Back to the Future, kinda sorta.

It's been some time since I put some new material here on the blog. Well, its good to be back.

By now most of you know that Round2, the company that has been resurrecting the AMT, MPC, and Polar Lights brands UNDER LICENSE, has now acquired (and actually OWNS) the AMT, MPC, and Polar Lights trademarks - and all the molds and "intellectual property." Having been associated with AMT in its last three incarnations - when it was owned by Lesney, by Ertl, and now by Round2 - I can say with some conviction that the brand is in good hands. Tom Lowe, the force behind Round2 (most of you may remember him as the founder of Playing Mantis and Polar Lights) is a die-hard nostalgia buff, and many of the model kit selections made since stirring Round2 to life do indeed bear that out. It would seem that the Round2 approach is not quite the same as previous incarnations of AMT or MPC - or of Revell or Monogram, for that matter. Instead of being direct competition for Revell-Monogram as AMT/Ertl had been, Round2 is taking the three brands in the specialty direction - niche marketing, if you will.

And what does that mean for the modeler? First, more treasured reissues "from the vault." Second, more specialty items dedicated to nostalgic memories, like the all-new 1/25 scale tool of the Batmobile from the iconic TV show. And third, if you're a Star Trek fan, Round2 has you covered, even to the point of retooling some of the kits for greater accuracy. Now that Round2 is no longer the licensee of the three iconic brands but the direct OWNER of them, expect to see much more of the three types of issues mentioned above. Round2, live long and prosper!

Here's the text of the press release about the acquisition:

SOUTH BEND, Indiana - 11/30/2011 - Round 2, LLC, announced today that they have acquired all rights to industry leading model kit brands AMT, MPC and Polar Lights from TOMY International, Inc. (formerly RC2 Corporation).

Round 2 acquired the brands from TOMY International after manufacturing branded model kits under a licensing agreement since 2008. "We've had a great relationship with TOMY International for a long time and it has been a pleasure working with them as a licensee and now as a buyer," said Thomas Lowe, President of Round 2 LLC.

"We feel extremely fortunate to be acquiring these brands," continued Lowe. "These are some of the industry's most iconic brands and our acquisition represents a significant strategic fit with our initiatives and where we believe the industry is headed, in the near and long term. This deal is a win for Round 2, TOMY and most importantly, the modelers."

"We are pleased to have been working with Round 2 as a licensee the last 3 years, and now as the buyer," said Pete Henseler, president of TOMY International. "We wish them continued success in the model kit business and expect their expertise and passion for the hobby model kit business to drive these brands in the years ahead."

The history of the model kit brands goes back as far as 1948 when AMT, which stands for Aluminum Model Toys, was founded as a promotional toy company. Model Products Corporation, MPC, was started in 1963 and focused on bringing even more automotive subject matter to market in kit form. Founded in 1996, Polar Lights has focused on figural, horror and pop culture genres.

The acquisition gives Round 2 tooling and materials that date back into the 1950s. The tooling and artwork also represent an opportunity to bring back classic model kits in original-styled packaging, increasing the desirability and nostalgia. "I grew up building models. Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined I'd someday own the brands I was building as a kid," said Lowe.

About Round 2

Round 2, LLC is an innovative collectibles company located in South Bend, IN. The creative team at Round 2 is dedicated to producing detailed, high quality collectible and playable items appealing to the young and young at heart. Round 2 brands include Polar Lights, AMT and MPC model kits, Auto World slot cars, Forever Fun seasonal products and the licensed brands American Muscle, Ertl Collectibles and Vintage Fuel die cast.