OldSkool81

Wow, that's a tasteful build! I love how it's modded, but not over the top, and the color combo is awesome and classy at the same time! I can't stop looking at it!😅

I really wanted a kit of the new limited run Countach LPI 800-4, and Aoshima was the only one offering it. Great price, great details and quality, even putting many 1/24 and 1/25 kits to shame!

Nope!!! Never saw any advertisement/brochures/real life Blazer Xtremes in my neck of the woods! And at the time as a youngster, I was a huge car freak, went every year to the Montreal Auto Show, collected dealer brochures, and every Christmas I got the "Guide de L'auto" which was the annual auto review bible and reference over here before youtube and online reviews became a thing. I never was aware that there was a Blazer Xtreme, and I honestly first read about it here!!! I really like the idea, but I'm also bummed we didn't get theme here!!!😢

Question for you American guys and gals; was the Xtreme only an appearance package available on all trims? Because in Canada, it was only available in extended cab, stepside flavor with the 4.3 and automatic. My manager from like 10-12 years ago had an Xtreme that was imported from the US, that was single cab, slab-side bed with a 4-banger and a manual. I dismissed it at the time, thinking it was a fake, but turns out he was right, as it had the MPH-only cluster. Either versions are cool, but had I have the choice in 2012 when I bought my 1998 Ranger single cab, I would've went with the way cooler single cab Xtreme!!!!

As a kid and teen, I wanted to become a car designer, but my plans changed. But I always was heavily into car design. And while I never owned or drove any of these cars, here are those that I just can't get enough, that are still as incredibly sexy to my eyes as the day they came out, even as time go by. The Porsche 993 Turbo and Carerra, and of course the FD3S Mazda RX-7!!!

Well, since 2012 my daily was my 1998 Ford Ranger Stepside, and my 1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer was my long term project/summer driver. But having moved in the countryside, the Ranger was, let's say "interesting" on the country roads winter commutes, not to mention it was getting long in the tooth. So I needed something 4x4 or AWD, so last summer I bought this 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7 H.O. which I absolutely love! It is now my main daily driver, since the Comanche now have a leaking gas tank, a rotten exhaust, and still needs some fiddling with the front adjustable control arms to get back to proper geometry and pinion angles, due to the suspension lift. I still have my Ranger, the Ol' Reliable Mule, as my go-to for when either of my Jeeps needs repair!!! 😅😅😅

Well at first, I though that Ice Cream Van was going to be based on the same Grumman full-size box truck model family (which were available in many different lengths) as Doc Brown's truck, as was the original van in the original Twisted Metal game. But as many pointed out, this upcoming kit looks to be more of a smaller Grumman LLV like the US Mail uses. The LLV was based on Chevy S-10 frames and mechanicals IIRC, while the full-sized box trucks were made on GM squarebody heavy duty/commercial rolling frames. I used to have a 90's GM trucks lineup brochure I got at an auto show in the 90's (I might still have it, not sure) where that same Grumman full-size box truck body was still available for the new at the time, OBS Chevy heavy duty and commercial frames.

I think that's the best build of this kit I've seen so far! Good move on your tire choice! The kit's tires didn't look quite right IMO and ruined the stance. Yours just tie everything together and make the car look real! Sweet build!!!👍

I got the Lamborghini Countach 5000 Special, and it's full detail. I think such is the case for their other Countach kits; someone correct me if I'm wrong. I also have the Porsche 911 Turbo and 1969 911S, which are also full detail. When I bought those Porsches, I also was looking at their upcoming reissue (I think it's out now) 911 Slantnose, but found out it has no engine, so I passed. Hope this helps, and if others want to chime in for other Fujimi kits, please feel free!!!

Well, the wallet took another hit last week! This arrived yesterday; I wanted a Blazing Bison kit for a long time. So when I came across this opened, but sealed inside kit in the pre-owned section of one of my online shop, I jumped on it!!! I was also missing a '50 for my vintage Ford trucks collection, so I also got one of those. And to reach the amount for free shipping, I couldn't pass up that Italeri bike with the "damaged box policy" pricing! These Italeri bikes usually go around 100$CAD (73$US), but this damaged box, mint inside kit was on sale for 25$CAD (18.25$US) so I would have been a fool to pass it up!!!

Erik, your answer is much appreciated. I don't think it's quite gruff, but rather straight to the point, which is what I like. Also, it answers some questions that I didn't even ask yet! And you've got a major point with population (market) that I never thought about... And the fact that there's about as much people in Cali as Canada; I heard that numerous times but still can't get my head around that! Well, I guess it makes sense as a business to unload and stock your red-hot market zone, and then spread the rest by land to secondary markets, which would explain the delay. BTW, I'm also happy about your reponse to Can-Con, as that Chevy pick-up was/is also on my radar, and was also starting to worry about these. Good news!!!!😄🤙

Man I swear... I sent Round 2 an email about kits that I'd like to see reissued, and with the future AMT and MPC releases announcement they published a couple days ago, I'm starting to think they really read my message!!!! I was searching for a Mountain Goat kit, but to build it as a stock-ish version, so this reissue is even more perfect!!! Man, the rest of the year is gonna get expensive for me!!!!😅

I don't know if I'm allowed here to talk about distributors, but I literally saw one of those 2 hours ago while checking out what's new at Wheel & Wings Hobbies. It's a pre-owned, opened and resealed kit. I don't know where you're from, but that shop is in Canada, and they want 54$CAD for it. Hope this helps ya!!!!

Gotcha, I also don't want to get into politics. And it wasn't a stab at Moebius either, as I'm a BIG fan. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on, and that's why my original question was if U.S. people started to see pre-orders and pricing on their favorite model shops' sites, so I can compare with mine. Right now, only one of my usual online shops has these listed for pre-order with price, and they are often hit-n-miss. They sometimes have the best prices around, but they can also be way out there on other occasions. That's what I'm trying to figure out; because don't get me wrong, I WILL get all 3 of these kits one way or another. Just trying to figure out where I'll buy them. And may I ask, still without being political, but more on a logistics standpoint, a question that I had about kits supply? Is the supply for Canada unloaded in the U.S. ports, then to be shipped up north by land, or do those ships unload at Canadian ports? I was just curious about the difference in time for a kit to make it to shelves between the USA and Canada!

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but do any of you guys and gals in the US started to see the pricing for those kits yet? Here in Canada, one of my main go-to retailer, Sunward Hobbies, announced them today for pre-order, with an ETA of june 30, for.... 72 BUCKS CANADIAN!!!! That's a big "OUCH" for the wallet!!! That's about 53 freedom dollars!!!! Here, Round 2 car kits are usually between 45 and 50$ CAD (33 to 36$ US), Moebius are (were) typically between 50 and 55$CAD (36 to 40$US), with the new lifted F250 now going around 62$CAD (almost 47$US), which I think is pushing it a bit IMO. You're starting to see some properly high quality japanese kits in the 65$CAD (48$US) and up... It's a shame, because I was gonna buy all 3 versions of this kit, but I'm not sure I will at those prices...

Wowzers!!!! You really nailed it! I noticed on every single one of those, when built up, that the cab was always sitting lower in the back than the front... I think yours is the first one that I saw with the cab perfectly level. Great job, and beautiful truck!

Sweet!!!! I've built (destroyed!) that Land Rover kit as a child! I've been on the hunt for another one ever since, and/or hoping Revell would re-release it! Good score dude!

Huh, that's kinda funny... Those big 1/20 Desert Dogs from the Deserter kit that you're talking about, I bet they're from such kits as the HighJacker Ford Van, which I also have, and am at the same point with it as Moebius' lifted F-250 kit: too much lift, not enough tire!!!😅 Not a lot of tire options for the 1/20 HighJacker though, especially for people with no 3D printers😔

Love it! It looks so right! Quick question, since I have the lifted F250 kit and was considering these tires... Are all Desert Dog tires the save size from one kit to the other? Like between the Sod Buster, Jeep Golden Hawk and the 1982 Bronco?

That Coke Ford truck, the beverage body itself I'd love to see available, because I remember vividly as a kid that every single one of those Ford C-series I saw were Labatt beer delivery trucks! That would be my build if that body was available!

Finally arrived today!!! I really wanted one, but was kinda put off by the price... Most Canadian shops asked 350$CAD (around 255$US), with the best price I've seen being 299$CAD (218$US); which was still a bit much for me. But, remembering what happened with the 1/12 Lancia Delta, which sold for the same prices when new, but went on sale after a while around 200$CAD (146$US) for the San Remo Rally version which I jumped on, I stayed patient. Then shoutout to Great Hobbies, which about a week and a half ago had one of their "overstock sales" and I was fortunate enough to get the last one at 209$CAD (152US$)!!!! Couldn't let that one go by!!!

Well, it's clearly based on a Grumman Step Van, so let's hope they engineer it well enough so that it can later be reissued as different kits, such as a food truck, SWAT truck, tool truck, milk truck, etc.

Not sure if I'll get anything; I'm not familiar with the Mustang, so I'll wait for HPIGuys' review to compare it maybe to Revell's GT350H, mainly to see if it has a detailed chassis or a plain one with molded in exhaust and/or drivetrain. The Willys is cool, because if I'm not mistaken, the slotted wheels look like the same ones as Mike Finnegan had on Blasphemi at some point, so could be a good donor. And as for the weird show rods, I'm not really into them; the only ones that may slightly tickle my fancy is Atlantis' Pie Wagon or Monogram's good ol' Paddy Wagon! Anyways, my comment is not meant to be negative; Round 2 has plenty up my alley coming 'till the end of the year that this month just gives me a short bit of extra time to save up for those other upcoming models!!!

Sorry but I'm kinda confused; am I still looking at the lifted truck kit or the plow truck kit? Because the suspension looks less intense than the lifted kit... If I got it right, it's the plow truck with widened steelies, on the lifted truck's tires? It does look pretty good!!!

I'll take the risk and reply... Lego's are more popular than ever because they're low-effort. We now live in a fast world, where people want their stuff right now, as fast as possible with the least amount of effort. And Lego's are just that; just follow the plan and put it together, nothing else to do. No prep, no trimming, no test fit, no painting and no glue. To each their own I guess, but I'm 44, and as a kid (like 3 to 7), Lego's where the first step before graduating to models. I worked with a young guy a couple of years ago; great kid raised by his grandparents with old school values, he's around 22 or 23 now. He once built 2 or 3 models, and told me he quit because of the work involved, and also because of recent model prices. His main hobby is now PC gaming. When I was an early teen, my available hobbies where TV, car magazines, model building and R/C cars. Video games only became more addictive more in my mid twenties, so yeah my childhood mosty revolved around model kits. Also, I think one has to get pulled into model making; me, and every modeler I know were brought in the hobby because their parents or someone bought them their first model. I still don't know anybody that got into the hobby on their own, deciding on it and buying themselves their first model, from the people I know at least.And to finish, I think it's an important hobby on many points; reading plans, spatial viewing, learning about the different components (on vehicle models at least), develloping manual skills and observation, imagination, and most important: patience! If you devellop the patience it takes to build a model, chances are that you might be able to actually finish a real-life project such as restoring a car, for example...