Luc Janssens

Revell Germany has it's tooling made in China but produces in Poland. So it will be interesting to see on how they will proceed with the '71 Mustang, as ( correct me if I'm wrong) this will be the first all new tool under the new management of which the product is primarly for the NA market.

Revell is a global player, with a good distribution network in house and out. Round-2 lesser so, which can account for the higher price, but in time I think every automotive kit from whatever brand, domestic or foreign will be hovering around fifty bucks, this ain't no hobby for kids anymore.

and more... Anyway, maybe just maybe events like these will make it easier to make the decision to bring back production to or near where the consumers are.

I wonder if it would make sense to downscale the Mpc 1/20th scale '70 AMX kit, technically possible and ROI wise.

Plus 1/24th scale, so not compatible with 99.99% of their productline/back-catalog.

Wonder if the worldwide container shortage is caused by lack of unloading capacity in the US.

Steve works for Round2, so yes

Lindberg back in the day had some different lightbars tooled up for their '91ish Crown Vic and remember ten or so years ago, they did the same for their 1/24th scale Chargers. But since the aforementioned cruisers are not in the catalog anymore, it will probably be as you wrote, but adding the light bar of the CHP Monaco and maybe if the "Bluesmobile rumor" is true some newly tooled lightbars which fit that kit as well.

Some 40 years ago, when I bought this kit, I truly wished Monogram put the bumpers on the chrome tree.

Mixed feelings about this one, Personally I think, that some of the critiques I've seen in this tread, should/could vanish if the design of a model kit starts, from scanning the skin of the "to be tooled" subject, others by design. Maybe this tread can fuel a debate with the decision makers at Pegasus, to backup Dave by either invest new tech or hire a vendor to work with him on the 3D scan. Anyway, do thanks Tim and Dave for contributing to this great hobby and for making this preview possible. Cheers Luc

I just checked the websites of the hobby shops I sometimes buy from, and neither has them in stock or annouced as comming soon, guess for once I was lucky

My hobby shop had one, and the minute I saw it on their website it was mine!

Just picked up the only copy my local (Antwerp, Belgium) hobby shop got in today.

The mirrors of their Chevy Beretta were designed the same way.

To be fair, Dave Burket footed the bill for the rework and probably paid upfront for the production of his exclusive small runs made for him at Ertl and R-M, and because these kits were aimed at the enthusiast builders, the box-art wasn't that important, versus kits marketed towards the weekend modeler. His teaming up with Moebius, gave us the opportunity to buy some great subject matter otherwise maybe not even considered, I do hope the collaboration will continue for many years to come, and yes his box-art wasn't the best but he dared to invest when most of the industry was winding down.

They're probably already passed the design stage, so until test shots are shown, one can only guess how they designed the tool, but personally I wouldn't mind if they did it in a similar way to what Tom and I wrote down in the suggestion to tool up a '69 Dodge Polara CHP Cruiser, a very long time ago. So for those who already think, Oh No not that again!!, just skip this post 😁😛 1) Select type of customer: The enthusiast modeler. As with big rig builders, police car modelers are rarely blessed with new subjects, and the few released were either simplified designs and retools or marketed towards youth, sometimes including questionable and costly extras. Only one kit sticks out and then it's an old tool whose current existential status is unknown, namely the old Jo-Han Plymouth Fury, which was on the market for decades. I firmly believe that police car modelers will lay the green on the counter for a detailed cruiser because they almost always had to rely on aftermarket companies to make a convincing model. 2) Choice of subject matter: The 1969 Dodge Polara is widely known as one of the all-time favorite cruisers amongst officers who were active during the 60s-70s. It is also listed as the fastest cruiser of the time, even surpassing the 94-96 Caprice LT1s. The 1969 Polara equipped with a 440 4bbl was officially clocked at 147mph in tests. It was basically a 4 door muscle car, which sat on top of the food chain eating GTOs, Chargers, Challengers, 'Cudas, Chevelles, Camaros and Mustangs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Just the kit we need for keeping the tablecloths of America's contest tables free from tire burns! In fact, anyone who collects and/or builds muscle car kits must have at least one, just to keep his collection intact. 3) Design of the kit & tool: Finding a pristine example will not be a problem in this case, because Hemmings "Muscle Car Machines" Magazine recently did a restoration feature on one. Likewise for someone to measure and photograph it, because it's in Tom Montgomery's (Former Amt/Ertl kit designer) back yard! Body: Four-door body of course with fine and sharp engraving (Don't you love the window surrounds on a late 60s Jo-Han annual?) and without heavy molded-in features. For example, a dome light which can lead to a sink mark in the roof, which the modeler has to fill and sand. Small ridges and holes where to drill in the roof for roof mounted emergency lights will do. Because this car has seen service in many agencies, it would be handy to either offer the side moldings as separate metal transfer pieces (like Galaxie LTD's 1948 Chevrolets). This may not be feasible and could be a possible giveback when running into budget issues, but since it's a thin molding to begin with, it probably can be sanded off with relative ease when molded-in. The body closings will only consist of the hood dressed up with a separate lip* and hinges, in case the builder wants to show off the engine. The following items round up the body assembly: firewall, inner fenders (as with Amt '68 RR), radiator brace, side mirror(s)*, door handles*, front bumper* with separate grille* (to ease the detail painting) with clear headlamp lenses, rear bumper*, tail lamp-surrounds* with a perimeter flange to reinforce them and provide a gluing surface to mount them into the body and provide a stop for the rear bumper, and clear tail lamp-lenses of course (* indicates chrome part). Interior: The plain-Jane base level trim all around interior, would be a sort of snap-fit platform style, minimizing the risk of getting glue in unwanted places. Consisting of a floorboard with a two piece dash, steering wheel and column with molded-in selectors, separate pedals, two piece bench seat, separate rear seat with package tray (flashed over holes for mounting the two CHP flashers), separate door panels to allow for easy detailing. Police radio set-up for the transmission hump. It can be similar to the Jo-Han Plymouth set up, as that was very accurate. However, having separate pieces for the radio, siren control and switches would be great so that different set-ups can be configured by the builder. Two detailed microphones are needed; there was only one in the Jo-Han kit which was incorrect for the set-up. Chassis and drivetrain: Breakdown similar to AMT's 1957 Chrysler 300 or their 1960 Galaxie kit, 440 4bbl (what else!) with Torqueflite 727 Auto Trans. This police engine was rated at 375 HP. Kit should include two air cleaners, one stock and one low restriction. The low restriction is the police unit, and is similar in design to the one in the Lindberg 1964 Dodge 330 kit. It's actually referred to in the Dodge literature as an "unsilenced" air cleaner. Separate chassis, heavy duty rear end, dual exhaust, and front and rear sway bars round out the chassis. Wheels: two sets...one needs to be correct steel wheels with dog dish hub caps of correct vintage. I'd include a base series full hubcap as an option for those doing a standard sedan. Tires need to be a beefy vintage blackwall, Goodyear Polyglas or similar. The ones AMT has been using for years are actually pretty good. Accessories: Here's where it gets tricky. The Jo-Han Plymouth was actually a great kit for the roof lights alone. They were extremely accurate and looked the part. This kit should be done with that in mind, optional roof light set-up* for multiple agencies. Spotlights* for both sides are a must. Two styles of beacon lights, one like the Jo-Han, which is a Federal model 176H and one a flat top 4 beam (Federal 184, Dietz 211 or similar). The roof bar with twin beacons would be nice too. That's a Federal model 11, with optional chromed siren speaker in the center. I'd use the rounded speaker (like the speaker on the Adam-12 car) instead of the flat wide style in the Jo-Han kit. Since electronic sirens were just becoming popular, it would still need an old mechanical siren for under the hood as another option. To round it out, about six flashers of different sizes, 2 small, 2 medium, 2 larger, all single faced. These could be used for rear deck flashers, front grille flashers, optional light bar flashers, etc. Now the most important necessity for all of these lights: MOLD ALL OF THEM IN CLEAR PLASTIC. Not red, not blue, not a mix... CLEAR. This allows the builder to tint them accordingly to the agency that's being represented. The push bar would be a preformed pre-painted metal assembly, to keep it in scale and robust Agency decals: I'm sure licensing and permissions are in order here. But it shouldn't be too bad, considering Hawk/Lindberg is issuing about 6 different state agencies in their reissue of the 1996 Crown Victoria. A CHP version is a must, this would negate the need for roof lights, too, as they ran most of these with no roof lights and dual spotlights, the driver's side being red. The CHP would also have two flashers, one red and one amber, on the back package shelf, both on the left side, facing rear. However, the 1969 Polaras were used all over the country, and offering different versions or including different agencies in the one kit (like the Jo-Han Plymouth) would be great, one thing will be certain the decals will be done by Cartograph of Italy. About the tooling now, when planned and designed right, it can be used for a plethora of C-body MoPar kits, from 1969 up to '77 as the chassis were virtually unchanged except for the yearly addition of annual emissions upgrades (or downgrades, if you will). Therefore the tooling lay-out isn't one big chunk of steel with removable inserts but a cluster of several and smaller tools A-Parts, Floorboard and chassis with suspension, axles & wheels. B-Parts, Engine and accesoiries. C Parts, Interior and body add-ons. D-To be plated parts and body E-Clear parts. Tires Taking this route, along the way one or more smaller tools in combination with others can be used in further siblings like for instance a '74 Monaco, one of the stars in the classic movie "the blues brothers", and seen in many many cop shows seen on TV like CHiPs, or (Royal) Monaco, remember Hill Street Blues? 4) Packaging and support Boxart: I really like the way Sean Svendsen handled the Model King box designs of the '70 Wildcat and Camaro Funny Cars. He really knows how to present a built model, so I would put him in charge of that, but I also like the art work of Jairus Watson and know he would do a good job of a CHP unit burning sideways (showing off the "Wolfs Head" graphics on the door) through a sharp curve on Mulholland drive, in hot pursuit of some bad boys, Hmm...maybe I have to flip a coin https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v8/f57/1/16/1f609.png The size of the box would be like the "Accurate Miniatures" Corvette kits, to show off the artwork and the neatly displayed contents when removing the box top. Packaging of the parts: chrome, clear parts, tires, packed separately in poly bags, same for the white plastic parts, decals by Cartograph covered with a protective paper and bagged too. Instruction sheet: I like the approach AMT/ERTL took in the mid 1990s, which was very detailed and every part was clearly identified. Consumer support: On our company website I would post a whole range of photos taken when the engineers of product development were measuring up the cruiser, together with anecdotes, facts and fiction of the subject and the agency it served with. Also a photo composing as per instruction sheet sequence would be available on line together with tips on how to build a perfect model. 5) Budgetary constraints I would lose the metal transfers, and engrave the side molding into the cavity of the body sides, is a too simple solution for the cash problem, therefore I would get in touch with a die cast manufacturer (like Highway 61) to see if the project is of interest to them too, because the majority of model car collectors are not modelers, if they're interested the R&D costs would drop considerably, and could start a long term partnership 6) Post a photo of the subject https://assets.hemmings.com/story.../79942-500-0@2x.jpg... Courtesy of HMM For more photo's of this beautiful restored vehicle, please check out the Hemmings Muscle Machines article via link below. https://www.hemmings.com/.../1969-Dodge.../1451907.html Note: The book "Dodge, Plymouth & Chrysler POLICE CARS, 1956-1978" by Edwin Sanow and John Bellah, Motorbooks International was used for reference. The $250,000.00 dollar / 250K question Format created by: Luc Janssens

Crossing my fingers here, Tim.

Aw, shucks, you're making me blush, Tom. 😁😉

Indeed, but if I may offer one suggestion, have two presenters, one a car guy one a SF guy, so that both with enthusiasm can announce the products they're into. Cuz enthusiasm rubs off onto the fan base.....and kinda make them feel like involved, like "they're" doing it all for them

I agree the C series truck shows it's age, but don't think they have anything else in their tooling bank which is suitable to put the Gar Wood body on, so maybe voice your concerns directly to the people of Round2, could be they're receptive to them, and who knows when the budget allows some of them might be addressed. Cheers Luc

Personally and ever since I saw it shown in the Randy Leffingwell book, "American Muscle", which was about the then Otis Chandler Muscle Car Collection, I like the '67 better, it's pure esthetical the chrome side trim etc....an upscale street racer... Photo courtesy of Mecum auctions. Mecum Auctions | The World's Largest Collector Car Auctions

Not bad, not bad at all, in fact look pretty darn good

Thanks Helmut! This was my first car, tho it was med. blue!

They also have the CHP licensing, so a California Highway Patrol cruiser would be possible. So indeed not a "one trick pony" For current cars; I'm thinking current Shelby Mustang, no clue bout the second one, haven't been in the US lately, so kinda hard to grasp what's hot in your neck of the woods, guys. On to the Garbage body; Bold, cool, but IMHO also kind of a risky move, but since it's all new and not based on '70s technology with the I guess the limitations of the wooden pattern model and the more "toy status" of the hobby at the time, I can't wait to be able to tear the shrink-wrap off a copy... About not able to use the Pantograph; not really necessary cus the parts would be scanned.