L.F. Lotus 72D Tires and wheels for Protar 312B2

Ask away...

Topic author
Ronnux
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 6:16 am
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Lotus
Status: Online
Netherlands

L.F. Lotus 72D Tires and wheels for Protar 312B2

Post by Ronnux »

Just bought a Protar 312B2 with the sprues still in plastic for a decent price. Very happy with it because it’s the last plastic kit that I didn’t had :)

As mentioned before on this forum, the wheels and tires are way too big. I know Icon and Mac made a replacement set for the 312B but I don’t think they are available anymore..

Does anyone has some tips on how to get the correct tire and wheel size? Maybe from a Lotus 72D kit? Or are there other aftermarket 3D options that I don’t know?

Hope someone can help me!

Thanks in advance!
Last edited by Ronnux on Wed May 24, 2023 3:44 am, edited 1 time in total.

Craggyisland
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 80
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 8:55 am
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Lotus
Location: Wales
Status: Offline
Wales

Re: Protar 312B2 Tires and wheels

Post by Craggyisland »

There's an eBay seller in Austria who sells resin wheels that fit Tamiya Lotus 72 Firestones, suitable for a 1972 312B-2. They're home cast, so a bit rough, but better they work (I've used his other pieces with success. Trades under the name st.irish.
User avatar

capri-schorsch
FOTA Chairman
FOTA Chairman
Posts: 2247
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:36 am
Your Name: Christian
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Carlos Sainz
Location: Germany
Contact:
Status: Offline
Jamaica

Re: Protar 312B2 Tires and wheels

Post by capri-schorsch »

Oh the copy king St.Irish is still in business?
Resin Kits and Parts for Sale
Porsche 962 in 1/8 Scale IMSA & Shorttail New!

http://mezzo-mix-models.jimdo.com

Gorf
F1 Test Driver
F1 Test Driver
Posts: 217
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:33 pm
Your Name: Steve
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Lotus
Location: South Carolina
Status: Offline
United States of America

Re: Protar 312B2 Tires and wheels

Post by Gorf »

I may have what you need.At least I have the wheels.The tires have treads.Contact me OTB.
Steve

Topic author
Ronnux
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 6:16 am
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Lotus
Status: Online
Netherlands

Re: Protar 312B2 Tires and wheels

Post by Ronnux »

Thanks Steve, you have a PM!

@Craggyisland, do you have a link to his page or an email address?

I’ve tried to Google him, but cannot find anything..

Craggyisland
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 80
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 8:55 am
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Lotus
Location: Wales
Status: Offline
Wales

Re: Protar 312B2 Tires and wheels

Post by Craggyisland »

This link works from eBay in the UK:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/cnt/intermediate ... d=st.irish

Topic author
Ronnux
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 6:16 am
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Lotus
Status: Online
Netherlands

Re: L.F. Lotus 72D Tires and wheels for Protar 312B2

Post by Ronnux »

Just measured the tires of the Tamiya Lotus 72D and they are, I think, the best alternative for the Ferrari 312B2 (needs adjustments to the rims though).

Does anyone have a spare set or an old restoration project that I can buy?

Thanks!

Jordan2.0
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 191
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2020 10:39 am
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Tyrrell
Status: Offline
Belgium

Re: L.F. Lotus 72D Tires and wheels for Protar 312B2

Post by Jordan2.0 »

312B and 312B2 have different styles of wheels

Alex.

Topic author
Ronnux
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 6:16 am
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Lotus
Status: Online
Netherlands

Re: L.F. Lotus 72D Tires and wheels for Protar 312B2

Post by Ronnux »

Hi Alex,

Yes, different Tire sizes, slick vs profile but by my knowledge same 13/15” wheels.

Measurements from the Ferrari site:

312B:

F 9/22/13 —>1/12 in centimeters: 1,9/4,7/2,8
R 12,5/26/15 —> 1/12 in centimeters: 2,6/5,5/3,2

312B2:

F 8,6/20/13 —>1/12 in centimeters 1,8/4,2/2,8
R 13,5/24/15 —>1/12 in centimeters 2,9/5,1/3,2
Attachments
IMG_6301.jpeg
IMG_6302.jpeg

Hacksaw
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 104
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:39 pm
Status: Offline

Re: L.F. Lotus 72D Tires and wheels for Protar 312B2

Post by Hacksaw »

312B2 Rear Wheel Construction Resized
312B2 Rear Wheel Construction Resized
312B2 Front Wheel Construction Resized
312B2 Front Wheel Construction Resized
312B2 Front Wheel Construction Resized
312B2 Front Wheel Construction Resized
312B2 Restored Front Wheel
312B2 Restored Front Wheel
312B2 Restored Rear Wheel
312B2 Restored Rear Wheel
I hope that the accompanying images show how I tackled the problem to make some wheels to convert the Protar 312B2 which is of the 1971 version of the car to the 1972 version. The spokes on the 312B are thinner toward the centre than on the 321B2 but I haven’t got around to modifying these yet. As an aside the images also include parts of an enlarged scale drawing, this drawing shows the wrong spoke design for the wheels.

Just so we are all on the same page with the terminology for the various parts of a wheel I am using this as link as a guide:
https://www.theengineerspost.com/wp-con ... heel-1.jpg

The Rear Wheels
• After some careful measuring the rims and flanges from the Tamiya Lotus 72D were cut at the drop centre (with the spokes attached) of the rear wheel,
• You will need to make some form of jig to ensure that that the line of the cut and the cut in the wheel itself are perpendicular to the centre line of the wheel,
• The process is repeated to the Tamiya 312B wheels but this time it is the drop centre with the spokes attached that are needed, you must be careful that the cut you make doesn’t damage the wheel spokes,
• The inside if the drop centres on the Tamiya 72D and the 312B are the same so it just a matter of gluing these together then filling and sanding any sign of the join.

The Front Wheels
These are not so easy to modify but it is straight forward.
• Follow the same procedure as described for the rear wheels, but you will need to add a disc of plastic card to the 312B drop centre as the 312B and 72D drop centres and rims are not the same diameter.

I hope that the above makes sense.

Hacksaw

312B2 Restored Rear Wheel
312B2 Restored Rear Wheel
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post