tim boyd

There's a very good Larry Greenberg review of this kit in the latest issue of Model Cars mag. You guys need to check it out. Larry also points out that it includes a Hilborn-style fuel-injection intake manifold sized for a 409 "W: motor; this is the only one in scale I can think of, and it was not in the earlier reissues from what I can tell. It would be perfect for a 1960's Gasser running a 409.... Also...if you check the box art, the new kit has the Cragar S/S wheels inserted in place of the ugghhh baby moons that were in the c. '74 reissue that otherwise shares its box art with this reissue.....TIM

Wow Dennis, that is mega-cool. Great creativity....TIM

The new-for-'74 Mopar code E58 360 high-performance small block in the '74 'cuda was a super-sleeper....and yes, reportedly the E58 engine was also available in the non-'cuda base Barracuda model (which omits the dual scoop hood, as reflected on the promo-style body in this kit). In some ways I preferred the non-cuda version back then, as I was never a fan of the "gee how big can we make a [tasteless] flat black tape stripe across the side of the car" 'cuda graphics during the '71-'74 model years. I showed a buildup of the '74 E58 in the other model magazine in a summer 2014 article on Mopar Muscle V8's. I used the excellent 360 four barrel in the AMT-Ertl '71 Duster 340 kit (the 340 and E58 360 appeared essentially identical on the outside). The correct engine block color is Chrysler Engine Blue. Air Cleaners were painted in both Orange and Gloss Black, with Orange being the more prevalent color (my own factory-ordered E58 installed in a '74 Road Runner, built in November 1973 at the Windsor plant, had the less-seen Gloss Black air cleaner, so that is the way built my scale E58 engine). This MPC body, with the Revell '70 'cuda chassis/suspension, and the Duster-based E58 engine conversion, would be a simply killer model car project. But Mike, however you decide to proceed, good luck with the build and i will be watching your progress along with many others here! Cheers...TIM ,

Luc is exactly correct here. The '71-'73 Mustang (for me, speciifically the '71-'72 as it is the most pure execution of the design theme) has been ignored in 1/1 and 1/25th scale WAY too long. It is a unique generation of its own....and the Boss 351, 429 Cobra Jet Ram Air, and the late '71/'72 351 Cleveland Hi-Po derivatives were all extremely fast cars whose performance stats were largely ignored or misrepresented by the automotive media at the time. It's truly a car whose time has come. At the time it was designed (c. 1968-69), it was a logical extension of late 1960's design themes, and incorporated perhaps the most pure ("fastest") fastback roofline ever put on a volume production car. Regrettably the world changed between design and intro, and the car did not sell well, one of the primary reasons it is discredited and largely ignored today. Several years back now I heard a very credible piece of info that one of the model manufacturers was well into a project with fresh tooling of the '71 Mustang. This info did not come from a source inside the company, but from someone outside the company whose track record on this sort of topic is largely bulletproof. But I have never heard anything further, either from inside or outside the supposed company involved. Still...it would be a great topic for a full detail 1/25th scale kit - in at least three versions, a '71 429 CJ Ram Air Mach 1, a '71 Boss 351, and a '72 Mach 1 with the 351 Cleveland HO.. There are probably also some stock or super stock drag versions that would be worthy of a kit variant. Of course, since we are (apparently now) dreaming here, a convertible spinoff version would be ultra cool, including the '72 "Sprint" (white/blue) mid-year special trim. TIM

Yupper....and on the AMT reissue there's some very light witness marks from returning the door cut on the body to the correct for three door (and incorrect for Roadster) location, and some mild quarter panel undulations behind the doors....these are pretty easy to fix. The upward slope you mention and trying to achieve a consistent bevel on the undercut/light catch that runs along the fender tops and below the DLO as it approaches the A-Pillar touchdown....now those are going to take some work. TIM

True, that. However, the limited number of Jimmy Flintstone bodies I have used in model have required considerable effort to prep for use and paint, particularly on the iunfinished/rough nside surfaces where "glass" surfaces mount and interior panels mount, etc. So at least in my limited experience, it's not quite as easy as just pay $15 and you're ready to go. Your experiences may differ..... TIM

A while back there were unauthorized photos of 4x4 components for this kit originally posted here (and soon taken down), so my guess is that at some point in the future we will see a 4x4 version or two of this basic kit tool.....TIM

Fitting the new chopped top is just as much of a challenge as fitting the original....but from the big picture perspective, it's still much, much easier than having to chop a stock three window coupe top. TIM

Matt....glad it worked out. Best regards...TIM

Here's a full kit review: http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/first-look-at-all-n/amt-1936-ford-is-it/ In addition to showing the kit contents, the review compares various previous issues of the kit, such as this image showing the chrome trees from the first (1961) and second (1967) issues, so you can compare the newest Round 2 kit contents to the earlier (and very expensive, collectible) versions of the kit. In all, there are about 35 kit reviews from introductions over the last several years posted at this link: http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/first-look-at-all-n/ Make sure to use the "Roll Feature" so that you can read the captions that go with each image. Hope this helps, and thanks for looking. Cheers...TIM ;

Greg...the info on the other board was actually posted first here at ModelCarsMag forum a couiple of days ago. It;s in the AMT/Round 2 2016 products thread. Thanks for asking/suggesting. For those that don't want to go searching for it, I posted the following at 7:29pm Saturday night: ***************** I had a nice visit with John G of Round 2 today. He OK'ed me passing along that the new Surf Woody kit will have extensive photography of the original car, an entirely new tooled set of drag slicks representing the 1/1 scale original, and matching "dual whitewall" pad printing on both the front tires and rear slicks. There will even be decaled representations of the murals on the inside of the Woody cab that were apparently on the original car. He also said that the '29A roadster reissue will use the "Mod Rod" version box art (this was the c.1969/70 reissue just before the '73 "Street Rod Series" version). The missing pieces of the original AlaKart will not be retooled, but all the gates will be opened which will provide a number of "bonus" parts. The kit will also include the antique racing options for the stock roadster version, which will provide a very convincing "Race of the Gentlemen" type model. These plans are tentative, of course, and subject to change. Finally John mentioned in broad terms some future projects they are investigating. Suffice it to say, these guys are very, very creative, Looks like the next couple of years will see no letup in Round 2's business model and as a result, we as builders appear to have much to look forward to. ************************************** Cheers...TIM s...TIM

Art....did Dave give you your wayward Offy Midget at the NNL Motor City? As you can see, I packed it for a serious move...hope everything turned out OK. TIM

Del....no worries at all. As everyone around here (and all Model Cars mag readers, too) knows, I'm always happy to use any excuse to promote 1/25th scale drag and ski boats as part of our great hobby! Cheers...TIM

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Update per John G. at Round 2, as of today 16 November 2015: "The kit IS scheduled for 2016 release and should be in modelers' hands sometime in June if not sooner. Required parts are being newly tooled currently to improve the kit over the original mockup that has been shown. A new retro box illustration has been completed and it's only a matter of time." Cheers...TIM

Joseph....as Casey also replied to you, I don;t think your timeline is correct here. The Lawman kit was originally proposed by and developed (with an example model build) by Bill Coulter, over a decade ago (memory says around 1999 or so, but I could be off by a few years). Lindberg wanted to do the kit, but found out that they could not share the SuperStock parts from the '64 Dodge Super Stock kits, so the Lawman parts would have to be freshly tooled. The company was sold shortly thereafter, and the project died. Just several years ago Round 2 acquired the rights to the Lindberg product line, as as they began to develop the product range, the Lawman project resurfaced, I don't recall when it was announced, but memory says it was more like two years ago (updated from earlier post - someone with proof, please step in here with more accurate info if you have it) rather than 3 as you suggest above. Having said that, John G has asked that I pass along the following regarding the intro timing of the Lawman kit: "The kit IS scheduled for 2016 release and should be in modelers' hands sometime in June if not sooner. Required parts are being newly tooled currently to improve the kit over the original mockup that has been shown. A new retro box illustration has been completed and it's only a matter of time." Like you, I'm very anxiously awaiting this kit. In fact, I;ve been waiting for it ever since Bill did the first proposal 15+ years ago. The reality is that Round 2 has many projects underway, including even more now that they've gained control of the Lindberg product range. Some come together quickly (even quicker than expected), others require more time than originally projected to get the job done. Round 2 is really working to improve the quality of their product, and the changes they are making here apparently fall in line with that strategy. Bottom line, patience, patience, please. Apparently it won't be long now. TIM

Cyclone at NNL Nats in early October (image from my 2015 NNL Nats Fotki Album) Cheers....TIM

It was also on display today at the NNL Motor City. IIRC Dave said that the next round of test shots with latest refinements was due at Moebius any day now. TB

Chris....great to see this one finished after all your work over the last several years. It looks just spectacular. And it would fit, so well, on the invitation only "island" (as I call it) at the LoneStar Roundup in Austin next April. The choice of color for your wheels (bronze/brown) works so well - I would have never thought of that. And of course, I highly endorse using different wheel treatments on each side. In all, this is one of those "career" models - it will remain a favorite of yours, and I suspect, many readers on this forum, for decades to come. Great job! TIM

Casey...I personally haven't heard anything to the effect of what I think you are hinting at here, but it certainly sounds like an interesting project if it would be possible to pull off. Cheers...TIM

Matt...to add to what has already been posted above, here's a link to my Fotki album where I have posted extensive photos of my 19 completed builds of most of the kits referred to in Bernard's multiple informational posts above, as well as the several MPC, AMT, and Revell rear engine dragsters. There are shots of each kit with the front body panels and cowl tops removed, and engine and interior closeups for most kits as well. Here's the link: http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/tim-boyds-124th--12/boyd-rail-dragsters/boyd-rail-dragsters/ While some of these builds are box stock, others are mildly kitbashed, such as this buildup of the MPC Garlits Wynnscharger with a Boss 429 engine and striped livery inspired by the Don Prudhomme "Super Snake" c. 1967/8 : The only additions I would make in terms of the kit critiques is that the AMT Garlits Swamp Rat still has the BEST EVER blower drive setup in a 1/25th scale kit (all three pulleys are molded separately and can be rigged to actually rotate with some work), and the belt drive itself is rubber and more realistic appearing than any of the other kit attempts at this piece. (The internal blower rotors inside are cool too). But the blower case itself is more 4-71 than 6-71 and needs to be replaced with a more realistic piece. Second comment on the same kit is that the front axle setup is notorious for its tie rod which sets up the tires to have improper spacing (they splay outward when viewed from above, rather than parallel to each other as they should be), and the kingpin setup is not precise and results in a sagging appearance (camber) to the wheels/tires. Finally, a complete buildup and some tips for a more accurate appearance of the MPC Ramchargers kit is the cover story on the next most recent issue of Model Cars magazine. Those of you who only watch this site (and don't subscribe or newstand purchase the mag) missed a very helpful article on this subject. Matt, have fun with your project, 1960's rail dragsters are a great modeling subjectt! Cheers....TIM

Pat. that must be amongst the finest and most realistic looking builds of this kit I've ever seen. I particularly like your choice of color for the exterior. Thanks for sharing....TIM

I had a nice visit with John G of Round 2 today. He OK'ed me passing along that the new Surf Woody kit will have extensive photography of the original car, an entirely new tooled set of drag slicks representing the 1/1 scale original, and matching "dual whitewall" pad printing on both the front tires and rear slicks. There will even be decaled representations of the murals on the inside of the Woody cab that were apparently on the original car. He also said that the '29A roadster reissue will use the "Mod Rod" version box art (this was the c.1969/70 reissue just before the '73 "Street Rod Series" version). The missing pieces of the original AlaKart will not be retooled, but all the gates will be opened which will provide a number of "bonus" parts. The kit will also include the antique racing options for the stock roadster version, which will provide a very convincing "Race of the Gentlemen" type model. These plans are tentative, of course, and subject to change. Finally John mentioned in broad terms some future projects they are investigating. Suffice it to say, these guys are very, very creative, Looks like the next couple of years will see no letup in Round 2's business model and as a result, we as builders appear to have much to look forward to. Cheers....TIM

Nick...thanks for the response. My view is that photos and measurements do not lie. So I'm sticking to my position,as you are to yours. So in this case, we are agreeing that we disagree. Which is OK by me. Best...TIM

Mike's info here is exactly correct. The only addition is that the Hull Raiser was more than a slight modification - it had an all-new hull design, which I have concluded replicated the mid-1960's "Kindsvater" product rather than the wider and less streamlined c. 1963 Rayson Craft hull. The original Rayson Craft kit has a 390FE Interceptor engine (which was a big winner in early 1960's drag boat racing), including a 6-2 barrel setup, this was revised in the Hull Raiser kit to a SOHC 427 with a single tri-carb option (both kits included a GMC Blower option). The drag version sponsons were dropped in the later issue, and there were some other detail changes as well (most notably, the way cool bench seating and matching V-drive cover were dropped in the Hull Raiser redo). Bottom line, if the subject appeals to you, you definitely need to track down both versions of the tool. For more info, see... http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/tim-boyds-124th--12/boyd-model-boats/boyd-boats-/ which has photos of all these kits in build form and info on the kits as well. Here are some excepts from that album: c. 1963 AMT Trophy Series Rayson Craft built in the Ski Boat version: c. 1963 AMT Trophy Series Rayson Craft built in the drag boat version: c. 1968 AMT "Hull Raiser" [Kindsvater] built in a mildlykitbashed form (Pontiac engine swap; different buckets) and finished to replicate the box art of the "Quarter Masters" kit referenced above (note the Revell '68 Firebird uses as a stand-in for the non-correct '68 Firebird in that AMT Combo kit) : : c. 1968 AMT Hull Raiser [Kindsvater] built box stock in the drag version (note the "wood" decking which is actually drybrushed enamels using the Tim Powers method as described in his late 1990's article in the other model car mag): Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers...TIM