[FWDLK] Danbury 300C - just arrived!

["Dan Davids" <ddavids@xxxxxxxxxx>]

My 57 Chrysler 300C convertible 1:24 die-cast model just arrived in the mail
from the Danbury Mint. It's a gorgeous model, with lots of nifty features:

* Convertible top assembly - lifts on and off, interchanges with boot provided,
      is covered in real white fabric (amazing)
* Sunvisors - flip up and down, just like in the real world
* Seats - covered in some kind of fine-grained vinyl, feels like leather
 probably
     would if you could shrink a real 300C down to this size
* Font Seat Backs - fold forward independently, just like on the original
* Steering wheel - turns w/ front wheels (only about 1/4 turn)
* Torsion bars - really work (though they're kinda hard to see from the bottom)
* Hood - opens, nice detail of battery, air cleaners (with decals), jiffy jet
 bag,
      battery cables, silver hose clamps and radiator cap, real operating
 scissor-
      type hood hinges (with real springs!)
* Antenna - can be raised up and down (I've never seen this before on a model)
* Fuel filler door - openable, the hinge even looks like the real thing
* Trunk - opens, has jack, lug wrench in place on floor, removable spare
 tire/wheel,
     carpeted (fuzzy), fuel filler neck angles across just like original
* Front doors - openable
* Other details - tiny little trans cooling lines run between torqueflite and
 radiator (visible
    from underside); nice tri-color 300 emblems on grill, sides, trunk and
 glovebox;
    highway hi-fi slung under the dash; excellent chrome and stainless inside
 and out;
    excellent paint and finish (the printed materials say that it has been hand
 waxed)

My only gripes: the top mechanism, which is just molded relief, is the same
 color as the
top interior plastic (tan), rather than being painted (should be black, right?)
 I might just
touch up this with a small brush myself, because the rest of the model is so
 detailed.
And there's a darned "crafted in china" sticker on the bottom - which will be
 history
just as soon as I send this message.

In sum, I think this puppy is well worth the $109 price ($114.80 w/ shipping).
The next best thing to having the real item in your garage. Oh, and it's *very*
 heavy.
It comes extremely well protected and packed. Good job, Danbury!

 - Dan Davids
     Seattle