Ferrari 312B RC Conversion?

[Grastens]

I have mulled over the idea of stuffing electronics into a Tamiya Ferrari 312B kit to turn their 1:12 scale kit into a functioning RC car. I would most likely use F103/F104/RM-01 parts where possible as mechanical components, but still find the notion of an early-70s F1 car on an RC chassis appealing.

My question is: has such a project been undertaken previously? A search turned up no such endeavour - either because of poor documentation or obvious obstacles I am missing to realize this. I read about the VF1 series on F104 chassis, but the Ferrari 312B specifically stands out as an attractive subject of a radio-controlled car.

I would appreciate both clarification and ideas, as well as insights on the 1:12 kits themselves - the largest static kits I have ever assembled were 1:24.

Thanks!

[Tamiya1/10]

I think it never been done before as RC and static modeler are two different crowd. And converting a 1:12 highly detailed model into rc would be unspeakabler after paying for these high end scale model price Is like buying a gourmet pizza and just eating the crust. Besides, the scale are different. Hope the above is not sounding too

- ive

. I am sure it can be done, given we can sent a man to the moon and back , we can convert anything.

[zomboided]

My worry would be whether or not the pizza is stuffed crust or not? And whether the kit plastics could stand up to any sort of impact/stress...those models are a lot more delicate than your regular F103/4 and aren't designed with taking loads in mind.

That said, I think I saw a dude scratch build a cigar type (60s era F1) rc car a long while back, but I'm struggling to find it right now.

[yogi-bear]

I think its a fantastic idea, however you would be using the model more as a template than the actual parts. I've thought about doing this with some of my 1/12 scale model kits, where I use the styrene body (which are just like the early Tamiya rc cars anyway), and custom make the chassis, suspension etc to be fairly detailed. It would be a big project, but lots of fun. There are many sites where custom parts are fabricated by hand, out of brass or aluminium, one such that I check regularly is called scalemodelcars.com. Your biggest asset will be patience, with that you can achieve anything.

[Mokei Kagaku]

Using bodies from especially Tamiya, Otaki and Nitto 1/12 scale static model kits for RC-models was rather common in Japan in the late 70's when there weren't many RC-bodies to chose from. A couple of examples from old issues of Tamiya News magazines here. I can't spot any B3, but seen are for instance:

Tamiya 1/12 conversions: Ferrari 312T, Porsche 910, Lola T-70, Brabham BT-44B, Tyrrell P34, Datsun 240Z, Wolf WR-1 (although the Wolf might be a scratchbuild as the Tamiya model hadn't been officially released at the time the magazine was published (model: 1981, magazine: May 1979).

Otaki 1/12 conversions: Mercedes 450SLC, Lamborghini LP400 Countach (being an LP400 and having open doors and engine deck lid and popped up headlights, it's obviously the Otaki static kit and not the Tamiya RC Countach)

[Grastens]

Thank you all for the insights! I have a slight engineering background, so I know those plastics will not withstand actual running. Any conceived design would place minimal stresses on the static kit parts, and would probably use a metal chassis with the plastic shell and other elements.

I guess the thought of having a unique RC car for a manageable price and buying model kits for spares were what also attracted me to this project. It would be interesting to see how those kits' tires would hold up under use, too...