Round 2, well known for producing plastic model kits under the AMT, MPC, and Polar Lights brands, has announced a range of all-new scale plastic model kits for 2023. In the past, the South Bend, Indiana-based company has concentrated much of its model-making mojo on re-popping vintage kits with improved parts and decals, causing collector markets no end of heartburn.
It’s not like Round 2 hasn’t produced newly tooled kits in the past. In 2022, it developed and released the 1/72 scale Razorcrest kit from the Star Wars streaming TV series The Mandalorian and the 1/25 scale Ford C-900 dump truck, both for the AMT brand. And over the years previous, it’s produced a handful of car kits and several pop-culture and sci-fi offerings. However, Round 2 has set an ambitious 2023 goal of 10 new model kits, including the first edition 2021 Ford Bronco two-door, the 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T with trail, the 2021 Dodge Charger R/T, as well as Star Wars fare like a 1/32 scale TIE fighter and 1/144 scale Havoc Marauder from the Bad BatchTV show.
According to Jamie Hood, Round 2 brand manager, releasing new kits has been part of the plan since the beginning, and now the company is in a position to make it happen.
“It has always been the goal to do more all-new kits, but resources have been limited at times,” Hood says. “However, things change, and we have recently been able to add the additional staff needed to ramp up more product development.”
It is no secret that model manufacturers take a lot of grief for re-popping older kits, and Round 2 isn’t deaf to the criticism.
“We recognize that a lot of our products are reissues from tried-and-true tooling,” says John Greczula, AMT model kit development director. “Consumers want to see more all-new subject matter, whether it’s a modern vehicle like the new Ford Broncos or a re-creation from the ground up of long-gone kits, such as the 1963 Chevy II Nova wagon.”
Beyond knowing there is a thirst for new kits, ultimately, the company has to decide which subjects to kit. There’s no shortage of suggestions, whether delivered directly at shows, via email, or on social media and online forums.
“Some [releases] are a result of consumer demand,” Greczula says, citing the planned 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T. On the other hand, he says vintage kits are hard to find and command higher prices than many can pay. But it also makes sense to make the investment in tooling go as far as possible. “There are at least three different versions each of the new Ford Bronco and 2021 Dodge Charger that we can release from the tooling,” he says. It’s a business model that has worked well for other model makers.
Don’t look for a firm announcement of the planned all-new kits in the near future. Uncertainties with supply chains and other factors beyond Round 2’s control, the company shies away from promising delivery dates until it is certain Round 2 has the products in hand.
“We like to have new kit developments far enough along in our process that we have a fairly good idea of when we can land a new kit,” Hood says. “So, you may or may not see a full line list announced at one time, but it is more likely that we will have several new kit announcements throughout the year.”
It’s a good bet that if you see a kit featured on Round 2’s monthly YouTube videos or FineScale Modeler’s New Product Rundown, the kit is on its way to the company’s warehouse.
All images courtesy of Round 2.