My dream car-Magnum PI Ferrari 308-Kyosho

I got side tracked from the Viper I started a few weeks ago by this project which has been on the back burner for a few years.

I bought both my 308 GTB and GTS when they were released years ago with the intention of making my ultimate 308, Magnum PI's. There were lots of different models of Ferrari's used on the production of the show (Ferrari 308 GTS (1979), 308 GTSi (1981), 308 GTS QV (1984) &nbsp so the ultimate magnum 308 is more more what I like about them all, rather than complete accuracy.

To me this means it must be a 308 QV, have the correct 308 tan interior, black hoods vents, and the correct rear deck lid. The things that I would really like to have, but I'm willing to concede on for now are a red painted windshield frame and just behind the targa top painted red, and also correct concave 16" wheels, but there is really no way to do this right now. I also like the euro spec front bumper, turn signal and side mirrors that Kyosho's model comes with better than what was on Magnum's 308, so that's a plus.

Starting off I'm using two Kyosho diecast models to take swap and modify parts to make my Ferrari. Kyosho diecast are known for very good accuracy, detail, and quality paint jobs so I only need to focus on the interior and not building or painting a kit. I know that's pretty lazy but I hate trying to do shiny paint jobs and love the scale of the 1:18 cars.
Note: Hot Wheels has recently released a red/tan Ferrari 308 but there are a few things that I just don't like about it and honestly the Kyosho details are just better and more realistic in my opinion.

Donor cars: 308 GTB QV


308 GTS QV



I started by taking apart the GTB to use as a test mule. Pulling apart the interior and trim pieces to see how hard it would be to convert and paint and taking the rear deck lid off to be sure I wouldn't ruin it swapping it over to the GTS. To me, other than the tan interior and black vents, the rear deck is one of the most important parts of the conversion since, in my opinion, it changes the look of the 308 completely.

The flocking(carpet) was removed with alcohol and the handle of a pair of tweezers and then I painted the interior floor with Testors model master Armor Sand. I mixed a tan flocking from brown and white Martha Stewart flocking found at Micheal's and applied it using the great tutorial found here. The rest of the interior was painted with Testors acryl British Gulf Armor Light Stone and then detailed with black paint and more flocking on the lower doors. It was all pretty straight forward except one doors on the GTS being especially stubborn to get off but patience and finesse paid off with no broken or damaged parts. It seems Kyosho barely glues some parts while others get quite a healthy coating. Reassembly was quite easy with just a few screws and a bit of adjustment to the deck lid to get it to sit flush on the GTS body.

I'm very pleased with the results. I admit that I am really curious what is under the flat black surrounding the windshield and how hard it might be to remove that and leave gloss red all around, but I definitely do not want to repaint the whole model just for that. Here are some pics, I hope you guys like it.

I love this..been a huge magnum fan for ever. I love the idea of doing an Idealized 308. Fatastic!
Do you think it would be possible to just paint the window frame?
Oh and don't forget the Robin 1 plate on the back.

I would definitely be possible, but I think for it to look really good it would require a repaint of the entire model. I thought I'd try removing the black paint to see what is underneath worst case I have to touch up a little black paint right?

Forget the awesome car... Dean's back!!!!!

Art Andrews said:

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Forget the awesome car... Dean's back!!!!!

I've been back at least a month now I've just been staying in the modeling forum. I don't want to get sucked all the way back in too soon.

Actually there is a liscensed Hot Wheels 1:18 now but I already had my Kyosho models and they slightly out do the Hot Wheels in detail quality.

Hot Wheels Elite Ferrari 308 GTS - Diecast Cars Forums

Dean O said:

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I've been back at least a month now I've just been staying in the modeling forum. I don't want to get sucked all the way back in too soon.

Actually there is a liscensed Hot Wheels 1:18 now but I already had my Kyosho models and they slightly out do the Hot Wheels in detail quality.

Hot Wheels Elite Ferrari 308 GTS - Diecast Cars Forums

Licensed by Ferrari, or for the show itself? Looks like it may be Ferrari, but not specifically MPI, since there is no Robin 1 on the plate in the pics in your link.

Either way, I may have to get that!

PHArchivist said:

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Licensed by Ferrari, or for the show itself? Looks like it may be Ferrari, but not specifically MPI, since there is no Robin 1 on the plate in the pics in your link.

Either way, I may have to get that!

Yeah I think you're right. There are people on the diecast forum that have made custom ROBIN 1 plates though.

So the more I look at these pics when compared to the picture of the real 308 the less I like the wheels that came on the model. I'm looking for some opinions on the size and how they look in comparison to the 16" wheels that came on the later model 308's used in the show. I'm considering making a set of custom aluminum rims to my own specs. The 308 has been my dream car since I was 10 years old, so for me it's worth doing it right.

When I measure the dimensions of the Kyosho rims they come out to 17.28 scale inches, but they clearly do not look over sized for the model. I'm thinking the 308 is more like a 1:17 scale model and that the wheels are probably pretty close to what they should be, 16 scale inches. However, I still think they look a bit undersized, maybe that's only because of the shape of the wheels and narrowness of the tires, rather than the diameter.

I did a sketch in my CAD program last night and came up with a workable design based on the smallest tools I have for my mill. My plan is to do a slightly larger diameter wheel, instead of .960" I've drawn it out to be 1" exactly. Hopefully this will be just enough of a difference to make it look more like the 16" wheels in the above picture of the real 308. I also will be making different rim for the front and the rear to simulate the deeper 8" wide rear wheel but still use the same tires. After the holidays I should be able to give it a go and see how it looks.

Here are some of the best reference pictures on this I could find. It looks like to me the five spoke pattern on the front wheel is slightly raised while the rear it is slightly recessed, so that is how I plan to make my wheels.
http://www.308photos.com/dsc06114.jpg
http://www.308photos.com/dsc06007.jpg
http://www.308photos.com/dsc06013.jpg
http://www.308photos.com/dsc06146.jpg

And finally here is a test shot I did on my GTB with the front wheel from a Hot Wheels F40.

This wheel measures in at 1.060" or exactly .100" larger than the Kyosho wheel. I think this rim looks good, and will be making a custom model using a set of these, but in my opinion these definitely look too big to be the size that I make my custom wheels, so basically I'm going to split the difference between both wheels and hope it turns out. Any opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated though.

It seems this has turned out to be less of a "show off my completed model" post and more of a custom job, but I realize I won't be happy until I get those wheels like I want them and if I have the time and tools to do it, why not?

Got to drive a 1983 308 two weeks ago. Not exactly the dream car you may think it is.

Not very fast, no anti lock breaks, and your head is dangerously close to the windshield. Still a fun car though.

[QUOTE=Stormy320;1487412]Got to drive a 1983 308 two weeks ago. Not exactly the dream car you may think it is.

It's a Ferrari.......for some of us, Ferrari = dream

Stormy320 said:

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Got to drive a 1983 308 two weeks ago. Not exactly the dream car you may think it is.

Not very fast, no anti lock breaks, and your head is dangerously close to the windshield. Still a fun car though.

Oh trust me I understand all that. It's a 30 years old, underpowered by today's standards, etc. But it's just so beautiful!

Agreed - it's a very cool car and still very fun to drive. You had to work at it, which makes it fun.

It's really amazing from a driving standpoint how much more car you can get today for so much less money that would run circles around the 308 if you went to a track.

290hp in a car that weighs 2400lbs isn't exactly a slouch... granted it's not a supercar, but it's still got a decent power:weight ratio.

Of course, F355's can now be had for under $36k so... 400hp in a more modern version of that car is nice too



Back to topic: GREAT job on the conversion so far!!! The Hot Wheels version looks shabby and inaccurately shaped compared to the Kyoshi, imho. The wheels/tires are also too big on the HW version. Not sure the Compmotive's off the F40 are the ideal look on the 308, compared to the Zenders that came stock.

Opinion time. Here is a photoshop of the correct wheels done in two sizes. The first picture is the real car again for reference, the second pic are the wheels made at the same size as the Kyosho wheels and the third is made slightly larger, at 1" or approximately .040" larger than the Kyosho wheels. Either way the concave wheels will make a difference but I'm trying to determine what size to machine my wheels at. Thanks

.960" wheels

1.000" wheels

At first I thought it was a real car. hahahaha

I think the .960's look more period correct, not as low profile and "balla stance" as today's wheels.

Looks like the real car has a couple of inches more clearance between the top of the tyre and the wheel arch - try moving the .960 wheels a bit lower...

I did a few overlaid comparison shots and I definitely agree, the wheels should be .960" in order to look period correct.

As for increasing the ride height. I hadn't noticed that as much. I still have the GTB model in pieces so I'll have a look at the suspension and see if it can be stiffened up a little with extra springs, maybe that'll make it look closer to the correct tire clearance.

That is looking VERY good. Only thing it really needs now is a scale Tom Selleck in the drivers seat (or at least a Detroit tigers hat on the passengers seat).

Too awesome mate fantastic work

Any progress?

Any thoughts on Dremeling off the top of a hard top? My local supplier only has the hard top version in red/beige.

They have the targa top, but it is yellow with black interior.

Also, both models feature the incorrect older, more oval mirror. And the hard top version lacks the louvers on the quarter window.

The only progress I've gotten done lately is getting the tile floor finished in my downstairs bath. Not as much fun but still nice that I don't have to go upstairs to take care of business anymore.

Glad to see you found a Hot Wheels version. I know one guy did dremel the top off to make the GTS back when the Kyosho model first came out, but it would have been tons of work.