It's summer again, the sun is shining down and the water is glistening; time to remind everyone about one of 2023's best Round 2 reissues...

[tim boyd]

This one really sailed along undetected (sorry for the water clichés, I can't help myself..)

Round 2 reissued their 1968 Kindsvater hulled drag/ski boat for only the fourth time ever, paired with their Chevy C30 van and freshened box art replicating the rare 1975 "Aqua Rod" Van/Trailer/Boat gift set.  

Hidden in that box was a spectacular, newly designed decal sheet which not only redid the 1975 Aqua Rod livery, but included a second whole set of boat and van graphics based on the illustration of the upcoming kit in AMT's 1975 1/2 announcement bulletin.  The result, which was printed in Italy, by the way, was an 8" by 10" decal livery that is among the highest resolution, glossiest and detailed work I've seen in a model kit (the image below doesn't even begin to do it justice...).    

You can read more about the reissue here.  But if you think of boating in scale when the summer arrives and the sun is shining, think about tracking down one of these kits.  I think you'll have a blast building it.  Best...TIM 

****

PS - many of us have wondered whether any of the old AMT Rayson-Craft Trophy Series ski/boat parts were lurking past unopened gates in this kit tool.  We now know the answer...it's mentioned in the review above...TB . 

Edited June 3, 2024 by tim boyd

[Can-Con]

Tim, this is the same boat and trailer that was included with the Model King set with the '70 Bonneville, isn't it? 

Pretty cool stuff. 

[tim boyd]

10 hours ago, Can-Con said:

Tim, this is the same boat and trailer that was included with the Model King set with the '70 Bonneville, isn't it? 

Pretty cool stuff. 

Steve....correct you are.  Best...TB 

[drodg]

Thanks Tim

[Ragtop Man]

I no longer ask forgiveness for puns, allegory, alliteration ... 

That said, the Aqua Rod never really floated my boat.

On reflection, the G-30 Van would make waves in my collection, and to your point, the waterslide decals do add a splash of color.  

 

[Phirewriter]

Maybe R2 should release the boat as a stand alone kit. Another crappy van model I don't need.

Edited June 4, 2024 by Phirewriter

[thatz4u]

if you like it buy it...whatever floats your boat....?

[Ron Hamilton]

I scooped up that kit and started on the van right away.  Since I have several unbuilt van kits, I decided to go back to my roots as a Chevy Truck Salesman. I decided on a tricked out cutaway,  with a Bryant KUV utility body kit, converted to dually.

[Luc Janssens]

Got several of these van's, but kinda hope that in the future they bring back the GMC again, doesn't have to be an A-Team licensed kit, a factory stock will do too.

Edited June 9, 2024 by Luc Janssens

[Tabbysdaddy]

8 hours ago, Luc Janssens said:

Got several of these van's, but kinda hope that in the future they bring back the GMC again, doesn't have to be an A-Team licensed kit, a factory stock will do too.

At the very least, it would be nice if they put the roof ribs back on the body. 

[Mark]

The roof ribs on the van aren't a big deal...a few measurements, some Evergreen strip stock...done.  The drip rail circling the roof is another area needing attention...same deal.  Use liquid styrene cement on that.  I think I started at the end of the track for the passenger side cargo door and worked forward and around the roof...tack the end down with CA glue, apply solvent cement to the rest.  The solvent cement will let the strip stock flex a bit at the corners.  It does take more than one piece to go all the way around, make the join in a straight area near a corner.

The new decals for the boat sound great, but I need another one of those Chevy vans like a hole in the head!  After putting a full interior in the Dirty Donny version (among other things) it's going to be awhile before I tackle another one.  

[tim boyd]

3 hours ago, Mark said:

The roof ribs on the van aren't a big deal...a few measurements, some Evergreen strip stock...done.  The drip rail circling the roof is another area needing attention...same deal.  Use liquid styrene cement on that.  I think I started at the end of the track for the passenger side cargo door and worked forward and around the roof...tack the end down with CA glue, apply solvent cement to the rest.  The solvent cement will let the strip stock flex a bit at the corners.  It does take more than one piece to go all the way around, make the join in a straight area near a corner.

The new decals for the boat sound great, but I need another one of those Chevy vans like a hole in the head!  After putting a full interior in the Dirty Donny version (among other things) it's going to be awhile before I tackle another one.  

I hear you guys on the van.  Personally I'd love to see a reissue of the boat in the "Quarter Masters" combo kit but with the Polar Lights 2005 GTO (the drift version w/o tampo prints and drift parts, but with the 2005 factory GTO updates) replacing the original 1968-ish "custom" Firebird tow car in the box and on the box art...as to the best of my knowledge the Polar Lights 2005 was never issued as a factory stock version like their earlier 2004 was...and that "Quarter Masters" box art was epic...

TB 

[Robberbaron]

46 minutes ago, tim boyd said:

I hear you guys on the van.  Personally I'd love to see a reissue of the boat in the "Quarter Masters" combo kit but with the Polar Lights 2005 GTO (the drift version w/o tampo prints and drift parts, but with the 2005 factory GTO updates) replacing the original 1968-ish "custom" Firebird tow car in the box and on the box art...as to the best of my knowledge the Polar Lights 2005 was never issued as a factory stock version like their earlier 2004 was...and that "Quarter Masters" box art was epic...

TB 

I didn't even know PL did an update on that GTO.  Did the update have improved headlights vs. the 2004?  I seem to remember those were sorely lacking on the original.

[Luc Janssens]

13 hours ago, tim boyd said:

I hear you guys on the van.  Personally I'd love to see a reissue of the boat in the "Quarter Masters" combo kit but with the Polar Lights 2005 GTO (the drift version w/o tampo prints and drift parts, but with the 2005 factory GTO updates) replacing the original 1968-ish "custom" Firebird tow car in the box and on the box art...as to the best of my knowledge the Polar Lights 2005 was never issued as a factory stock version like their earlier 2004 was...and that "Quarter Masters" box art was epic...

TB 

What also would be neat if Round-2 could tool up some Holden specific parts, as the Poncho was based on the Monaro, IIRC Vauxhall of the UK also had their version of this Holden. Maybe our friends here from both the UK as Australia can elaborate on this.

Anyway just a thought, don't know if there's a big ROI unless maybe DDA is interested in co-investing in this but,  great to brainstorm anyway.

 

Edited June 10, 2024 by Luc Janssens

[Ragtop Man]

With both Luc and Tim on this one - I blinked and missed a chance to get the predec drift GTO (which I did an ad for innaday...) 

Heck, if the two-and-done Firebird tool is still in the crib, and R2 could deal with the slings and arrows of the Rivet Police, I wouldn't mind it one iota. The custom Vette surfaced (and I still need to find one at a good price) so, stranger things have happened. 

IMO, it has the best true Pontiac of the early kits, shapes and features much more correct than any of the other AMT efforts; add a few accessories from one of the big Pontiacs and "Bob's your uncle."  The early Keystones are excellent, too. Custom bits are meh, but it can be built into a 1/25 Hot Wheels replica with very little effort. 

I'd take it in a minue over another release of the savagely beaten tool of the '69 Firebird/Trans Am. 

[stavanzer]

I wish Round2 would explore more of these Tow Vehicle/Trailer/Boat-Racer-Dragster combinations.

There is some nifty stuff still hiding in the toolbank, and these Combo kits seem like agreat way to "Test-the-Waters" on how popular a kit might be without have a full scale production run.

The '60/63 Fords like like a great choice for a Set, especially the 1960 since it already has a trailer. I'd pair the 1960 Ford with the Double Dragster kit. 4 Kits in one box, but Combined with a new, expanded decal sheet like Round2 does so well now, and I think you have a Winner.

[rattle can man]

I might by the boat if it was stand alone kit. 

[LDO]

Buy the kit and trade the van for something else. 

[Tabbysdaddy]

That's funny. I want the van not the boat.

[Dave Ambrose]

On 8/18/2024 at 4:36 PM, Tabbysdaddy said:

That's funny. I want the van not the boat.

I'll give the boat a good home. ?