tim boyd

Guys.....my guess is that a factory 4x4 version is quite likely a future possibility. I love the "Macho" idea, and the Simon and Simon idea seems cool too! Round 2 is apparently getting ton of interest in this new release......of course, best thing to do to see future spinoffs is to by the one on the shelf today (or in this case, a month from now), but then again you all already knew that..... Thanks for the comments.....TIM

Wow....I sure don't remember that. Amazing that this stuff is still out there. But as you can tell from the expressions on our faces, great times ensue when model car builders get together! Thanks for posting, George!. TIM

Steven, you have certainly set a new high water mark for "replica stock" model car projects. And I think you've done great justice to one of Ford's best 1960's designs, and you your own modeling skills. Big congrats! TIM

Thanks Bill....both of my "Baja Brute" kits have sealed parts packs that I do not want to break apart, but I'll see if I can locate the parts anyway and see if they - or the Monster Truck kit parts - are the ones in the new kit. BTW, Luc agrees with you on this; he PM'ed me with the same comments.....TIM

I suspect most all of you will have already seen this, but just in case, here's the detailed first look at the kit.....TIM

Here's an advance look at this new kit from Round 2 that has prompted quite a bit of discussion on the various model message boards and forums. Although the tool itself is well known, the components have never been released in this exact form, and it has been a long, long time (almost 40 years IIRC) since the 1972-1979 Dodge pickup kit has been marketed in the LWB Sweptside and 4x2 factory stock form. Not only that, it was never available until now as a showroom stock, 1978 model year, 4x2, and LWB Sweptside pickup box. One example? The newly tooled open wheel rims and hub caps shown here. s Also of note - an all-new decal sheet, with a nod to our generation's leading model car kit historian, Mark Budniewski, all new box art, and a 1/25th scale dirt bike accessory. Take a look below for further details....and be sure to use the Roll View or Full View feature so you can see my comments and info, including number of unexpected surprises lurking in these parts trees, and a look back at the assembly manual from the first ever release of this tool, MPC's 1972 annual "Baja Brute" kit. The current forecast is that the kit is expected to be in stores and available by mail order in early April. See the 38 images and captions at this link...... Thanks for your interest....TIM (Disclosure - this is a sample kit provided to me by Round 2 management without charge to me. From time to time and upon their request, I assist Round 2 with kit development elements, also at no charge to them.)

Alan....thanks for the comments.....and yes, on this one at least, I do tentatively plan to take a close look and at least post some preliminary observations.....TIM

Phil....I gotta agree with you here.....it was also my favorite among all 8 consistently outstanding Ridler finalists this year. The fact that it won the Ridler on Sunday was no surprise to me. It was the clearest winner in my mind since Chip's last two Ridler winners...….TIM

No one has mentioned the old Monogram/Revell 1977 Jeep CJ-7 2 in 1 kit....although it has its foibles, overall it is a much better kit than most modelers would expect it to be. I'll have more to say and show on this in the relatively near term future. TIM

Good input. Mark's comment on the MPC Wildy Willie Borsch Fuel Alternated is spot on. The same basic engine (with different blower hat and valve covers IIFC) in MPC"s Bantam Blast kit is maybe even better. It has working butterflies IIRC. TIM

I hear that it will be available about a month from now. Glad to hear that it is a LWB/long box after all; that is what I understood but some of the feedback here over the last couple of months made me think maybe I was misinformed….. Anxious to see it just like the rest of you....TB

Guys.....the AMT Piranha kit has a great first gen/392 Hemi ….. that would be even better if built with the rubber blower drive belt and pulleys from the AMT "Checkered Flag" tool Garlits kit.. TIM

….or Classic Truck Modeler magazine..... TIM

...coverage of the 2019 Detroit Autorama in the 1/1 scale reference pics section of this forum...... tons of cool kit building ideas and inspiration there.....TIM

James....you make good points.... and you clearly (from this and many of your prior posts) understand both the business world and the model car kit industry in particular. As you and others may know, I have also spent 40+ years in the business world and have done work (some paid, mostly unpaid) for most of the domestic kit makers (but not the Japanese) at various times over the last 45 years. And you are 1000% correct in pointing out that there are always tradeoffs that must be managed in a kit development effort. Having been retired at Ford for five years, I am no longer privy to their future Mustang cycle plans, but I can say with a certain degree of certainty that if it were properly planned in advance, there would be a number of kit derivatives Tamiya could develop based on the current Mustang product range. Whether those derivatives could offset the added costs of an accurate engine I do not know, but my sense is "yes" and including the engines would help with the differentiation/justification to purchase all the kit derivatives rather than just the first tool cut. Fundamentally it comes down to this one consideration - I have always believed that a model car is at the most important, a precise scale replica of the real thing. And of course, the real thing has a real, stand alone engine and powertrain. Any kit that omits this is in my view a short cut, and especially a short cut at the price Tamiya charges for their kits. I also realize that this may be a consideration that is generationally linked - i.e. those that started building models in the 1960's are more likely to share my view, while those that began building models in the 1970s or 1980's or later (when Japanese kits became widely available) developed a different point of view. I've stated mine, you've stated yours; good conversation and I thank you for that. TIM

Yes...it was in the '68 kit as well, with "U-Haul-It" graphics on the decal sheet, too....TIM

Yep, you're gonna here it from me this time and again in the future when applicable.... Tamiya needs to include full engines in kits that replicate cars that exist in part because they have great engines powering them. And particularly so in kits that replicate cars that are primarily sold in North America. And yes, they need to be included at the existing Tamiya price point. I realized that many (maybe even most on this board) disagree with me, but this is my perspective and I'm sticking to it. Best Regards....TIM

Over 400 pictures from the first two hours of the 2019 Detroit Cobo Autorama, generally considered one of the two most important indoor car shows in the US each year. Includes all the "Great 8" Ridler Award finalists.... Great modeling ideas abound.... Check it out here.... Best Regards....TIM

A new Mustang GT from Tamiya would be terrific. If it is a showroom car (as opposed to a race car) It better have a full, stand alone engine as part of the kit content. (The "engine" in their Ford GT kit is an epic failure in my view). Here's hoping....TIM

Chris....sorry for the delay in responding.....yep, they're the Buttera kit series saddle tanks....thx for the comments, too.....TIM

Guys....the Street Rodder Modeler's Corner columns on this car (April/May/June 1995) say that the front tires were from the old Monogram Pro-Street and Pro-Modified kits. That jives with my memory of same (now there's a surprise...). Anyway, I agree with several of you, those tires do seem a near-perfect fit for the fenders and definitely help to contribute to the stance you've commented on....TIM

Smile....I didn't feel guilty at all! Cool color, though...….and Testors and Pactra paint from that era lasts forever.....even today, if someone can find a bottle that hasn't been opened, the paint inside may still be good to go! Best.....TIM ;'

JJ....I think they may have been from the AMT-Ertl 1970 Dodge SuperBee Pro-Street kit.....TIM

Wanna Race? ...Bet you'd lose! Cheers....TIM PS - still about 15 more pictures at the link in my original post at the beginning of this thread....

Me as well....I tried to update a title of one of my threads yesterday and the option was gone. I thought it was just my lousy laptop acting up... Yes Dave, see if you can do something about this if possible...thanks.....Tim