SteveG

There are two wheel choices in the upcoming Charger Pursuit along with two different light bars. The other wheel option is the Street Appearance covers that fit the small hole open wheels. At the time of the of development of this kit (same time as the R/T) which is based on Dodges 2021 Pursuit Demo car, the information I had was the small hole open wheels were going to be used across the board on all drive train option. Our 3D data comes from their licensing and marketing, not from engineering. Obviously, I was disappointed that was not the case. My first plan was to do the 5 spoke open wheels but changed my mind when I got the 3D data and reference photos. The choice to do the CHP livery is very recent as licensing was pending with CHP and few other agencies but their approval came first. Too late to make any tooling changes to meet the release schedule. However, I did find one CHP Charger with the small hole open wheels which made me comfortable enough to go ahead with the kit as is. It's possible I may tool up both of the 5 spoke wheel options in the future depending how sales go. The upper push bar lights are represented on the decal sheet, the bar itself has no molded light details, one of the compromises you have make when you don't know which agencies will give their approval. -Steve

Wheels will not be chromed in productions, wheels will be separately molded in gold like the original kit, the rest will be molded white. Decals will be Metallic gold and expanded from the original. -Steve

I'm not sure if the SOHC engine ever appeared after the '69 "Here Comes the Judge release". It's been released a half dozen times with different content since. With the latest release the stock version requires the continental kit. Otherwise, you'll have to modify the rear bumper mounting for a good fit. Some parts were restored for this issue. The bottom of the box shows the contents. You can also check out the HPI Guy video of it, see the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s__Q8tNEs8w -Steve

Not the same content, a full tree of parts has been restored which include the ladder and ladder rack, Pay phone and receiver plus some of the ding-a-ling. Also, full decals to do the Touch Tone Terror, Telephone Service Truck and Frisco Sleeper versions. Not to mention 4 sheets of printed display items. -Steve

I would go as far as to say that I encourage discussion on product suggestions. Keep them coming, constructive criticism welcome too. -Steve

Actually, a crowdfunding source like Kickstarter might actually be a good way to get some to some of the more obscure subject matter back that I would otherwise have trouble make a case for reissuing. For example, the rare '64 Plymouth Valiant Signet Coupe. The idea has been kicked around some. -Steve

Chad was on vacation; new video should be up tomorrow or Friday the latest. -Steve

I really can't say for sure that Copper Beryllium is still being used but's possible, those A/M Corvettes are almost 30 years old now. I think the biggest changes in the industry besides the advancements of CNC and EDM machining, along with 3D development are the size of the molds. Those early tools ranged in size from coffee table to something that would fill an 8' truck bed and weighed over a ton. Now most of our new tooling molds are down to about the size of a 5-pack box of office paper. So instead of running one giant injection machine per kit you use 3 or 4 smaller machines. Those changes are worldwide, not just Round2. -Steve

The odds of seeing any version of the Powell kit from Round2 in mass production are slim to none, just too obscure. I have no interest it them but I'm betting if the 3D files really still exist then they'll show up in some form sooner or later. Without getting into specifics, I can assure you that our cloned kits and especially the curbside versions don't cost anywhere near 200K to tool up. Even the 100% All-New Charger R/T was less than that. I highly doubt there will ever be any deal made to bring back any vintage Johan branded kits, however the subject matter is all fair game with proper licensing. There's lots of examples of kits being cloned in all or part long before 3D technology made it easier and cheaper to accomplish this. There is certainly hope for an '68 Olds 422 or an AMX or any number of other good subject matter in our future. You'll just have to wait and see. -Steve

It's more likely that you'll find some Aftermarket and or 3D printed parts being made for it now that it's finally being reissued. I don't see any tooling dollars being spent on it anytime soon but never say never. -Steve

I'll be at Akron Ohio show on Oct 14th with that MPC release from the late 70's and a few other surprises. The upcoming John Wick Chevelle got some overdue cleanup of the tooling to improve the fit of the bumper and grille assemblies, we added a set of 5 spoke mags, pad printed BFG radial T/A tires and a new decal sheet for the John Wick and stock versions. -Steve

Yes, will have Metallic Silver and Blue stripes on the decal sheet. -Steve

I can't say for sure if Revell's Fox body Mustang started with a scan of a real 1:1 car but my is guess is not. Both Revell's '71 Mustang and our recent AMT Craftsman Plus GTO's started with 3D scanning technology, the difference being they had a full-size car to scan, and we started with existing models. In our case two recently discovered vintage promos. So why did we go that route? If your familiar with the quote "make hay while the sun shines" well that applies here. I was given the chance to create some easy to build kits, I could pick the subject matter as long as I can get them done within a specified time and budget. I could have said no but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to bring back not one but two classic GTO models. Sure, would I have liked to have scanned a full-size restored GTO inside and out and created an all-new full detail kit, you can bet on it. Even if I was able to get a project like that approved, and I probably would have had to pick just one of them, I would still be working on it today it as a project that size takes a good two years plus to complete. Will we create some all-new models based on 1:1 3D scans, absolutely if I ever get that chance. In the meantime, I hope you'll still enjoy building all the new models we've made recently and the ones that are coming soon. As for the Powell Pickup, I don't see anywhere in the thread about the 3D files being lost, if a body was printed then there would have to be a 3D print file out there somewhere. I expect it will surface sooner or later. -Steve

There's already a topic discussing the upcoming release in detail, see below. -Steve http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/106238-touch-tone-terror-kit/

Mike, thanks for posting those photos. Nice work on your build up, I saw it last time I was at the office. These kits should be on the water any time now if they aren't already. We just got our productions samples and we'll be sending a few out for review. It's kit AMT1271 for those who want to get their pre-orders in. -Steve

It's in the range of possibility considering almost no one was dreaming that we'd see the '66 Fastback or the Mach Won kits ever again just a few years ago. Sales of both will probably drive future plans. In the meantime, I wouldn't rule out seeing the MPC based '69 Mustang kit first as that tool is workable now. -Steve

I have test shots with all the gates opened so I know what we have to work with but we're going to keep the Mach Won kit close to the original issue parts wise. Like I said I do have after plans, so you'll just have to be patient. -Steve

The body in the upcoming Mach Won kit is unaltered from the Blue Crescent issue to the best of my knowledge and we have a number of additional stock related parts still in the mold. Another group of parts for it resides with Warren Tope '73 Mustang. I can see the possibility of reassembled '70 Mustang kit in the future once the Mach Won issue has run its course. -Steve

None of the vintage kits have 3D files, they are all from the age of hand drawn blueprints and wood patterns. Regardless, we have the reverse engineering process down to science now so recreating any existing model we no longer have is well within reach and relatively inexpensive compared to starting from scratch. Any of the recent new tools all have full 3D files and can be recreated anywhere in the world that does tooling if needed. Hopefully we'll never be in the situation where we to have recreate any large amount of our tooling. Besides, without a willing US partner to plan and market the kits, all the tooling would be useless in China unless they need thousands of boat anchors and want to close up the factories. So, in my opinion they need us just as much as we need them. -Steve

Yes, this kit is one of the oldest tools that is still in production, originally part of the SMP line of annual kits and one of the first to have an opening hood and an engine. Based off of the SMP 1958 promo model tooling. Over the years its contents have changed, and it's been packaged as both a '59 and a '60. -Steve

Steve, I'm aware of the rear bumper fit, for now our goal is just to make sure we have a tool that will produce a consistent set of parts that we can package and sell. Once I can show that we have a successful run I'll go back to the bosses for some tooling improvement funds that we can hopefully use on a future issue of it. -Steve

The tooling is not being held hostage in China or anything like that. I have to be sensitive about discussing anything to do with third party vendors which the industry relies on so heavily, and it's not just Round2 that has these issues. I'll just say that the tooling is not at our main vendors factory and leave it that for now. -Steve

There's been unexpected delay at the factory that has this tool in getting approved test shots to us. We would still like to run the '81 Camaro kit this year but I'm not holding my breath waiting of it. If it's not resolved, we may end up moving the tooling which will delay it into next year. -Steve

There's been unexpected delay at the factory that has this tool in getting approved test shots to us. We would still like to run the '81 Camaro kit this year but I'm not holding my breath waiting of it. If it's not resolved, we may end up moving the tooling which will delay it into next year. -Steve

The first test shots for AMT1412 '63 Ford F-100 Camper Pickup, AMT1407 '60 Ford F-100 Pickup with Trailer and MPC997 '71 Dodge Demon arrived mid-August and I've been busy completing the reviews and the first build ups. I'm still trying to get all three released before the year is out. Of the pickup trucks AMT1407 is supposed to ship first with other to follow about 8 weeks later, all subject to change based on final approvals. The box art for all three will most likely debut at the New York Toy Fair on Sept 30th. The built models are with me in Ohio and will most likely debut Oct 14th at the Plastic Undercover Show in Akron. I also plan to be at the Detroit show too in Nov. I may share some photos between now and then, will see. -Steve