mikos

I don’t know about the Fairlane, but the rest would have to be “cloned” because the original issues were either altered into the next model year (‘69 Bonneville) and (‘69 Grand Prix) or hacked up (‘65 Olds 88 modified stock racer) or both….custom Sweat Hogs Dream Machine (‘72 Grand Prix). I don’t see the ‘69 Bonneville ever coming back, but the ‘69-‘72 Grand Prix has a good business case. I think the body tool on the Sweat Hogs Dream Machine is probably too far gone if the tooling still exists. However, Round 2 has proven they can clone old kits so I’m sure they can do it. The ‘72 Grand Prix would be the most logical choice if they decided to bring it back. And, I hope they do.

The MPC ‘69 Camaro was the result of too many rounds of modifying the tooling for funny car/circle track race car issues. The Monogram ‘69 Camaro was just bad from the start. I think it was originally intended to be a simple processed plastic toy for kids and they decided to make a model kit out of it. Actually, I feel bad for the hired builder who had to assemble and detail the model kit for the box art photo.

They can be simple, but put together they just looked very good. The more chassis detail you have, the more fiddly the kit is to build. The recent 3D printed kits found on ‘Bay are similar in detail and quality to the old Johan kits and they seem to be quite popular by offering subjects/models not offered by anyone else. That was the niche of Johan. They offered subjects/models no one else offered. I would love to see some Johan kits cloned and reissued again in plastic. Do it in a limited run.

I’d hate to lose the ‘68/‘69, but I’d love to see a ‘70 based on this tool. Or, maybe just do a new body with the same chassis and interior bucket. Of course, a new dash and seats would have to be done as well. However, I think the ‘70 would be worth it and sell quite well.

We’ve been hearing about this Powell PU for a long time now. When the prototype was stolen from Okey at the show(?), it seems things ground to a halt. Now, all of a sudden these print ads come out making us hopeful that things are now humming along to eventually have it done. Sorry, but I’m not buying it. People want to bring the Johan name back to life with expensive ultra small runs of resin copies only available on Facebook. I think I’ll pass. If you want my attention, scan some of the old kits that are still around like what Round2 has done from their archives and develop tooling to reproduce it in styrene. Of course, the ever present naysayers will say it can’t be done or there is no “business case” or whatever they can argue to make it seem insurmountable. However, me thinks there a certain element out there that never wants Johan to return. Heaven forbid if they actually gathered the resources to scan a mid ‘60’s Cadillac (or pick your favorite) and reissue it again. I think the universe would collapse then.

Isn’t that kit the old Magnum P.I. Island Hoppers van?

Let’s hope they do a stock Z28 if they can find/tool up the correct hood. I know the Super Z was the annual for 1980 and that included stock and custom parts. However, that was the first year for the “air induction” style hood. The Night Prowler was based on the ‘78-‘79 annual which had different fender vents and front grill insert. I don't see them doing that version unless they backdate the fender vents (highly unlikely) and find the ‘78-‘79 grill insert. The Thunder Z came with custom parts that covered the fender vents and the ‘78-‘79 style hood scoop. So, that one could be reissued again if they can find the specific Thunder Z custom parts for it.

I don’t think it’s as fine and dandy as you’re suggesting. They made the wheel wells flatter like the real car which is great, even better than the old MPC kit. However, in doing that, they screwed up the upper drip rail curve of the side windows when they filled in the T-tops. Why couldn’t they have given us both? An accurate wheel well shape and correct side windows with a roof that doesn’t sag? If they did that, that would be “kudos” to them. Also, getting the shape of that upper side window drip rail correct can be very challenging. It’s not as simple of a fix as it may look.

Correct. The only car (G-body) that had larger wheels was the GNX. Those had 16” wheels with P245/50VR16 Goodyear Eagle “gatorbacks”.

Some issues with the top windshield header of the roofline profile on the WOF Chevelle. It reminds me of a residual diecast side effect with inside mounting interior glass. Otherwise, it was a very good looking replica of that model. For some reason, I keep thinking the WOF line of kits from Revell were failed promos after GM cancelled them. When the promo contract collapsed, they created the WOF line and offered them as simplified easy to build snap kits. Don’t know if I remember reading that somewhere or not.

Not bad…the top (side windows and windshield) seem to be a little “chopped” compared to the real car. The Revell ‘63 snap kits, both coupe and convertible, were very well done. They didn’t have much detail, but Revell nailed the proportions right. For me, I would take a well proportioned body on a kit that is simplified rather than something with super detail that doesn’t look quite right when built.

The real question is will bringing back the tooling and equipment back to the states and having U.S. labor working at a U.S. factory making the product be as profitable for the company. That answer would probably be a big no. The supply chains from China have been fully matured and the factories over there are in full production with cheap labor. Like the tariffs many think will encourage more production in the U.S., that ship has sailed 45 years ago. We’re are a service based economy now. And, I’m afraid that if we get too belligerent with China, they could hold the tooling hostage or do some other retaliatory response and make it difficult, if not impossible, to take the tooling out of the country and have it produced somewhere else. Edited.

Unless it was a test shot, which I find highly unlikely even at $25 that “some guy” was selling at the Dearborn show over 45 years ago, they only came in Candy Apple Red. Nice try though.

No black, just red only for ‘69.

I would like to see Round2 clone the AMT ‘69 Mustang. That would give modelers a relatively accurate ‘69 Mustang to go along with the full detail “Mach Won” ‘70 kit. A new release based on the “Mach Won” could be made with the necessary parts to make a stock ‘70 out of it. That would be the cheapest most effective way to get both model years represented on the shelves. Some might say they can just reissue the MPC ‘69 again. However, with the issues that one seems to have regarding the body, I’d rather see them clone the AMT ‘69 from an old promo/kit and use that one instead.