larrygre

Just about all the E-type kits on the market are long in the tooth and would benefit from being replaced with more accurate, state-of-the-art tooling. Despite the Revell kit being old as the hills and twice as dusty, it does have some plus points, not the least of which are a good engine and optional left or right hand drive dashboards. It's buildable, but its not the easiest kit to build that's for dang sure. Gunze notwithstanding, I am surprised that no manufacturer has taken up the task of kitting the most iconic British sports cars. We're still waiting for a decent MGA, Triumph TR4/4A/250, Austin Healey 3000 (not the 100-Six that Revell has had since 1959), and so forth. It would seem logical for the revived Airfix to do these, ifno other reason as a source of national pride. However, Airfix seems committed to continuing their automotive line in the smaller 1/32 scale. It seems the British kitmakers prefer the smaller scale, and have for years (Matchbox too, and those 1/32s were darn nice kits!) - but I doubt that in 2011, the same preference is the case amongst British car modelers. Just my .02, folks.

See my upcoming review in the magazine of the recently repopped '56 Nomad. The stock parts are all there, but Revell doesn't indicate them on the instruction sheet as to what they are visually and where they should go, also visually. They are mentioned along with their part numbers but that's it. Now, novice and new-to-the-hobby builders may just be put off by this as it is downright confusing. Does it indicate that R-M has given up on replica stock builders? Hardly. My guess is more like, it is the "California Wheels" series and that's the vision R-M wants to portray here. As for the Del Ray, what might be a nice touch is for R-M to make sets of the stock tires available for purchase by any of us interested in pursuing full-stock versions of the kit. Or perhaps one of our enterprising aftermarket vendors could buy up a couple gross of these from R-M and sell the sets him/herself. The important thing is, where there is a will, there is a way, as the old saying goes.

This one is probably the best of the Revell full-detail Snap-Tite offerings from the mid-1990s and in this writer's opinion, likely the best of the existing Diablo kits. Do NOT compare this to the vintage AMT/Ertl kit as that was just horrendous and a very expensive lesson in having the kit engineered out of house. I'll take this one over Italeri's any day.

SOUTH BEND, Indiana – 11/30/2011 –Round 2, LLC, announced today that they have acquired all rights to industry leading model kit brands AMT, MPC and Polar Lights from TOMY International, Inc. (formerly RC2 Corporation). Round 2 acquired the brands from TOMY International after manufacturing branded model kits under a licensing agreement since 2008. “We’ve had a great relationship with TOMY International for a long time and it has been a pleasure working with them as a licensee and now as a buyer,” said Thomas Lowe, President of Round 2 LLC. “We feel extremely fortunate to be acquiring these brands,” continued Lowe. “These are some of the industry’s most iconic brands and our acquisition represents a significant strategic fit with our initiatives and where we believe the industry is headed, in the near and long term. This deal is a win for Round 2, TOMY and most importantly, the modelers.” “We are pleased to have been working with Round 2 as a licensee the last 3 years, and now as the buyer,” said Pete Henseler, president of TOMY International. “We wish them continued success in the model kit business and expect their expertise and passion for the hobby model kit business to drive these brands in the years ahead.” The history of the model kit brands goes back as far as 1948 when AMT, which stands for Aluminum Model Toys, was founded as a promotional toy company. Model Products Corporation, MPC, was started in 1963 and focused on bringing even more automotive subject matter to market in kit form. Founded in 1996, Polar Lights has focused on figural, horror and pop culture genres. The acquisition gives Round 2 tooling and materials that date back into the 1950s. The tooling and artwork also represent an opportunity to bring back classic model kits in original-styled packaging, increasing the desirability and nostalgia. “I grew up building models. Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined I’d someday own the brands I was building as a kid,” said Lowe. About Round 2 Round 2, LLC is an innovative collectibles company located in South Bend, IN. The creative team at Round 2 is dedicated to producing detailed, high quality collectible and playable items appealing to the young and young at heart. Round 2 brands include Polar Lights®, AMT® and MPC® model kits, Auto World® slot cars, Forever Fun™ seasonal products and the licensed brands American Muscle®, Ertl Collectibles® and Vintage Fuel™ die cast.

I agree. Buy it. Don't even think about whether or not you should. I reviewed it many moons ago in CAR MODELER and had my socks knocked off by how nice the kit was. That said, we still need a good split-window Beetle in 1/24-1/25 scale.

You got that absolutely right, Chuck. Those were indeed the last new tools done under RC2's stewardship.

Chuck, the new Challengers and Corvettes are all-new tools done under Round2, not RC2. Round2 has the promo contracts for those cars, and the kits are unassembled promos. FYI, RC2 stopped kit production during 2006. Round2 took over AMT, MPC, and Polar Lights kits and started production in 2008. Year one for the new Dodge Challenger was 2008.

I wouldn't be so quick to make that statement, Casey. Many of R-M's older 1/24 car tools are rather decent, and updating them would be far more cost-effective for them than initiating an all-new tool. As much as we modelers want R-M, Round2, Moebius, et al. to produce state of the art 1/25 scale tools of all the subject matter we like/love/want, etc., we have to realize that each and every new addition to their product line, be it reissue, modified reissue, or new tool, has to have a justifiable BUSINESS CASE presented to company management before said management gives their approval to the Finance Department to release funds to develop and produce that item. If the business case isn't strong enough (multi-year sales projections, projected distributor pre-orders, anticipated cost of production, etc.) then that item won't get made. It's that simple. A few modelers chomping at the bit for an all-new tool of their favorite car is not a sufficient business case for a corporation to allocate X amount of tooling dollars. Yes, an all-new 1/25 Superbird would be most welcome. So would an all-new '70 Road Runner and GTX. Such items could share common tooling, just as R-M's 67-70 B-body kits in both 1/24 and 1/25 demonstrate. Either company (R-M or Round2) could conceivably take the plunge, if there be a sufficient business case for it. Now, as far as kitbashing the Jo-Han Superbird with AMT-Ertl running gear, why mention the '70 Coronet interior? Its wrong for a Plymouth, period. Outside of age and the fact that its not a state-of-the-art tooling, there's not a lot wrong with Jo-Han's interior that a good modeler couldn't attend to. And it does indeed fit pretty well with the AMT '68 Road Runner chassis and running gear with a little tweak here and there. I know. I have done it.

Nicely done, Lee!

There are some, Casey - and several of them have appeared in print in some of the more well-known 1/1 scale muscle car magazines over the past, oh, twenty years or so. By the way, most Superbirds had the base bench seat interior - the buckets were an option. This was the same as the standard Road Runner. If you wanted to kitbash this, the interior from the Revell '70 Road Runner could be swapped into the Superbird with a minimum of fuss.

The steelies would be close, Ken, but the dog dishes wouldn't be - Dodge and Plymouth had their own unique styles, and the '68s are different from the '70s. I'd go with the 1/24 open wheels and dog dish caps from Missing Link. Kevin does both the Plymouth and Dodge versions of the dog dish, and they are VERY nicely done.

Yes you can add the Challenger wheels, in fact that's what most modelers do. As far as the Hemi goes, the Hemi in the old (1982-vintage) '71 Hemi Cuda kit is WILDLY INACCURATE, both from a shape standpoint and from an accessories standpoint. The shape of the block is all wrong. Ditto for the poorly done intake manifold. I could go on but I think my point has been made. Some might say that "the big shaker is gonna hide it all anyway so who cares" and that might be good for some, but for other applications/kitbashes (the Superbird being a prime example) the poor engine shapes would stick out like a sore thumb. The only reasonably accurate Street Hemi engine is the Ross Gibson resin piece which is beautifully done, but a tad pricey, and until R-M tools up an accurate 1/24 426 Hemi, that's the best you can get - or do. There's no substitute for research.

There's nothing about either the R-M or Jo-Han Superbirds that some modeler's elbow grease (and research) cannot cure. The only thing I'm truly unhappy about in the R-M kit are the wheels. Not a lot of Winged Wonders were equipped with Magnum 500s - most either had the Mopar Rally wheel or they had steelies and dog dish caps. The slotted steel wheel and smooth dog dish cap that started with the 70 Road Runner and migrated into the last edition of the Wing Thing (Richard Petty Replica Racer) was incorrect for the '70 cars but wouldn't look out of place on any of the old Yodel '78 Mopar police cars - if you can still find any, that is. The Jo-Han kit is typical late 60s, with simplified chassis and molded-in exhaust system. Subbing the AMT 68 Road Runner/69 GTX/70 (MPC) Super Bee chassis and Hemi improves the kit more than 50%. The vinyl roof is no biggie, there have been articles in a couple of different publications on how to make one, or use MCG's vinyl top kit. The only issue here is scratching up the chrome trim around the top, which also is no biggie with some Evergreen strip and a LOT of PATIENCE! And the nose clip on the J-H kit had indentations for the matt black areas, which the real car does not have. Filling and rescribing, filling and rescribing...! How would I improve the R-M kit (suggestions to R-M)? First of all, rectify the wheel situation with correct choices. Second, all-new parts for a single four-barrel 440 option along with the kit's Six Pack intake that's been there from inception - many 'Birds had the base engine. As much as I would LIKE a Hemi in there - and an accurate one is desperately needed in a mainstream 1/24 scale kit - I doubt that R-M would tool one up. Third, make sure the kit has both black and white Plymouth billboards AND the circular Superbird decal both for the wing supports and for the nose - the latter was done in the Petty Replica Racer version of the kit (and was on Slippery Arts' correction decal sheet.) With the Jo-Han kit gone, the racing guys are out of luck unless someone decides to produce an all-new (or mostly new) 1/25 scale 'Bird. Round2, you out there....?>????

Ed, when it comes to this, we're all dreaming perhaps a bit much - but our dreaming (and letting the model companies know about those dreams) have resulted in some very welcome issues and re-issues! I for one would welcome a re-issued Futurista, but I have been told (from several sources) that the mold was indeed destroyed. Ditto for the much-wanted Uncertain T (sorry to be the bringer of bad news, Chuck.) Personally, I would LOVE to have both those kits back, but they would have to be reverse-engineered new tools, and R-M would have to have a very compelling business case to invest $$$ in such a venture. The '62 Mopars may or may not still exist - I do not have any knowledge of the state of the molds. I have lately been suggesting to Round2 to issue some of the movie and TV cars of the 1960s if the molds can be found, starting with the Man From U.N.C.L.E. Car (the street version of the Piranha), the Get Smart Sunbeam Tiger, the old MPC Dodge Thunder Charger, and the Hot Rod Magazine XR6. I do keep hoping.....! And Greg M. - the Sizzler would make a very attractive SSP release for sure - its a part of our childhoods!

Agreed, but I got it as a gift so I can't complain that much. Not my #1 airbrush of choice, and I do believe I already made that crystal clear. I have a friend that swears by the Central Pneumatics brush though - and he does not do model cars with it, he does pinstriping and murals FOR A LIVING. If he likes the unit and uses it in his work, I won't discount his opinion, but I will let him argue the point if he so cares to. I'll stick with my A470 and Paasche H, they have served me well. The end.

Fujimi did an early-90s BMW 5-series, in stock and Schnitzer versions.

OK Luc - here's my list: BMW 2002tii (WAY overdue!) Facel Vega HK500 (Heller was supposed to do this way back when) MGA 1600 Twin Cam Renault Dauphine (another one that deserves modern treatment) Ferrari 250 Berlinetta Lusso Ferrari 166 Barchetta Ferrari 250GT TdF Ferrari 330 LMB Porsche 550 Spyder Porsche 912 (1966) Mercedes-Benz 230SL/280SL (1963-1968) Triumph TR4A/TR250 Triumph Spitfire Jaguar XK120 Coupe Jaguar XK150 Jaguar D-Type Maserati Birdcage Tipo 61 DeTomaso Mangusta (1969-1972) Fiat 124 Spider Citroen DS19/DS21 Citroen SM MGB GT I could think of more but...! If I had to pick my top three - 2002tii, Lusso, Facel Vega. Hope that helps!

No matter what method one uses for stripping chrome, the clear lacquer coating on the part still remains. After stripping chrome, I soak the part in Scalecoat Paint Remover (found at most model railroading oriented hobby shops.) It takes that off cleanly and quickly. Testors' ELO also works but not quite as efficiently. Once you take the lacquer layer off, its ready for paint. Just my 2 cents.

Bob / Chuck, The 2002 is long overdue. It is for all intents and purposes the car that put BMW on the road to where they are now. I have personally suggested the 2002 to Revell Germany for many years. It seems like such a no-brainer. I wonder if its a licensing issue.

Well, my friends, I'm happy to say I was incorrect about the 2CV being the older (but still excellent) Airfix/Heller offering. Thanks to our friend Luc Janssens, it is confirmed that the Revell Germany 2CV is an all-new, full-detail kit representing a 1981 edition of the car. While this is good news, I still find myself wishing for an older, 1953 or so version of the Deux Chevaux in 1/24 scale. Maybe some day....!

You're absolutely right about that Donn. My Paasche H was bought in 1974 and it is STILL going as good as the day it was purchased.

Darren, I too am an Aztek user and I have always liked the 'brush. It takes a bit of getting used to for many experienced airbrush users simply because the body is not cast metal so the feeling of "heft" isn't there, but the control one expects from a good airbrush *is*. I have SIX airbrushes - Aztek A470, Testors Model Master (similar to the A470 but without the side grips), Paasche VL, Paasche H, Badger 200, and Central Pneumatics double-action (Badger clone) - and out of all of them, the Aztek gets the most use - and its the easiest to clean out of all of them.

As I understand it, the Deux Chevaux is not a new tool. It is the 1980s vintage Airfix/Heller tooling. And if you've ever seen (or built) that kit, it ain't a bad thing at all. It is a later (1970s-80s) 2CV, whereas Tamiya's is a 1963 edition.

Sweet! Real sweet!

Apparently FUJIMI has announced a 1/24 SLS AMG to be released soon. Nice to have a choice (as in, Revell and Fujimi seem to mirror each other in issuing Ferrari kits too).