again.  

And some weathering. 

Yes, looking exactly how I want it.  

It has been a whole year since I touched the 1975 Ferrari 312T, omg ? finally put paint down on the main case of the Flat 12 engine. More soon. 

Tipo 15 Flat 12 engine. Only made a tiny bit of progress today, first pump and hose. More weathering to come. Then fitting all the pipes, electrics, rear transverse gearbox and suspension, and the exhaust system, that all pretty much needs to be done at the same time. 

Making a start on the big 70s F1 GoodYears. 

Looking smart, dry fitting and testing the exhaust set up. First six so far.  

Making a start on painting up the first three exhaust pipes. I'm going for a 1980s Tamiya Catalogue, Francois Verlinden look. Painted to my personal taste, there's more than enough pristine, sparkly builds out there.  

First six pipes of the exhaust manifold system finished and attached permanently.  

Just dry fitted the gearbox so I can glue the exhaust ends in place.