An under-rated long-roof: Magnum!

[espo]

10 hours ago, customline said:

The Charger found its way to my zip code this afternoon and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.  When I did, I got a surprise. I knew it had "scissor" doors. That's OK because I was just going to use the nose. I thought it was going to be a kit like the Magnum kit. Nope totally different except for the front seats. It's a great kit to build OOB. Its appears to be larger than 1:25 and I think it was originally a Monogram tool. It's molded in white, medium gray, and black, with transparent gray glass.  There's a bunch of tiny screws and two metal axles.  It's made like a promo with all the chassis details molded to the curbside style floor pan. There are engine parts to add on top but it's just cursory. There's some blingy rims with watchband tires and sub-woofers, 3 video screens  and that sort of nonsense. But it is a Charger, and if I want that nose for my Magnum I'll have to cut it off and graft it on but I'll be destroying a fairly cool Charger with flip-up doors. Personally,  it's not my thing but it will make a pretty cool display. So the Magnum will keep its mini-van nose. Sorry to disappoint ?. The Charger was an open box buy and I am going to build it but it's way down in the queue. Maybe I can trade it off to a millennial for some brownies  ?

Might hold the grill surround from the Charger against the Magnum body and just see how hard it would be to just graft the Charger nose part to the Magnum. 

[customline]

2 hours ago, espo said:

Might hold the grill surround from the Charger against the Magnum body and just see how hard it would be to just graft the Charger nose part to the Magnum. 

Mmmm....naaah.  this is a totally different tool. One piece body. I thought because it was Revell and around the same age I could just swap nose parts figuring they had used the same basic platform... but no. I can cut the nose off and destroy a decent kit just to keep the voices in my head happy but I'll defy them this time and maybe one of my grandsons will want to take a whack at this pimpmobile. It's really more work than I want to put in for this particular project. Nope. Mild custom Maggie. The 2 door conversion is done and now it's just the usual stuff. The pix I see on the web show mostly gray/white schemes inside but I need to check my paint supply for something fitting. I have some Duplicolor cans that may be good for this and a bunch of Testors Extreme colors. Any thoughts, Dave? Flashy or sedate?

[espo]

2 hours ago, customline said:

Mmmm....naaah.  this is a totally different tool. One piece body. I thought because it was Revell and around the same age I could just swap nose parts figuring they had used the same basic platform... but no. I can cut the nose off and destroy a decent kit just to keep the voices in my head happy but I'll defy them this time and maybe one of my grandsons will want to take a whack at this pimpmobile. It's really more work than I want to put in for this particular project. Nope. Mild custom Maggie. The 2 door conversion is done and now it's just the usual stuff. The pix I see on the web show mostly gray/white schemes inside but I need to check my paint supply for something fitting. I have some Duplicolor cans that may be good for this and a bunch of Testors Extreme colors. Any thoughts, Dave? Flashy or sedate?

I understand. Sometimes the body work is more trouble than it's worth. As for paint, and especially automotive type like Dupli color, test it on some spruce first. I just jacked up the new Charger kit even though it was premiered the Perfect Match Inferno Red Met. didn't play nice. As for colors that is sort of a personal thing and depends on your mode sometimes. 

[customline]

3 hours ago, espo said:

I understand. Sometimes the body work is more trouble than it's worth. As for paint, and especially automotive type like Dupli color, test it on some spruce first. I just jacked up the new Charger kit even though it was premiered the Perfect Match Inferno Red Met. didn't play nice. As for colors that is sort of a personal thing and depends on your mode sometimes. 

Yeah, David, I know about Duplicolor's plastic melting tendencies. Gotta use a good primer/sealer. Best way is to decant it and airbrush it. If I go with rattle-can paint, I have some Krylon that I have used on another project. It is a really nice metallic aluminum that I think would be dynamite on this car. I'm also thinking about some minor esthetic mods. Stay tuned. ?

[slusher]

Really nice custom you have going!  Love your interior work!

[customline]

18 hours ago, slusher said:

Really nice custom you have going!  Love your interior work!

Thanks,Carl. I got more for ya ?A NEW FACE !  it was the voices again. 

Retro side trim too. 

HEMI !

Tight squeeze

Betcha can't guess where the grille came from ? (not a mini-van ?)

[customline]

• I think I have successfully turned the Dodge Magnum into a a Nash Fairlane. ?.... pretty cool, huh? ?

[customline]

Update: alternative grille and engine do-over

Theeuhthththeeuhthuhthat's all folks!  ?....thanks for looking!

[customline]

Update: first primer coat shows expected nicks and scratches. Painted chassis/floor pan and detailed.  

More detail painting ahead. Need to formulate an interior plan. Thanks for checking in.

Hood clearance is very tight.

Not much to do here but I may add fuel rails, paint some details

Kit is pretty good on details. Gotta do something with molded-in trademarks.

This is the winner of the grille contest.

[Slotto]

Nice tidy engine bay

[Chuckyg1]

I like the "Buick" trim. It adds some intrest and breaks up that big flat expanse.

[customline]

44 minutes ago, Chuckyg1 said:

I like the "Buick" trim. It adds some intrest and breaks up that big flat expanse.

I thought it was a little Fairlane-is but yeah, it's a little Buicky. It was my first impulse but after it was too late, I wished I had not filled the handle depressions. I could have run the trim straight over them and had a handle like a banana-bird. Thanks for your interest, John.

[disconovaman]

Just found this thread and read all the posts... very interesting read. Love all the builds guys and great progress on the project.

I was on an Eastern Motors lot where they specialize in slightly used cars back in 2005 and there was one of these in silver. I tried it out and instantly fell in love with the ride and power this one had. Unfortunately the numbers didn't work out so I went home with a 2002 Nissan Exterra (cue the loser music from the price is right)?? It served me well and I sold it in 2012. But I would probably still have the Wagon, it was just so modern muscle!

[ea0863]

Wow, this build and thread are giving me some ideas! Now I gotta get me one of those kits. Maybe a two door sport wagon ala Nomad or perhaps a woodie surfer wagon... 

[customline]

13 hours ago, disconovaman said:

Just found this thread and read all the posts... very interesting read. Love all the builds guys and great progress on the project.

I was on an Eastern Motors lot where they specialize in slightly used cars back in 2005 and there was one of these in silver. I tried it out and instantly fell in love with the ride and power this one had. Unfortunately the numbers didn't work out so I went home with a 2002 Nissan Exterra (cue the loser music from the price is right)?? It served me well and I sold it in 2012. But I would probably still have the Wagon, it was just so modern muscle!

 

13 hours ago, ea0863 said:

Wow, this build and thread are giving me some ideas! Now I gotta get me one of those kits. Maybe a two door sport wagon ala Nomad or perhaps a woodie surfer wagon... 

Thank you for keeping the dream alive ?

[customline]

Hello long-roof lovers!  This long-roof is finally on its way to completion after a long furlough. You may recall I expressed my opinion that the Dodge Magnum should have been available as a two door. After removing the unwanted doors I got a little frisky and added some side trim to break up the slab-like sheet metal. And then I played around with a different grille treatment, which may or may not been a good idea (you decide.) 

Well, I got it painted, using Testor's Extreme lacquer followed by some clear gloss enamel, both from the can, and polished it out and here's a quick mock-up. Thanks for tuning in! ?

Now I gotta slap some BMF on it and figure out how to put it together 

[Chuckyg1]

Glad to see this back Jim. Nicely done. Nice smooth shiny paint. Have you finalized interior details and color yet? Are you sticking with the stock wheels? 

[customline]

59 minutes ago, Chuckyg1 said:

Glad to see this back Jim. Nicely done. Nice smooth shiny paint. Have you finalized interior details and color yet? Are you sticking with the stock wheels? 

Thanks, John, I plan to keep a fairly stock-ish looking grays / black for the interior scheme. This build is a sort of  "proof-of-concept" so I'm keeping things simple. The stock wheels are a done deal mainly because I just don't like the custom rims from the kit. Too blingey 

[Steve H]

Great project Jim! Just went through the whole thread as I missed it earlier. I love almost any wagon, and really like what you’re doing here. I did a 2dr 65 Impala wagon a couple of years ago, not all wagons should be 4dr!!  Just my 2 cents, but some Pegasus torque thrust wheels would look really sharp on this. Having said that, the stock wheels look good, and fit your “stockish” build concept. Look forward to seeing it come together.

[Noah H.]

The engine and chassis detail on that kit is excellent, and you have done a great job with the detail painting. Looking forward to seeing this one come together.

[customline]

30 minutes ago, Steve H said:

Great project Jim! Just went through the whole thread as I missed it earlier. I love almost any wagon, and really like what you’re doing here. I did a 2dr 65 Impala wagon a couple of years ago, not all wagons should be 4dr!!  Just my 2 cents, but some Pegasus torque thrust wheels would look really sharp on this. Having said that, the stock wheels look good, and fit your “stockish” build concept. Look forward to seeing it come together.

 

Just now, Noah H. said:

The engine and chassis detail on that kit is excellent, and you have done a great job with the detail painting. Looking forward to seeing this one come together.

Thanks, Steve and Noah.  This was a kit I bought about a decade ago at Hobby Town on clearance along with a couple of other very good kits that day. I agree; it's a real nice kit. 

Steve, the kit wheels have been rendered in chrome but I believe the stock 1:1 wheels are not. They are probably painted or powder coated alloy.  Since this is a mild custom / phantom, I am willing to allow the chrome ?. I have a severe aversion to spending the price of a whole kit just for different wheels that may or may not make a substantial difference to me.

[LennyB]

Jim, did you steal that Fairlane trim from my attic???? That's OK, I think it works quite well.?

I have actually been on the hunt for a full size one of these for a weekend ride. Everyone I find wither has rust issues or too many miles. Or someone put a Chrysler 300 nose on it. Anyway I like your nose better, the one on the car too.?

[customline]

3 hours ago, LennyB said:

Jim, did you steal that Fairlane trim from my attic???? That's OK, I think it works quite well.?

I have actually been on the hunt for a full size one of these for a weekend ride. Everyone I find wither has rust issues or too many miles. Or someone put a Chrysler 300 nose on it. Anyway I like your nose better, the one on the car too.?

Oh...my nose is a horror ?.  I just opened up the bottom of the car nose a little for a little different look. I think the grille came from the Revell custom '48. 

Good luck on your Maggie quest. You may need to travel to find a good one but that could be fun. Go down 66 ? 

[customline]

No interior yet, folks, but the exterior is mostly done now. I just need to clean up some minor details like the rear wiper and such. Thanks for stopping by.  ?

[ModelcarJR]

Looking good, Jim! Nice work! ??