1/350 Lindberg Tirpitz opinions?

Sparrowhyperion

Hi folks.

I am watching a 1/350 scale Lindberg kit of the German Battleship Tirpitz on eBay and I was wondering if anyone had built this one.  I would like to get some opinions before sinking anything into it.  So far, my ship kits have all been Revell or Monogram and I have no idea what the quality and accuracy is for the Lindberg Ship kits.  Any info appreciated.

Thanks

Rich

(PS.  This is the kit I am thinking about.)

Rajen's Kit List damns it with faint praise ...  LEAST INACCURATE!

"Scharnhorst (DKM BC) [1/766] {2219} (WW2) FH

OK. Least inaccurate of the series that included King George V, Pennsylvania, and this. Hull may be overly deep. (Brooks)

Editor's Note: This kit is said to date back to about 1967. (DRW)"

http://www.quuxuum.org/rajens_list/shiprevs.html#LindScharnhorst

Run, do not walk,  away from most Lindberg ship kits

Oops,  I posted the Scharnhorst.   Disregard.

Here;s the Tirpitz review from Rajen.  It is worst than the Scharnhorst.

• Tirpitz (DKM BB) [1/384] {764M} (WW2) FH

POOR. This kit needs some major work. Start by relocating single rudder, then building a duplicate for actual twin rudder arrangement. Shorten fairings for outboard prop shafts and build A-Frames for shafts. Replace outsize central screw with scale-sized one, prototype uses twin rudders with triple-screw drive. Sheer line at top of hull is not accurate for Bismarck-class ships. I chose not to alter mine.

This kit is physically the same as one sold as Bismarck. Actually makes a better Tirpitz Rangfinders for "A" turret need to be removed and cover plates added. Conning tower is missing sloped armored roof. Major structural omission is lack of forward aircraft hangers on both sides. Model benefits from PE. I used GMM set for 1/350 Tamiya Bismarck/Tirpitz. Illustration of camo paint pattern sketchy and inaccurate.

(LDF), review dated 23 February 2006.

Run away faster

Sorry, but I don't really care for text only reviews. I like pictures, especially if it's bad enough a kit to warrant trashing...

Thanks for the help folks.  You just saved me a major expense.  I just wish I could find some kits in 1/350 scale that I could afford which WEREN'T Lindberg kits...  This is for my Nephew who has Brain Cancer and just had surgery.  I wanted to get him a Battleship kit since he likes ship models, but I need something that can be done with his physical limitations.  I have a coiled aneurysm, so I know from bitter experience that there is nothing more frustrating than a small scale kit when you have shaky hands...  I was thinking of the BB59 Massachusetts since his Great Grandfather served on her in WWII, but anything other than the Revell/Monogram 1/720 kit is way out of budget.  And I know that he would not be able to do that one very well.

Thanks again.

Rich

Brother...let me say this.....NO KIT IS accurate.  PERIOD!

With that said...Old Lindberg kits are old fashion old tech. run of the mill so-so's from 30+ years back.

Big deal!!!!!

Ive have the Minesweeper on my desk at this moment......yeah there is a lot of scratch building going on here...most of the kit is trash...............but! !  My G Father served on the AM238 from late 43 to the end of WW2.......this kit will be built...buggers horns warts and all....and I will cherish every dam* moment of it!

If That BB is cheap...and you can get it....do so!!!  Will your nephew actually know or care if the "captains coffee mug is to big or too small or even the wrong size??  Not likely....but he will know His favorite UNCLE got him a famous German WW2 Battleship ....along with paints and glue.....and he will build the living sh*t out of this glob of plastic and do you and him proud!!!

Please for his sake...dont get hung up on kit fidelity or accuracy snobbery.....buy it!!!......give it to him!!!!  Watch him.or better yet join him and y'all have fun....thats what this hobby is all about!!!

My hat is off to you and our prayers are sent for your nephew!!!!!!

NOW........get to gluing some plastic!

:)

P.S.  Sparrowhyperion,  if the e-bay thing dont work out....shoot me a PM or and e-mail......I got some 1/350 ships in the stash room that will probably never get build due to my age........just give me a shout and we can work sumpthin out you CAN afford!

M Edwards.

First of all, eloquent discourse if a little hard to follow, Dullcote. But I agree with most everything you said.

However there's two things I'll add. Giving someone a cruddy kit does them no favors at all, in fact can be pretty frustrating. You may be saying that; it's hard to tell.

I have two other suggestions that are currently on eBay:

The Revell USS Arizona. It's a classic, can be had for about $ 17.00 plus shipping. Looks pretty much like the real thing, is a great subject, has lots of interesting parts that are quaint. And a full hull so it looks like a real ship.

The Revell Mizzoo. Can be had for about $ 15.00 plus shipping. Goes together fine and it's a Badass subject.

I guess in short what I was saying was......if his nephew at the moment is down with the surgery and all......then a simple kit to keep him inspired, is of more value (to him) than a highly accurate but time consuming project that may well just feed frustration.

I am not so much concerned with accuracy, but I am more worried about fit and finish.  I can't be there to build it with him because he lives in Maine and I am in OH.  As I said, I know the limitations he has because I have very similar ones from my Aneurysm.  I don't want him to get frustrated if he can't get parts to fit correctly.  He is back to basics, but he has done some great builds in the past.  I want to get him something which, even with his new limitations, he can do a good job on and have something he can be proud of. 

I typically have to get the least expensive kits I can.  So I am used to doing the not-so-super detailed kits.  Revell Monogram, Some Academy and the very occasional Hasegawa when I find one on sale.  Trumpeter, Tamyia, Hobby Boss and the like are not my usual level of kit.  Just to expensive.  I have been modeling since I was 4, which is a long long time since I was born in 64.  I grew up with the great old kits.  Usually aircraft, but a lot of ships as well.  I don't mind a less than perfect kit for me, but my Nephew has had to give up a lot of stuff because of this, and I don't want him to get disappointed and/or frustrated to the point where he gives up modeling as well.  Other than that, I agree with you about the not so perfect kits.  Just more of a challenge to most of us.

  Rich

dullcote

Brother...let me say this.....NO KIT IS accurate.  PERIOD!

With that said...Old Lindberg kits are old fashion old tech. run of the mill so-so's from 30+ years back.

Big deal!!!!!

Ive have the Minesweeper on my desk at this moment......yeah there is a lot of scratch building going on here...most of the kit is trash...............but! !  My G Father served on the AM238 from late 43 to the end of WW2.......this kit will be built...buggers horns warts and all....and I will cherish every dam* moment of it!

If That BB is cheap...and you can get it....do so!!!  Will your nephew actually know or care if the "captains coffee mug is to big or too small or even the wrong size??  Not likely....but he will know His favorite UNCLE got him a famous German WW2 Battleship ....along with paints and glue.....and he will build the living sh*t out of this glob of plastic and do you and him proud!!!

Please for his sake...dont get hung up on kit fidelity or accuracy snobbery.....buy it!!!......give it to him!!!!  Watch him.or better yet join him and y'all have fun....thats what this hobby is all about!!!

My hat is off to you and our prayers are sent for your nephew!!!!!!

NOW........get to gluing some plastic!

:)

I was looking at the 1/425 Revell Arizona but I am not sure how well he would be able to do the detailed rigging and frame lattices on the Pennsylvania Class BBs.  He has a Missouri already.  He did it last year just before he was diagnosed.  I think that's the last one he completed.

bondoman

First of all, eloquent discourse if a little hard to follow, Dullcote. But I agree with most everything you said.

However there's two things I'll add. Giving someone a cruddy kit does them no favors at all, in fact can be pretty frustrating. You may be saying that; it's hard to tell.

I have two other suggestions that are currently on eBay:

The Revell USS Arizona. It's a classic, can be had for about $ 17.00 plus shipping. Looks pretty much like the real thing, is a great subject, has lots of interesting parts that are quaint. And a full hull so it looks like a real ship.

The Revell Mizzoo. Can be had for about $ 15.00 plus shipping. Goes together fine and it's a Badass subject.

One of my least favorite jobs as a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy was to perform gram stains to test for gonorrhea. I will use the reporting format for that test to describe my observations about the Lindberg Bismarck/Tirpitz; This kit is a lump of plastic morphologically resembling some parts of the real ship. It does not actually come come anywhere near close.

I was gonna trash this kit as I have built several over the years.While it is well below the standards of a serious ship modeler,it just might be just the thing for a sick kid that needs a good distraction.The parts are large and easy to handle and glue.The kit should include parts to allow all the turrets to rotate at once.I don't believe it includes a motor,but it should be set up to take one.

While I agree with all of the comments regarding the kit's lack of accuracy, etc., the old Lindberg Bismarck / Tirpitz kit is an easy build (not an unimportant consideration for someone who is convalescing) with a minimum of fragile parts since it was designed to be a motorized toy to sail in a pool / lake, and whose appearance can be greatly improved with a little effort. I think that there was a thread here not too long ago by a modeler who was able to generate "wood" decks for the Tirpitz using heavy stock and a color printer.

I've seen the recent re-releases of Lindberg kits retailing in the $30 range but thinking that I paid about $15 for the kit and it can probably be found at a swap meet, etc., for less than the price on eBay.

I built this kit (and the companion HMS Hood) back in the 80's (yikes, where does time go....) using some spare parts and fittings from H-R and still have it packed away at home.  I'll get it out post some pictures later in the week.

Mike

Id love to see those pics Carmike

Sparrow,

I have a Tamiya 1/350 Tirpitz that I am not planning on building because I have replaced it with the Revell kit.  I can donate it to your nephew if you are interested. Let me know.

Bill

I sent you a PM.

Richard,

I just answered.  I will send the kit tomorrow.

Bill

Thanks Bill.

As a somewhat all thumbs amatuers modeler. I think you might find that the Lindbergh model kits are really quite all right. Fit is good enough parts for realism yet not so complicated that they become frustrating. Accuracy not quite Tamiya for sure. If you are not the purest perfectionist I would suggest the 1/125 USS Melvin. May not the most accurate but it's a fun build and a sharp looking ship at 3ft.long  Add the PE set from Toms Modelworks and only a purist will say that it is not a nice looking ship.