Stef

Got mine, and love it to bits. Modestly restyling it "for modern audiences", heh. At least 5 other guys in my model club got 'em, too. Fantastic kit. Hope they sell a squillion.

Over the past 5-6 years, I've tracked down many of my old MPC grails, through sacred sealed and open originals, decent builtups, tragic gluebombs, dusty promos, and especially, Round 2's loving acts of God. There still remain a few highly elusive MPC gems I would love love love to get my hands on:

I believe the red MPC Omni 024 was the first issue of this kit, in 1979/80. Then the "Silver Bullet" 024 came in 1981, followed by the black "Sidewinder" 024 in 1982. Curiously, the red Omni seems to have optional rear window louvers, while the Silver Bullet does not include them. Instead, side window louvers are introduced (which the red Omni did not seem to have). However, the Sidewinder includes BOTH rear and side louvers, along with a crazy optional "shovel" type front end treatment. Then, in 1983, the Omni was forever modified, slightly, into the Shelby Charger. As others have noted here, the engine is not really a Shelby engine. I have an unbuilt Silver Bullet in my stash, that I've compared to HPI Guy's recent Shelby Charger video. From what I can see, the engines are identical in both kits; even the optional (non-factory) turbo setup. The kits are mostly the same, with a few interesting notes. For example, my Silver Bullet has a smooth firewall, but detail was added at some point. Judging from the silver Shelby's box art, it looks like it has a smooth/flat hood. I cannot confirm/remember whether that kit used the flat Omni hood, or the current power-bulge/vented hood seen in later Shelbys. Also, the front air dam/side marker light area looks "off". Could just be the art. Maybe someone can confirm whether those sidemarker surround/air dam pieces were included in that first version of the kit. The "blue" art on the decal sheet was disappointingly printed in Cyan, rather than a proper blue. After the silver Shelby, came a white version in 1984, followed by the dark blue version in 1985. Finally, under ERTL, in 86-87, the white "rally" version came out. That rally version introduced a couple sets of foglights, clear headlight covers, and rollcage parts. Those parts are preserved in this newest Round 2 reissue. In addition, this newest Shelby includes stunning, all-new WIDE Eagle ZR 45 tires. IIRC, all previous Shelby kits included MPC's smaller, skinnier BF Goodrich "snow tires", with their super-aggressive tread pattern. The taillights appear to have remained unchanged from that first Omni kit, though it seems real Shelby Chargers did at some point use updated taillights. Hope this is helpful!

Agreed, @Bainford it would be super awesome to have a fully updated 73/74 Charger built upon the excellent 71. I'm unsure whether it would be cheaper to go that route, or the cloning route, though most of us would be particularly happy with a clean, modernized body. In either case, I'm sure Round 2 will work their magic!

Agreed. I heard it mentioned here awhile back that the guts of the original 68 Coronet kit ended up in MPC's 74 Super Charger. Several dudes were excited at the thought of bringing back the 74 Charger, so perhaps it could be done economically via scanning, and leveraging the new 68 Coronet chassis and engine?

Kit looks awesome; can't wait to get mine. Surprised the drag version did not include some sort of hirise dual-quad intake, headers and hood scoop, but I don't mind at all. Got more than enough stuff in my stash. Will raid my 75 Dart for its Hemi, throw on a pair of massive Drag 500s, and create a quarter-mile monster.

The Falcon was also reissued recently as part of the Cal Drag Combo, as built by HPI Guy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3G7r9JtbQ8

Judging by the box bottom art, looks like this reissue includes a few rally parts tooled up for the last version, released back in 1986-87. Big and little pairs of round fog lights, and what appears to be a roll cage. Thank you Round 2 for bringing these classics back again!

Agreed 128%. IIRC, Monogram's 85 Fiero GT was one-and-done, so hopefully that kit can come back as-is. MPC's Fiero last appeared as an 88. Recently got one of my grails; a near-mint MPC 82 EXP (molded in blue). This awesome kit seriously needs to come back. We also need Revell's sister kit to their EXP, the Escort. Although I've never seen or built AMT's Escort or Horizon TC3 kits; hopefully they can make a comeback, too. And surely, there's enough interest in bringing back MPC's 82 Cavalier. Lastly, would be awesome if Revellogram could reissue their 85-ish Daytona snapper.

Watching HPIGuy's Switchers 32 Ford video above, something about the parts seemed familiar... so I went back to his Coke 32 Ford Sedan Delivery from a few years back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8oftQaHdhI And most of the kit is the same; did they ever make a CHOPPED sedan delivery body in the Switchers series?

Another fine trip down memory lane, Chris, thank you. I've built most of 'em, squillions of years ago. Would be nice to pick up one of these again and relive the magic.

Agreed. I've built squillions of 70-73s, and 77-81s, but I'd love love love to build a 74-76.

Ha ha, true, Flexo is the evil evil Bender, but I was actually thinking of the Futurama episode where Bender turns into an evil car, "The Honking". I'm loving this Futurama, I mean, Futura, restyling so much, I wanna get one and see what I can do with it. Great styling job. This one's a winner, regardless of which grille is chosen.

Agreed; both are maliciously wicked. The one with fewer teeth looks like a vampire, and the one with more teeth looks like a double evil Bender.

Nooice, Chris. Your retrospectives are always nostalgic and illuminating, thanks!

Gotta say, Rex, watching you build this is surreal. You're the 71-73 expert, and you've, we've all, been waiting for this kit since forever. Godspeed, good sir.

In doing more research on the classic Mack Bulldog kit, I see Monogram did (at least) 4 versions: log hauler, stake truck, tanker, and dump truck. In researching actual truck pictures, I've seen some looking particularly cool with what appears to be more modern tires and wheels; very tough looking indeed. Never knew much about these kits before HPI Guy's log hauler review; now thanks to you cats, I want one of these more than ever. Thanks!

Agreed, John. Who knows what killer blasts from the past Atlantis now has. Looking forward to getting this Mack, as well as their upcoming Pontiac Grand Am funny car. And in a perfect world, it would be really nice if Atlantis got the tooling for the Monroe Handler Mustang II, as well as Sunbird/Monza variants!

Thank you for the heads up, Mike. Round 2 has been doing some amazing things the past several years, and I couldn't be happier with their efforts. Anything's possible, and here's hoping, indeed! Oh yesssssss, Alan, you always deliver the goods, thank you! Cammer, velocity stacks, traction bars, and more! What's not to love?

Now that Round 2's Chad has announced the 57 T-Bird coming back in their August 2023 video, doesn't look like it has any drag parts. Thought I read here awhile back that the "Here Comes The Judge" drag version was going to be coming back. While I certainly do have enough drag/gasser parts to make a conversion, it would be awesome to get a kit with those extra goodies and that sweet HCTJ box art.

Fantastic models, Randy. Would love to see more of your blue F-150. Looks to me based on the Monogram stepside kit. Did you bash it with a Monogram Bronco to make the bed?

That. Is awesome. I should mock up some packaging art in the vintage style to really tug at those nostalgic feels. Looks like the Cal Drag, Indy Drag, and Chevelle Drag combos all use the same trailer, yes?

Oh no! Another PYRO kit lives up to its name, sets itself and builder on fire, claiming yet another hobbyist! Solid work on this dimensionally-challenged Escher kit, Sid. Quick, someone send Sid a Monogram 1941 Lincoln as a palette cleanser, STAT! We can't let you leave the hobby on one of the most objectively challenging kits ever designed. (built model not mine)

I would very much love for this kit to come back; I'd commented on it in other threads. TL;DR: Looking at HPI Guy's video reviews of the 64 Olds convertible and 442 contents, and cross-referencing them with his videos of the Rat Packer Nova, 64 Falcon, and Cyclone Eliminator AWB kits, it seems most of the parts needed are readily available, aside from an all-new AWB 64 Olds body. Here is a summary of the Streaker parts found in the two new Olds kits. Hope this helps, thanks.

Exquisite colours and beautiful paintwork that are so perfectly suited to this car, @gks1964. This is how I want to build mine.