stavanzer Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Crowe-t, you can bet the farm, that it will NOT have either better mirrors, or the mags. This will be a re-issue of the Phantom Van with New Wheel covers and decals. Period. Eventually, Round2 will go back to the Vaults, and re-issue this kit again, giving us 4-6 "New" parts that have been blocked off for years. And again they'll boast of "Expanded Decals" Pad Printed tires and one or two "Newly Molded" widgets, that have not been seen in years. Then it will be an "All New Kit" and we shell out more money. This is a fun game for certain kits, but IMHO, Vans are not in this category. Just have to wait and see I guess. (p.s. could we at least get the "Matilda Van" clear Sundome and mounting ring back?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcarfan27 Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 8 hours ago, alexis said: (p.s. could we at least get the "Matilda Van" clear Sundome and mounting ring back?) Why? That thing was hideous! The ugliest van idea they did. I guess it was based on a movie, but the movie bombed and so did this kit. I can understand the raised roof cap and the bay windows on the side. What I don't get are the space alien dome and the lumpy, tongue sticking out of the front. Probably designed by George Barris. However, I WOULD vote to include the custom parts in an all inclusive 8n1 version, van kit though. That would float MY goat, for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 (edited) On 9/19/2018 at 11:27 PM, Oldcarfan27 said: Why? That thing was hideous! The ugliest van idea they did. I guess it was based on a movie, but the movie bombed and so did this kit. I can understand the raised roof cap and the bay windows on the side. What I don't get are the space alien dome and the lumpy, tongue sticking out of the front. Probably designed by George Barris. Barris was not to blame for this one. The roof bubble was there so Matilda, the boxing kangaroo and star of the movie, could see out of the van. Unfortunately, the raised roof piece had the forward windows molded closed, meaning no 'glass' was provided for the window openings...which are not really openings if we're being technical. It's looks a lot more squared off at the edges, too: I'm sure we'll eventually get another custom version of the AMT Ford van eventually, but this time around, it's stock, with what should be a large, multi-color decal sheet. Edited December 3, 2018 by Casey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcarfan27 Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 1 hour ago, Casey said: Barris was not to blame for this one. The roof bubble was there so Matilda, the boxing kangaroo and star of the movie, could see out of the van. Unfortunately, the raised roof piece had the forward windows molded closed, meaning no 'glass' was provided for the window openings...which are not really openings if we're being technical. So the kangaroo sat on the engine cover? Can't imagine a lot of room up front for a driver, a passenger and a large, nervous animal in that area. Must've been a fun ride! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Toups Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 I have an original "Cruising Van" kit and the wheels in it are not correct to the box art. They look more like magnum 500 wheels to me. It'll be interesting to see what they come up with. The Moebius 71 Ranger hubcaps are pretty close. The re-issue will at least include a better decal sheet. AMT kits in the 70's had pretty poor decals. They were usually very transparent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Looks nice... Id love to build some vans like we owned...trouble is finding/affording them.... 71-73 Dodge window van...have it but it needs parts. 74-75 Dodge factory custom van 74-75 Dodge cargo van 72? Chevy raised roof camper van...I have that one but it needs important parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted October 2, 2018 Author Share Posted October 2, 2018 (edited) http://www.collectormodel.com/round2-models/4607-coming-off-the-shelf-cruising-into-fall/#sthash.1xFJ810r.dpbs Edited October 2, 2018 by Casey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Those wheelcovers on the box art remind me of '69-70 Cougar wheelcovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike999 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 That "Matilda" kit was a huge flop, just like the movie that spawned it. I remember seeing it for giveaway prices at hobby and toy shops all over the Los Angeles area. (This was long ago, when toy stores still existed and actually sold model kits. Hard to believe, I know.) Now I wish I'd picked up a few of them. Looks like the raised roof might be a good start for an ambulance or camper. Here's a link to the "Matilda" movie, for the morbidly curious. Poor Robert Mitchum...https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077917/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted November 29, 2018 Author Share Posted November 29, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted November 29, 2018 Share Posted November 29, 2018 Another great review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faust Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 If there’s one word in my car modelling vocabulary that is worth a thousand images, it’s “Van”. When I was growing up, it was the waning days of the Vannin’ craze, and I can remember all kinds of totally awesome, mega-tricked out vans at car shows we’d go to in the spring and summer. Most of us remember those mural-bedecked rolling pleasure palaces as perhaps the most expressive automotive customs ever, even if they weren’t your thing. However, one thing I don’t ever remember seeing was a stock custom van. If you’re asking “What?” then you’re like me when I first heard of the Ford and Dodge factory-made, custom-ready street vans. As it turns out, AMT even gave us a kit of the 1977 Ford Cruising Van, complete with very loud factory striping! It’s been a long time since it was available, and despite bringing out the custom Econoline “Phantom” van a few years ago, Round 2 has seen fit to resurrect this long-gone piece of model kit history. The new version features some improvements too, like better tires and two kinds of striping! I love vans, and I love wacky production cars. This is both! You guys knew I'd be getting this one as soon as I could get my hands on it, right? It doesn’t get much better than this, despite this thing's flaws. Check it out at the link below, but if it’s rockin’, don’t come a knockin’! https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/amt-round-2-1-25-1977-ford-cruising-van-out-of-box/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledsel Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 Be great to have these again....... I had both... as a kid. Side pipes are in a parts box, the rest is MIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faust Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 By the way, that Matilda van is awesome, to my eyes! So horribly, awfully, tastelessly '70s! Am I the only one who thinks the bubble is a great place for a ball-type turret for a post-appocalyptic "Mad Max" van? I mean, it's already got the Australian theme going! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 On 1/3/2019 at 10:54 AM, Sledsel said: Be great to have these again....... I had both... as a kid. Side pipes are in a parts box, the rest is MIA I have looked for the van parts on eBay with no luck.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 On 1/3/2019 at 11:54 AM, Sledsel said: Be great to have these again....... I had both... as a kid. Side pipes are in a parts box, the rest is MIA It would be cool to find these accessory packs again. I wouldn’t offer them separately, parts packs have done poorly in recent history. I would do a new release of one of the van kits, with all that van’s custom accessories opened up and include this van parts set! Now you have a super custom van kit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Brian Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 2 hours ago, Faust said: By the way, that Matilda van is awesome, to my eyes! So horribly, awfully, tastelessly '70s! Am I the only one who thinks the bubble is a great place for a ball-type turret for a post-appocalyptic "Mad Max" van? I mean, it's already got the Australian theme going! That's an interesting idea, you could probably use one of the clear two piece Easter eggs or tops from one of the 25 cent toy machines and make a WWII style ball turret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faust Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 Now you're thinking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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