A quick look inside the box of Round 2's AMT "SandKat" dune buggy reissue....

[tim boyd]

While most of the contents of the newly reissued AMT SandKat Dune Buggy has seen previous reissues as the AMT Piranha Funny Car and AMT 1953 Studebaker funny car, this particular packaging and merchandising approach hasn't seen the hobby kit shelves since its original issue around 1968.

For this reissue, Round 2 added a die-cut cardboard diorama background depicting a sand dunes scene, inspired by the original box art. Multiple wheel and tires options are also in the kit, along with a 1/1 scale water-slide decal depicting the AMT "Kat" cartoon character.

Take a closer look at these images and the accompanying captions to see more about this kit and how the reissue differs from the original....thanks for looking! TIM

[GMP440]

Looking forward to this one.  I ask myself; do I like the box art more than what's inside.  Love how Round 2 is using the back in the day box art. Much better than plain pic of a car in front of a plain background.

[Hondamatic]

And I just bought a piranha to steal the chassis too! Haha

[OldNYJim]

I really appreciate you always taking the time to share these detailed pre-release reviews Tim!  Thank you!

I’m not SUPER excited about this release in particular, though I’m sure many will be - but that teaser for the 29 Woody/Pickup REALLY got my attention! 

[Snake45]

Well now I just have to have one of these! But I'll probably come up with some other kind of induction system, if not a whole engine. Having a hard time getting my head around an Enderle-injected, 6-71 blown Hemi on the sand. 

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

Ha!!! I have one of the original issues, along with the Sand Dragon (same frame as the recently re-issued rear engine Wedge dragster) and I also have one called The Sandbagger that is a rear engine modified version of the Don Garlits Wynnsjammer dragster, for real!!! -RRR

 

Sorry to hijack your thread. TIM....

[tim boyd]

2 minutes ago, Rocking Rodney Rat said:

Ha!!! I have one of the original issues, along with the Sand Dragon (same frame as the recently re-issued rear engine Wedge dragster) and I also have one called The Sandbagger that is a rear engine modified version of the Don Garlits Wynnsjammer dragster, for real!!! -RRR

 

Sorry to hijack your thread. TIM....

Rodney....no worries.  Your info is, I think, entirely relevant to the subject at hand!  If you get a chance and can find those old boxes, would be very cool to see them!  Cheers...TIM   

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

Just now, tim boyd said:

Rodney....no worries.  Your info is, I think, entirely relevant to the subject at hand!  If you get a chance and can find those old boxes, would be very cool to see them!  Cheers...TIM   

Thanks, I will post up when I get a chance, I'm technically 'at work'...shhhhh.....the Sand Dragon was recently re-issued through an online hobby place (can't remember the name). I've never seen the others in the pic on your review. Interesting. For some reason, I've always loved these sand drags, just off-the-wall enough to appeal to me.  -RRR

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

Ok, as asked and promised....

I have some of these old sand drag kits. The first one is called the "Sandbagger" I think this one is especially kool because it's a rear engine reworking of the Dan Garlits Wynnsjammer chassis and engine.

 

The Sandbagger:

box art very similar to the Sand Kat....

above is the cardboard display stand. It's missing one piece of "thrown up" sand...the flag the dude is supposed to be holding is ripped of, but it's in the box. The AMT KAT decal is long gone....

 

It's a little beat up, some parts glue-bombed together. Two sets of rear tires, desert tires and sand tires....

-------

The Sand Dragon is based on the recently re-issued Wedge dragster. There were a couple different versions, a Mongoose one, and ...I forget..

obviously, this was issued when Lesney (the Matchbox company) from England owned AMT. I'm sure TIM can speak to that...

 

Anyway, some kool blasts from the past....this kit was re-issued within the last couple of years as a limited edition with in cooperation of an on-line hobby shop. I can't remember the name. 

Thanks for having me jump on here, TIM!!   -RRR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 19, 2021 by Rocking Rodney Rat

[tim boyd]

RRR.....outstanding!   And I knew I'd seen that backdrop diorama somewhere before....TIM 

[stavanzer]

Thanks, Tim & RRR for sharing the pics! 

Looks like Dune Buggy builders are in for a treat. The Meyers Manx is showing in the "Coming Soon" page at Model Roundup too. I wonder if it will be a straight Re-issue, or have any new parts. Either way, it will be the Third Manx, since the kit was first Re-Released a few years ago.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

1 hour ago, tim boyd said:

RRR.....outstanding!   And I knew I'd seen that backdrop diorama somewhere before....TIM 

that backdrop diorama is in the box with my original SandKat kit, too. My SandKat kit is in pristine condition (box is a bit beat up, expected) with the carboard pieces all still attached, the chrome parts are all on the tree but the chrome is all dulled with age. Any idea as to when the re-issue will be out? -RRR

[Snake45]

Thanks for the great pix, Rodney! Much appreciated! 

This series also included a version of the Barris Surf Woody, and a stripped-down version of the '25 T with giant sand tires but much of the street equipment like headlights gone. I have the Sand T and restored it a few years ago. Still have the box, too--I thought I had a pic of it on the 'puter but I can't find it right now. 

[tim boyd]

20 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

Thanks for the great pix, Rodney! Much appreciated! 

This series also included a version of the Barris Surf Woody, and a stripped-down version of the '25 T with giant sand tires but much of the street equipment like headlights gone. I have the Sand T and restored it a few years ago. Still have the box, too--I thought I had a pic of it on the 'puter but I can't find it right now. 

Both the Surf Woody (bottom left) and '25T (top left) versions are shown in this image from the kit review at the link at the beginning of this thread....as for the "Sand Blaster (middle left)....

....would you believe...a minor tweak to the old AMT "GrandPa Munster" dragster?  Yep....TB

Edited August 19, 2021 by tim boyd

[Snake45]

27 minutes ago, tim boyd said:

...as for the "Sand Blaster (middle left)...would you believe...a minor tweak to the old AMT "GrandPa Munster" dragster?  Yep....TB

I've got a bunch of late '60s issues of Rod & Custom mag, which gave a certain amount of coverage to sand drags and other sandy fun motorsports. There was a WILD variety of machines built and used for these games. Just about anything AMT could have or did cobble together wouldn't have looked out of place in these venues. I'm looking forward to building a few of these beasts! 

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

48 minutes ago, tim boyd said:

Both the Surf Woody (bottom left) and '25T (top left) versions are shown in this image from the kit review at the link at the beginning of this thread....as for the "Sand Blaster (middle left)....

....would you believe...a minor tweak to the old AMT "GrandPa Munster" dragster?  Yep....TB

TIM-

Do you the parts in the above shown kits? I'd love to see what they have. I've never known of these previously. -RRR

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

YIKES!!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184584630977?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item2afa19f2c1:g:xjQAAOSwqBFf27tu&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACkPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsS7UXID%2BRPOSNsnm8kYPghtGSY%2FMst%2F%2F%2FZFNDElO3hnb4bQkFT8hPrlyxcEf9R9lzq3s1sqWyraJmiEVeu%2FLq1ahV41jsqusH6OZAAkhWm1eiaTz%2BJ%2Fq8jU1%2FBvgNN3kXtj47m8ulmaEQFwSQIV%2FOUyvcCbSStSwDeqfznsrusS49mD1V9Qm7oVV1IEvs1Oo25UVX9%2BswTr2kYuY5NFmtPyxSzeHETF1Kpw68oipPbmJM3%2B7YIDk0O5npfjWbg0ATKUWitWiubNFcWPKhCga0d4iVtXfUFzRKaKMCGTnLQY8S%2FdFEzHdjHZnHw9BitafXZDN2IcXyNIGZeFic1fRLsEWfSCZonXQW0rIEc8NqIZUEKcxVuAdW%2F3KDG84an%2FykovjbIW1Sv5yCuSLY2LaetPOah3FsB6ARzqevNM5xtMzrxyr9P6YJzPWo6bcM9bI3cHu8q%2FLdlGmiiuR3i%2BbQvo9tOwHjtuU8kR3LXBHXVbbLILjdq2vOoqty0zCZyUxYiif3lLrZgEPy52Ydtvx6uqPWJa3UfM9E9SrizPHhdjrbDP9qD%2BfwF1srdlPPoXW73kiITbDdixsG%2BosvMceQmLm6fhZVNL%2BuOvB0ytCMz0wUCsmNlqd%2Bf14KRNP2ZSyIPtYn9s6VSmxTBSZNcjLL5ibcYwBnjnHTxFcvZE8bc4RMReCBo27lfAizpAQieyRYfDhgZXxNpxrphnnIAYEwIICjRDHCqt8AxOthSMKZNIN1a92BzvUOhV1Pgiq9CPqYbC9MJ49tna6MgfY%2F5VLHfCkNTBWftkkRo3kYTonwIPekw2WK1wo9f6SuyDsPKQaNB|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2334524 

It is in mint condition. -RRR

[Snake45]

12 minutes ago, Rocking Rodney Rat said:

TIM-

Do you the parts in the above shown kits? I'd love to see what they have. I've never known of these previously. -RRR

Here's the box and instructions for Sand Hog, the stripped down Surf Woody: 

https://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/amt-instructions/1-sort/amt-sand-hog/

Still looking for the Sand T box on my puter....

[Mark]

Back then, a number of outdated/no longer competitive/never were competitive drag cars, mainly dragsters and funny cars, ended up at the sand drags.

[Snake45]

38 minutes ago, Mark said:

Back then, a number of outdated/no longer competitive/never were competitive drag cars, mainly dragsters and funny cars, ended up at the sand drags.

Also, from the pics I've seen, a lot of old street rods, or unfinished rod projects, or random junk chassis pulled out of the weeds in the back yard. As I said, an amazing variety! 

[stavanzer]

Look in old (1940's to 1950's) Popular Mechanics & Mechanics Illustrated Magazines. I remember reading several articles showing off the Vehicles (Both Surplus Jeeps and the Junk Chassis Snake mentions) featured in them.

They were mostly bare, raw chassis, with prominent Roll Bars, and dual rear wheels/tires. As you segue into the Early 1960's, you begin to see VW Cars, but not the Meyer's Manx. Just homemade cut down jalopies. In fact almost all the rides you see from 19478/48 to about 1962 are best described as Jalopies, in the truest since of the word.

Just Fun, Hand Built Dune Toys, built and run for next to nothing by back yard gear heads.

[Big John]

SandBagger is one Scary Ride!  Don't put your feed down!

[ChrisBcritter]

On 8/28/2021 at 4:16 PM, alexis said:

They were mostly bare, raw chassis, with prominent Roll Bars, and dual rear wheels/tires. As you segue into the Early 1960's, you begin to see VW Cars, but not the Meyer's Manx. Just homemade cut down jalopies. In fact almost all the rides you see from 19478/48 to about 1962 are best described as Jalopies, in the truest since of the word.

Here's an example dated 1965, from a batch of slides I got at an estate sale. Engine looks like dual carb Studebaker; good luck IDing the rest:

 

[stavanzer]

Exactly what I was talking about, Chris. Thanks for posting.

[slusher]

On 8/18/2021 at 8:49 PM, Rocking Rodney Rat said:

Ok, as asked and promised....

I have some of these old sand drag kits. The first one is called the "Sandbagger" I think this one is especially kool because it's a rear engine reworking of the Dan Garlits Wynnsjammer chassis and engine.

 

The Sandbagger:

box art very similar to the Sand Kat....

above is the cardboard display stand. It's missing one piece of "thrown up" sand...the flag the dude is supposed to be holding is ripped of, but it's in the box. The AMT KAT decal is long gone....

 

It's a little beat up, some parts glue-bombed together. Two sets of rear tires, desert tires and sand tires....

-------

The Sand Dragon is based on the recently re-issued Wedge dragster. There were a couple different versions, a Mongoose one, and ...I forget..

obviously, this was issued when Lesney (the Matchbox company) from England owned AMT. I'm sure TIM can speak to that...

 

Anyway, some kool blasts from the past....this kit was re-issued within the last couple of years as a limited edition with in cooperation of an on-line hobby shop. I can't remember the name. 

Thanks for having me jump on here, TIM!!   -RRR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RRR. Thanks for psting those kits  and box art I have never  seen those before..