Wednesday 7 September 2016

Returning to Form

Random kits I've noticed lately:



Meng has started a kids line which includes this obscure aircraft in kids form. I get kids lines, though I'm interested to know why the He 177 was picked. A kit for your younger sibling when the older one is a flourishing wehraboo?

I'm in the middle of two kits right now, otherwise I might pick up one of these new weird car kits. For a long time, the '50s and the '60s was the staple for north American makers. Now that Round2 has had success redoing kits from the 70s, it seems like everybody is being out these horrible tasteless (IE absolutely wonderful) kits from the 70s and 80s.



Like this ugly son of a bitch. The Volare is forgotten by everyone but serious car nerds. For about 20 years, Dodge made a car called the Dart. It was that was robust, and popular, actually gaining in popularity as the years rolled on. In the late 70s, Dodge replaced it with the Aspen/Volare, who were so misbegotten and terrible, its failure played a significant role in Chrysler's early 80s bankruptcy. Now, RE-LIVE that memory!


Speaking of bad cars in improbable sport kits, how would you like a Ford Pinto Wagon, "pony express" edition? Comes with a "bonus mini-box", which is intriguing onto itself.


If you've ever wanted to build a bitchin' custom van, there's lots of choice. I highlight this kit as I think it comes with a "lounge lizard/shaggin' wagon" option and a *transparent roof.* It gave me a little chill when I realized you could simulate shag carpet with velour, or maybe suede. There's also this "Journey-Mural ready" early-80s Dodge, or this 70s 4wd lifted large-scale van, when you like going offroading with a DnD-themed mural on the side.


More difficult to take the piss out of is this kit of the Vanishing Point R/T Challenger, which is actually awesome. (Well, frankly I think all these kits are legit awesome, but I guess Kowolski's Challenger is one I don't have to explain.)


MPC also has you covered if you want to build the villain's truck from any number of 80s movies.


And finally, Revell just re-released this. It's this early 1980s Dodge Ramcharger. As a Canadian boy who grew up in mostly rural Canada, I have fond memories of these things, as they were popular in their day. Cheap, durable, and good off road, the Ramcharger developed quite a following with people who did shit in the middle of nowhere. Produced unchanged for god knows how long, once production finally ended they were all used up, with the very few remaining now coveted by truck types. It's one of those things I never imagined would ever make it to kit form (much like the AMC Gremlin) so I think it's very cool.