MOPAR Mania, part 2: Welly 1:24 2006 Dodge Charger R/T Daytona

If the Coronet SuperBee by Motormax was one long-overdue casting for me, the other would be the Welly 1:24 scale Dodge Charger R/T Daytona.  I was looking to get the 1:18 scale model almost ten years ago, but again couldn't find one at retail stores and it just fell of my to-do list.  Recently I saw the 1:24 scale version in yellow, but it has to be the metallic orange that I love.  Now the metallic orange has finally appeared and has got me hooked.  It looks a bit off, so can this Daytona trim and my usual added details improve this casting?

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With the new 2006 Charger returning to the Dodge line as a 4-door sedan based on the LX platform shared with the Chrysler 300 and later the Dodge Challenger, there was excitement and resentment.  For those who cringe on the cab-forward sedans of the 1990's, it was a welcome refresh to see a return of the V8-powered sedan.  Others cringe on the fact that this was a Charger in name and has no relation to the original Charger of the late 1960's and early 1970's.  Either way it worked, and shortly after that hot performance models arrived including the SRT-8 and the Daytona on the R/T package.  The Daytona package adds to the R/T with a rear spoiler in black, a black rear decklid, Daytona on the sides, a black grille with R/T logo, lower front chin spoiler, dark gray inside the 5-spoke wheels, and body-colored interior trim and engine cover area.  The 5.7L HEMI V8 adds 10 hp over the standard R/T to 350 hp. and 390 Ib-ft of torque through a 5-speed automatic.  The Daytona offered a select palette of colors that changes every year and returned on the updated 2011 version.  No nose job was required for the transformation.

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This Welly casting is not one of the best as it has a few flaws, but the Daytona package makes up for it.  The Go ManGo color looks fantastic in the sunlight.  The front has the blacked-out grille with red R/T logo, detailed headlight bezels behind the clear covers with smoked outer areas, foglights with the black chin spoiler spruce up the rather bland bumper area.  The hood has the flat black stripe with HEMI letters on the sides, while the sides have the standard look aided by body-colored mirrors and Daytona stripe on the rear fenders.  The 5-spoke wheels are correct, but they are a bit flat and small compared to the real car.  Without the blacked-out inner spoke areas the wheels look flat, but when I added them in it does wonders to make the wheels look more realistic.  The rear has the square taillights with round quad lenses, blacked-out valence panel with badges, rear spoiler, and dual exhausts in silver at the lower part of the bumper.

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The hood opens up to reveal not much with that engine cover in the way, but with the Daytona package it adds a body-colored center section of the engine cover with HEMI on the sides, detailed air box, coolant resovoir, and strut caps.  The base does not show much at the front because of the cover, but after that you can see the transmission, exhaust system, and rear independent suspension setup.  I added details to the drivetrain, front and rear suspension parts, and the exhaust system to add to the details (again, Welly added silver to the rear mufflers and tips).  Inside, the interior of these Charger's are not impressive with bland plastic parts, but again the Daytona package spruces it up.  The interior gets a black and tan two-tone color scheme,   The 4-spoke steering wheel gets silver spokes, the gauges silver facings (the gauges are too small to have any inner dial details), the confusing turn signal and cruise control stalks on the left of the column, a center stack with radio and split-unit A/C controls that is surrounded by a color-matching trim. detailed shifter gate with the color-matching trim surround, and bucket seats with the red Daytona name on the headrests.  The rear seats don't offer the same color-coded trim, yet still includes the two-tone black and tan door panels and respectable details.  Pretty impressive for a rather drabby interior design.

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While the base R/T Charger casting from Welly looks less impressive, get the Daytona package, add black details to the spokes, and you have a real winner on your hands.

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