Author Topic: Honda to Ferrari  (Read 1283 times)

Offline ScranJ51

  • Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!
Honda to Ferrari
« on: September 14, 2021, 01:55:46 PM »
ADMIN - please relocate if there is a better folder/location.

I'm a keen builder of Formula 1 cars, doing so in 1/12th, 1/20th and 1/24th.

I have a set of "directions" that show how to convert a 1/12th Honda RA273 to a 1968 Ferrari V-12 (and also how to convert a RA 273 to Dan Gurney's 1968 Eagle).

Before I undertake that conversion, I thought I'd have a practice - but can't get a RA273 in 1/20th - so what about converting a 1/20th RA272?

Turning this:
h 2 f 1 by David Freeman, on Flickr

into this:
ferrari_312_1967_wallpapers_2_b by David Freeman, on Flickr

e9cf39db0018e44f529205b8ac7868b1 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Well, the first issue is that even though the Honda has a V-12, the engine is mounted transversally (cross-ways) so i needed something different.

This was in the "spares" box:
engine 5 by David Freeman, on Flickr

so - will it fit?
fit 2 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Looks to scale, but there is one issue:
chassis 01 by David Freeman, on Flickr

The Honda's chassis has a slight raise at the rear (to suit the transverse engine) so that had to come off/out:
chassis 03 by David Freeman, on Flickr

OK, so far, so good.  The conversion of the RA273 requires the opening at front of the nose to be made slightly smaller - that is not an issue for the RA272, but the nose does need to be a little longer:
nose 01 by David Freeman, on Flickr

The vents behind the radiator on top of the nose are also larger and a different shape:
nose 02 by David Freeman, on Flickr

So - I added the small front "chin wings:
nose 05 by David Freeman, on Flickr

and ended up with:
nose 07 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Now for some putty and sanding!

« Last Edit: September 14, 2021, 01:57:32 PM by ScranJ51 »
Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!

Offline ScranJ51

  • Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!
Re: Honda to Ferrari
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2021, 12:38:21 PM »
Nose filled with Putty:
nose 09 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Painted and a test fit:
nose 10 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!

Offline ScranJ51

  • Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!
Re: Honda to Ferrari
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2021, 12:46:21 PM »
Back to the engine.

these are from the original engine:
engine 2 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Split:
engine 3 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Then added to the "new" block:
engine 6 by David Freeman, on Flickr


One of the issues is that the original Honda engine was mounted on frames each side - the Ferrari has a rear "tub" that the engine sits in.  So, how long to make that?

Need to check the rear suspension length:
body 04 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Once that is worked out - i started to build the tub:
fit 4 by David Freeman, on Flickr

check the length with the engine and gearbox:
fit 5 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Then apply a skin each side:
fit 6 by David Freeman, on Flickr

fit 7 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Getting there!
Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!

Offline ScranJ51

  • Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!
Re: Honda to Ferrari
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2021, 08:08:43 PM »
So, with the Tub coming along, time to paint it:

fit 8 by David Freeman, on Flickr

then start to rebuild the suspension:

fit 10 by David Freeman, on Flickr

sus 1 by David Freeman, on Flickr

sus 2 by David Freeman, on Flickr

One error I made here - the Ferrari had inboard brakes, where I'd already added then to the rear hubs.  Also, the positioning of the engine was such that the suspension arms were too short, and had to be extended:

sus 3 by David Freeman, on Flickr

so I added some hollow tube to make the length - I'd explain it away as Ferrari could vary the wheelbase depending on circuit length.... :o

Another issue was that the 1965 Honda Tyres are way to skinny for the 1968 car (Honda original on the left) whereas the only options I had available were "slicks" (with no tread - on the right) that didn't come in until the early 70's.

tyres 1 by David Freeman, on Flickr

SO, to give the impression of tread, the centre tyre has black tule (sometimes my wife looks funny at me when she goes fabric shopping and I ask for stuff  8)) gule into position to give the tread impression.  The entire tyre is then painted with Tamiya Rubber Black to take away the shiny-ness of the glue......

The seat was painted with a lacquer paint to give a leather look, and a Ferrari badge added to the steering wheel:

seat 01 by David Freeman, on Flickr

cockpit 1 by David Freeman, on Flickr
Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!

Offline ScranJ51

  • Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!
Re: Honda to Ferrari
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2021, 11:58:59 AM »
Getting close to done.

I scratch built the battery holder and put an oil breather tank on one side, plus two battery connections:

exhaust 2 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Also added the exhaust.  Can't remember where these came from, but they were a little short, so have added some shrink fit (without shrinking it!) to give them more length:

exhaust 3 by David Freeman, on Flickr


starting to look quite different to what a build from the box would look like:

exhaust 4 by David Freeman, on Flickr
Ra272-4 by David Freeman, on Flickr
Ra272-3 by David Freeman, on Flickr
Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!

Offline ScranJ51

  • Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!
Re: Honda to Ferrari
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2021, 01:21:09 PM »
Calling this done.

I have made a Wing for the rear but need to fully develop the plans to attach it.

Might revisit at a later date:

Final 2 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Final 1 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Final 3 by David Freeman, on Flickr

Good practice for later when I will carried out a similar conversion to a 1/12 scale Ra 273 (which has a rear tub etc.

Following that will be a Honda Ra 273 to the 1967 Gurney Weslake Eagle:

1200px-Honda_RA273_Honda_Collection_Hall by David Freeman, on Flickr

5c8604a837b8c8d1332f565f1134f20b by David Freeman, on Flickr
Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!