Round2 Kat's Kollection - New Series

[larman]

I like the idea of what they are doing. As far as the Hippie Hemi goes, I agree about it being more or less useless, but hopefully the "Kats at AMT" offer other items in this series in the future, that are more appealing. Let's face the fact that MOST of the automotive modeling subjects out there are not aimed at the youth market because it doesn't really exist. I am a middle school teacher, and I assure you, very few kids have any interest in building models of any kind and most don't really care about cars unless they have an adult in their life that is in to them. For that matter, there are a significant number of high school age kids I know who have no interest in driving or getting their license. What they do love and follow: Super hero movies, Star Wars and other sci-fi stuff, some sports, texting and surfing on their phones and most notably,video games. They also watch youtube videos for HOURS of other people playing video games......You would be hard pressed to find any who would be interested in building models of even the subjects that they do like, because it would take too much time and effort. I don't believe subject matter is the problem in getting youth interested, rather it is the fact that there are too many things that interest them more and will always win. Most would also shy away from a modeling project because there would not be an instant reward and there is also a good chance of failure. I am not trying to be a "Negative Nelly", just giving my honest observations on the subject. Technology has changed everything in our lives, so why would it not change what people do in their leisure time?  People who had horse and buggies hated the early cars, early model builders felt that "plastic kits" were for cheaters, technology is always changing, some change with it, while others try to fight it. There will be enough kits to keep us all busy until we are gone, but will the hobby be around in 25 to 50 years, my guess is no. I guess the question is, does it really matter?  

[Motor City]

I think there would be fewer complaints about the lack of new models from Round 2 if the company participated on this forum.  I've always wondered how a lame model such as the Denny McLain car came out in the first place when there were real cars that weren't produced in scale in the late '60s.  If they continue fixing the existing tooling (such as correcting the driver's side roof on the '65 Bonneville hardtop and putting in the correct interior in the '66 Wildcat), that is a step in the right direction.  I wonder why some cars haven't been reissued that were completely restyled the next year since the tooling would not have been modified, such as the '61 Invicta, '64 Bonneville, Grand Prix and Wildcat.  If we were at least given an explanation, that would help.   

[Eshaver]

I think there would be fewer complaints about the lack of new models from Round 2 if the company participated on this forum.  I've always wondered how a lame model such as the Denny McLain car came out in the first place when there were real cars that weren't produced in scale in the late '60s.  If they continue fixing the existing tooling (such as correcting the driver's side roof on the '65 Bonneville hardtop and putting in the correct interior in the '66 Wildcat), that is a step in the right direction.  I wonder why some cars haven't been reissued that were completely restyled the next year since the tooling would not have been modified, such as the '61 Invicta, '64 Bonneville, Grand Prix and Wildcat.  If we were at least given an explanation, that would help.   

May I SECOND that comment ?

[waynehulsey]

I think there would be fewer complaints about the lack of new models from Round 2 if the company participated on this forum.  I've always wondered how a lame model such as the Denny McLain car came out in the first place when there were real cars that weren't produced in scale in the late '60s.  If they continue fixing the existing tooling (such as correcting the driver's side roof on the '65 Bonneville hardtop and putting in the correct interior in the '66 Wildcat), that is a step in the right direction.  I wonder why some cars haven't been reissued that were completely restyled the next year since the tooling would not have been modified, such as the '61 Invicta, '64 Bonneville, Grand Prix and Wildcat.  If we were at least given an explanation, that would help.   

Will agree some on the 2 way communications. Had the Denny McLain car, got it for 98 cents since it had a nice 289  Ford in it. Was told it was the Surf Woodie (IIRC) underneath. Sold the box to a baseball collection for 5 bucks. There's probably a lot of the old tooling that's been scrapped, lost, or in really bad shape. A friend of mine that worked for Entex years ago, told me the company had talked to AMT about leasing some of the old tools. He said their engineers checked some tools that had just been stored on pallets with tarps over them outside in Michigan. Their opinion was that they would cost so much to make useable if they could find the complete set that it wasn't worth it...and that was in around 75 or 6. Figure they've had a lot of age and 2 or 3 moves since then if they're still around. So will give props to Round 2 that they have probably had to do a lot of work to make some of the things production ready that they do have. Just in my case, I'm wasn' interested in a lot of it then; probably less so now.

[randyc]

I would expect it would be hard to reach 12 - 20 year old and get them interested in model building.  HOWEVER, if they do try, the cars need to be cars in racing video games like Real Racing or Forza.  Even HotWheels has released a Forza set recently.  My son bought me a GT4 Ford GT Hot Wheels.  And that can be old tools.  I bought the HotWheels Forza AMX last week.  Just because I don't have a Javelin in my collection.  I am a toy car guy.  That's my life-long hobby.  I have seen and built most every issue and reissue that interests me.  A lot of the old stuff I've built and don't want to again, or might build it if I really like it.  I mean right now I'm working on a reissue of hte AMT 56 Ford, and it's an older reissue I bought when it was current.   Not sure if the youger generation can be brought into the hobby, unfortunately.  My 10 y/o son has put together the "Slammers" I found in my stash.  My 17 y/o started with a 69 GTX conv and never finished.   Just not their thing.  Slot car racing?  Very limited appeal, because of hte video games where they can sit in teh the car and drive it on real or fictional courses.  

We built cars to be able to imagine the thrill.  The younger folks have the ability to "drive" them through their games.  So it will be unusual for the younger folks to get in the hobby and remain interested.  And it may be the JDM kits that get their attention.  Or the supercars.  Things that the domestic folks don't produce much.  

At this point, in my life, I have a house hobby too and that takes dollars.  With my stash of unbuilts and the cost of new kits, I may not buy but 1 - 4 kits per year.  But I still build right much.  I've finished 5 or 6 cars this year and may get a couple more.  So at this rate, I'll never finish my unbuilts.  I guess after typing all this, the market is pretty good to me right now.  Of course I buy a LOT of 1/64s.  Bought 9 last night for abou thte same price as one plastic kit.  I can detail paint those as needed to look better and some of the high dollar ($6) cars are pretty much right on as they are.  

Keep building and buying.