I've had some welcome success with a few recent Round2 re-releases, and I thought that they had finally turned the corner and were now producing kits based on older tools that were actually in pretty good condition. So, I tried their Cougar Eliminator, and I was surprised once more.
My assumption was way wrong. Not that the tool for this kit should have been retired, but the entire design of this kit shouts, "Cheap!" You know how R2 likes to say that their wheels and tires are worth the price of a kit, and this time I have to agree - in fact, I'm almost to the point where I'm going to agree that this is the only part that is worth paying for!
Let me start with the chassis - there are so few parts here that it's really a shame they could not have done what they did well, but they sure did cut corners and cheapen the thing. The underbelly of this beast features a 1-piece chassis on which the following parts are attached: 1-piece front suspension - this part is so weak, I doubt you'll insist on being able to turn the wheels (one of the "features" of this kit); dual exhaust that has mounting posts at only one side of the mufflers that are too short when compared to the printed material, with no corresponding mounting holes in the chassis - you will wish there was something to go by because the 2-piece rear suspension and drivetrain will be mounted in between the dual exhaust with the mufflers crowding the same space; add 2 badly out of scale shock absorbers and we can call it "a wrap".
One additional point about the chassis is a design issue, but perhaps to some it's no issue at all. There is a beautifully engraved texture on the chassis that looks right out of the drug-enduced hippie culture - what were they thinking? Why bother? Are you going to show off this chassis? Not me, man!
Moving on to the interior, there is a 1-piece tub with poorly engraved sides and a back seat molded in place; the customary 2-piece buckets and steering wheel; a nicely engraved dash that was ruined by a fault in the right side of the part that looked like a blob of glue had gotten onto the mold before the plastic was poured, and it obscured part of the clock face.
Have I said enough? There just isn't any more in the way of good stuff, but if I discover a wonderful fuzzy feeling from a final assembly that goes like a miracle, I'll add it to this review... but don't hold your breath!