Pyro , Life - Like and Lindberg .

TB, you recently posted a thread about the definition of a master modeler.  Another definition is the modeler who could build one of the kits you mention in the above post and win a first place trophy at a contest with it.

Actually, the Clermont kit I am working on is not bad for accuracy.  Detailing is soft, but for a subject for which little definitive references exist, it agrees pretty closely with the majority of the reference data I did find.

I too am happy that the kind of kit this thread is about are still available.  They are cheap and I don't mind doing some work on a kit like that.  I guess in a way this is a protest about the inflation of prices recently, especially for kits from Asia!

Those Pyro-Lifelike-Lindberg  kit are Fun! Don't forget, Heller and Revell even issued a few. (Under some different names) .  For Cost vs hours of fun, thety are the best deals in Model ship building.

   Don,  You are doing a wonderful award-winning job on the "Clermont".  Anyone who can turn a Lindberg kit into an award winner is a spectacular Modeler.  (Anyone ever get an award with a Motorized Lindberg kit?)

    TB,

    I am curious, what's your favorite Pyro kit?   I always thought their Monitor was a nice challenging build because it's turret placement is all wrong and that makes it even more fun.  Their original bathtub versions of the Mayflower and Constitution are terrible Kits, but terrific Toys and what fun to build with a young modeler.

     Best small kit:   Charles W. Morgan

     Worse small kit : Ark Royal

     Worst design/cheat:  USS Maine

     Best big kits: All the 1/60 kits (Shrimp,Tuna, same kits by other names.) & Marilyn M

     Best sailing:  Independence War schooner / Harriet Lane.   Tie

     Favorite:   Bermuda Racing Yawl.

     Toughest to build right: Brig of War

     Kit with most parts and still needs more to make it shine: Robt' E. Lee

         Nino

P.S. I am not considering the Table-Top Navy. And the Allen M. Sumner kit with wheels; that dose not qualify as a ship.

Nino!

    You're the first to mention that the Allan M. Sumner had wheels !  You have to remember that " Bermuda Yawl" had a partner in crime put out by MONOGRAM ! It was the better of the two .Lindberg/Pyro needed a lot of clean-up .

 Then Way , way out there was a company I didn't mention .Remember MARX ?? They did a full Hull " Yankee Clipper" Now , I don't remember the scale , but it came with a crew .The decks were preshaped, Lightly embossed and Photo Overlay Details . It also , against the usual tide had a Square Stern .Truly a " Yankee Clipper "  .

 Surprisingly , if you deleted the plastic masts ( they were out of round anyway ( Bad mold alignment ! ) you could build a really good looking Model along the lines of the movie Vessel in the great" Duke's " better seagoing pics ." The Wake of the Red Witch "

 My recollection was J.W. said it's a shame more of these weren't preserved here in the U.S.of A.      T.B.

Oh, yeah!  I remember the Marx Yankee Clipper.  Had forgot about that.  Didn't Marx make a few other plastic kits?  I remember them primarily as a Model Railroad supplier.

Oh Boy,  The Marx metal decked Swordfish and Sea Witch.  I have the Swordfish with the metal deck. It is a well molded kit.  That metal deck may need to go.  Guess I need some really long Evergreen groove sheet to replace that.

  The re-issued Sea Witch is prety nice. Lindberg did okay.  We are unlikely to see any new molds of theses sailing ships in our Lifetimes.   Yes there is some mold alignment issues but I guess we should be used to that after a few years building models and reading these forums.

   Nino

 P.S.  Aurora did a Sea Witch too Slightly different scale, smaller, not the same kit.

Tanker - Builder

Nino!

   ... You have to remember that " Bermuda Yawl" had a partner in crime put out by MONOGRAM ! It was the better of the two .Lindberg/Pyro needed a lot of clean-up ...

    T.B.

 

Yes, That Monogram "Yawl" kit got released as Voyager and also I think as Wanderlust.  It looked good when I saw pics of the parts.  Supposedly 1/84ish scale compared to Pyro's 1/144 Racing Yawl . It shows up every now and then in the usual spots. The price always seems a bit out of my reach.

Monogram Voyager, Web Photo:

   The Pyro Yawl always had warped masts.  I never found the other parts to need much cleanup but you did need to add a window and hatch deadlights and a bunch of deck gear, And Real Sails.

Pyro Bermuda Racing Yawl (mine):

 Nino