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So in my constant attempts to collect a functional 40K army (or one with enough pieces to be flexible), and owing to my cheap nature, I've been going over eBay looking at various vehicles. I've noticed that, though fewer, the Chaos Rhinos tend to sell a for a bit less than the SM Rhinos. With the apparent exception of decorative bits, there doesn't seem to be much (if any) difference betwen the Rhinos of the SM and CSM. Is that a correct assumption/observation and, if not, how difficult would it be to convert the Chaos model to SM?

Depends on what gear you want.

Both kits have the same basic tank sprues, which make the tank itself including the square roof hatch.

For a basic SM Rhino with no upgrades, the only thing you need to use from the Chaos-specific sprues are the front round hatches/turrets. They have spikes.

For bolter, HK missile, ram and decorative bits you'll need to convert or buy bits.

Hmm. Shouldn't be that hard. It won't look perfectly the same, mind you, but as long as you clip off and grind down all the bits and decorations you should be fine. You can even use some GS to re-add decorations, but Imperial decorations instead of those no good Chaotic bits. However, if I were you, I would try and buy a Razorback instead! Razorback kits are superior to Rhino kits as you can simply pop off the top turret and... Boom! Rhino.
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Also, if you are decent with card-stock, and have the patience to follow a proper guide, you can build your own Rhinos for just a few bucks. I'd do a quick Google search to get you started, but that would be the best option!

ALL of the specific chaos bits on the chaos rhino are add-ons.
A chaos rhino without the extra gribblies IS a loyalist one.

The basic rhino hull is THE SAME for both loyalist and chaos forces. It's the accessory sprues that are different (this is where the weapons, hatches, crew are located).

It depends on the condition and glue used.

Regardless it will probably still be a pain to scrape off all the heretic stuff.

This is true, buying secondhand is always a gamble. Hehe

 chromedog wrote:
ALL of the specific chaos bits on the chaos rhino are add-ons.
A chaos rhino without the extra gribblies IS a loyalist one.

The basic rhino hull is THE SAME for both loyalist and chaos forces. It's the accessory sprues that are different (this is where the weapons, hatches, crew are located).

^This^

 Sammoth wrote:

 chromedog wrote:
ALL of the specific chaos bits on the chaos rhino are add-ons.
A chaos rhino without the extra gribblies IS a loyalist one.

The basic rhino hull is THE SAME for both loyalist and chaos forces. It's the accessory sprues that are different (this is where the weapons, hatches, crew are located).

^This^

^This^ to the ^This^

 Noremac wrote:

 Sammoth wrote:

 chromedog wrote:
ALL of the specific chaos bits on the chaos rhino are add-ons.
A chaos rhino without the extra gribblies IS a loyalist one.

The basic rhino hull is THE SAME for both loyalist and chaos forces. It's the accessory sprues that are different (this is where the weapons, hatches, crew are located).

^This^

^This^ to the ^This^

+1 to the above.

tomcat31 wrote:

 Noremac wrote:

 Sammoth wrote:

 chromedog wrote:
ALL of the specific chaos bits on the chaos rhino are add-ons.
A chaos rhino without the extra gribblies IS a loyalist one.

The basic rhino hull is THE SAME for both loyalist and chaos forces. It's the accessory sprues that are different (this is where the weapons, hatches, crew are located).

^This^

^This^ to the ^This^

+1 to the above.

+1 to the +1 to the ^This^ to the ^This^ (For obvious reasons. It just makes so much sense.)

The sprues are the same, but assembled models are a different matter.

I think I'd just shell out the ~$30-35 to buy a new rhino rather than spending all week with a hobby knife and a file trying to remove chaos iconography and spiky bitz that someone plastic glued onto the model.

My time and sanity is worth more than whatever few bucks I'd save.

Thanks for the info, folks. As for cutting/filing...well, I just spent a couple days removing the chapter icons from a Dark Angels tac squad (prepping for Salamanders logos), so that's not a big deal. Besides, if it saves $10-$20, that's more for other things, right?

DA chapter iconography oon tac marines is moulded onto the bits - This stuff usually has to be sanded or filed off.

On the rhino, the various chaos icons are extras. The eye icon that covers the front eagle is a plate that glues on.
The god icons are extras that are glued on. The spikes, etc likewise.

A sharp blade can remove them. Cut with care and go SLOW.

Chaos a Rhinos will be just loyalist rhino with different /more assecories. You can cut off, but the difficulty of doing so depends on the part/ quality of the overall build.