Vanishing Point Challenger

[unclescott58]

Round 2 has recently announced that they're coming out with a Vanishing Point Challenger. Does anybody out there, know anything about this kit? It's suppose to be on the selves any day now. I love that movie. I love the car. I'm nervous about what this kit will be based on. I can't wait for somebody to review it

[Phirewriter]

Same old '70 Challenger that has been around for a while. Still has a separate roof that needs to be glued and blended into the body. On the plus side it has the correct hood sans the blower opening, looks like a newly tooled part going by the parts layout on the box bottom. I saw it at my LHS yesterday and passed on it so I don't know if it has the correct rally wheels. Box art build up looks nice though.

Edited November 14, 2015 by Phirewriter

[Mark]

The first AMT Vanishing Point issue (a few years ago) had the twin-scoop hood, the correct style wheels for the VP car (don't remember what they were called), and a front bumper with no molded-in guards.  I'd imagine those parts will be in the new issue also.

[Phirewriter]

Passed on that one too, so I was unaware those parts were in that kit as well. I have a couple of the first release's of that kit from the 80's, that's it.

Edited November 14, 2015 by Phirewriter

[Rob Hall]

It's probably the same as the previous Vanishing Point issue w/ new box art.  Pretty weak kit.   The wheels in that version were the Chrysler Rallys, not the Magnum 500 like the '80s-90s issues of the kit had.  

Edited November 14, 2015 by Rob Hall

[Joe Handley]

We got those in yesterday at work, as has been said, it's the old kit that can be built either way, not sure what wheels it has either, got no interest in the kit and don't plan on buying it.

[Sport Suburban]

I'm betting it is the same as this version released about 10 years ago when the remake movie came out.

It did have a few different parts. It has a new two piece dash, front bumper without guards, a new hood (it was different than the yankee hood with the hole). The hood was the same style just more boxy looking. I prefer to fill the hole in the yankee hood. It also had rallye wheels and Hemi style valve covers for the 440.

This kit was released after the Vanishing point kit and had all the new parts as well.

[pack rat]

Here ya go.  NOTE...the body still has the separate vinyl-textured roof, the body in the pic below has had the top sanded/molded in. 

Ertl also added a pair of ridiculous-looking faux-hemi valve covers to the VP kit with molded-in spark plug boots...I hope Round2 has blocked them off. Thankfully the correct 440 covers are still included.   

Edited November 14, 2015 by pack rat

[unclescott58]

The last Vanshing Point Challenger came out before Round 2 took over. And since Round 2 has a habit of fixing and correcting kits. I wonder if we'll see that done in this case? That's why I'm waiting to hear from someone who actually has gotten their hands on the Round 2 release. I doubt there are changes, and have not heard of anything being done to this kit for the Round 2 issue. But, one can always hope. And in general Round 2 has done a good job of not letting me down. So I'm hoping this Vanshing Point Challenger will be a good one.

I could be wrong.

[Casey]

I'm waiting to hear from someone who actually has gotten their hands on the Round 2 release.

Mike (the post above yours) builds the box art models for Round2, so what you see above is what you'll see on and in the box.

It's a better kit than I had previously believed, as I recently got my hands on the '80s, molded-in-yellow, Lesney-era kit and was surprised to find separately molded exhaust, etc. I still think it's best to build this one as a convertible, as to my knowledge (and if I'm interpreting Mike's comment above correctly) the kit still includes a separate hardtop roof panel which you must glue to the convertible body. Not exactly ideal, but there really is no other game in town unless you find an original MPC body.

[Mr mopar]

Mike (the post above yours) builds the box art models for Round2, so what you see above is what you'll see on and in the box.

It's a better kit than I had previously believed, as I recently got my hands on the '80s, molded-in-yellow, Lesney-era kit and was surprised to find separately molded exhaust, etc. I still think it's best to build this one as a convertible, as to my knowledge (and if I'm interpreting Mike's comment above correctly) the kit still includes a separate hardtop roof panel which you must glue to the convertible body. Not exactly ideal, but there really is no other game in town unless you find an original MPC body.

Yes ,Casey  is right it's the only Game in Town in 1/25 scale ,and builds up to be a nice looking Challenger ,Cheeper then buying one off Ebay for big cash !

[pack rat]

Mike (the post above yours) builds the box art models for Round2, so what you see above is what you'll see on and in the box.

 

One caveat though, Casey.  Ninety percent of the kits I build for them are sourced from test shots or previous issues, not the actual production-ready Round2 releases.

The parts pic above is the actual Round2 box art kit before it was assembled; it was built from an earlier AMT/Ertl VP Challenger.  They weren't planning on making any changes re parts content at that time, but I suggested they get rid of the goofy-looking hemi valve covers I mentioned (they aren't shown in the pic).  I haven't seen a production kit yet.    

 

[Harry Joy]

Saw the kit on the shelf at my local hobby shop today. Was tempted to pick it up just to share pics, but I already have one Challenger in the pile to build.

[Robberbaron]

...I still think it's best to build this one as a convertible, as to my knowledge (and if I'm interpreting Mike's comment above correctly) the kit still includes a separate hardtop roof panel which you must glue to the convertible body. Not exactly ideal, but there really is no other game in town unless you find an original MPC body.

Yes ,Casey  is right it's the only Game in Town in 1/25 scale ,and builds up to be a nice looking Challenger ,Cheeper then buying one off Ebay for big cash !

I agree that it's best to build this one as a convertible, unless you're ambitious and want to do some serious reshaping of the A-pillars and the side window openings.  Right out of the box, gluing the roof to the body will not look at all like a 1:1 hardtop.

I seem to recall someone on here doing a comparison of an original MPC hardtop body and the Lindberg '72 body, which of course is really an old Palmer tool.  The conclusion was that, surprisingly, Palmer did a pretty good job of cloning the MPC body all those years ago.  (many people consider it the only Palmer-based kit that's worth buying)

Seems like you could maybe bash the AMT '70 with the Lindberg body to make a decent looking hardtop.  Still would be a fair amount of work, though.

[Rob Hall]

One thing I never liked about the AMT Challenger--same issue w/ the Revell 1/24th one, IIRC is how the front pan has the bottom tips of the front fenders molded to it...not realistic.

[440 6BBL]

I think the AMT Challenger still is the best choice. Blending the separate roof into the body is not too much of a big deal and reshaping the side window openings is just a matter of drawing a line with a pencil and cutting along with an x-acto. The rear edge of the roof has enough thickness to add the distinctive kink above the rear window. The front pan/fender issue is another thing that can be corrected fairly easy. I have been working on AMT´s Challenger body from time to time to have the body ready when I actually get into the build. I didn´t invest more than two hours of work until now and the body is almost there. And it´s actually fun to work on the body and to watch it evolve.

[unclescott58]

Saw the new release at tonight's local model car club meeting. Other than box art, I can see no changes over other issues of this kit. Vanishing Point or other. No question. I passed and will be passing on buying one. Picked up Moebuis' 1965 Satellite instead.

[MG Brown]

Tomorrow I will photograph and post the contents of the kit on the trees. Hopefully this will clear up any questions anyone still has.

BTW; did anyone else notice that the top of the box says 70 Challenger and the side of the box says both 70 and 71 Challenger?

I am amazed that the top couldn't have been corrected to "no vinyl"?

Edited November 21, 2015 by MG Brown

[stavanzer]

Thanks, MG. Looking forward to seeing them.

They hopefully will answer my question.

Is the Double-Barreled Shotgun Blower Scoop (from the Yankee Challenger) still in the kit?

[Mr mopar]

Thanks, MG. Looking forward to seeing them.

They hopefully will answer my question.

Is the Double-Barreled Shotgun Blower Scoop (from the Yankee Challenger) still in the kit?

Alan sorry the scoop is not in the kit !

[MG Brown]

Just some quick photos using my iPhone; usually I use natural light but it has been snowing all day! Certainly they could be better quality but hopefully they will answer the "what's in the box" questions that you may have.

 

 

Edited November 21, 2015 by MG Brown

[stavanzer]

Thanks, MG!

I have a couple of these already, much older issues.

I'll stick with them.

The Pics really helped.

[louie]

Nice pictures MG. I do not have any versions of this challenger so I think that I will make this one my first. I know that the roof and a couple of other things are a little funky on this kit but I am always up for a challenge  ( ha no pun intended ). But seriously l like the kit and try to give Round 2, Revell and Moebius as much business as possible. I am far,far, actually very, very far from being wealthy but I do try to do my part on keeping them going. Maybe I'll buy 2. Thank you everyone.    Jeff 

[unclescott58]

Thanks MG. This the best type of review. Showing us the kit.

I'm very disappointed to see this is the old Challenger kit has been offered to us for years now. It's not a bad kit. Not a great one. But, not bad either. It's just not the Vanshing Point Challenger. The roof is my biggest complaint. Followed by the engine. This is not Kowalski's car.

Hopefully, someday somebody will offer us a good, more true true copy of Kowalski's Challenger.

[Mr Stock]

I built the last issue of the VP Charger a few years back I remember the roof was a bit of a challenge for me to get right back then, but Id happily give it a go again now. Its not a bad kit at all typical late 70s early 80s AMT but thats not always a bad thing if you like challenge lol.

I also have the Street Machine issue from the early 80s with the yellow convertible on the box, this one doesnt come with the roof.