Round 2 Product News and Booth Presentation at the 2025 DAAM Show

[tim boyd]

Round 2 had their usual table just inside the show entrance. The new intro for this show is a GT-350 version of the retooled 1966 Mustang GT Fastback kit. Updates were shown on several other in-process projects. The sign on the 1965 Barracuda says Quarter 3 2025 availability, but Steve said that Q4 2025 or possibly Q1 2026 is more likely.

For me another highlight is the first ever (to my knowledge) reissue of the AMT-Ertl 1968 El Camino Street Machine. It has all the changes vs. the factory stock Elky kit that were included the first time around, plus new and highly effective box art that sells all the features of the kit effectively for the first time.

Also, sounds like there is a whole number of upcoming model car projects that are in the works and still making progress.  My guess is that they will probably start to break cover early next year....the key takeaway here is that there will be plenty more new or revised tooling kits from Round 2 well into the next few years ahead.

Recommend you use the Roll View feature to read my comments on some of the pictures at this link, and thanks for looking...TIM

...35 more product and box art images at the link posted above... 

Edited March 23 by tim boyd

[Robberbaron]

Thanks Tim, always appreciate your detailed photos of these manufacturer's displays.

I think we all knew the '66 Shelby was coming, considering some of the design decisions for the retooled fastback body.  I'm sure it will do well for Round 2.

Glad to also see the '49 Mercury returning to the lineup.  Still one of AMT's best kits from the original Trophy Series line.

[Jim B]

Interesting.  Maybe the Scirocco as I wanted one of those when I was in high school.  The real car, not the model.  Never got one, though.

Of course, with the 1949 Mercury coming back, maybe I can get another body for the two that I ruined! 🤬 Maybe the trunk will be molded shut in this version.

Edited March 23 by Jim B

[Stef]

So much winning, I can't take it any more!

Thanks, Tim, for your continued hunting down the latest and greatest car kits to come.

Duster, Nomad, Backaruda, Hellcat, Z28 (Night Prowler not too far behind, hopefully!), Scirocco, and more. Wow.

Gonna hafta cash in the life insurance, buy all these kits, and find a way to live through it to build 'em all, heh.

[wrenchr]

Thanks Tim! I could not make it and bummed I could not. But your post will help me see what I missed.   

[Dragonhawk1066]

Outstanding and exciting news! Thanks for the coverage Tim! One of these days I have to make it to one of these shows, I mean I only live about 60 miles away. It just never works out with the time, or the money I'll need for the vendor tables, lol.

[Vettegasser]

Roman chariot. Hunted for years. I’ll be having that

[66c10]

Any test pictures of the Chrysler 300c and I will be getting seven of them 

[66c10]

Any info on the 66 mustang fastback gt-350 coming out and how much 

[66c10]

Any info on the 65 Dodge cornet hardtop 500 Hemi and how much 

[Radretireddad]

5 hours ago, tim boyd said:

Also, sounds like there is a whole number of upcoming model car projects that are in the works and still making progress.  My guess is that they will probably start to break cover early next year....the key takeaway here is that there will be plenty more new or revised tooling kits from Round 2 well into the next few years ahead.

Alrighty then! That’s great to hear, can’t wait!

[ChrisBcritter]

Nice to see the '49 Merc coming back. I wonder why AMT didn't do a Stylized option for that kit back in '63, like many others in the Trophy Series?

[niteowl7710]

9 hours ago, 66c10 said:

Any test pictures of the Chrysler 300c and I will be getting seven of them 

They wouldn't need to run test shots on that. It was one of the kits they ran when they were still leasing the tooling from Tomy before they actually bought the whole thing. It's been 15 years, but Round2 has done it before. The previous 2010ish release and the original 2006 release in the "Rides Magazines" box are all the same kit. Used to be a point where you couldn't give those kits away.

[tim boyd]

6 hours ago, ChrisBcritter said:

Nice to see the '49 Merc coming back. I wonder why AMT didn't do a Stylized option for that kit back in '63, like many others in the Trophy Series?

Hi Chris....the key shortfall of the Styline options in my view was that they added considerable length to the front and rear of the cars which resulted in an ungainly appearance, especially so at the front.  At the time the '49 Mercury kit was being designed and tooled (1963) AMT was already phasing out the Styline parts (they were included in some 1963 Annual kits using the phrase "Advanced Customizing) but they were pretty much gone by the 1964 annuals along with the Trophy Series kits introduced in 1963 and later.  

The original Merc kit still had some pretty cool customizing parts anyway so for many it was not a big loss for the Styline parts to be gone.  Still, I agree they were a cool alternative or the AMT kits.  

Of course, this is all just speculation on my part so please take it as such. 

Best...TIM  

 

[250 Testa Rossa]

I am definitely getting the GT350. Hopefully it comes with a set of Magnum 500s. 

[250 Testa Rossa]

What are the chances of this eventually becoming a '65 GT350 or even the '65 R Model?

[espo]

Thank you for the information on Round 2's future reissues. I like the way they have added to the appearance and options on these. I better start saving up since it looks like they'll be getting some of my model building money soon.  

[Justin Porter]

From my retail brain, I see a few things that I'm certainly looking forward to having on the shelves. As a builder, I'm honestly still looking forward to the early Barracuda and I'll be happy to have the '68 El Camino street machine back as a source for scavenging. 

[drodg]

Tim thanks for the info.  I am hoping the 72 Duster is coming soon as I want to replicate my 1:1 Demon using the interior from the new 72 kit.   

[Junkman]

Does this mean they have irrevocably altered the Mustang tool, or are these only add ons?

[tim boyd]

1 hour ago, Junkman said:

Does this mean they have irrevocably altered the Mustang tool, or are these only add ons?

If you are referring to the 1966 GT-350, they appear to be add-ons only.   TB

[carrucha]

Thanks for the pics!

[Mark]

On 3/24/2025 at 1:59 PM, tim boyd said:

Hi Chris....the key shortfall of the Styline options in my view was that they added considerable length to the front and rear of the cars which resulted in an ungainly appearance, especially so at the front.  At the time the '49 Mercury kit was being designed and tooled (1963) AMT was already phasing out the Styline parts (they were included in some 1963 Annual kits using the phrase "Advanced Customizing) but they were pretty much gone by the 1964 annuals along with the Trophy Series kits introduced in 1963 and later.  

The original Merc kit still had some pretty cool customizing parts anyway so for many it was not a big loss for the Styline parts to be gone.  Still, I agree they were a cool alternative or the AMT kits.  

Of course, this is all just speculation on my part so please take it as such. 

Best...TIM  

 

George Toteff seems to be the main guy who championed the Styline concept.  Budd Anderson was on the other side of the fence; he went in for things like the chopped top piece for the '36 Ford (because when you chopped the top on one, there was basically one way it would look when finished).  He didn’t care for the Styline extensions because they predetermined the styling of the front or rear.  I remember reading about a bet between Anderson and Toteff regarding the '49 versus '50 Ford kits which hit store shelves at the same time.  Budd won that one, but in part because the '49 coupe had a racing version and was half a buck cheaper to boot.

Anyway, Toteff left AMT during '63 to start up MPC with Dick Branstner, so there probably wasn't anyone else picking up the Styline/Advanced Custom flag.  AMT did do some more, heavier custom stuff anyway, including the '65 Impala annual kits which went even beyond the Styline concept (the advanced version required the front clip being cut off and replaced).

Back to the Merc...hobby show coverage of the day suggested that Ertl might have been preparing to tool some new parts for the late Eighties Customizing Series issue, including maybe a front end extension.  In the end, that issue was a straight reissue of the two or three previous ones, with Ertl adding a few parts in the issue after the Customizing Series one.

[GMP440]

On 3/23/2025 at 5:13 PM, tim boyd said:

Round 2 had their usual table just inside the show entrance. The new intro for this show is a GT-350 version of the retooled 1966 Mustang GT Fastback kit. Updates were shown on several other in-process projects. The sign on the 1965 Barracuda says Quarter 3 2025 availability, but Steve said that Q4 2025 or possibly Q1 2026 is more likely.

For me another highlight is the first ever (to my knowledge) reissue of the AMT-Ertl 1968 El Camino Street Machine. It has all the changes vs. the factory stock Elky kit that were included the first time around, plus new and highly effective box art that sells all the features of the kit effectively for the first time.

Also, sounds like there is a whole number of upcoming model car projects that are in the works and still making progress.  My guess is that they will probably start to break cover early next year....the key takeaway here is that there will be plenty more new or revised tooling kits from Round 2 well into the next few years ahead.

Recommend you use the Roll View feature to read my comments on some of the pictures at this link, and thanks for looking...TIM

...35 more product and box art images at the link posted above... 

   Hopefully one of those projects being worked on is an all new 67 Ford Galaxie kit.

[tim boyd]

2 hours ago, Mark said:

George Toteff seems to be the main guy who championed the Styline concept.  Budd Anderson was on the other side of the fence; he went in for things like the chopped top piece for the '36 Ford (because when you chopped the top on one, there was basically one way it would look when finished).  He didn’t care for the Styline extensions because they predetermined the styling of the front or rear.  I remember reading about a bet between Anderson and Toteff regarding the '49 versus '50 Ford kits which hit store shelves at the same time.  Budd won that one, but in part because the '49 coupe had a racing version and was half a buck cheaper to boot.

Anyway, Toteff left AMT during '63 to start up MPC with Dick Branstner, so there probably wasn't anyone else picking up the Styline/Advanced Custom flag.  AMT did do some more, heavier custom stuff anyway, including the '65 Impala annual kits which went even beyond the Styline concept (the advanced version required the front clip being cut off and replaced).

Back to the Merc...hobby show coverage of the day suggested that Ertl might have been preparing to tool some new parts for the late Eighties Customizing Series issue, including maybe a front end extension.  In the end, that issue was a straight reissue of the two or three previous ones, with Ertl adding a few parts in the issue after the Customizing Series one.

Most of this is new news to me (other than Toteff leaving to start MPC and the '65  Imapala....)...thanks for the added info, Mark....Cheers...TB 

Edited March 30 by tim boyd