Tamiya Ferrari 288 GTO Project



Although the current standard RC scale is 1/10, back in the very beginning Tamiya cars were 1/12.  If we look strictly at touring cars, everything was 1/12 scale until the Group C chassis came out in 1990.  This fact is easy to miss since the number of 1/10 touring cars since that time so vastly outnumbers the 1/12 cars from before.  The first generation of TamTech kits came out in 1986 and continued until 1988.  These were tiny 1/24 scale RTR touring cars.  Tamiya got excited about smaller scale again in 2006 and resurrected the series in 1/12 scale, this time called TamTech Gear and using the new GT-01 chassis.  There were a mix of RTR and kits available.  The first four models (Porsche 934, Porsche 935, Lambo Countach, Ferrari GTO) were available either way, but the later Porsche Jägermeister was RTR only and the black Porsche was kit only (though these are both the same body with a different livery).  The series has ceased to exist since 2009.

I didn't know anything at all about the TamTech gear series until reading an article about them on Black Hole Sun's web site.  I was intrigued, but I was plagued by the same problem that often torments me: discovering something after it is already discontinued.  Luckily I was able to find the Ferrari GTO available for a really good price out of Hong Kong so I ordered one to see what this series was all about.

You might expect a 1/12 scale version of a touring car to be a bit more "toy like" than a larger scale, but I did not find that to be true.  In fact, this was one of the more complex chassis I've assembled.  It has 4 wheel double wishbone suspension, front pushrod suspension, and rear wheel drive using a 370 sized motor.  In addition to the mechanical complexity, the kit is fairly deluxe.  It comes with full ball bearings and a ball differential standard.  The body and decals are even precut.  The RTRs in this series used a specially sized small scale servo which is no longer available, so that makes building the kits challenging.

What really makes these models shine though is the stunning bodies.  The Ferrari GTO never existed in Tamiya 1/10 scale, so this is the only choice if you want one.  The rest of the models in the series are all remakes of classic Tamiya RC touring cars.  I painted mine classic Mica red which is not the color recommended by the instructions but has a bit more pop.

With the stock 370 motor the performance is pretty tame.  I swapped it out for a hotter motor and now the limitations (and fun) of having rear wheel drive really come out.  You need to be on your toes when driving this, but you only need a proportionally smaller space to use it.

Update:  This model was destroyed in the 2022 fire.  It has not been replaced.

frame
Page 1: Assembly


Page 2: Upgrades!

Page 3: Final Photos

Description
Manufacturer
Model #
Ferrari 288 GTO 1/12 Scale Radio
Control Car Kit (GT-01)
Tamiya
57103
28T 370 Brushed Motor
LaTrax7575X
16 Tooth 0.5 Mod Hardened Steel
Pinion
Robinson Racing
1816
Quicrun Waterproof 25A Brushed
Electronic Speed Control
Hobbywing
1625
2 Channel 2.4 GHz DSMR Receiver
Spektrum
SR210
Micro High Torque Steering Servo
Futaba
S3115
GB-01 Aeration Oil Filled Dampers
Tamiya
40513
5x8mm Rubber Sealed
Ball Bearings x4
Advantage Racing MR85-2RS
PS-60 Mica Red Paint
Tamiya
86060

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©2018 Eric Albrecht