to be the honest, I do not really like 348-s. after the fantastic 308 series it was a disappointment for me. after the great wedge-shaped body it was a brick with Testarossa-style elements. I remember the review of the car in the AutoMotor. at that time, the cars in AM were photographed with large decals such as "buy AutoMotor", some kind insurance company, etc. the 348 had a very stupid look with these stickers.
but what about the models? you will wonder if you look around, the best qualitiy model of this type is a Bburago. seriously. that's why I was so excited when i first heard about the Elite version.
everybody know that the first pictures from the world wide web were completely saddening. the first opinions on this blog also were not too positive. lame wheels, thick grills on the front, angular lights, etc, etc. I was not sure weather to buy one myself until I received a yellow one in the regular monthly pack for sale.
it was love at first sight. I had been just looking at the car through its closed box for days. unfortunately I had a buyer for the car so I had to let it, I can not help ordering a new one for myself in the following package.
and it is time for a light review for you. after the massive raving let us take a look to the details. let us start with the tail lights. despite the little paint failure, they are quite good, much better than the Bburago. unfortunately the Prancing Horse is also black. it could have been chrome-plated as well. the exhaust pipes are not as sharp as on a Kyosho but I can get used to them.
certainly the front headlights are openable. there is a little button on the bottom of the car, it must be pressed for the opening. regarding to the original car they are a little bit flat and the metal frame of the lamps are too thick.
and here it is the much talked-about front grill with the angular lamps. a cliche follows: it does not matter in the real life. the camera increases the wrong details of the car, and this is the tipical example. when you hold this model in your hands you do not care the grill. I promise.
imagine, even the windscreen wipers are not too bad. comparing to the average Elite quality. I know they still have a 2D feeling but the complexity and the loyality for the original shape are OK.
the tires like balloons. I have no excuse for it. but the rims are great. they can remind me the eighties. sweet childhood memories.
the doors. well... I don not want to waste time with complaining of the semi lowered window. especially as it is a good effort now. but the suspension of the doors is a weak point of the model. the doors are not stable in theirs place, they can move vertically. they can hold themselves but before taking this picture, I had to align the door for the continous black line at the middle.
a little bit compensation: the holes in the doors. they should drive the fresh air to the engine.
but they cannot... unfortunately the continue of the holes is just a black patch on the bodywork.
the inner side of the door is simple, this is but the most impressive simple thing I have ever seen on a modelcar. I do not know why, there is nothing special in it just the pure eighties feeling. I am afraid I am growing old.
the raging nostalgia continues in the interior of the model. the shapes are very-very simple. for example the vents look like come from a Fiat Ducato. this part of the model perfectly gives back the darkest era of Ferrary Car Factory. I love it.
there is no real trim on the floor. the surface of the plastic feels like a sheet of sandpaper where the carpet should to be. not such a bad idea. but. it is too poor for a premium diecast model.
the surface of the bonnet is the same material as in the interior. I prefer the velvet dust. I have no any additional thought about the trunk.
I have mentioned one thousand times that Mattel is a grid-master. this grid on the back-side of the engine hood made the front one on the nose forgotten. would have made... without the big ugly I-do-not-know-what thing on the frame for the packaging wires.
at that time there were no arty glass hoods on the Ferraris so the engines were not sculptures, just engines. as here: no Ferrari logos, no red parts. but it is worth looking around a little bit, we can find very interesting details, such as tables, wires, caps, shackles, insulating plates.
despite its imperfection it is a bedside model for me. I prefer the yellow one because of the black interior but the red one is also a good choice. I recommend it for everybody. do not forget there are just 5000 pieces for each colors, I think it will runs out soon.
