stavanzer

Great History on these kits. Thanks for sharing the link.

Boy, I know others are happy, but that list is a huge, steaming pile of "Meh!" to me. Even the New Tool kits are not in my wheelhouse. Maybe better kits next year.....

Yeah, Dave. One year I got three of those kits in various Round-Robin Kit exchanges. Not a big seller, and not built much either. Let's hope Round2 can do the kit justice this go round.

Love, the 'fat' Cooper Bombs!

+2

So, will the Revell (ex-Monogram) kit build into the Halicki car?

Just a note. I worked for a Fuel tanker company for 2 years. The average Gas station has about 24-48 hours of gasoline in the underground tanks, at normal sales volume. Most Stations get a new shipment every 24-36 hours. Normally gas prices are raised at the pump, every time a new load is delivered. These are not normal times however, and some stations may try to raise prices more often. Try not to ever let the tank get below half. If things in your area go truly pear-shaped, at least you'll have a half a tank. Modern ethanol gas additives make storing gas in gas cans problematic. It is not shelf stable for as long. So don't fill a couple cans and expect it to last for more than a few weeks, if that. I put over 200 miles a week on my van, just for work. And my boss has announced that there will be no raises this year......

Dang! Why does nobody ever show the passenger side of these cars????

Amazing that the 3500 series tooling could just disappear! But, all those moves,,,, Thanks for the update, Steve.

Amen, Mark!

Thanks, Casey!

That long ago post at the Round2 Blog, that first showed the '64 Olds F-85, also showed other "Hanger Shots". Given the size of the pics, there is no way of knowing what those other kits (or fractions of kits) were. Round2 has (rightly) chosen not to share what (if anything) they found with all of those test shots. IIRC, it was stated at the time, that Round2 was simply running plastic through all the tooling in their possession at the time. I am sure that Round2 has a Master List of the tooling, what it made, and what condition it was in. I also have no doubt that old AMT Hands (John Mueller, and others) were called in or volunteered to I.D. what was what. So, Round2 Knows (and probably pretty accurately) what they have. (and Don't have). That said, it would not be in Round2's best business interests to ever let the public know what kits they might be able to produce. So, just hints and glimpses are all we are going to get. Now, Look at what has happened in the last few years. Round2 Totally retooled a new body & engine for the '63 Nova Kit, and possibly a trailer as well. They re-created the '63 Nova and trailer kit, and almost all of it is new tooling. Tim Boyd's comparison photos show how much of that kit is new., and before the Nova, we have the long running saga of the '64 Oldsmobile. From a single photo at the company blog, to a pair of complete kits several years later. This reflects how serious the management is at Round2. And, Now we have word of a newly re-created '66 Mustang tool, combining proven parts from existing kits and a newly tooled body. So, three substantial, well loved kits, coming back to life, at reasonable prices with fresh decals and new tires. Round2 is doing exactly what they have promised to do, albeit at a pace that reflects the realities of a capital intensive business. I suspect that Tom L. & John G. think they are working as fast as they can given that Round2 is small company with a limited budget, and a small, skilled pool of employees. I would love to see the "Top Ten List" of projects that are being explored right now. We all would, I am guessing. But, Round2 has no obligation or need to share such a list, nor would it be in their best interest to do so. Would we like a few more 'Craftsman' style kits to come back? Of course! Will there be any? Nobody really knows (and anybody who might know) sure isn't going to say much of anything in public.

https://foursquare.com/v/moses-scout-reservation/4c517ef0d2a7c9b60edf4811?openPhotoId=5793717c498eec1c6bfd675d

Thanks, Steve. Ask them to at least fix the instruction sheet. All those intake options were tooled, and remain in the kit. At least they can tell us which option goes to what version of the car. And Better Decals. That would make a world of difference for the kit, at least

That is a win for sure, Snake.

Thank You, Bill. I'll re-read it later.

In regard to the Pinto/Vega modifieds and the '65 Mustang (and a couple others in that series) the chassis are very different. The P/V Twins share a one piece chassis, and are pretty much identical other than bumpers, air cleaners, and hood panels. The mustang has a multipiece chassis that is far more involved to build, and different engine. There are essentially just 2 basic chassis available for this style of car. The Pinto/Vega Chassis (it might be a Tobias) and the other more involved style seen the the Mustang. I think one is MPC and the other originated with AMT. The only differences after that, are just bodies, trim pieces and decals.

Yeah, Tony, I forgot all about the tires. They are sub-par by 21st century standards.

Hey, Round2, time to bring this truck back! I'll bet it would sell biggly! Include the Camper Shell (Topper) and optional Chevy/GMC Grilles and Stock & Custom wheels, and the trailer out of the Cal Drag Combo, and you have a ready-to-go, Saturday Lights Tow Vehicle. Throw in one of the new, improved Decal Sheets and you'd have a huge hit.

And here is that Mustang. Again, a fussy chassis to build, but a neat subject. https://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/amt-instructions/modified-asphalt--d/amt-65-mustang-modi/

I had both the Grant King Race Team (Who the ....?) and the Groove Boss. I would have really wanted the Drifter Supermodified, if I had ever seen one. That Race car comes with a very nice little jig that you assemble from 3 parts, to help keep the chassis straight when you build it. I think it is a nice, but very Fussy kit, with lots of detail. But, the way it goes together, make modern paint jobs a real pain. The body is in so many pieces that getting everything all the exact shade was a real chore. I really miss Bonediggers! Thanks for the Link. I really like reading the "Why we'll never see the Beverly Hillbillies truck again" article. It was so reasonable and well thought out. And Racing Champions got ahold of the tool, and 5 years later Ollies & Big Lots were blowing out BH kits for 99 cents each at one time.

I know Mark. I was not implying that Round2 could could combine parts. Sorry for the confusion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Fieger Here you go! Never would have believed it.

Great Pic, AFX! I'd always wondered where those parts went. Thanks!

Mark B, I am not sure that the parts from the two kits can be combined. And, as much as I respect John G at Round2, he knew what kind of storm he was facing, and was trying to do damage control to back over a poor decision, IMHO. It was pretty obvious even by that point, that the 'new tool revisions' were a total loser as far as the prospective buyer were concerned. But, Round2 could not really climb down from the plans by that point, so they pushed ahead. All these years later, I'll bet they wish they had just done what was asked, and put the whole issue behind them for good. Now, with this announcement, the issue returns. Since re-issuing "Classic Kits" is their whole business model (in relation to automobile kits), and as the runaway success of both the '63 Nova Wagon, and '64 Olds F-85 shows, giving the Adult Buyers what they want appears to be the key to winning. Of course, the guys on the retail end of the hobby know much more about the sales of the two resurrected kits, so I am cheerfully willing to admit that I could be totally wrong about the sales record of those kits. I guess my point is, (at least in relation to the narrow subject of Car Kits), giving the cranky Adult Nostalgia Buyer what he wants can be a good way to serve the market (for those kind of kits). For Sci-Fi, Diecast, and others, I suspect that catering to the whims of Car Kit Buyers may not be optimal. And to end on a positive Note! I really like the decal sheet from the Mod Rod! Totally in tune with the TROG vibe of the time, and very well done.