New AMT Futuristic Custom Car Models

[regular guy]

Round 2 needs to 'bite the bullet' and build some 'new' models from scratch.

They could build the GM Show Cars from the 50's.

If Jimmy Flintstone can make a Lincoln Futura body so can Round2.

They could fake the chassis.Which they sort of do already.

Recycling chassis from similar show cars into a different car.

They can find pictures of wild show cars and make them too.

Round2 is doing an excellent job releasing what they do.

This would just get them into the cars that screamed 50's and early 60's.

Heavy Duty Nostalgia.

[Deano]

Round 2 needs to 'bite the bullet' and build some 'new' models from scratch.

They could build the GM Show Cars from the 50's.

If Jimmy Flintstone can make a Lincoln Futura body so can Round2.

Or ... So could Revell.    Jut sayin'.

[unclescott58]

How this "News or Reviews?" And are we going back to beat that dead horse some more? I don't necessarily disagree with the point. But, what's another thread about this going to prove?

Scott

 

[regular guy]

'what's another thread about this going to prove?'

Well if they keep hearing it maybe they will do something.

They could be just another 'ho hum' ownership of AMT Lindberg and MPC.

The pictures of wild 50's showcars are getting lost so it's time to do something about it.

The Eldon Invader would be a good candidate.

Give it the full treatment. Railing kit and trophy for car shows.

It's hard to decide which show cars were good styling and which were just trends at the time.

Time for them to make some hard choices.

 

 

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

 

They could be just another 'ho hum' ownership of AMT Lindberg and MPC.

 

I think the current management needs our thanks and appreciation for what they've already done...which only has meaning if people actually BUY their kits. Attaboys don't keep anyone in business.

PRIOR management style was mostly to DE-content kits and raise prices.

Only the current management has made the effort to return missing parts to old favorites, and to allow 3-n-1 kits to again be offered (that had previously been stripped of optional content).

[regular guy]

They are doing a great job albeit a little limited when it comes to 'Look at that!' kits.

They could put some put some zip in the kits by putting extra clear hoods or clear roofs.

To be fair they could put out today's showcars for the youth market.

The kits that are futuristic and interesting are:

Dodge Deora, AMTronic, Piranha Silhouette MPC Transporter. Tiger Shark(Carcraft Dream Rod).

The Surf Woody made as a roadster.

They need more kits like that.

All they have left is Wihelms Wonder and XR8 showcar Lindberg Diamond Duster so they are going to have to go outside

to get fresh kits.

Once again they are doing good.Message is keep going higher and higher.

 

Edited March 4, 2017 by regular guy

[Dave Van]

How this "News or Reviews?" And are we going back to beat that dead horse some more? I don't necessarily disagree with the point. But, what's another thread about this going to prove?

Scott

 

That horde is not dead!!!!  It's been dead for a long time......it's just bones now......

JF makinf 100 resin bodies in no way can be compared to a new tool kit cut in nickel steel......

[regular guy]

Quick note.

Everybody has seen the old kits for sale for $200 online with the custom versions.

AMT could put out the Barris and Dean Jeffries heavy customized versions of the kits.

Put some upholstery fabric in the box. Customizing putty and a little spatula.

Add some customizing tips in a booklet.

Hope they follow some of these suggestions.

[Snake45]

Round 2 needs to 'bite the bullet' and build some 'new' models from scratch.

They could build the GM Show Cars from the 50's.

If Jimmy Flintstone can make a Lincoln Futura body so can Round2.

 

And if they don't sell any more of them than Jimmy Flintstone does, they'll lose their shirts.

Edited March 4, 2017 by Snake45

[Can-Con]

Why is it I think I'm getting punked every time I open one of this guy's posts?  

[Howard Cohen]

They released several versions of the television Batmobile and they sold well, new tools and all. However, not all cars sell that well. There are a few that didn't sell at all  

I have talked to them about doing the factory showcars of the early 1950s but they don't yet have enough interest to tool up a kit, much less 10 kits. I know, you will buy 3 but that won't cover the high costs of a whole new tool (mid 6 figures)  

The 1960 showcars like the Silhouette and others may not be big sellers to most people born after 1970. (I have all the ones I need, so I am okay  ) 

Now, if you want to do something really constructive, write a letter to Round2 and Revell and Moebius and any other model company you want, and tell them your ideas. Tell them what cars you want in model form, the level of detail you want and even how much money you are willing to pay  Yes, money...if there isn't enough, they won't do it. Don't ask for a fully detailed kit with opening everything, working steering and suspension, photo-etch parts and Cartograph decals and then tell them to retail it for $10  That ain't happening. Be realistic and maybe you will see it. If you only say it here, they may not take you seriously  

[mike 51]

Why is it I think I'm getting punked every time I open one of this guy's posts?  

Me too...is he serious? 

[Phirewriter]

First Jimmy's Futura body was done to ease the assembly of the Revell multi piece body and is not his original production. Second the XR-6 and Wilhelm's Wonder no longer exist, tooling is lost and/or modified. Perhaps you need to research the history of some the kits you spout off about, not to mention the whole process it takes to produce or even reissue a kit.

As far as Detroit show cars, there are a number of small manufacturers making finished builds in a variety of scales and media. Expensive, yes. But they probably have the market cornered for the collectors interested in that automotive genre. I don't see big sales for these types of kits to the average builder.

I'm also wondering myself why I'm even responding to this post. Must be a glutton for punishment.

BTW I don't see the visible chassis you insisted would be out by the  holidays.

Edited March 5, 2017 by Phirewriter

[regular guy]

Part of what I'm saying is Round2 is riding high so

now's the time to ask.

The heavy customs would be a start.

4in1 kits. With the wild front body sections and add on body panels.

More extra accessories in box.

We'll see.

[lordairgtar]

Wilhelm's Wonder? That is now the Ice Cream Truck they just released.

[stavanzer]

The Chassis for both Wilhelm's Wonder and the Tognotti T both still exist. Just under different bodies.......Hmmm.

Like a Certain Poster suggested, ie "Recycling chassis from similar show cars into a different car." This was done some Forty or more years ago by MPC. The newly announced Bed Buggy? That is the Barris T Buggy Chassis under a different body. Round2 Has brought out a steady stream of old Show Cars, for the last 7 years or so. One or two a year, and every one welcome.Have you really 'looked' at the "New" Ice Cream Truck? Pad Printed Tires, Blue Tinted Clear parts, New Decal sheet?  I don't see how they could have improved the Kit any other ways. How many have you bought?

You want to ask for something? How about getting Revell to give us the old Monogram Show Cars the "Predicta", "Orange Crate", or "Sand Crab"? And Revell has been plowing through their Tom Daniel's tooling at a decent clip. Have you bought the updated "Jinx Express"?

As far as custom body parts and additional building options, I think Round2 has been all over that too. They have invested actual money, in cutting tooling to replace missing custom parts ('49 Merc) and missing wheels to older kits. ('69 Barracuda) In face the 'Cuda wheel are in the new"Soap Box Derby2" '68 Elky kit. Maximizing tool use.

Now, would I like to have the Wilhelm's Wonder and Tognotti T bodies back? Of course. You want to organize a 'write in campaign' foucused on just those two cars (or any other single car) then have at it. Learn who to write to and what to say. And ask nicely. There are many posters to this board who work, have worked for, or are connected in a professional way with the management of the companies you call out. Request their help. Politely.  Maybe then you will get what you have asked for.

The only guaranteed way to get what you want? Win the Powerball or Super Lotto and then put your money where your mouth is.

Cheers, Alan Alexis

 

[stavanzer]

Checking online shows that  the Tognotti T chassis is under the "Outcast" Showrod, and under 2015's "Chuck Miller" Fire Truck reissue. The same chassis with the T Fenders was under the MPC "Night Crawler" Showrod. So 40% to 50% of both Classic kits still exist. And both available in the last 24 months. So get your glue bombs on eBay and you can put fresh chassis's under original bodies.

And Maybe we can get Round2 to restore those kits someday.

Edited March 5, 2017 by alexis
Spelling Errors

[regular guy]

'they don't yet have enough interest to tool up a kit'

It's up to them.

To boldly go where no man has gone before.

Find some pictures of old show cars and make it happen or just play it safe.

A partway solution would be 'Parts Pack's.

George Barris body panels to go with such and such kit.

Clear hoods bodies and bubble tops for existing kits. They could be tinted but clear was 50's.

Complete bodies in Parts Pack's. They could be farmed out to Dirt Track models or Jimmy Flintsone or thet other place but

packaged by AMT or MPC.

Complete custom car bodies with instructions which chassis to use or sell chassis kits.

These would be for the Professional Modeler.

I myself am going to get busy with the putty in the meantime.

Edited March 5, 2017 by regular guy

[regular guy]

Quick note.

Watched Batman 40's serial DVD.

'39 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 touring car.That's a mobile!!

Where are the AMT Connoiseur Classics? There MIA with this new regime.

Some nice touring cars would ease the disappointment of not enough futuristic show cars.

Edited March 5, 2017 by regular guy

[bobthehobbyguy]

Don't see a new show rod will happen or even classics.  Too much of a niche market. As others have said round2 has put a lot of the parts back in new kits. Second they are investing tooling money in sci models. Much broader market.

Just too big of an investment to gamble on something.  

[ChrisBcritter]

I think all we can hope for on the vintage classics is if some overseas outfit tries it - ICM may be the best bet right now; still hoping for that Packard limo.

(I'm thinking dull faded paint, a few dings, a couple missing hubcaps, '63 CA plates and a dozen surfboards strapped to the roof... )

Edited March 6, 2017 by ChrisBcritter

[Ace-Garageguy]

Probably going to see if the new Foose Caddy and Ford pickup customs fly off the shelves before considering any oldies, too. If fairly recent showcars by a big-time well-known current builder-designer aren't a huge hit, the odds of old showcars that are largely unknown to anyone younger than 55 getting tooled are slim to none.

[regular guy]

Good responses.

I will look for some old pictures of 50's early 60's custom show cars like Silhouette.

The 'grill/nosecap' idea came and went.

Combined radiator grill and headlight piece.

Like on the Mysterion and Oulaw and Lil Coffin.

That idea is very cool because engine is uncovered to show it off.

In the Classics bring back the 1/12 Cord and '53 Corvette and Thunderbird.

Can use them for chassis for full custom card body.

Too hard for me to do custom car bodies in 1/24 and 1/25.

Round2 is doing good job otherwise.

[CometMan]

Round 2 is doing very well re-issuing some kits that were long thought to be gone. With all the brands they now own nobody knows how many more molds they still have that may be re-issued in the future. So, unless they happen to find a mold of one of the Dream Cars, the chances of us seeing a new one from them are almost none. One exception to this would be the very slight possibility that they may decide to reverse-engineer the original Batmobile kit back into the Lincoln Futura. (If that is even possible) But, on the other hand, we all see how well Moebius has done issuing some subjects that very few people thought any one would buy! So if there is any chance for us to see a new tooled show car, I would think it would most likely come from Moebius.

[unclescott58]

I think all we can hope for on the vintage classics is if some overseas outfit tries it - ICM may be the best bet right now; still hoping for that Packard limo.

(I'm thinking dull faded paint, a few dings, a couple missing hubcaps, '63 CA plates and a dozen surfboards strapped to the roof... )

I'm waiting for ICM to do their Packard in either 1/25 or 1/24 scale. 1/35 is a little odd. I thought I heard rumors not that long ago, they were going to offer their Packard in a more common scale? 

Scott