This may come as shock to some of you but Playing Mantis was bought out by Racing Champions (RC2) in 2004. RC 2 released all the kits that were already in the Polar Lights pipeline but seem to have no plans to issue new PL kits or re-issue old ones. Fact is, RC2 really only bought Playing Mantis for the Johnny Lightning die-cast car line.

From RC2:

RC2 Purchases Playing Mantis

Dear Avid Johnny Lightning, Polar Lights and Memory Lane collectors:

We have received hundreds of e-mails and phone calls this week, inquiring about the future of the Playing Mantis brands and product lines now that it has been acquired by RC2.

We can assure you that the goal of RC2 both today and for the future is to continue on with the great product tradition that Johnny Lightning, Polar Lights and Memory Lane has established. The Playing Mantis product development office will remain in Mishawaka, Indiana as will the product development team. The acquisition is a great win for collectors as RC2 offers Playing Mantis the resources that are needed to take the brands to higher levels of greatness.

Tom Lowe will continue to play a key role and will be able to spend his time in areas where he enjoys the most and is good at; new product development and licensing. He will continue to be in charge of Johnny Lightning, Polar Lights and Memory Lane brands and will also be putting his creative touch on some of RC2's other brands.

It is an exciting time as we work with Tom and the Playing Mantis team to keep the innovation and quality levels high as well as offer our collector base new products in the future.

Company News; RC2 To Acquire 2 Toy Companies for $156 Million

Published: June 8, 2004

The RC2 Corporation will buy First Years Inc. and Playing Mantis Inc., which are both toy companies, for a combined $156 million, increasing its share in the infant product and die-cast markets, the toy maker said yesterday. RC2, based in Oak Brook, Ill., said it would pay about $136.8 million in cash for First Years, which makes products for newborns, infants and toddlers under its own brand name and various licenses, including Winnie the Pooh. First Years is based in Avon, Mass. The deal values First Years at $18.60 a share, a 9 percent premium over its $17.01 closing price on Friday. RC2 said it would pay $17 million in cash and issue $2.5 million in shares for Playing Mantis, which makes vehicle replicas and collectible figures. Playing Mantis is based in Mishawaka, Ind.

Polar Lights Returns! RC2 to return PL to Tom Lowe says Hobby Store

May 2006. This popped up on the PLBB. I've edited it somewhat but you'll get the idea.

BatToys: The owner of my local hobby store told me the word was RC2 is returning Polar Lights to "the guy from Indiana." I asked him who told him and he said his distributor. That Polar Lights is coming back. That RC2 "was spinning it off." He said that was "the rumor anyway." This hobby store is huge with trains and pedal cars as well as models so I think his info is good.

ost15jr: I've heard that the first two kits on the list of what they'll be producing will be Gigantic Frankenstein and Dr Jekyl As Mr Hyde. Sorry Bats, couldn't help myself

Dave Metzner: I don't believe it. I've got sources allot closer to Round 2 than rumors heard at a hobby shop.
I don't think Tom Lowe wants to go back into the styrene figure kit business, and I can't believe that RC-2 wants to let loose of the automotive portion of Polar Lights. Without the existing car kits and the ability to do more car kits
I'm betting that Tom is not interested in owning Polar Lights. Time will tell.....

Zorro: The guy at our local ice cream shop told me we're going to bomb Iceland.

CaptFrank: This is too cruel! Don't get my hopes up! Besides, aren't Hobby shop owners the lowest rung on the ladder? I thought we determined their information is wrong, if not highly inaccurate.

irishtrek: WRONG!!! us builders/collectors are on the lowest rung of the ladder. RC2 is going to let PL out of the coma they put it in???? Yeah right, I'm a multimillionare NOT!!!!!

Da Queen: Dave, you and I need to call and share this with him. Tom was always one for a good joke. Heard it in a hobby store, you say?? Riiiiiight. And wait! Let me guess...Big Frankie will be the first kit out??? And Jerry Gustafson is coming back from vacation to be the production manager because Dave is going to be the new VP of Plastic??? And let's see....CDub is the new VP of Paints and I regain my crown of customer service???

Methinks you have bats in your belfry, Battoys.