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Archive for December, 2016
Coming off the Shelf – Here’s to the New Year!
Another year has come and gone. I know, hard to believe, right? I’ve covered many of our 2016 model kit releases including; Super Bosses, Blazing Bisons, Corvette Convertibles, Ice Cream Trucks, Grand Slams and more, and will continue to do so through 2017.
As noted in the initial Coming off the Shelf post back on March 29th, we do what we do because Round 2 truly cares about the model kit culture. Where it’s been, where it is now, and where it’s going. We do this, in hope of giving all the faithful, veteran modelers out there a chance to relive their past experiences. To build what once was. To be young again. And to all the younger modelers out there, it’s an opportunity to build the same kits your father, or even your grandfather, built many years ago. The heart of what we do is take vintage kits that have been shelved for years, even decades, pull them “off the shelf”, then re-release them as accurately as possible (with added goodies)–for ALL modelers to enjoy. In other words, we’re into nostalgia.
So, in light of that, here’s to you, the classic modeler, and new modelers too. May you all have an incredible New Year, filled with happiness and youthful memories from days gone by.
See you in 2017. Thank you.
KAT CHAT: Holiday Horror Haunts Humans!
What’s repulsive, eats pizza and likes to play pinball? Well, it ain’t Santa Claus! You’ll just have to wait until the new year to find out. What we CAN tell you is, monster model aficionado and Kustom artist, Dirty Donny is busy at work in his secret lab (or the pinball parlor, we’re not really sure) creating another hideous-but-hilarious monster model for the Kats at AMT! This creepy creation is going to top the charts of terror and captivate any consumer of cool with its value-packed accessories and cranium-crushing packaging artwork! Score a special with an all new resin monster kit from the Kats and AMT and Dirty Donny! And be glad this monster ISN’T under your tree… Coming in 2017!
FREAK PEEK:
MPC’s Stroker McGurks’s Ghost of America Set To Take Off!
As one of Hot Rod Magazine’s original staffers in 1948, Tom Medley’s cartoons and photography chronicled America’s post WWII car culture. His character “Stroker McGurk” put a whimsical wink on a hot rodding’s outlaw image and was a popular feature in the magazine. MPC originally released two kits featuring McGurk – one of his wild surfboard, the Surf Rod and featured here, The Ghost of America salt flats racer.
Styled around a WWI fighter plane, Stroker’s salt flats racer features a detailed Allison aircraft engine, “Model A” type radiator, machine gun and rolling wheels. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without Stroker McGurk himself appropriately wearing a fighter pilot uniform and head gear!
MPC’s re-release features expanded decals and a color Stroker McGurk sticker in our Retro Deluxe vintage-styled packaging.
Be sure to grab both the Stroker McGurk Surf Rod and The Ghost of America at your hobby dealer.
MPC Space:1999 Models: Announcing 22″ Cargo Pod Eagle
Since our 22″ Space:1999 Eagle hit the market, modelers have been clamoring for more and continue to ask what is coming next. Here is our official announcement that the next Space:1999 kit will be a 22″ Eagle with Cargo Pod! I don’t have much time at the moment, so I’ll dive right into the details as we know them right now.
Of course it includes the flatbed “cargo” pod, but comes with a couple options. It will come with a full winch assembly along with the magnetic hoist. Yes, magnets will be included. The kit will also come with four nuclear waste canisters. You can rig one up to work with the magnetic hoist or use all four to fill the flatbed.
The kit will be a full Eagle kit. We will be swapping out tooling inserts that replace the tools that injected the passenger pod parts for tools that will inject cargo pod parts. I say this to be clear that it will not be possible to produce separate pod kits for our 22″ Eagle. Doing it this way keeps both the tooling investment and production costs lower in order to deliver the kit at the lowest price possible.
We haven’t announced the pricing or release date yet. Due to using one sprue of new parts and including things like the magnets, expect it to be a bit more expensive than the standard 22″ Eagle. It will probably be available in mid-summer. The development of the new parts so far has proceeded at a brisk pace, and we will be tooling the parts soon. Expect to see our buildup at Wonderfest in May, 2017.
While I’m mentioning Wonderfest, let me remind everyone that we offer a substantial award in the model contest for the best use of a Round 2 kit. We give prizes to both the adult category and the best to come out of the junior & teen groups. Historically, we like to see either pristine builds using one of our kits OR the significant use of one of our kits in a creative new design or kit bash. They hope to set a new record of 700 entries this year. Sounds like an amazing opportunity!
I also wanted to mention that due to an unexpected delay with the Special Edition Eagle that spotlights Brian Johnson, we are not certain at this point if the kits will ship before the end of the year. There is a chance, but it is slim. If it doesn’t release by the end of the year, it shouldn’t be much further than a week or two into January.
Anyway, on with the pics of the Cargo Pod Eagle!
Coming off the Shelf – We All Scream for Ice Cream!
MPC is getting ready to release another appetizing kit, honoring the legendary George Barris. Here comes the Ice Cream Truck! The second release in our Barris Kustom Commemorative Edition series. This kit is loaded with more goodies than you can shake an ice cream cone at, which includes: an ALL NEW decal sheet – with transparent stained glass window graphics, pad printed Firestone tires, miniature display box and an optional clear blue parts tree! To top it off, we’ve also included an eye-popping display base to show off your groovy build! Some of the “double-scoop” featured parts include: an ice cream cone steering column, twin custom seats, custom exhausts, one-of-a-kind instrument panel, front wheels that turn, stylized wheel covers, rear doors that swing open and an injected Chevy V-8 with scoops.
We have to believe every item in this kit will beg for your attention. Even the belly band! Production samples just arrived yesterday and they are looking good. The Ice Cream Truck is on the water, and should be arriving at to your local hobby dealer before you know it. So, hope you enjoy building it as much as we enjoyed developing it!
To all our builders out there, have a safe and enjoyable Holiday Season. And thank you so much for your support.
