Post by Bernard Kron on Oct 29, 2021 15:53:58 GMT -8
Atlantis Models bought an unknown, 'though apparently large, quantity of old Monogram, Revell and (I think) Aurora molds from the German investors who purchased Revell out of bankruptcy. In the last year or so we're starting to get some idea of what Atlantis bought, and it appears to be highly significant and potentially impactful on our hobby. We're also getting a better idea of how Atlantis is going to handle what they bought, and that is beginning to look like reason for optimism. Atlantis appears to be very thorough, methodical, and aggressive in exploiting their assets.
Last year Atlantis partnered with Tom Daniels to re-issue his classic novelty models and since then a steady stream of restorations and re-issues have begun to hit the market in their Tom Daniels line of show rods, novelty figures, motorcycles and race cars. During this past summer Atlantis announced a consulting relationship with Jim Keeler called Keeler's Kustoms. Keeler was a moving force in the glory days of the 1960's when Revell lead the modeling word with their highly detailed, if fiddly, hot rod and drag racing subjects, and with their ground breaking Parts Packs. It turns out that many Parts Packs and kits long thought to have been lost have been unearthed in Atlantis post-bankruptcy Revell asset purchase, among them most, if not all, of the old parts packs. Working with Tom Keeler they are introducing a series of complete model kits based on the Parts Packs. The first of these is the Mooneyes Dragster, based on various Revell Parts Packs, based on Keeler's guidance and a license frpm Mooneyes.
Dave Turner is a modeler in Central California who cirsulates a roughly bi-weekly newsletter on car modeling. I'm on his mailing list and he just received one his Atlantis Mooneyes Dragster kit. He took some excellent pictures of the parts trees and I thought I would share them here because it tells us a lot about what Atlantis is doing and what we can expect from them in the months to come.
Atlantis Mooneyes Dragster Box Art:
Mooneyes Dragster Motor Parts Tree:
This was the 1957 283 Chevy motor parts pack, original C-1101 or reissue 85-7251.
Mooneyes Dragster Wheel Tree:
This was C-1141, Competition Wheels & Mags. Please note all the extra wheels on the tree not needed to build the Mooneyes dragster.
Mooneyes Dragster Chassis and Body Tree:
This was C-1131, the basic Mooneyes Dragster Parts Pack.
Mooneyes Dragster Suspension Parts Tree:
This is the modified version of C-1132, Roadster Chassis Speed Equipment, that was changed to do the the now extremely rare and very expensive vintage Revell drag car double kits.
Mooneyes Dragster Miscellaneous Chassis and Detail Parts Tree:
This was C-1128, 23 "T" Roadster Frame.
Tires and Decals.
The new tires that Atlantis created for this kit and which will be used in forthcoming kits as well.
Now here's the punch line. Rockin' jRodney Rat (Jon Curren), over on the Model Car Magazine board posted this shot of the Atlantis instructions showing the front suspension assembly. Notice how few parts are actually used from each tree. This was done on purpose by Atlantis to offer us a kind of Ultimate Parts Kit. They plan to do this with other forthcoming offerings which will include such things as a second motor option or body option. Stay tuned.
