SCALE MODEL NEWS

THIS KIT REPRESENTS an AMT show rod that was designed as a custom concept. First released in the 1970s, this new version includes a number of useful extras. Mat Irvine:  Flameout is another concept penned by John Bogosian, the talented designer who created a lot of original machines for AMT in the 1970s. The theme for this 1:25 scale kit is a fire appliance, with all the bells and whistles (literally) that you’d expect to find on such a production. The box art ( header pic ) is a reproduction of the original, with ‘Retro DeLuxe Edition’ and ‘Katch the Kat’ stickers attached to the transparent wrapper. The latter indicates that one in twelve kits are moulded with a body in metallic red. The components ( below ) include four runners, two of which are chrome-plated. The paperwork ( below ) includes instructions, mini-box, and card parts for the attractive and useful diorama base. The 'super expanded' decal sheet ( bottom left ) is more comprehensive than the original. The mini-box...

THIS IS A REISSUE OF AN AMT classic show rod, as designed by John Bogosian, in 1970. Li’l Gasser was one of four kits based on the same six-wheel chassis and running gear. Mat Irvine:  Although the  1:25 scale Li’l Gasser is essentially the same kit that was issued way back when, this new version has changed somewhat. As with other recent Round 2 reissues, you get far more in the new version. The new box ( header pic ) uses the original artwork, with ‘Retro DeLuxe’ and ‘Katch the Kat’ stickers on the shrink-wrap. The side panels ( below ) depict some features of the kit. New items include tyres that have been replaced with new-tool versions, complete with highly desirable pre-applied lettering. Then you get two sets of transparencies, the original clear and for this kit, a duplicate set in smoke-grey. There is also a new and comprehensive decal sheet, plus a card diorama on which to place the finished model. A card cut-out figure of John Bogosian is also included. Parts roste...

Mat Irvine reports: Since its inception, Round 2 has reissued kits that haven’t seen the light of day for many years. But they aren’t all straight down-the-line reissues. Many of the new kits supply more parts than originally, often by combining parts from several versions that you didn’t get first time around. Also, some parts are supplied in varied colours - for example, plain transparent parts in the early kits are now supplied with three other transparent shades, so you can mix and match if you wish. Dune Buggy diorama One such up-and-coming reissue is the classic Mayers Manx Dune Buggy, which features a return of the original cardboard diorama background - Wiktor Hamburgers - that hasn’t been seen since the first issue. There will also be body options available in transparent metalflake plastic, though you’ll be lucky to get one, as the model is part of the ‘Katch the Kat’ scheme.  Katch the Kat ‘Katch the Kat’ is a collector-chase idea in which one of every dozen kits will be...