Some more Round2 surprizes!

[Mark]

I think people are upset that that the "Model King" type kits had low part content. They figured that for $25-30, they should have tons of parts. They overlooked the fact that they were getting a kit that was out of production for 30-40 years.

Also, the cost of the includes repair of the tool, packaging design , shipping, paying distributers/dealers and various other costs that high or low part content kits must pay anyway.

 

Dave reached into his own pocket a number of times with his reissues, for things like new clear parts.  The clear parts are (obviously) run separately from the kit because they are made of clear plastic, so the tool to produce those parts could easily be misplaced because it is separate from the rest of the kit.  Same goes for red taillight lenses, and (with some early kits) the chrome tree.  The '59 Imperial reissue got new glass and a new chrome tree.  The cost of all that had to be divided over the number of kits he expected to sell.  And if he didn't sell as many as expected, then there's a problem because the profit is in the last one-quarter or one-fifth of the run.  And that's not even getting into things like storing 5,000 or so kits until they are sold, or having to write the check (or take out a loan) when those 5,000 kits get delivered.  He took chances on a number of things, including ones I wouldn't have taken a chance on, and stepped up with the money to do it when others would not have done so.  I hope he made a ton on those reissues; he deserved to.  

[Sledsel]

Dave reached into his own pocket a number of times with his reissues, for things like new clear parts.  The clear parts are (obviously) run separately from the kit because they are made of clear plastic, so the tool to produce those parts could easily be misplaced because it is separate from the rest of the kit.  Same goes for red taillight lenses, and (with some early kits) the chrome tree.  The '59 Imperial reissue got new glass and a new chrome tree.  The cost of all that had to be divided over the number of kits he expected to sell.  And if he didn't sell as many as expected, then there's a problem because the profit is in the last one-quarter or one-fifth of the run.  And that's not even getting into things like storing 5,000 or so kits until they are sold, or having to write the check (or take out a loan) when those 5,000 kits get delivered.  He took chances on a number of things, including ones I wouldn't have taken a chance on, and stepped up with the money to do it when others would not have done so.  I hope he made a ton on those reissues; he deserved to.  

Yes, he did deserve to make a ton of money. I have quite a few of the MK kits in my stash. There are only a few I did not get me hands on.

[Tom Geiger]

I'm actually here with Dave right now. He made investments in both kits that had to be repaid over the run of kits. The Comet needed new tooling for the glass and tail lights. The Buick was missing the glass.

Read Mark's post for the story of Dave's personal investment and commitment to this hobby. 

[FordRodnKustom]

Thank you Dave. You woke up a lot of snoring old guys(like myself) and started the "retro reissue" trend. Thank you again.

[charlie8575]

I'm actually here with Dave right now. He made investments in both kits that had to be repaid over the run of kits. The Comet needed new tooling for the glass and tail lights. The Buick was missing the glass.

Read Mark's post for the story of Dave's personal investment and commitment to this hobby. 

Something which I, personally, am glad he did.

 

Charlie Larkin

[Edsel-Dan]

I expected the higher price when Model King pieces were first announced.

Look at Revell's SSP series. They are priced higher then regular issue kits.

I also believe Ertl's Buyer's Choice kits were more than regular run kits back then too

Though I Only ever got the 63 Galaxie Sportsroof NEW! 

(I ordered it through another Hobby Shop when BC-1 came out-

- I actually ordered it & the Mercury, but only got the Ford then)

 

I Was shocked at How expensive the first one I saw was.

The First run.box art 59 Imperial was $32.99 at the Hobby Shop

back then.

I Did Not get it then, (And that place Closed a few years ago as the city

took the building for Chamber Of Commerce services,) But Did get one a few years ago in trade.

I got the second run/box art version.

I would buy more if I could!!

 

Will we see it re-issued again soon as a Retro-Deluxe kit???

[Tom Geiger]

 

I Was shocked at How expensive the first one I saw was.

The First run.box art 59 Imperial was $32.99 at the Hobby Shop

back then.

The restoration of that tool was expensive for Dave.  He had to pay for the entire chrome tree to be recreated.  I think the glass shot too, and I seem to remember something with the wheels and tires.   All in all, expensive but he wanted to bring it back from the dead for the hobby!  Note that the current owners, Round 2, would easily make that investment, but Dave was dealing with Tomy / Learning Curve that really didn't understand model kits.

[Sledsel]

The restoration of that tool was expensive for Dave.  He had to pay for the entire chrome tree to be recreated.  I think the glass shot too, and I seem to remember something with the wheels and tires.   All in all, expensive but he wanted to bring it back from the dead for the hobby!  Note that the current owners, Round 2, would easily make that investment, but Dave was dealing with Tomy / Learning Curve that really didn't understand model kits.

if I knew that then, I'd have forked over a few bucks on the more pricey kits.

I know when the Kings Comet and Falcons came out, I bought a load of them both!

[Mark]

The restoration of that tool was expensive for Dave.  He had to pay for the entire chrome tree to be recreated.  I think the glass shot too, and I seem to remember something with the wheels and tires.   All in all, expensive but he wanted to bring it back from the dead for the hobby!  Note that the current owners, Round 2, would easily make that investment, but Dave was dealing with Tomy / Learning Curve that really didn't understand model kits.

The Imperial needed inner wheel pieces that weren't in the original kit, because the annual used different tires.  The tool for the original tires probably doesn't exist any more, so they used one of the existing tires that was the same size and looked right.  I've seen a number of those Imperials for sale at flea markets and consignment shops, people are sticking them together and trying to pass them off as old "screw-bottom car" builds.  The tires give them away; that and the fact that a lot of Imperials seemed to pop up out of nowhere at the same time...

[stavanzer]

I've never owned that Cuda kit. Now I'll have a chance to. Thanks, Round2!

[iangilly]

I'm glad they're reissuing that kit, it's kind of expensive for past release like $30+

[Mr mopar]

Wow not much change in this kit ,No Hemi ! on the box ,the hood has 426 Hemi ,but all we get is a 383 c.i.d  something is wrong with this!

Edited September 23, 2015 by Mr mopar

[Casey]

Wow not much change in this kit ,No Hemi ! on the box ,the hood has 426 Hemi ,but all we get is a 383 c.i.d  something is wrong with this!

Unless it's strictly for nostalgic reasons, I don't see the exclusion of a Hemi engine option as a major deterrent to most potential buyers. It would be weird if the "426 HEMI" decals are still on the decal sheet, but it sounds like the box art has been altered to more accurately reflect this kit's changed contents.

[1972coronet]

No Hemi  [yet] on the box ,the hood has 426 Hemi [decals] ,but all we get is a 383 c.i.d !

That's like the 1972 Duster annual from MPC : Arlen Vanke livery , including "Hemi" decals for the hood , but the kit has only one engine : 340 !

Wasn't it the 1968 annual Barracuda that had the 225 Slant and 426 Hemi as its engine choices ? Didn't the 1969 annual have the 383 ?

[gtx6970]

As far as I know...the 1969 barracuda annual never had a hemi. 

I have had several different re.issue vereions and they were always a wedge motor

[Mr mopar]

The original issue 69' MPC Barracuda came with the 426 hemi and a 225 slant six.

[unclescott58]

The original issue 69' MPC Barracuda came with the 426 hemi and a 225 slant six.

Are you 100% sure on that? I know that was true with AMT's '65 and '66 Barracuda kit. But I don't think that's correct with MPC's.

[Mr mopar]

I have the instruction  sheet in front of me only with I could post a pic of them!

[Snake45]

Are you 100% sure on that? I know that was true with AMT's '65 and '66 Barracuda kit. But I don't think that's correct with MPC's.

I THINK the '67--which was marketed under the AMT label--did too. Dunno about original annual MPC '68 and '69.

[CapSat 6]

All of the Barracuda annuals from '65 through '69 had both Slant 6 and Hemi options (cross-ram, Super Stock style Hemi). The reissues of the '69 (Miss Mighty Mopar, Boss Cuda, Killer Cuda and Avenger), still had that Hemi. The late '80's reissue under AMT ERTL was the first with the 383, which, to me, was an improvement over the old Hemi. It looks like Round 2 is going to keep this as a 383 and restore at least some of the old Custom parts. I think that's for the best- that old Hemi was so-so to me. If you wanted to build a Super-Stock style 'Cuda, you'd do better to get the Revell Hemi Dart and use the chassis, engine, and other bits from that kit.

Even then- you would still be stuck with a '69 Body, which has a different grille, grille surround, and taillight configuration than the '69.

This kit as it is does build as a decent big-block '69. Adding the Hemi back just muddies the waters for the builder, IMHO. 

 

 

 

 

[Mark]

All of the Barracuda annuals from '65 through '69 had both Slant 6 and Hemi options (cross-ram, Super Stock style Hemi). The reissues of the '69 (Miss Mighty Mopar, Boss Cuda, Killer Cuda and Avenger), still had that Hemi. The late '80's reissue under AMT ERTL was the first with the 383, which, to me, was an improvement over the old Hemi. It looks like Round 2 is going to keep this as a 383 and restore at least some of the old Custom parts. I think that's for the best- that old Hemi was so-so to me. If you wanted to build a Super-Stock style 'Cuda, you'd do better to get the Revell Hemi Dart and use the chassis, engine, and other bits from that kit.

Even then- you would still be stuck with a '69 Body, which has a different grille, grille surround, and taillight configuration than the '69.

This kit as it is does build as a decent big-block '69. Adding the Hemi back just muddies the waters for the builder, IMHO. 

 

 

 

 

The Seventies reissues have '68 side markers on the body; a couple of those were called '68s in spite of the '69 hood, grille, and taillight panel.  Several resin casters made '68 conversions for those in the past; if you scour the tables at swap meets, you might turn one up (I did, a few years ago).  The '68 Hemi Dart chassis and engine are way ahead of the parts in those kits, and should fit without too much trouble (wheelbase might need adjustment).

[Robberbaron]

Kind of vague regarding the "vintage style custom wheels" (the recalled Motor Wheel mags? Hurst mags??), but it doesn't sound like a whole lot has been changed from the last reissue?:

I'm assuming the "vintage-style" custom mags will be something other than the 6-lug modular wheels that they included in the Ertl version I have.  I believe MPC also put those in "The Cat" versions of the '73 Cougar, in both cases they were literally useless.

Didn't MPC also forget to add the backup lights for the valance when they updated the tool to a '69?  Wonder if that's something they'll correct for this issue.

[Sledsel]

I'm assuming the "vintage-style" custom mags will be something other than the 6-lug modular wheels that they included in the Ertl version I have.  I believe MPC also put those in "The Cat" versions of the '73 Cougar, in both cases they were literally useless.

Didn't MPC also forget to add the backup lights for the valance when they updated the tool to a '69?  Wonder if that's something they'll correct for this issue.

Those wheels worked for on the Chevy/GMC trucks though

[Robberbaron]

Those wheels worked for on the Chevy/GMC trucks though

Yes, I suppose they must have been usable for a truck build, never gave it much thought.  My thinking was that they were entirely useless on these car kits they were included with, since there was no reasonable situation where either of those cars would be converted to 6-lug wheels as a 1:1.

[Mr mopar]

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd158/DOUGSPENCER/Mobile Uploads/image_zpsxvsqw6hd.jpg

MPC original 69' Barracuda instruction sheet! TWO engines HEMI /Slant 6 225. 

Edited September 26, 2015 by Mr mopar