2022 Round2 Releases

[Chuck Kourouklis]

I'm as big and noisy a parts geek as they come, but if Round2 were to include a single front suspension/tie rod/torsion bar lower piece for augmenting MPC's typically naked, blushing K-member - to accomplish pretty much what Bill S did with his JoHan 'Cuda, without having to raid another kit -

then the new '68 Coronet release would have everything I think could be reasonably expected of it.  If the budget limited new tooling allocation to prioritize a platform interior over such a part, though, I'd say Round2 made the right call. ?

Edited May 25, 2022 by Chuck Kourouklis
clarification

[Motor City]

I'm dreading the complaints regarding the back-from-the-dead Mustang fastback.  

[stavanzer]

16 minutes ago, Motor City said:

I'm dreading the complaints regarding the back-from-the-dead Mustang fastback.  

+1

[Oldcarfan27]

49 minutes ago, Motor City said:

I'm dreading the complaints regarding the back-from-the-dead Mustang fastback.  

[keyser]

They can buy the other 1/25 66 Mustang FB then. Wait, what..? ???‍♂️

[Rodent]

I don't think we have discussed the 1964 Marauder yet in this thread. Maybe I missed it?

[1972coronet]

8 minutes ago, Rodent said:

I don't think we have discussed the 1964 Marauder yet in this thread. Maybe I missed it?

 

[Rodent]

Yup, I watched that. Just wondering if anyone had comments about the kit or if they were going to buy it. It's nice to see it again, at least the vintage NASCAR peeps can use the body.

[Oldcarfan27]

16 hours ago, stavanzer said:

Do I have my peeves about Round2's kits in some cases? Yes!!....

...4. A general feeling of just having "Phoned-In" the kit, with poor choices (Well, what I think were poor choices), on options, blocked off parts, tires, and general processing? Heck Yeah....

But, that does not reflect the last few months product from Round2. Changes have been and, are continuing. Things are looking much better, and even kits with no real change in contents ('76 Chevy Caprice) are coming out with better boxing and decals.

We just have to be aware that not every release is going to be a home run. R2 now has a vast tooling bank and not everything they put out is going to trigger goosebumps everytime.

The phrase "You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please ALL of the people all of the time!" seems to hold true here.

We all have to be grateful that they keep coming to the plate as often as they do. After all these years, they still seem to surprise us with interesting stuff we haven't seen or ever thought we would see again. The surprise is what makes it fun!

We could say Round 2 is like a box of chocolates... 

[Luc Janssens]

On 5/24/2022 at 11:02 PM, Smoke Wagon said:

What? 

Well the Coronet is an "all new" tool based on the data of a vintage MPC kit, so the tool will be configurated from the get go, to eject several different versions.

The Chevy pickup is from an "existing" tool, one that has to be altered, which mean inserts have to be changed, modified or that a second smaller tool, will have to be added to run the newly design parts, you can do only so much with an existing tool, due to the way it was original designed.

Hope I'm making sense now  

 

Cheers

 

 

Edited May 26, 2022 by Luc Janssens

[Luc Janssens]

Kinda wonder if there would be interest thus subsequently ROI on redoing in 1/25th scale, the old Mpc 1/20th scale kits of the Amc AMX and the early '70s Ford Econoliner, and if it would be doable for them to do so.

Thoughts please.

 

Cheers

Luc

[slusher]

On 5/25/2022 at 9:53 PM, Rodent said:

I don't think we have discussed the 1964 Marauder yet in this thread. Maybe I missed it?

I think you may be right, I don’t remember it. I need to watch hpi guys video also.

[1972coronet]

4 hours ago, Luc Janssens said:

the old [MPC] 1/20th scale kits of the [AMC] AMX and the early '70s Ford Econoliner

Both were reissued within the last 10 years. The Econoline was the off-road version only; I would buy a few if the factory stock parts were restored.

[Luc Janssens]

1 minute ago, 1972coronet said:

Both were reissued within the last 10 years. The Econoline was the off-road version only; I would buy a few if the factory stock parts were restored.

I don't care about the 1/20 scale, but do wonder if those kits would generate interest, if they were scanned and resized in 1/25th scale and if it would be technically possible to do so.

[Jordan White]

Honestly I think a modern van would sell better, especially if it allowed you to build both passenger and cargo versions. They could just have inserts for the windows for the cargo version, sort of similar to how the real vans are done. Something like the current Transit or Sprinter.

[Luc Janssens]

2 minutes ago, Jordan White said:

Honestly I think a modern van would sell better, especially if it allowed you to build both passenger and cargo versions. They could just have inserts for the windows for the cargo version, sort of similar to how the real vans are done. Something like the current Transit or Sprinter.

Dunno, in the '70s a custom Van was fun a expression in custom paint, todays Vans a tool IMHO of course

The most beautiful van again IMHO is the mid '70S Dodge custom Van and a blank canvas for decal artists to work their magic

[1972coronet]

1 hour ago, Jordan White said:

Honestly I think a modern van would sell better [...] They could just have inserts for the windows for the cargo version, sort of similar to how the real vans are done. Something like the current Transit or Sprinter.

The Ford Transit series replaced their Econoline series, starting with the importation of the European iteration (built in Turkey, IIRC). The Sprinter replaced the Dodge B-Van some years ago as well (a poor replacement, IMO, for the B-series). In spite of my final comment, the Sprinter is a big seller, both commercially and "civilian" -- mostly de facto R.V. conversions (with some really cool looking off-road-capable versions!).

Both would sell quite well, particularly in European and, perhaps, Asian markets. I can only imagine that they would sell well in the U.S., albeit to a lesser degree.

[1972coronet]

2 hours ago, Luc Janssens said:

I don't care about the 1/20 scale, but do wonder if those kits would generate interest, if they were scanned and resized in 1/25th scale and if it would be technically possible to do so.

The 1/20 scale AMX didn't seem to sell very well (came and went virtually undetected). Ostensibly, it's lacking in detail and accuracy (I've never had my hands and peepers on one, so I'm only going off opinions of others).

The 1/20 scale Econoline had some awesome features and extras (the 302 alone had a separate crankshaft, among other features). The only iteration I've had of the 1/20 Econoline was that (horrible) custom-only version of c.1980. I longed for stock parts even back then (age 10) !

[oldrevellfan]

1 hour ago, Luc Janssens said:

Dunno, in the '70s a custom Van was fun a expression in custom paint, todays Vans a tool IMHO of course

The most beautiful van again IMHO is the mid '70S Dodge custom Van and a blank canvas for decal artists to work their magic

I think the same about this model, hope AMT should retool it?

[1972coronet]

2 minutes ago, oldrevellfan said:

I think the same about this model, hope AMT should retool it?

A backdating would be GREAT. The original annuals of the Dodge B-Vans date to c.1971 (1972 is the earliest I've seen), and those were ripe with options. Should Round2 backdate (new scan & body?) the Dodge van, they could offer both the Tradesman and the Adult Toy (or whatever it's called).

Now, how about the Chevy Van (AMT)? Recreate the "side-light" (colloq., window) inserts, and make the proper 8 lug wheels and accompanying hubcaps.

[Luc Janssens]

32 minutes ago, oldrevellfan said:

I think the same about this model, hope AMT should retool it?

I hope at least they will look into it.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Luc Janssens

[Smoke Wagon]

19 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Adult Toy 

Dodge offered the Street Van, as part of their lineup of Adult Toys, which also included the Macho Power Wagon and Ramcharger, Warlock, and a version of the D50 import I can’t name off the top of my head. They had a pretty catchy (and fitting) jingle in the Adult Toys commercials as well. The original Street Vans came with metal badges on the fenders that had a rainbow pattern within the script. Later vans had a metallic decal for a substitute. 

 

29 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Now, how about the Chevy Van (AMT)? Recreate the "side-light" (colloq., window) inserts, and make the proper 8 lug wheels and accompanying hubcaps.

Now you’re talkin’. Roof ribs too. They should’ve never removed them from the tooling. I believe the hood used to be a separate piece as well. Also, how cool would it be to see this bad boy again? 

[Mark]

1 hour ago, 1972coronet said:

The 1/20 scale AMX didn't seem to sell very well (came and went virtually undetected). Ostensibly, it's lacking in detail and accuracy (I've never had my hands and peepers on one, so I'm only going off opinions of others.

The original '68 and '69 AMX kits were quite good; chassis and engine detail and accuracy are far superior to the 1/24 scale Jo-Han kits.  Minor errors in those kits include extra lights engraved into the grille (pretty sure a part is included to cover those) and early style valve covers.  The 1968 version was first sold by mail and through AMC dealers, so AMC may have been to blame for those errors.

The '70 version went off the rails a bit, as MPC did that update out of their own pocket to get another year out of the kit.  The front bumper/grille could have been better, also the seat and door panel detail was not updated.  The '69 interior with a '70 instrument panel is the opposite of reissued Jo-Han kits, which have '70 interior and seat detail but a '69 dashboard.

[1972coronet]

37 minutes ago, Mark said:

The original '68 and '69 AMX kits were quite good; chassis and engine detail and accuracy are far superior to the 1/24 scale Jo-Han kits.  Minor errors in those kits include extra lights engraved into the grille (pretty sure a part is included to cover those) and early style valve covers.  The 1968 version was first sold by mail and through AMC dealers, so AMC may have been to blame for those errors.

Thanks for the information. I seem to remember that the valve covers were... off. IIRC, they're representative of the old Nash 287/327, and not the AM then-new V8's (1966 & later, 290-304-343/ 360-390-401). 

Based upon the evidence I've seen in a few annuals (most recently, my copy of the MPC 1972 Duster 340), the lead-time was long when researching/designing/developing next year's annuals: the original decal sheet has a date of '05-1971', which is only mid-year 1971, and months before the August changeover. Certainly, the AMX is no exemption (thanks for the info regarding the exclusivity of the 1/20 scale AMX! Interesting trivia for sure.).

[1972coronet]

1 hour ago, Smoke Wagon said:

Now you’re talkin’.[regarding the AMT Chevrolet Vans]  Roof ribs too. They should’ve never removed them from the tooling. I believe the hood used to be a separate piece as well. Also, how cool would it be to see this bad boy again? 

Heck yes! at least offer a 6-in-1 (haha) of the van: Stock, Police, Ambulance, Shaggin' Wagon, Open Road, with a full complement of period options (how about that 396-402-427-454 for that far out dragster version!).

So, return of the properly ribbed roof, 8 lug steel wheels w/separate hubcaps, a grip of sunroof/skylights (tinted and clear)... Oh, and surfboards!