Round 2 (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Scale model manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Playing Mantis |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Thomas E. Lowe |
| Headquarters | South Bend, Indiana , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Thomas E. Lowe (Founder) |
| Products | Scale model products including die-cast, plastic, and slot car models |
| Owner | Thomas E. Lowe |
Round 2, LLC is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in scale model products, including die-cast, plastic, and slot car models. The company’s headquarters are located in South Bend, Indiana. Established in 2005 by entrepreneur Thomas E. Lowe, previously the owner of the toy firm Playing Mantis, Round 2 has acquired and revitalized several well-known hobby brands, preserving their original identities. Among these are AMT, Hawk, Johnny Lightning, MPC, and Racing Champions.
AMT
AMT is a longstanding model kit brand that originated in 1948 and experienced multiple ownership changes over the decades—from Lesney in 1979 to Ertl in 1982, and subsequently to Racing Champions in 1999. Racing Champions, primarily concentrating on diecast collectibles, chose to divest its model kit lines, including AMT. Following the foundation of Round 2, Thomas Lowe secured an agreement in 2008 to manufacture and distribute AMT products. By 2012, Round 2 had obtained full ownership of AMT’s brand and tooling assets.
Auto World
Auto World specializes in finely detailed diecast vehicles and slot cars with a focus on American-made automobiles. The brand was created in 1958 by Oscar Koveleski, a Sports Car Club of America Hall of Fame inductee. Auto World also produced magazines dedicated to model car construction. Presently, it offers diecast models predominantly in 1:18 and precisely scaled 1:64 sizes, setting itself apart from competitors who often modify scales for packaging convenience.
Hawk
Hawk Model Company was founded in 1928 initially producing wooden aircraft models before expanding into plastic airplane kits, as well as 1:24 and 1:32 scale car models and cartoon figure kits such as those for Weird-Ohs. Production diminished following multiple acquisitions after the 1970s. In the 1990s, J. Lloyd acquired Hawk alongside Lindberg and revived the brand under Testors’ management. Now owned by Round 2, Hawk emphasizes aircraft model kits and automotive engine replicas at a 1/6 scale.
Johnny Lightning
Johnny Lightning debuted in 1969 under Topper Toys but ceased operations by 1971. Entrepreneur Thomas E. Lowe reintroduced the brand in 1994 through Playing Mantis. It was later sold to RC2 in 2004 and then acquired by Tomy in 2011; however, Tomy discontinued it in 2013. Round 2 LLC purchased Johnny Lightning rights in 2016 and subsequently relaunched the line.
Lindberg
Originating in the 1950s as a successor to O-Lin, Lindberg focused on molded plastic kits of aircraft, battleships, aircraft carriers, and cars across scales ranging from 1:8 to 1:64. In the 1990s, George Toteff of MPC took over Lindberg, primarily producing car kits at scales of 1:20 and 1:25. Later acquired by J. Lloyd along with Hawk, Lindberg is currently incorporated within Round 2’s brand collection.
MPC
Model Products Corporation (MPC) was founded in 1963 by former employees of AMT and came under The Fun Group’s ownership during the 1970s. Ertl purchased MPC during the mid-1980s and gradually integrated its products into the AMT brand lineup. Following Ertl’s acquisition by Racing Champions, MPC was sold to Round 2, which revived it as an independent product line starting in 2008 and secured full tooling ownership by 2012.
Polar Lights
Established in 1996 by Thomas Lowe under the Playing Mantis umbrella, Polar Lights acquired molds from Aurora Plastics Corporation, a company recognized for producing pop-culture model kits such as those featuring Universal Monsters. In 2003, Polar Lights obtained the Star Trek license, positioning itself as a prominent producer of Star Trek vehicle replicas. Following the sale of Playing Mantis to RC2 in 2004, Polar Lights became part of the RC2 portfolio. In 2008, Thomas Lowe regained permission to utilize the brand through Round 2, alongside AMT and MPC, with Round 2 completing the full acquisition of Polar Lights in 2012.
Racing Champions
Founded by Glen Ellyin in Illinois, Racing Champions rose to prominence after securing the NASCAR license during 1991–92. The company specialized in crafting highly detailed diecast stock car models across various scales including 1:18, 1:24, and 1:64, producing notable lines such as Racing Champions Mint. Following its acquisition of Ertl in 1999, the company rebranded as Racing Champions Ertl and introduced the premium Ertl American Muscle series in 2000. Tomy acquired Racing Champions Ertl and its successor RC2 in 2011. Subsequently, in 2015, Round 2 obtained the rights to the Racing Champions brand and relaunched tooling from both Racing Champions Mint and Ertl American Muscle collections.
List of brands by Round 2
- American Muscle
- AMT
- Auto World
- Forever Fun
- Hawk
- Johnny Lightning
- Legends of the Quarter Mile
- Lindberg
- Mini Metals
- MPC
- Polar Lights
- Racing Champions
- Silver Screen Machines
- Vintage Fuel