Where is Chad with R2 February news?

[Justin Porter]

1 minute ago, Daddyfink said:

Well yes, that is a totally different deal. But how many here are buying or asking for foreign kits? I like them, you like them, but who else? Most of the talk here is American cars and American kit makers. 

I would posit that if foreign kit manufacturers are able to sustain greater numbers of newly tooled offerings, that would imply that MORE people are buying and asking for them than American cars from American kit makers regardless of whether or not this forum discusses them or not. 

If your position is true - that American car from American kit makers are indeed more popular than foreign ones - then it would imply that Round 2 simply chooses not to produce kits to the same quality or quantity as a company like Hasegawa rather than that their sales don't justify it. 

That being said, Tim Boyd's pictures from the DAAM show demonstrated that at least the Barracuda has a MUCH better chassis than we've seen on the Craftsman Plus kits to date which gives me hope that we may see Round 2 move more in this direction and away from music wire axles. 

[Mark]

It's all about subject matter.  So-and-so's kits might be more accurate, better quality, whatever.  But if the subject matter doesn't get someone excited, they're not going to be interested in it regardless of accuracy, quality, or price.

[Rob Hall]

19 minutes ago, Daddyfink said:

Well yes, that is a totally different deal. But how many here are buying or asking for foreign kits? I like them, you like them, but who else? Most of the talk here is American cars and American kit makers. 

I buy plenty of 'foreign' kits.  This forum isn't really representative of the modeling community as a whole, it skews towards a niche of older American kit builders.

[gtx6970]

1 hour ago, Rob Hall said:

Harts Parts makes the base style 70 grille.  I have seen pictures of '70 Duster 340s with the base (Valiant-style) grille and the grille like the AMT '71 340 kit also.

I built a base line Duster to replicate my brothers 1/1 car.

Bought the grille off Ebay 7-8 years ago 

[gtx6970]

1 hour ago, Mark said:

It's all about subject matter.  So-and-so's kits might be more accurate, better quality, whatever.  But if the subject matter doesn't get someone excited, they're not going to be interested in it regardless of accuracy, quality, or price.

THIS ^^^^

 

 

I buy based on subject matter and that alone. Accuracy is secondary

If I don't like the subject ( not matter who makes it ) Its simple. I don't buy the kit. 

[Tom Geiger]

Here's what I see....  watching the video it's pretty apparent that diecast and sci-fi is paying the bills.  Consider that the diecast is sold in every Walmart across the country and you can imagine the numbers!

Model cars are being produced because Tom Lowe likes model cars, especially the nostalgic market.  Yes, they are chasing the Baby Boomers as we retire. Every day on the boards you see new names of guys who confess they hadn't touched a model in 30 years but want to do this as their retirement project.  So the market for the subject matter we like is growing. This market probably has a 10-20 year cycle and Round 2 knows that.

I am happy  to the point of giddy about the 1965 Barracuda and  1960 Chevy station wagon. The Demon and Duster are just icing on the cake for me. And we know that detailed kits and maybe even variants like a 1966 Barracuda and 1960 El Camino may follow.  You can see the detailed kit intent where the under hood details on the prototypes is correct for the cars.  

And look at the engine plate... single exhaust on the left... could that be an inkling of a Slant Six?  R2 already has the tooling for the Lindberg 64s with the best Slant Six ever tooled in 1/25. I can only hope.  

Edited February 7 by Tom Geiger

[Mark C.]

4 hours ago, fairlane1320 said:

The modeling world needs less Dusters and Darts, and more real Performance Cars......

 

There’s room for all, though I would argue that all brands offered “real” performance cars (and I know you were just getting in a jab at the Mopar guys 😉).  

Edited February 7 by Mark C.

[rickcaps55]

4 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

Here's what I see....  watching the video it's pretty apparent that diecast and sci-fi is paying the bills.  Consider that the diecast is sold in every Walmart across the country and you can imagine the numbers!

Model cars are being produced because Tom Lowe likes model cars, especially the nostalgic market.  Yes, they are chasing the Baby Boomers as we retire. Every day on the boards you see new names of guys who confess they hadn't touched a model in 30 years but want to do this as their retirement project.  So the market for the subject matter we like is growing. This market probably has a 10-20 year cycle and Round 2 knows that.

I am happy  to the point of giddy about the 1965 Barracuda and  1960 Chevy station wagon. The Demon and Duster are just icing on the cake for me. And we know that detailed kits and maybe even variants like a 1966 Barracuda and 1960 El Camino may follow.  You can see the detailed kit intent where the under hood details on the prototypes is correct for the cars.  

And look at the engine plate... single exhaust on the left... could that be an inkling of a Slant Six?  R2 already has the tooling for the Lindberg 64s with the best Slant Six ever tooled in 1/25. I can only hope.  

LOL that was my thought right off the bat i have two kits with the slant six ready to donate to two of these kits as soon as i can get my hands on them. Most people don't know that the base engine on the 64 through 69 was the slant six and they also had a dealer hyper pac that would boost the horse power.

[oldcarfan]

On 2/5/2025 at 8:51 PM, Mark C. said:

IMHO, Round 2 has discovered a new niche that was opened up by new technology, the equivalent of digitally remastered classic kits for which the tooling was lost or scrapped decades ago.  There is still a market for the subject matter, and enough nostalgia among builders that they can appreciate getting something back (and improved) that was thought to be long lost, even if they are much simpler than most modern full detail kits.

I also theorize that there are builders who can be just as happy putting together a simplified kit, as long as it looks great in the end.  More detail can always be added, as desired.

It’s all good, IMHO.

I think you are right! Round 2 could introduce a way to remake long lost tools. I read a while back that other industries are using the same technology to do short run parts for relatively cheap. This could put Round 2 a leap ahead of their competition. It would be cool if they decided to redo the early MPC kits too. I'd love the chance build a 71 Pinto, and Vega, and a 74 Camaro! Maybe they could make some kind of deal to produce kits based on old Johan releases as well.

[blubaja]

On 2/6/2025 at 1:43 PM, Jordan White said:

Luckily it appears Revell has many plans for their new 80s K5 tooling, based on the next version already being announced! Hopefully based on how they molded the parts, it would be easy for them to make a pickup kit that shares parts with the K5 kits!

There wouldn't be many parts shared. Whole different body, interior, chassis. Maybe they can reuse the hood and front windshield 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Mark C.]

7 hours ago, oldcarfan said:

I think you are right! Round 2 could introduce a way to remake long lost tools. I read a while back that other industries are using the same technology to do short run parts for relatively cheap. This could put Round 2 a leap ahead of their competition. It would be cool if they decided to redo the early MPC kits too.

They are basically already doing this with the '63 Nova wagon, '64 Cutlass, '68 Coronet, '71 Demon, '65 and '68 GTOs, '64 Chevelle, etc., and the upcoming '65 Barracuda, '72 Duster, and '60 Chev wagon.  The tooling for those kits was basically lost or incomplete, to my understanding from what I've read, and new tooling was created by digital scanning of old kits, and then altering the new tooling for improved detail and better fit and finish (which brought about my "digitally remastered" comment - borrowed from the music industry).

Like I've said, I don't really understand people being negative about Round 2's efforts here.  As modellers, we are getting subject matter that we would never have seen otherwise, and this is the only way we could ever hope to get most of it.  There are lots of kits out there that don't interest me, but I'm glad that others have a chance to have them.  Likewise, I am super happy to be able to buy these kits that were considered to be long lost just half a decade ago.  IMHO, these are the golden years for the hobby, and we are fortunate enough to be able to benefit from it. 

[Robberbaron]

I was a bit surprised by the '72 Duster, just because they already have the '71.  (Yes, I'm aware of the differences.  Just not sure if the average HL casual buyer would be.)

I can't help but think they may have a Pro Stock version planned for the future so they can resurrect this:

That would help justify tooling a new body.

Regarding a 1970 Duster 340, Steve Goldman has stated on this board that he would like to do one eventually, It's just a matter of priorities/$ allocation.  Creating a base Duster grille would be straightforward enough. It sounds like the interior differences might be the bigger hurdle.

Personally, I would be happy if they just added a base grille to the '71 kit.

 

[Jordan White]

9 hours ago, blubaja said:

There wouldn't be many parts shared. Whole different body, interior, chassis. Maybe they can reuse the hood and front windshield 🤷🏼‍♂️

Hood, windshield, bumpers, lights, drivetrain (minus rear driveshaft), some exhaust, most of the front interior parts. Sure not all, but they can make variations of the different parts with 3d modeling so they aren’t completely starting from scratch either.

[Mark C.]

Yeah, a base grille seems like an easy addition that could open up the possibility for other versions. Add in a bench seat and 2bbl carb and air cleaner and you could do a 318 (there would be other differences like exhaust manifolds, but most wouldn’t notice or care).  

Toss in some Cragars and wide tires for the back, with some rear spring shackle extensions and you have a 1970s high school kid’s car (with some STP and other decals for the quarter windows).  Lots of 318 cars got the wide tire, jacked up look back then.  ‘Course I might just have to do one of those anyhow…

[oldcarfan]

15 hours ago, Mark C. said:

They are basically already doing this with the '63 Nova wagon, '64 Cutlass, '68 Coronet, '71 Demon, '65 and '68 GTOs, '64 Chevelle, etc., and the upcoming '65 Barracuda, '72 Duster, and '60 Chev wagon.   Likewise, I am super happy to be able to buy these kits that were considered to be long lost just half a decade ago.  IMHO, these are the golden years for the hobby, and we are fortunate enough to be able to benefit from it. 

Some of these re do kits aren't really my thing, but I buy them to encourage them to keep it going. I do love the Nova wagon, and I'll be buying the 60 Chevy wagon too. As for other releases, I wrote to someone at Round 2 years ago about backdating the MPC Camaro into the 75, and the Chevy Impala, Dodge Van, Pinto and Vega among others into their pre-big bumper versions. They were nice enough to reply and said something along the lines of it wouldn't be feasible to restore the molds. Maybe new tech will make it possible.

I've got some of the 60 and 63 Ford trucks waiting in the pile. And you are right, it's nice being able to get old kits without paying eBay prices. Even though the fan base for modeling as a whole may be shrinking, the new technology and other developments is for sure ushering in a golden age.

[Chris V]

I’m definitely in for a bunch of the remastered Nomads for various projects. Hopefully the model will sell well enough to make a compelling argument for remastering the SMP ‘60 El Camino based on the same tooling.

[sak]

On 2/6/2025 at 9:26 AM, Mr mopar said:

close but no cigar

I own a Plymouth duster and I know there are subtle differences, but do we need a kit for EVERY model year? Some models were neglected for decades. Take the skylark for example, AMT made a '66 and that was it, until Monogram made a '70 decades later. ONE  olds 88, in 1965, then ruined to make a stockcar.  Just saying.  Why not a '72 or '73 swinger or scamp before another duster? 

[Rob Hall]

On 2/8/2025 at 7:18 AM, Robberbaron said:

I was a bit surprised by the '72 Duster, just because they already have the '71.  (Yes, I'm aware of the differences.  Just not sure if the average HL casual buyer would be.)

I can't help but think they may have a Pro Stock version planned for the future so they can resurrect this:

That would help justify tooling a new body.

Regarding a 1970 Duster 340, Steve Goldman has stated on this board that he would like to do one eventually, It's just a matter of priorities/$ allocation.  Creating a base Duster grille would be straightforward enough. It sounds like the interior differences might be the bigger hurdle.

Personally, I would be happy if they just added a base grille to the '71 kit.

 

My understanding from talking to the Round 2 rep at a show last year is there are Pro Stock versions of the Demon and Duster coming. 

Edited February 9 by Rob Hall

[Luc Janssens]

3 minutes ago, sak said:

66 Skylark

I hope, that if Round-2 is looking into re-doing the '66 they include the never kitted '67, which IMHO slightly better looking.

[Mr mopar]

A '70 Duster would be easier to make from the AMT kit all Round 2 has to do is grill and interior !

Edited February 11 by Mr mopar

[tbusch]

3 hours ago, Rob Hall said:

My understanding from talking to the Round 2 rep at a show last year is there are Pro Stock versions of the Demon and Duster coming. 

Be still my Heart !!!

[Daddyfink]

On 2/7/2025 at 6:23 AM, Justin Porter said:

I would posit that if foreign kit manufacturers are able to sustain greater numbers of newly tooled offerings, that would imply that MORE people are buying and asking for them than American cars from American kit makers regardless of whether or not this forum discusses them or not. 

If your position is true - that American car from American kit makers are indeed more popular than foreign ones - then it would imply that Round 2 simply chooses not to produce kits to the same quality or quantity as a company like Hasegawa rather than that their sales don't justify it. 

That being said, Tim Boyd's pictures from the DAAM show demonstrated that at least the Barracuda has a MUCH better chassis than we've seen on the Craftsman Plus kits to date which gives me hope that we may see Round 2 move more in this direction and away from music wire axles. 

You have to keep in mind that almost every foreign kit maker is going for a foreign market that is not the U.S. Selling kits here is a bonus for them, but not their primary market. Companies like Hasegawa have to make kits that appeal worldwide and not just to their home market, like American kit makers. Foreign kit makers also have a much bigger production and funding system than U.S. kit makers, with the exception of Revell of Germany, R2 is more of a cottage industry now that mainly tries to cater to us here in the U.S. 

R2 resurrecting certain vintage kits with some slight upgrades does not even compare to a new kit from Hasegawa. They upgrade as best as they can when items are replaced, but they are still vintage kits. And the Barracuda still has the metal axles. But at least the pans are a bit more detailed with more separate parts you don't have to grind off. 

 

 

[niteowl7710]

12 hours ago, Daddyfink said:

You have to keep in mind that almost every foreign kit maker is going for a foreign market that is not the U.S. Selling kits here is a bonus for them, but not their primary market. Companies like Hasegawa have to make kits that appeal worldwide and not just to their home market, like American kit makers. Foreign kit makers also have a much bigger production and funding system than U.S. kit makers, with the exception of Revell of Germany, R2 is more of a cottage industry now that mainly tries to cater to us here in the U.S. 

R2 resurrecting certain vintage kits with some slight upgrades does not even compare to a new kit from Hasegawa. They upgrade as best as they can when items are replaced, but they are still vintage kits. And the Barracuda still has the metal axles. But at least the pans are a bit more detailed with more separate parts you don't have to grind off. 

 

 

For a multitude of reasons, this analysis is wrong. I could spend a half hour writing a novella, but nobody would bother to read it.

Suffice to say your impressions of market size and market share, to say nothing of funding and budgets are incorrect. In 2025 Round2 is now the largest company in the U.S., and their CHOICE to stick in the nostalgia niche is one they made, not one they were forced to make.

For the record I don't begrudge their (Round2) decisions either. I think they have a unique "it" angle to play with scanning and recreating the old kits and they should run that out as far as it will take the profits. 

As a general statement all the - Wish they made this, or they should make that, et al. Ya'll need to keep in mind development runs 12-18 months in advance, the stuff you know about is 6-9 months in advance. There's an entire year's (plus) worth of planning already done that everyone else has no idea about.

Edited February 10 by niteowl7710

[tim boyd]

3 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

 

As a general statement all the - Wish they made this, or they should make that, et al. Ya'll need to keep in mind development runs 12-18 months in advance, the stuff you know about is 6-9 months in advance. There's an entire year's (plus) worth of planning already done that everyone else has no idea about.

I strongly agree with James' perspective here.  He is exactly right on the timing considerations (perhaps even longer when the subject is an all-new tool of a new 1/1 scale product - e.g. the 2021-25 Bronco and mid-engine C8 Corvette).   I am pretty sure most would be excited to hear the projects that are under consideration and/or development - that have yet to be announced (or even rumored) - and might actually break cover over the next year or two.  

One further point I would add is that while we are all enthusiastic builders and collectors, the model companies are a business.  They have limited resources (time, manpower, capital/budget) and must make decisions that will ensure the continued success and longevity of their business enterprises.  The various Model Companys' personnel that I have known over the years would probably love almost all the kit requests that show up on this board, but they are the ones who have to then make the hard choices on what gets produced, and what doesn't, which requires an entirely different mindset to achieve success.  Glad I'm not the one making those choices...

Best...TB p

[gtx6970]

On 2/9/2025 at 10:27 AM, Mr mopar said:

A '70 Duster would be easier to from the AMT kit all Round 2 has to do is grill and interior !

Although quite true. Most non mopar people wouldnt know the differences outside of maybe the grill itself