WIP: Chrysler 300 Wagon

[hogs29]

This is one I just HAD to do after seeing Jairus' picture in the last MCM.

The body was not a simple cut straight down conversion, although after looking at it for a while, it did turn out to be an extremely easy conversion.

I started with a 45 degree-ish cut starting at the base of the A-pillars going down to about the 10 o'clock position of the wheel openings on both bodies. They lined up so close, I almost didn't need any filler at all. The melted pastic that oozed out from he glue was almost enough. I'm not kidding. By making the cut this way, the belt line and wheel opening lined up perfectly! Surprised me, I can tell you that.

After a little filler, some sanding and a few coats of Tamiya White Primer, it was ready for paint.

The Magnum has a very aggressive look to it, and I wanted to keep some of that, but add a lot of the 300's class. I toyed with the idea of replacing the tail lamps with the 300's, but after cutting out the 300's taillight section and mocking it up on this body, I found it did not flow with the design, so I kept the Magnum's. I did, however, decide to add a lot of the 300's class to the interior. So I robbed the steering wheel, front seats, and rear seat from the 300. The Magnum has fabric molded seats. No way, no how. I want fine Corinthian leather!

The sterring wheel and front seat dropped in like they came with the Magnum kit, but the rear seat was a totally different story. This is where you really see how much wider the 300 kit is from the Magnum. Luckily, there are no opening doors, so I was able to hack and grind away at the rear seat until it fit and still looked good. I took of about 80% of the bottom vertical surface, and almost all of the sides. Thank God for Dremel!

Being this is a wagon, I needed to make use of the Magnum's rear seat back. So some cutting and grinding was needed for this too. I know it doesn't look that good here, but a mock up of the interior showed that all those nasty looking areas will be covered up by other panels once in place, so this ugly thing actually is all the work it needed.

The interior was shot with some Duplicolor GM Cream that I picked up at the parts store. Cream = Class

I just need to do some more masking and lots of detail painting and decals to finish up the interior. While I was at it, I shot the inside of the body too.

Finally I got it painted. I used a bottle of Cobra Colors Ferrari Grigio Alloy Metallic, which is just the color I was after for this. I also mocked it up with the 2 sets of wheels that I'm considering, both factory rims. I'm leaning towards the 9 spoke Chrysler wheels as I think the 5 spoke wheels look to "Dodge" for this project. Like I said, I'm going after "agressive class" here, and I think the body is already very agressive, and the wheels just add to that. The 9 spoke wheels definetly give it a touch of class, I only wish that AMT had made them bigger. What do you guys think, 5 or 9 spoke wheels?

[Matt T.]

I'm liking it! Very nice job on the blending of the nose to the wagon body. I vote for 5-spokes - they're bigger and fill the wheel openings better.

[Guest roadkill2525]

A wagon version of the 300 is avalible in Europe, I don't know why Chrysler doesn't offer it in the US. I like the 5 spokes.

[Mike]

I'm not surprised, but the way the front end blends in with the Magnum body, it's natural. Especially with two different kit companies.

I was wondering how long it would take someone to do this! Can't wait to see it done. I also vote for the 5 spoke wheels. 8)

[Billy Kingsley]

Glad to see you decided to come over and post it here TJ...And only a little bit of prodding

That looks great in color...

I vote for the Chrysler wheels....

[Zoom Zoom]

I wanted to do this conversion but didn't see how to do it easily (I went off in left field on mine), and here you come along and nail it! Nice work. Color looks good on it. I like the Chrysler wheel style better but the Magnum's 5 spokes fit the openings better.

[robertw]

The blue & cream colors alone are going to create a beautiful model. The conversion work is merely icing on the cake.

rob w

[Mark C.]

Great job so far!

Here's the European production version:

Here's a link to the website:

http://www.chrysler.de/300c_touring/index.html

[Steve H.]

Nice work. I love when the plastic Ooze from the joint is all the filler you need!

Great color scheme also. Will the larger five spoke tires fit the 9 spoke rims? Like Matt said, the larger tires fill out the wheelwells, but like you, I like the 9 spokes... Very classy.

[cruz]

Looks very cool my friend 8)

[Mr. Metallic]

Now that I see how easy it is I might try it myself. Why am I picturing it with big wood panels running down the sides, and maybe a straight roof instead of the taper? Your looks great so far!

[hogs29]

Wow! Thanks for all the input!

I've decided from reading all the posts that most of you are right. The Magnum wheels do fill the opening much better, but I also like the class of the 9 spoke wheels much better. So what I'm going to do is use the 9 spoke wheels for now, and when Revell releases thier 300 kit, I'll see if those rims are hopefully the larger ones from the SRT-8, and I can go with those.

Thanks againguys. It really does mean a lot to read the positive comments!

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

So what I'm going to do is use the 9 spoke wheels for now, and when Revell releases thier 300 kit, I'll see if those rims are hopefully the larger ones from the SRT-8, and I can go with those.

I wouldn't wait for the Revell 300 SRT-8 for its rims. That kit will be part of line shared with the Dodge Charger and Caddy SLS. Scissor doors and huge bling rims. Nothing stock about it.

Love the work you did on the wagon!!!

[bob paeth]

This WIP, as with others all talk about mocking up the model for fit. My problem is that all my efforts, lately, seem mocked-up when I am finished with them. LOL

bob

[Zoom Zoom]

Wow! Thanks for all the input!

I've decided from reading all the posts that most of you are right. The Magnum wheels do fill the opening much better, but I also like the class of the 9 spoke wheels much better. So what I'm going to do is use the 9 spoke wheels for now, and when Revell releases thier 300 kit, I'll see if those rims are hopefully the larger ones from the SRT-8, and I can go with those.

Thanks againguys. It really does mean a lot to read the positive comments!

A couple ideas on wheels: First, Revell's Uptown 300C SRT-8 will have the big (ginormous) custom rims like the rest of that series.

300C stock rims fit inside Pegasus 23" aluminum sleeves. The overall diameter of these w/Pegasus tires is still a bit less than the Magnum wheels/tires, but the wheels won't be so "lost" w/in the XL wheel openings on these cars. I stretched some Pegasus Bridgestone Pilots (they're sourced from Tamiya's 350Z kit), and they look really cool. I'm anxious to get the the Revell Uptown 300C and see if I can make the SRT-8 Touring as pictured in a reply above.

Other semi-stock-looking wheel possibilities: Maisto Chrysler ME-Four Twelve concept car, Fujimi Sportec 19's.

[JAFFA]

wow,. me REALLY likes that interior.... got any closer dash-pics??