the other Mike S.

I love the retro stuff because it allows me to buy these kits at non rip-off collector prices. One thing I do wish they would do is more '80's reissues. We haven't seen the '81 Turbo-Z Camaro and later Pro Street version since the mid '80's. They could package that with an assortment of factory stripe colors on the decal sheet like they did with the Firebird T/A reissue. I'm sure it would sell fairly well. I'd also like to see the Fiero kit reissued. That was a fairly nice kit back in the day and prices have been getting steep. Of course, we'd only be able to get the later GT "flying butress" style version, but I'd still like to see it again. The '92 Firebird GTA would nice too, and this time, they can mold it in white instead of that ugly brown/gray plastic of the original issue. They could also reissue the '92 Camaro Z28 and include the heritage stripe decals in different colors. I'd like to see a return of the pre-assembled "Masterpiece Collection" series. When they came out, I bought two of each. It was a good alternative to the somewhat toy like diecast models and they offered more detail than a normal promo.

They would be more expensive no doubt. However, knowing that they were still made in the good ole U.S. of A would probably convince me to open my wallet up a little further based on that merit alone. Either way, the costs will rise. When China's blue collar class gets strong enough, they too will demand better living wages/benefits for their workers. Then, Round 2 and Revell will have to look for another place to move their manufacturing operations to for low cost labor.

Round 2 got the promo contract from GM on the last C7. Revell screwed the pooch on that one from what I've read on here. Hopefully, R2 will get the promo contract again and we'll see a C8 promo/model kit later this year. If not, unless Revell is ready to surprise us with a huge bombshell C8 release in the next few months, I think it will be some time before we see any plastic kits of the mid engine Vette.

I wish it was 1/25th scale.

I don't know why I should feel guilty using my 40% coupon at HL. R2 and Revell are still making a profit even at those prices. After all, they moved their operations over to China to reduce costs. While I can appreciate the thicker cardboard boxes (thanks R2), molded in white plastic bodies and the beautiful pad printed tires, I do have a general price limit for a current 1/25th scale model kit. Like what was mentioned above, I typically buy what I like when the reissues come out. At current prices, I can buy 2 (or even 3 at coupon prices) of my favorite subjects. However, when they eventually get to $50 a kit, that will definitely curtail my purchases. At that price, it will have to be something I really, really want. The promo market suffered from the same price escalation. Back when they were $20 or less, I used to buy multiple copies of each color. When they started approaching the $30+ barrier, I restricted my choices down to one color each (or even just my favorite color) on the latest ones that retailed for $35+. I'd hate to see model kit building become a rich man's hobby. Right now, I can't afford the real 1:1 scale cars so I buy the models of my favorite automobiles. If and when the time ever comes that the average model kit becomes too expensive, it will be time to find another hobby I guess.

The '67 Impala 4 dr from R2 is a surprise. This tells me they're willing to modify existing tooling to come up with a different body style on older kits. Of course, from what I have been able to glean on the SH forum, they didn't destroy the 2dr "fastback" tooling to make it. If that's the case, then I'm happier than a hog in pig spit. At the risk of losing the '16-'18 version, I'd like to see them update the '16 Camaro tool into a 2019+ version. And, I think making the ZL1 model is a natural progression from the '17 SS 1LE they currently have. The Challenger tool could use some new parts and be converted into the Hellcat version. That would be nice to have as well.

I would if it was 1/25th scale.

I have purchased many of the new reissues from Round 2 and I plan on buying many more. I'd like to see them do new kits too, but I realize that will probably require a promo contract to help get them done. A current kit of the new fullsized Silverado/Sierra would be very nice, but I'm not holding my breath. It would be great if they could modify their 6th gen Camaro tooling into the facelifted 2019+ models and offer a ZL1 version. And, convert the old Challenger tool into the current Hellcat version. The '69 Yenko Camaro was a huge disappointment. That was an extremely lazy effort on their part and I hope that never happens again. However, I'm looking forward to their 4 door sedan version of the '67 Impala. That should be a huge hit. I know I will buy several copies. With Revell, I'd to see them reissue some of their 1/25th scale snap kits from the late' 70's/ early '80's. They made a very detailed snapper version of the '75 Corvette convertible back in the early '80's that I really liked. I'd like to see them do a new GT 500 along side the regular Mustang GT snapper they now have. A full glue current Mustang would be nice to have as well. Of course, I like to see a new C8, either in snapper or full glue or both. The Tesla would be a interesting new kit to have. I'm surprised no one has approached Musk yet about doing a kit of the Tesla. Or, maybe they already have? Looking forward to seeing what 2020 brings from both Round 2 and Revell.

Certain people think name calling is acceptable when their feelings get hurt. Unfortunately, doing so only serves to reinforce the juvenile schoolyard mentality which dumbs down the group as a whole. Clique's exist even on the internet, but when group think begins to happen because of this, you have try to mitigate it the best way possible before it becomes a good ole boy network. Looking forward to hearing what Revell is planning for 2020 in the near future.

The last new tool from Round 2 would be the 6th gen Camaro. Nothing really new from them for early 2020, but they are tooling up a 4dr sedan version of the '67 Impala due out in the spring I believe.

I'm not sure why the text quote function is disabled, but will do my best to response to your comments. First, do I know what is involved in manufacturing a brand new model kit? Yes, I do. Your assumption that I don't know is somewhat arrogant and kind of dismissive. I don't know why your trying to be difficult. My speculation, as you call it, was based on information that I have read online with a little commentary on my part. It's sounds like you have a vested financial interest in Blitz. The way you paint the picture of how "hard" and difficult" it is to develop and manufacture a new model kit makes me think that if it was up to you, we would never see a new kit ever. Just reisssue the old ones that have been fully amortized tooling costs and basically be a reissue generator. As far as I know, Revell is in the model kit making business. It's their job to develop and manufacture new model kits. The question you pose is so basic that it kind of defies any kind of reasonable explanation. It's like, yeah duh, that's what they're supposed to be doing as a model kit company to keep the revenue stream flowing. Making new kits of new/new old cars to keep consumers buying their products. Second, no I don't know exactly what they're working on. However, I can search for what info is available out there and come to reasonable conclusions. If they ran into problems because the new owners (Blitz) shut down the U.S. warehouses, that tells me right there they have more pressing concerns getting their product to consumers than developing new product. I would think any new product development that was happening at the time of the Hobbico implosion ordeal would have been seriously affected. Also, having to get Ed Sexton back in the fold of the company tells me they are in desperate need for experienced talent to get things rolling again. Again, this is not mere "rumours" on my part, but reasonable conclusions from some of the info that has been presented even here. Third, the first C8 coupe deliveries are due at high allocation GM Chevrolet dealers during the first week of Feb 3rd, while convertibles will see deliveries sometime later in March. So, it's coming up fast. I think the knowledge you have about measuring a real car to make a kit is less than desirable for the discussion at hand. During new car introduction like the C8, the model kit company would have had the factory blueprints of the car to make a model kit of it about a year or two in advance from what I've read. They would develop the wooden masters from those detailed factory blueprints and pantograph that down to the scale desired for the tooling and start the machining process to make the tooling inserts for plastic injection molding. These days, I would think CAD or some other computer aided design software program would replace some of the older methods that were used in the past. I'm sure as the future unfolds, laser scanning and 3D printing will be used more often as well. Fourth, in what post did I ever say the new release '68 Chevelle was not a good seller? The '68 Chevelle was a new tool of an old car. When I was talking about money printing, I was referring to kits already developed long ago and reissued again and again and again. The '68 Chevelle was a brand new release from Revell. New kits can be both brand new cars like C8 Corvette and older cars that were never done or reissued again. Yes, technically the '68 Chevelle was done by AMT back in '68. However, that has never been reissued because it was converted into the '69 back in the day. Fifth, yes I know the general figures on what a brand new tool costs. It's expensive. However, we're talking about the C8 Corvette. That car will sell like hotcakes both in 1:1 scale and in small scale. It's a no brainer. The thing that concerns me is the general negative attitude of your comments regarding a new C8 model kit from Revell. It's almost as if you're trying to argue against it. Like how "expensive" and "difficult" it is to develop a new model kit. Well, if Revell is so strong and operating so smoothly as you say, I feel they should have no problem developing a new kit of the C8, even after all the expediture they recently made tooling up the new/old '68 Chevelle. Just my thoughts.

I'm not expecting a model of the C8 to come out before the actual car. That hasn't happened in generations. However, the new (parent?) company take over by (Blitz?) most likely has delayed it even further among other things that were in development at the time. As far as I can tell, Round 2 has not picked up the promo contract from GM. It would be nice to see a somewhat timely release of a simplified promo-like snapper of the C8, but that probably won't happen. Some people may disagree, but I think it's still important to have a plastic model kit available during a new car release in the same yead. Especially with a car as significant as the new mid engine C8 is. We're not talking about a new kit of an old Land Rover or something. We're talking about the new kit of the C8. The C8 is significant in many respects. Once the real car hits the street and the market gets saturated somewhat, the intitial buzz and excitment wanes and the demand from modelers and enthusiasts alike to have scale replica lessens a bit, at least for me it does. Yeah, I'll still want one after 2-3 years, but it's not as criitical as it once was during the actual 1:1 car debut. You'd think the model companies would understand this. However, like you mentioned above, they want to basically print money with a reissue of an already amortized many times over tooling run. I can't blame them. On the other hand, opportunities like the new mid engine C8 don't come along too often. So, it would be good to capitalize on that the best way possible. I guess this is where the diecast fans come in and get to have their cake and eat it too.

Why would the new owners (Blitz?) close down the Revell USA warehouse knowing that would disrupt the availabity of kits to U.S. based retailers? That doesn't sound like a good business decision after the new take over. That is, as if certain people on here say, we're supposed to believe the new owners are a much better thing for Revell. Whether the supply issues happened before or after the take over, it still happened. That's not a good thing in my opinion if you want stave off "rumours" that can proliferate in a situation like this. I would think you'd want to instill the upmost confidence from consumers that the company is still in exellent shape (after a situation like this) and keep suppy chain flowing at all costs. The disruption in the supply chain was a major fubar on their part.

Also, it's interesting to note, the '78-'88 G-body perimeter frame has one of the shortest wheelbases of any perimeter frame GM has ever produced. I read once, that if they had to go any smaller (less than 108" wb), it would have required a unitized body structure instead. I don't know if the latter is actually true or not.

I agree with you there. There's something about those old kits that look just right when displayed. What's the use of all that state of the art rivet countjng detail if when assembled, it looks all goofy and incorrect. Ugh!

Well, I was merely commenting on things as I knew them and I got slammed for being a rumour starter. This was last straw to break the camel's back for him and I got the crabby reply. If it didn't affect their day to day operations, it surely affected the supply chain going to the distributors. A particular online retailer (of which I won't mention here) was finally able to get a restocking of Revell kits. This tells me right there that what happened during the Hobbico fiasco temporarily stopped product from being supplied to the distributors that supply the online and hobby store retailers. Not having product available to your retail buyers is pretty significant in my opinion. Fortunately for us, that has been now corrected and things are back on track. True, but the diecasts are out now or will soon be. If anything should be fast tracked, it should be the new C8. The real car is generating a lot of buzz and excitement in the automotive industry and it's only logical from a business perspective (as model kit manufacturer) to capitalize on that opportunity. Unfortunately, like you mentioned, the Hobbico bankruptcy probably delayed that prospect. Since I collect promos too, I'd to see a factory authorized promo of the new C8. Whether Round 2 or even Revell gets the promo contract again, I don't know. However, I sure hope someone does so the lineage of Corvette promos and the model kits that are based off them can continue. Sounds good to me. Thanks for the detailed explanation.

Since the Fox body fans get their favorite Mustang back, it would be nice to see Round 2 throw some love to the 3rd gen F-body fans by reissuing the MPC '92 Camaro Z28 and the insert tooling to make a stock '92 Firebird GTA out of the Knight Rider issue.

Thanks. Molded in a deep red. Nice!

The tone of your reply sounds very aggressive and almost bullying to a certain extent. For some reason, I'm on your "hate" radar for what was a legitimate comment of Revell's financial condition. It's very obvious to me that your premise of everything being fine and dandy at Revell is not the case. The recent bankruptcy of the parent company, Hobbico, severely affected Revell's operations here in the U.S. That can not be a good thing for a company. The recent backlogged restocking of product for U.S. based vendors tells me this. Also, if any new kit development was happening at the time this all went down, that would have delayed or perhaps all together cancelled any new product development for the time being. Burning bridges at GM by your C7 comment is not a good thing either. So, it looks to me that unless Round 2 has the promo contract again which is highly unlikely, any new plastic kit release of the C8 by Revell is going be delayed. And, anything else that may have been in the pipeline along with it will be delayed as well. The C8 will be a money maker. Not having the new C8 in scale and in plastic, in the first or second quarter of 2020, is going to be a greatly missed opportunity. Releasing the kit 1 or 2 years after the car is already out on the streets will never be the same.

They sure like reissuing that '70 Impala a lot recently. I hope they mold the Fire Chief version in an authentic Cranberry Red that can be polished out.

If they went bankrupt, then what I stated about their financial condition would be true, no? Unless Round 2 has a promo contract again, I don't see them making a C8. They're mostly in the reissue or modified tooling reissue business (like the supernatural 4 door Impala based off the 2 door fastback). Revell has traditionally been the one these days to invest in new tooling for old and current new model cars. No C8 anouncement is a big deal. I hope that I'm wrong and that there will be a sudden announcement coming up.

This restructuring or regrouping of Revell seems to be the nails in the coffin for Revell USA auto kits. The fact that there is no C8 kit or even rumors of one (a pretty big deal here in the U.S.) tells me they're not in a very healthy financial position. Maybe they can sell off their automotive tooling bank to Round 2 or something? People on the modeling sites say Revell is still strong, but no new C8 kit tells me that may not be the case. I hope I'm wrong though.

Sharp build! However, something about the too square wheel wells on the Revell kit bother me.

I will buy at least two or maybe three when it comes out. However, I hope they didn't have to destroy the 2 door to make this version. That would be a shame.