Plastic Model Guides
Tamiya Honda RA272 20043: Paint Guide and #11/#12 Options
The Tamiya Honda RA272 20043 is a rewarding subject to plan before opening the paint. Its 1:20 scale leaves room for the exposed V12, while the clear engine covers and removable nose give you several ways to present the same car. The important early choices are the driver markings, how much mechanical detail to show, and which parts need finishing before they become difficult to reach.
Start with the Tamiya Honda RA272 1:20 model kit for current ordering information. This guide explains the kit's options and a practical preparation sequence; it does not claim a hands-on test or replace the assembly instructions supplied by Tamiya.
Choose Richie Ginther #11 or Ronnie Bucknum #12
The subject is Honda's RA272 at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. Honda's race record identifies Richie Ginther as the winner in car #11 and Ronnie Bucknum as the fifth-place finisher in #12. Tamiya provides markings for both. Choosing #11 recreates the winning car; choosing #12 represents Bucknum's entry at the same event. The number is a specific identity choice, not a decorative alternative to mix across the body.
Before cutting any decals, mark the chosen option in the instruction sheet and identify every number location. Keep the unused markings on their backing paper. If you collect several historical Honda models, a small display label with the driver, number and race can distinguish the finished subject without adding anything to the car itself.
Plan the clear cowling before painting
Tamiya supplies three clear engine-cowling sections. Their transparency lets you display the engine through the bodywork, and it creates a different project from a car whose engine disappears beneath an opaque cover. Decide whether you want the clear display treatment or a painted exterior before applying primer. A clear part cannot retain an unobstructed view after an opaque coat goes over it.
Set the cover parts aside where they will not rub against loose runners or tools. Check their fit during the assembly sequence, using the instructions to distinguish attached components from parts intended to be removable. Do not assume that every clear piece is designed to detach after assembly. Where you want a separate cover displayed beside the model, confirm that the instructed construction allows it before committing to adhesive.
The removable nose offers a second display choice: fitted for the complete silhouette, or removed to expose the radiator, oil cooler and front suspension. Decide where a removed nose will sit on your shelf. An uncluttered base can make this detail easier to read than a crowded arrangement of parts.
Build a paint and supplies list around the instructions
This is an unassembled plastic kit. Paint, suitable model cement and finishing tools are separate purchases. Tamiya lists TS-7 Racing White as the body-color reference. That is one part of the finish, not a complete paint shopping list: the engine, suspension, cockpit, tires and smaller components need their own attention.
Read the full painting key in your kit instructions and make a short checklist before ordering supplies. Note each paint reference, the parts that use it, and whether you already own an appropriate product. Keep body paint, detail colors and any optional clear finish in separate lines so that a suggested alternative does not accidentally become an extra required purchase.
- Preparation: side cutters, a fine file or sanding material, and a clean work surface for small suspension and engine parts.
- Assembly: an adhesive suitable for the plastic and application; check compatibility before using it near transparent pieces.
- Finishing: the specified body and detail colors, appropriate brushes or spray equipment, and masking materials for the chosen finish.
- Decals: a shallow water container, clean tweezers and soft tools for positioning. Any setting solution is an optional finishing aid whose compatibility should be checked first.
Follow the paint manufacturer's instructions for preparation, ventilation, drying and recoating. A paint code identifies a color; it does not make different paint chemistries interchangeable. If you substitute a product, test the finish on spare material before applying it to the body or clear cowling.
Give the visible V12 its own work stage
The RA272's transverse engine is central to the model's appearance. Tamiya represents the V12, its intake and exhaust arrangements, and the gearbox; the one-piece monocoque establishes the main structure. A useful planning exercise is to highlight the engine and surrounding assembly steps, then identify which surfaces will become hard to reach after the next part is fitted.
Prepare and paint small components while access is good, but respect the kit's instructed joining surfaces and assembly order. Dry-fit adjacent pieces before final attachment. This is especially helpful when you want visible gaps and aligned components to look deliberate beneath transparent covers. Keep completed subassemblies in a shallow tray so that delicate parts are not handled repeatedly while you finish the body.
Extra wiring or plumbing is optional detailing. It is not necessary to complete the supplied model, and a generic engine photograph is not enough to establish where a particular line belongs on the Mexican Grand Prix car. If you add it, use photographs of the correct RA272 subject and check the scale of the material before making permanent changes.
Protect the marking choice through final assembly
Plan decals after the main painted finish is ready for them under the paint and decal-product instructions. Work through one chosen driver's placement drawing rather than switching between both options. Check orientation before a marking touches the surface, and allow enough working time to position it without stretching or tearing it.
Before fitting the last vulnerable pieces, compare the overall appearance with the instruction drawings: the driver number should be consistent, the nose should sit as intended, and the chosen engine-cover treatment should still give the view you planned. This is a useful final inspection even for a straightforward build without additional detailing.
Allow space for the car and any removed panels
Tamiya gives the assembled dimensions as 194 mm long, 83 mm wide and 41 mm high. These measurements describe the model, not a display case or the kit packaging. A case needs internal clearance around the finished car; displaying the nose or covers separately requires additional floor area beyond those dimensions.
Before choosing a case, sketch the car's footprint and the proposed position of any separate panels on paper. Leave room to place and remove the model without catching the wheels or exposed components. This simple layout also helps you decide whether your display emphasizes the complete 1965 car or the mechanical detail that makes this kit distinctive.
Ready to build? Return to the Tamiya 20043 Honda RA272 product page, browse Tamiya kits and supplies, or compare other plastic model projects.
Reference sources: Tamiya item 20043 specifications and Honda's 1965 Formula One race record. Kit facts and race identities come from these references; the preparation checklist is editorial guidance to use alongside your kit instructions.
