Round 2 March 2017 Product Spotlight

[MrObsessive]

Here's Round 2's latest video on YT showing what they have coming up for March. There's a couple I see there that have my interest, and I'm a bit disappointed in a certain vehicle available in a 1/18 diecast, but as yet no detailed glue kits available.

 

[Hard_2_Handle_454]

All I got out of this was that they have shiny new box art for model kits that are already on the market.

[mike 51]

Old easily found kits at (near) collector prices...no thanks!

[niteowl7710]

All I got out of this was that they have shiny new box art for model kits that are already on the market.

Well that has been Round2's business plan for almost a decade now.

[Daddyfink]

Just the Super Bug is all I want 

[250 Testa Rossa]

I'll take the Super Bee

[stavanzer]

Round2 needs a new Spokesman. This guy is friendly but clueless. Bring in an older guy who knows the history of the kits better. Please?

[gtx6970]

Meh,,,,,,,another month I get to keep more of my money in my pocket

[Mr mopar]

I need one more super bee !

[unclescott58]

Despite not seeing anything I really need this month, I like these monthly reviews. I think Round 2 and the guy they've got doing this are doing a great job. 

Scott

 

[horsepower]

Well even though I have a few in the stash I'll probably get a couple of the '57 Ford's if for nothing else some extra parts for Revell gasser builds, and even though it is almost identical to the last red snap release I gotta have a Camaro or three, I think that the chin spoiler and new decals are worth looking at anyway.

Edited March 2, 2017 by horsepower

[Luc Janssens]

The thing I get from this promo clip, is that Mopar B-bodies seem to sell well, cuz this kit has been around the block a few times now.

Is it the Coke bottle lines (which mimic the female curves)?

 

[niteowl7710]

The thing I get from this promo clip, is that Mopar B-bodies seem to sell well, cuz this kit has been around the block a few times now.

Is it the Coke bottle lines (which mimic the female curves)?

 

Well when was the time the factory stock version of the Coronet was reissued?  As I can track it, it's only been out twice (if you don't count the original 1970 version), the "retool" in 1993 that added in the modern B body chassis and drivetrain, and the Round2 reissue in 2008.  The Pro Street is the one that's been repeatedly foisted upon us by every single owner of the AMT name.  Again 9 years seems to me a reasonable time between reissues, especially when you consider how long that is in retail terms.  There are only 5 of the factory stock version on eBay (compared to 28 of the Pro Street ones), and all but one are more than the MSRP of the reissue.

Edited March 1, 2017 by niteowl7710

[Mark]

The Pro Street version of the Coronet has been popular too; it has the parts for the experimental overhead cam engine, the tubbed chassis slides under a bunch of other Mopar bodies, and the rear part of the chassis is the right size for a bunch of Fifties cars.  More of the Pro Street issues are available right now because that's the one that has been out most recently.

For those who don't know it: the tubbed rear half of the Coronet chassis is different from the one used in the '68 Roadrunner and '69 GTX kits.  If I remember right, the kick-up over the rear axle is higher.

[Luc Janssens]

Well when was the time the factory stock version of the Coronet was reissued?  As I can track it, it's only been out twice (if you don't count the original 1970 version), the "retool" in 1993 that added in the modern B body chassis and drivetrain, and the Round2 reissue in 2008.  The Pro Street is the one that's been repeatedly foisted upon us by every single owner of the AMT name.  Again 9 years seems to me a reasonable time between reissues, especially when you consider how long that is in retail terms.  There are only 5 of the factory stock version on eBay (compared to 28 of the Pro Street ones), and all but one are more than the MSRP of the reissue.

James, I did a lousy job of making my point, which is or should've been, that this "model" seems to do well (not breaking it down in Pro-street or stock version) not questioning it's return, no matter which version.

[crazyjim]

I like the VW kit and might get one.  The spokesman needs to learn to speak without all the aaaaa, and uumm.

[niteowl7710]

The Pro Street version of the Coronet has been popular too; it has the parts for the experimental overhead cam engine, the tubbed chassis slides under a bunch of other Mopar bodies, and the rear part of the chassis is the right size for a bunch of Fifties cars.  More of the Pro Street issues are available right now because that's the one that has been out most recently.

For those who don't know it: the tubbed rear half of the Coronet chassis is different from the one used in the '68 Roadrunner and '69 GTX kits.  If I remember right, the kick-up over the rear axle is higher.

Of the 28, only 10 of them are the new Dirty Donnie reissue.  AMT did that kit in 1993, then a checkboard box, then the RC2 era box...I know people love them for the parts, but there's certainly a glut of them available.

[Snake45]

Just the Super Bug is all I want 

Me too. I need a couple of those. Everything else, I've already got a couple copies of everything I'm interested in.

[Casey]

Round2 needs a new Spokesman. This guy

His name's Chad. Show Chad some respect! 

I have wondered why he doesn't at least don a Round2, AMT, MPC, etc. shirt while on camera, but maybe Chad is all about the business, and not the look. 

Well when was the time the factory stock version of the Coronet was reissued?  As I can track it, it's only been out twice (if you don't count the original 1970 version), the "retool" in 1993 that added in the modern B body chassis and drivetrain, and the Round2 reissue in 2008.  

Yep, this was one of the first Round2 releases IIRC, and with the tampo printed Polyglas tires now available for inclusion, it's probably easy money for Round2.

[1972coronet]

I've said this before , and I'll certainly say it again : Please , Round2 , would you see to it to add the DOHC Hemi to the stock release of the '70 'Bee ?? I've never been a fan of the Pro Street stylling ( excepting , perhaps , the very early iterations ; namely , the Gapp & Rousch '76 Mustang II with its killer "385" Series engine , and stock-appearance ) , even when that "movement" was new .

I am quite looking forward to the Super Bug making a return ! That's been on my radar for ~10 years ... always high-priced stuff on eBay ...

[Dave Van]

Super Bug....I'll take 2 of them.......

I'll wait on the 57 Ford to see WHAT they have restored.....could be good if long lost parts are back. 

For such a small hobby we should be a little less cynical..............

What is our biggest show by attendance??  NNL  New Jersey?? Not sure how many attend but it is no where near what MANY model train show draw and model trains are considered a VERY small hobby segment. One large recent train show had 50K attend over 3 days.........does our hobby have any event that can claim 1/3 of that??? 1/4?? Yet as small a hobby we are we expect our few manufactures to spend HUGE money for new stuff all the time......mainly so we can then beat them up about how bad the new tooling is.  We really need some self examination. 

[niteowl7710]

Super Bug....I'll take 2 of them.......

I'll wait on the 57 Ford to see WHAT they have restored.....could be good if long lost parts are back. 

For such a small hobby we should be a little less cynical..............

What is our biggest show by attendance??  NNL  New Jersey?? Not sure how many attend but it is no where near what MANY model train show draw and model trains are considered a VERY small hobby segment. One large recent train show had 50K attend over 3 days.........does our hobby have any event that can claim 1/3 of that??? 1/4?? Yet as small a hobby we are we expect our few manufactures to spend HUGE money for new stuff all the time......mainly so we can then beat them up about how bad the new tooling is.  We really need some self examination. 

The Shizouka Hobby show in Japan regularly puts over 80k people through in three days, so SEGMENTS of our hobby do indeed draw crowds.  Granted that's Hobby Show in general vs. Car Modeling in specific, but I doubt iHobby and it's predecessor put that amount of PUBLIC admission through the doors in Chicago even during the "glory days".  Also model shows in Japan are a completely different animal in Japan than they are here.  They tend to book out tables by clubs and just have displays with small vendor areas rather than it being a massive traveling kit museum masquerading as a Swap Meet with a competitive contest being run out the back.

[Dave Van]

That is as you kinda imply apples and oranges. RCHTA/iHobby is dead.....there was a large general hobby show that was held in Anaheim Ca that drew big crowds but it too was a general hobby show and not a themed show. The 'Great American Train show is TRAINS only and draws 50-80K at EACH show......multiple shows a year. 

My whole point was not to beat down our plastic model car hobby but rather try and shine some light on how small a group we are. Drones are now considered a 'hobby' and as of today is bigger than model rail hobby which is bigger than the model car hobby.......the fact that we have some great products today in our hobby when the mind set of most companies today is if you can't get WalMart to buy a million of your product it's not worth making.  

Thanks

[unclescott58]

Dave, are we really that small? I think the train shows may draw big crowds. But, how many who go to those shows have trains of their own? I have some N scale stuff. But, I don't really don't do much with it. It takes a lot of money and space to do it right. I know more people who have built model cars at one time or another, than have had trains. I think there are a lot people, like me and a few of my friends, who love to go to train shows and dream. At the model car shows I'm seeing few people there to just look at models. It's more builders there to show for their stuff, and enjoy others works. Sorry to say, but static models sitting on a table are not as interesting to look at as trains moving through miniature scenery. I really feel we're comparing apples to oranges, comparing train shows to model car shows. We love to talk about how this or that is wrong with our hobby. Yet overall the companies seem to be doing a pretty good of catering to our needs and wants with both new stuff and old reissues. I believe we're in the middle of another Golden Age in our hobby, looking at what's presently out there. True, I may not see it at the shows. But, I sure see on the shelves. 

Scott

 

[Brett Barrow]

What's weird with the whole "Train Show vs Model Show" thing is, as a retailer, trains are dead.  Steadily falling for years.  If 50k people go to a train show, I'd be willing to bet 40k are Boy Scout troops just there to see the trains go round and get some sort of merit badge. The little moochers probably got in for free, too.  Models have rebounded quite nicely since the recession, but trains haven't (at least not from where I'm sitting).  But that's the rub, the general population will go to a train show just to see the layouts and watch the trains go around, but won't go to a model show and look at painted models sitting still on a table.   Social media has killed the need for a trade show in the US, so there's not really one anymore. iHobby tried to transition to a public show after a couple year break, but I don't think it went too well (and it was run by the same folks who run The Great American Train Shows).  Modeling is doing fine, don't worry about it.  Maybe car modeling isn't doing that great, but I think that's just because younger folks aren't as into cars. They're sticking bits of plastic together and painting them they're just stuff like Gundam robots and tabletop gaming miniatures. There are tabletop gaming tournaments in the US that pull tens of thousands of attendees.