Lindberg " Owens "

Tanker - Builder

Uh Oh !

    They did it again. This boat is almost as bad as the Coronado ! Clunky parts and off scale as well . You are warned .  T.B.

And---though you and I both have a certain admitted fondness in our hearts for Lindberg's kits---can you say you're surprised?

Back when I was a little kid with 50 cents to my name, I knew they were a waste of money. Too bad about that little cruiser, the real thing is pretty cute.

gregbale

...

And---though you and I both have a certain admitted fondness in our hearts for Lindberg's kits---can you say you're surprised? 

Hi,

I have to admit that I have a fondness for a lot of these older kits, and am currently in the middle of building two Lindberg ship models.  Though, by the time that I am done with them, they will be heavily modified/kitbashed.

To me though, alot of these older models are enjoable because a) they are what I grew up on and.or the models that I wished I had the time/money to have built when I was younger but never did.  And b) many of them can make either nice looking models (even if not 100% accurate) straight out of the box, or c) they can make for excellent starting points for your own additions and modifications, or full out kitbashing.

Overall, I guess as a modeler I've never fully became a part of the crowd that feels a need to try and completely try and "accurize" everything that they build.  I do admit to being impressed by the work that I have seen many modelers do, but at the same time I don't think that I could ever bring myself to buy a $100-200 model, then also purchase a couple $100 extra in photo-etch, white metal, or 3D printed accessories, and then take a knife/saw to a kit totally hacking it to pieces to change the shape of its hull or anchor handling gear, or porthole locations, etc as I have seen some modelers post for their builds of some of these new 1/200 scale models recently entering the market.

Sorry for rambling, but I do kind of ebjoy the old Lindberg, Airfix, Revell, and Monogram models.

Pat

PS,  In addition, there are still some old models like the 1/426 scale Revell USS Arizona or the old 1/232 scale USS Olympia (that was produced by a variety of companies over its lifetime) that actually seem to have more "character" and somehow just seem to "feel" to better capture the "ship" that they represent to me better than alot of the newer models that have been produced lately.

I am in total agreement with you, Pat. In fact, I had so much fun with my Q-ship build that I picked up the re-released Kennebec fleet oiler to do next. I may do it in one of the spiffy Measure 32 'splinter' camouflage schemes.

Speaking of which...how's that gorgeous 'dazzle' Q-ship of yours coming along?

Hi,

Unfortunately slowly.  I've gotten a bit tied up with two other builds, but should be getting back to the Q-Ship soon.

Pat

PS.  I'v seen the T-AO at my local hobby store and it has been tempting me to pick it up.  But I think I better wait till I clean out my 1/2 finished builds 1st.

gregbale

I am in total agreement with you, Pat. In fact, I had so much fun with my Q-ship build that I picked up the re-released Kennebec fleet oiler to do next. I may do it in one of the spiffy Measure 32 'splinter' camouflage schemes.

I'm doing the oiler also. A friend served aboard the "Mattaponi" AO41 and I'm doing the kit as her. There are some differences, but anyone not a modeler or a ship specialist will not know the difference. Plus, these old re-pops only cost $15.00 to $25.00. A far cry from the newer kits costing $100 to $200 or more. I just enjoy doing them.

Tanker Builder

Hi, did you pick the model?  I'm really interested to see what you end up doing with it, if so.  I see that they have a couple copies of it at my local hobby store.

Pat

PS. It may be interesting some day to maybe have a group build on Lindberg kits to see what others have been able to do with their models.

hey , Gregbale ;

   Yes there is a certain panache to LINDBERG'S Kits , but these go way beyond that . I still don't think these were original Lindberg Molds . Why ? Well take a look at their 36 Chris - Craft . Single hull , reasonably decent parts fit and such . And released about the time these supposedly were .  I remember getting the first of this one in 1953

 I think these slipped under my radar possibly because they were out while I served over in S.E. Asia . I wasn't interested in models just then .

   Then there's the Air Force Rescue Boat . Same kind of assembly , but without the God Awful fit problems . Plus the plastic seems to be a better grade . T.B.

Hi "G" ;

      I believe you are right . She can be cute . I think the one you are showing is a 1963 model though . Still a darned nice looking boat . Just different front windows and less wood topside . T.B.

Hi PFJN ;

  I do have to agree with you . I still enjoy building what I consider " orphan kits " from Lindberg because they are and can be fun . Plus as I've said many times , they can be the basis for awesome builds and still have that Panache of being Lindberg to start with .

   I've gone so far as to make a Gearing FRAM and a Radar Picket of the " Blue Devil ", and folks say " where did you get that kit "? See Lindberg has the market on basics .

  We can go from there or just do the OOB and a have trip back in time , to when we were kids . I've never forgotten that Lindberg gave us a W W 2 Carrier with a hangar deck ! Sure it was cardboard , but what fun to build .  T.B.

PFJN;

   Yes ! I did buy it because after seeing the completed model pictured on the box bottom , I figures it would be a neat addition to my weird collection of old model vessels anyway .

   Besides it will look neat next to the Coronado . I may but one each of them again to " Correct " them . Just maybe .  T.B.

Cool, can't wait to see your build.

Pat

To be fair to Lindberg, I have seen an outstanding job done on their Bismarck kit, although it took a lot of serious kitbashing and alterations.  But, I never used the word "panache" to describe their line, although their so-called "Blue Devil Destroyer" (actually USS Melvin) wasn't so bad as their horrible HMS Hood.  In fact, the destroyer's hull is much closer to that of the subsequent Gearing class, and I have seen some excellent models using that hull as a basis.  It certainly doesn't have the flair of the Fletcher class, though.

Bill Morrison

Hi Bill ;

    You are dead on right there . The thing I like about their kits though is this .No matter which one you build , there's always something you can do with them .

 The badly innacurrate ones become what if's on my shelves . The Bismark .Now that one was fun .After correcting she was awesome .  T.B.

I dont know why, but as a kid I thought more highly of Lindbergh kits than Revell.  I had the Bismark with the gear box and moving turrets...the motorized Yorktown. I just loved them...

One negative about both the old Lindbergh and Revell kits:  As a kid I wasn't really sure how the mke these kits look as good on the box.  I really thought I wasn't very good.  It wasn't until I built a small Tamiya aircraft carrier that I realized it was the kit quality

I've picked up a lot of these kits recently because they're fun and bring back memories.  I found another Bismark, Hood, Blue Devil destroyer and Yorktown at a local discount store.  Another place had Patton tanks for $5 so I bought three along with about ten different planes.  They aren't the best by any means, but they're fun.

I also enjoy practicing my airbrushing and pastel weathering on them.  I feel like I really improved my technique on the new Yorktown kit.  I want to be better at it when i tackle one of my big 1/350 kits, and if you can do a decent job on these, you're doing okay.

In fact, I think I wil pick up that oiler you foks mentioned....

Hi Gregbale;

 No I guess not .But they still have some winners as far as I am concerned . T.B.