SteveG

First off, they didn't just retool the body. They basically retooled the whole kit. Now before you consider it a waste of resources, look at some of what's required to create an all new modern tooled classic car kit. From the drawing board to the store shelves can take up to two years, more is not unusual. The price tag is typically well north of 100K and then you have to find a clean original 1:1 example to measure and/or scan to create all the needed 3D drawings part by part. Then there's 3D printed samples to check and it goes on from there. To reverse engineer a rare, long lost kit biggest hurdle is finding a pristine sample to copy. The rest of the work can be done in a fraction of the time and for a fraction of the cost. As for creating a hybrid of the 63 Nova Wagon body with say the current 66 Nova kit sounds intriguing at first, they just don't share enough parts to make it work cost wise. Which brings us right back to making an all new tool. Now there are a lot of modern tools with by creating some new parts could be nicely expanded on. Round 2 could give us a 68 Impala SS for about the same amount of work and cost as did to do the Supernatural 67 Impala 4Dr hardtop. There are so many more examples that it would deserve it's own thread but let's get back to this kit. Bottom lines is that Round 2 wanted to bring back this particular kit, warts and all. I'm really glad they did, and I'm thankful they made the effort to make some modest improvements. Think about that first discussion that must of started off with "wouldn't it be cool if we could bring back the 63 Nova Wagon kit" then consider the all the possibilities that could come after that ... -Steve

This is a re-tooled copy of the original Craftsman kit with some modest improvements. Round 2 is calling it Craftsman Plus. Updates include clear headlamps and clear red tail lamp lens that have been added along with a side view mirror. Kit style wheel covers, wheel backs and tires instead of the original promo style pieces. Glass is now two separate front and rear pieces. The front metal axle is replaced by pins. There's also a couple of optional interior accessories included and all new decal sheet with some "fun" commercial graphics and along with the instrument face and body scripts for those who prefer them over paint or foil. The box is a tribute to the original packaging. The rest will be identical to the original Craftsman kit. There will be another version Nova Wagon kit that will include an engine and other items like the original 3n1 release that's about a year out. I do not have the full details of that version yet but it's being based on the original release. Both of these are are being packaged as nostalgic items, not modern tooling. Round 2 is considering more of these recreations of other long lost classic kits, all depending on how well this and another similar item coming out does sales wise. Personally I can't wait to get my hand on one, my very first model was an AMT Craftsman kit. I hope they bring back more... -Steve

It looks to me based on Steve's photo above that there is a extra piece of trim molded just above the bumper and below the tail lamps that doesn't exist in my reference photos which is placing the bumper noticeably lower then it should be. I don't have a kit in hand yet but here's a good 1:1 photo for comparison. Does anyone else see what I'm talking about ? -Steve

Besides everything Snake mentioned, the Sedan roof skin is about an inch higher and the rear window opening is taller and rounded on top corners. Steve

As mentioned above, that's upholstery pattern used with the on screen cars. The rear seat should match it but Round 2 chose not to update it so the two door rear seat is what you have to work with. I filled in the rear speaker on mine and called it close enough. The seat bottom cushion should have the corners rounded too. This kit would be a great start for either a '67 or '68 Caprice Four door hardtop in the hands a certain talented modeler, hint, hint .... Steve

I believe that the 67 Chevy Bel Air, Biscayne and Impala poverty caps are a one year only item and I don't think they've been done in 1/25th scale yet. Steve

For what it's worth Snake I painted mine in the factory color Carnival Red aka Ford Rangoon Red as it looked correct to me. I really can't think of a reason why it wasn't painted that color as Poppy Red is really Orange and noticeably different in most photos. Steve

This issue does come with the Auto trans. If you want to build a 4 spd version it's an easy swap. All of the Moebius 65 Plymouth kits are designed to share the same engine block regardless of Hemi or Wedge, Manual or Auto. So kit bash away between any previous releases. Speaking of 4 spd cars, I suspect another AWB version may be coming later as the correct 4 spd floor hump was added to the tooling and I believe it's in this release as a separate extra part. Also, It's a safe bet that some enterprising resin caster is already working to give us a AWB Sedan body to drop right on this kit. Now we just need to work on Larry over at Pegasus to approve some Dodge variations of the Moebius Plymouths and we'll be all set. -Steve

If you mean they're the same new wheels created for the Lawman 64 Plymouth then yes they are. Steve

This will be a Model King release and yes distribution with go through them. That doesn't necessarily mean a smaller run then a straight Moebius release. There are minimum and maximum amounts of kits that can be ordered, produced and shipped at one time. Dave Burket can order a full run if he chooses or less same as any Moebius release. The distribution is the biggest difference. Production orders for any of the Moebius kit are typically based on sales predictions regardless of the how they are distributed. Steve

It's shares some parts with a number of their previously released 65 Plymouth's. I would call it mostly new. It's been in the works for at least a couple of years, from beginning of their 65 Plymouth project. Steve

Don't have one but I'm pretty sure it's the same basic kit as Revell Jeggs or Super Clean or Warren Johnson Olds Cutlass Pro Stock kits. Maybe the Pro Stock Firebird kits too. Steve

Back when I was building up test shots for Racing Champions I received an early sample of the AMT F&F Camaro. This was shortly after I had built up a F&F Supra test shot for them, I had very high expectations as that was such a nice kit. Well you know when I opened the package what I got looked to me more like a Cartoon of a 69 Camaro then anything else. I quickly fired off an email to their Product Development Manager who I won't name here. I did my best to describe all issues with it in a professional manner to them and ended my comments with that they should expect a package back from me with a sample of what a 69 Camaro should look like. I ended up sending them a Revell 69 Camaro body out of my unbuilt kit collection. I thought once they saw had bad it looked by comparison, they would be way too embarrassed to go ahead with it as is. They sent it back acknowledging how much nicer the Revell piece was but basically said there was no budget to make the corrections to fix it. Yes, they knew it sub-standard and went ahead with it anyways. I told myself at least I tried to get them to fix it. As for that F&F test shot, I was so disappointed that never bothered to build it. I've still have it untouched packed away in a box somewhere. -Steve

Here's the fresh of the presses Box Art for the upcoming Styleside short bed version. Details on the release date are still pending but it will be released through Model King. I expect there will be at least two more versions to look forward to after this one, a long bed and a 4x4 based on the test shot parts already shown. -Steve

Moebius is not leaving the Automotive Model Kit market and any rumors regarding that are false. My workbench is plenty busy and there is much to look forward to coming from Moebius. I would expect some announcements this fall all goes to plan. -Steve