Mr Norm's 1971 Demon 340 GSS in 1/18....
... what a disappointment!
The tooling has been around for decades with Ertl producing and selling these 1971 Demon 340s back in the 1990s. They're still being sold today, most recently by AutoWorld in a more detailed (but still flawed) form, but now the tooling is being used by Round2 for their new release Mr Norm's 1971 Demon 340 GSS six-pack.
The first Mr. Norm's Demon GSS came out almost two decades ago in the form of a supercharged 1972 version by Supercars. Still based on the old Ertl mold, the front end had been reworked with a more accurate front bumper and valance (still not perfect, but far better than the original Ertl pieces), and the grille and side markers were updated to mimic the 1972 restyle. Over all, a decent replica.
But now! Ugh! For reasons I can't begin to comprehend, this latest Demon has been disfigured with a massive Duster front bumper from the old Ertl Duster 340/Duster Twister mold from the 1990s, and it even looks like the front wheelwell openings have been reshaped to Plymouth specs too. Why, oh WHY would they do this???
AMERICAN MUSCLE MR. NORM'S 1971 DODGE DEMON GSS (CLASS OF 1971) 1:18 SCALE DIECAST | Round2
I would love to add one of these to my 1/18 Mopar collection but there is no way that I could look at it every day without wanting to take a bat to it! OK, maybe an over-statement but I couldn't have one without also having an old Ertl Demon parts car to rob a bumper and valance from. The wheelwells? I guess if I displayed the car at the right angle, I wouldn't see them. For an MSRP of over $100 though? Hard no. It should be "turn key" for that price.
New '71 GSS release:
Original '71 340 mold:
Supercars '72 GSS mold:
... what a disappointment!
The tooling has been around for decades with Ertl producing and selling these 1971 Demon 340s back in the 1990s. They're still being sold today, most recently by AutoWorld in a more detailed (but still flawed) form, but now the tooling is being used by Round2 for their new release Mr Norm's 1971 Demon 340 GSS six-pack.
The first Mr. Norm's Demon GSS came out almost two decades ago in the form of a supercharged 1972 version by Supercars. Still based on the old Ertl mold, the front end had been reworked with a more accurate front bumper and valance (still not perfect, but far better than the original Ertl pieces), and the grille and side markers were updated to mimic the 1972 restyle. Over all, a decent replica.
But now! Ugh! For reasons I can't begin to comprehend, this latest Demon has been disfigured with a massive Duster front bumper from the old Ertl Duster 340/Duster Twister mold from the 1990s, and it even looks like the front wheelwell openings have been reshaped to Plymouth specs too. Why, oh WHY would they do this???
AMERICAN MUSCLE MR. NORM'S 1971 DODGE DEMON GSS (CLASS OF 1971) 1:18 SCALE DIECAST | Round2
I would love to add one of these to my 1/18 Mopar collection but there is no way that I could look at it every day without wanting to take a bat to it! OK, maybe an over-statement but I couldn't have one without also having an old Ertl Demon parts car to rob a bumper and valance from. The wheelwells? I guess if I displayed the car at the right angle, I wouldn't see them. For an MSRP of over $100 though? Hard no. It should be "turn key" for that price.
New '71 GSS release:
Original '71 340 mold:
Supercars '72 GSS mold: