Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308 GTS

[PHArchivist]

Inspired by this thread, I have been on the look out for a suitable model of this car.

I finally located a limited edition Hot Wheels Elite version of the 308 GTS.

Licensed for Magnum PI?

Maybe, but not exactly.

The model is part of Hot Wheels Ferrari Stars collection. And the back of the box shows roughly 15 cars, most of which are clearly licensed movie tie-ins. This car is not (is on the box back, but does not state "Magnum PI)".


Regardless, this model is the closest of all available 308's to the configuration seen in the later seasons of Magnum PI. Even so, it is still not completely accurate, at least to the hero car in Season Six (the car I took screen caps of).

To accurize the model, I will need to:
--Paint the front louvers over the wheels black. Out of the box they are black in the recesses, but not completely black
--Paint the steering wheel. The season six car has black spokes on the steering wheel, and the model has silver
--Make the rocker panels black - they are painted red out of the box
--Make the windscreen frame red - it is painted black out of the box
--Add the Robin 1 license plate
--Make the area around the plate red - it is black plastic out of the box
--Paint the silver grill under the front bumper black
--Scratch-build and install a right-side door mirror
--Possibly find a lighter silver paint for the wheels

Note in some of these I said "make" red or black. For most of the changes in color, I will paint clear packing tape the appropriate color (red or black), and apply the tape (cut to size), so I do not have to mess with applying new paint over the slick factory paint.

And I may do one more "Magnum" surprise...

Here are some pics...

Red rocker panels

Black rocker panels

Black license plate surround and silver steering wheel

Red license plate surround

Black steering wheel and right side mirror

Silver grill

Black "grill"

 

[Prefect42]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

Glad to see you finally found a 1:18th scale Ferrari that's at least "close" to the MPI car.

Looking forward to your build. This one has always been my favorite Ferrari.

Ted.
Prefect42.

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

Glad to see you finally found a 1:18th scale Ferrari that's at least "close" to the MPI car.

Looking forward to your build. This one has always been my favorite Ferrari.

Ted.
Prefect42.

Thanks. I've got most of the mods done already, and it looks great. May hold off on doing the right side mirror and the windscreen frame though.

 

[CJ 617]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

Looks great. Can't wait to see your completed photos! Also my fav Ferrari of all time...

 

[IFA]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

Really nice.

I had heard that, like the Miami Vice Crockett's Daytona, the Magnum car was a fake : a polyester bodywork on a Corvette chassis and engine...true or not ?

 

[firebladejedi]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

If they did use a real ferrari the car was most likely a rental and may be different in some episodes..

Anyway this looks like a pretty cool project to follow

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

Really nice.

I had heard that, like the Miami Vice Crockett's Daytona, the Magnum car was a fake : a polyester bodywork on a Corvette chassis and engine...true or not ?

From what I've read, there was a 'glass car built on a Fiero chasis, used primarlily for stunt driving. But they also used genuine Ferraris as hero cars.

 

[IFA]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

OK PH, thanks for your answer.

I remember that at the end of a Miami Vice episode, in the closing credits, we could read "Crockett's car furnished by Ferrari North America".....did something similar was on Magnum closing credits ? I don't think so.....don't remember but I guess at that time, sponsorship was different

From what I've read, there was a 'glass car built on a Fiero chasis, used primarlily for stunt driving. But they also used genuine Ferraris as hero cars.

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

All right here's the latest. Pretty much all done but the second mirror and the red windscreen frame...

Black rockers and black hood louvers

Black rockers

Black rockers

Black steering wheel spokes and temporary plate and plate valance

The plate valance here is red-painted tape but will be replaced with a red-painted original metal piece

Still need a right-side mirror

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

Some "Before & Afters"...

 

[SingleSeat]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

Cool project! I can hear the theme song in my head right now!

Re: Miami Vice F-cars:

...in the closing credits, we could read "Crockett's car furnished by Ferrari North America".....did something similar was on Magnum closing credits?

I had heard that, like the Miami Vice Crockett's Daytona, the Magnum car was a fake : a polyester bodywork on a Corvette chassis and engine...true or not?

From what little I know, Miami Vice started with fakes and Ferrari went on a litigation rampage among kit car makers as a result. The fake F-car lasted three seasons by the time Ferrari North America stepped in. After that, the (authentic) white Testarossas started gaining notoriety with the show.

 

[PHArchivist]

Re: Magnum PI 1:18 Ferrari 308

Cool project! I can hear the theme song in my head right now!

Thanks! Its been fun...

 

[Dean O]

Looking good. I'd never noticed that the Hot Wheels version had red rocker panels, looks much better now! I still plan to remake the wheels for mine and I'll be sure to post an update when I do.

 

[PHArchivist]

Looking good. I'd never noticed that the Hot Wheels version had red rocker panels, looks much better now! I still plan to remake the wheels for mine and I'll be sure to post an update when I do.

Yeah - as close as this is to the show car, (out-of-the-box, and even more so with mods), the wheels still seem to represent the 14" wheels, not the 16". And that is one mod I don't think I'm going to tackle (unless you devise a good replacement that you can cast/copy).

Each individual mod adds a small degree of acuracy. One element alone (be it the rockers, the hood louvers, the front grill - whatever) makes just a small difference, but they add up. Gestalt - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts!

I will do the mirror. I think that will make a big difference. And quite possibly the windscreen frame. But that's about it...

 

[Prefect42]

Beeeautiful. Loving the upgrades.

What paint did you use for the black upgrades? Did you simply paint the new / adjusted areas or did you redo everything? And any idea what "red" you will use for the windscreen?

Darn it. Looks like I'm going to have to track one of these down now.

Ted.
Prefect42.

 

[PHArchivist]

Beeeautiful. Loving the upgrades.

What paint did you use for the black upgrades? Did you simply paint the new / adjusted areas or did you redo everything? And any idea what "red" you will use for the windscreen?

Darn it. Looks like I'm going to have to track one of these down now.

Ted.
Prefect42.

Thanks for the compliments.

The black was Tamiya Flat Black, brushed on. I'll have to check on the red. Its not an exact match. Nor is the original paint on the model an exact match for Italian Red or Ferrari Red (as you can see in the comparisons to the show car).

Thanks for the compliments. The seller I used still offers this model. Twice the original retail, but had it to me in one day (of course we're both in SoCal).

 

[Dean O]

What diameter are the wheels on the hot wheels model? I'm curious if they are smaller or the same size as the Kyosho wheels. That will help me figure out the best way to make them when I get to that point. I will be making mine out of aluminum so I'm sure they would be easy enough to cast. Well easy enough for someone else, I've never done that before.

 

[PHArchivist]

15/16" Don't have the metric at hand but will measure in mm later.

 

[SingleSeat]

Google is taking over the world...

Just type "15/16 inches in mm" ...23.8125mm Click for Answer

 

[Dean O]

The wheels on the Kyosho model are .960" , the hot wheels at 15/16" would be .937" Do you have a way to measure them more accurately? Maybe a caliper by chance?

I was thinking of increasing the diameter of the wheels to about 1.000" to make them appear closer to the 16" wheels in real life, but most opinions were that the Kyosho wheels appear the correct size, just the wrong style. I did some comparison photos with the correct style wheels in various sizes in my thread, see what you think looks right to you.