Lindberg kits

The only Lindberg kit I've built is thier 1/32 (closer to 1/35) LCVP.  Overall it looks the part, although the machine guns in the kit were a joke.  I've looked at a few other Lindberg kits and like you said they lack detail and in some cases accuracy.  I think they'd be good for practicing new techniques and experimenting.

I'm 53 years old and most of Lindberg's kits were old and terrible when I was a kid. I think some of their last, brand new tooled kits were in the 1990s and were hit and miss compared to other manufacturers like Monogram, Revell, Tamiya and Italeri.

Many of their last new kits were tied into movies like the original Jurassic Park movie and Independence Day (ID4). Both of those movie lines used some decent new tooled kits that were rounded out with very ancient similar models.

For instance, with Jurassic Park, they had new tooled T-Rex, Raptor and Spitter models and added several other dinosaur models from the 1950s. They also added JP markings to their current Ford Explorer kit to represent the one from the movie, but that kit wasn't close to looking like the movie vehicle.

In ID4, they did an alien ship and alien exo-figure and added an older F/A-18 and ancient Stearman PT-17 trainer kit.

Their final new tooled armor kits were a very bad T-55, T-80 and BMP.

Today, their line consists of their old stuff along with some abandoned kits from Testors and Hawk. Some of their car kits are pretty good though, but of older subjects.

They occupy the attention of a group of modelers I call the "I wrestled it into submission" set. Some people like a real challenge.

If you are interested, take a look at the Round 2 company. They are reissuing old Lindberg, MPC, Hawk and other kits.

For ship modelers, Lindberg has a bunch of out-of-the-ordinary interesting kits---albeit in odd scales, and mostly useful as basic hull/structures, with a fair amount of work necessary for decent-looking detail. Kits like their USCG 'Cape' class patrol boat, assorted landing-craft and the WW2 minesweeper can be knockouts, but most are in odd scales for which aftermarket goodies are scarce or non-existant.

Less impressed with their aircraft, which are generally simplified (or simply awful) versions of types more readily available elsewhere.

One great advantage for all is that they are---or usually can be found---dirt-cheap, so for wild, speculative or enthusiasm-restoring projects, they're perfect. No qualms about cutting off bits or poking holes...since any attention is generally an improvement. I did their re-released Q-Ship as a semi-authentic WW1 freighter/decoy ship recently---just such a 'wild hair' project---and it was great fun...but a lot of mods anf improvements were required just to get it to a 'basic' standard.

I have never tried one of their ship kits ( just by looking at the box you can tell their "detail free") But I have done a few of their car kits.

The Dodge 700 tilt cab truck was a good kit and went together easy. It's the old IMC kit.  Just keep in mind that the instructions have the hinges installed upside down ( that took me a few min. to figure out. )

Lindberg's 1 / 32 scale of car kits does have quite a few cars that are not available anywhere else. ( Some of the old Pyro kits ) so if you'r looking for a subject that has'nt been "done to death" these are a good choice.

I usually dont do 1/32 scale.... my parts box is mostly 1/25. It makes it hard to kitbash stuff.

My experience with Lindberg kits is that they are generally pretty bad. 

Poor (sometimes awful) fit, minimal detail, etc. In that regard they are probably comparable to most 50 year old designs. 

I've done a couple of aircraft, and they have a distinctly toy-like appearance. My son has done a few ships and they seemed about the same. 

I'd agree with everyone.  I've been modelling since the early 1960s and even then, I was never fond Iindberg kits. Bad fit, poor detail, et al.  I liked Revell, Monogram, and even Airfix better.  If you wanted to make a kit better, more power to you. 

Thank you, this is what I was looking for. I'm new to the hobby, so I have enough challenges right now! Some of their subjects are interesting, the harbor tug boat comes to mind. Probably slim to no chance of them re-tooling to improve their line.

UnwaryPaladin

Thank you, this is what I was looking for. I'm new to the hobby, so I have enough challenges right now! Some of their subjects are interesting, the harbor tug boat comes to mind. Probably slim to no chance of them re-tooling to improve their line.

No, I doubt if they'll be retooling anything.

The market niche they're serving seems to be either people who are just getting into the hobby and might pick up a Lindberg kit for cheap, or folks who are going for nostalgia (hence the vintage style packaging). 

If you are new to the hobby I would highly recommend spending a few extra dollars and trying out a Tamiya, newer Revell, or newer Airfix kit. Well worth the investment.

UnwaryPaladin

Thank you, this is what I was looking for. I'm new to the hobby, so I have enough challenges right now! Some of their subjects are interesting, the harbor tug boat comes to mind. Probably slim to no chance of them re-tooling to improve their line.

 

There is a guy in our local club in Charlotte that builds the 1/72nd Lindberg stuff, and he does a great job on them. Says they build up rather easily. His builds look accurate to me, as I always thought the Lindberg kits were very inaccurate, especially when it came to the general shape of the aircraft. This guy has proven me wrong on that.

I build them occasionally, because they kit subjects no one else does.  The quality of the kits is hit or miss.  Some are poor, a few are really great, especially a couple of their car and ship kits.  Often they have accuracy issues, and detail is never a highlight. If you are after accuracy and detail, you have to do a lot of extra work. If you are a novice and able to overlook the flaws, they are inexpensive kits.

The next one I intend to build is their shrimp boat.  I suspect this is a composite of several individual boats, and does a fair job of representing the type.

My experiences are limited, but I did get the Stuka/262 double boxing at HL last year. The Stuka was very basic and lacked a lot of details, but went together very well. The 262 is going to be a whole lot more work to put it together. I figure the 262 will be good enough to practice camo mottling once I get it together.

But they can turn out good enough for ceiling hangers. They just take some creative thinking and a lotta love.

Roald

 

 

UnwaryPaladin

Thank you, this is what I was looking for. I'm new to the hobby, so I have enough challenges right now! Some of their subjects are interesting, the harbor tug boat comes to mind. Probably slim to no chance of them re-tooling to improve their line.

 

 

No, I doubt if they'll be retooling anything.

The market niche they're serving seems to be either people who are just getting into the hobby and might pick up a Lindberg kit for cheap, or folks who are going for nostalgia (hence the vintage style packaging). 

If you are new to the hobby I would highly recommend spending a few extra dollars and trying out a Tamiya, newer Revell, or newer Airfix kit. Well worth the investment.

 

That's exactly what I've been doing! My plan is to learn the basics first before attempting the more challenging kits. The first kit I picked up when returning to the hobby was the Revell P40. I wound up tossing it back into the box in frustration and not attempting another kit for another year. My second kit was an Academy P51 C Mustang, but I had trouble with the canopy masking. I had enough sense to set it aside, learn how to mask canopies on a few easier kits, then finish the Mustang when I felt ready.

As for the Revell P40? I use it for experimenting. I've seen a few really nice builds of that kit on here but I can't say I want to attempt it again any time soon!

Lindberg's old spacecraft concept kits can be fun, straight out of the box or customized. Accuracy and detail don't matter with these kits. https://culttvman.com/main/tom-herings-space-station-transport-rocket/

I bought a couple of car kits from Ollie's for $7-9 per.  I can't even remember what they are.  They are at the back of my stack.  I do remember opening them and being presently surprised that they look pretty decent.  I might change my mind when I finally tear into them.

UnwaryPaladin

...The first kit I picked up when returning to the hobby was the Revell P40...

Was it the original Revell 1/32 P-40E, the Revell 1/48 P-40E (pantographed down from their 1/32 kit, and which was the basis for the ProModeler P-40E kit), or the Revell 1/72 P-40E?  Or was it Monogram's P-40B reboxed under the Revell label, post-merger?  I'm curious to know more specifically, because Monogram's 1/48 P-40B isn't a bad kit at all.  But each has its own quirks, and I'm curious to know what problems the kit gave you.

I built the landing ship when I was a kid.  Since I got back into modeling, I've built the F11C Goshawk.  Not a bad kit, but it really does need some additional details added and some of the kit engineering (eg, the radial engine with detail only on the front) needs to be corrected.

As others have mentioned, Lindberg was never really noted for being on the cutting edge of detail or for manufacturing the most accurate kits.  But they can be fun, and they can be found on the cheap.  Lindberg also bought up the lines of other makers, such as Life-Like/Pyro, whence come the old dinosaur kits, and the 1/1200 "Table-Top Navy" ship kits.

Here in the Mid-Atlantic region, we have a chain of discount stores called Ollie's.  Ollie's is almost an indoor flea market; they buy up discontinued lots, merchandise from stores going out of business, etc.  But they also sell Lindberg kits, which are produced and marketed through Round2.  That includes aircraft, cars, dinosaurs.  It's always worth stopping in at any location, just to see what they might have on hand.  Lindberg kits are always good for a quick build.

the Baron

 

 

UnwaryPaladin

...The first kit I picked up when returning to the hobby was the Revell P40...

 

 

 

Was it the original Revell 1/32 P-40E, the Revell 1/48 P-40E (pantographed down from their 1/32 kit, and which was the basis for the ProModeler P-40E kit), or the Revell 1/72 P-40E?  Or was it Monogram's P-40B reboxed under the Revell label, post-merger?  I'm curious to know more specifically, because Monogram's 1/48 P-40B isn't a bad kit at all.  But each has its own quirks, and I'm curious to know what problems the kit gave you.

 

It was the 1/48 P-40B Tiger Shark. I had trouble with all the seams, especially the wing root and the top of the nose. At one point I guess I squeezed the exhaust assembly too hard and it popped into the closed fuselage to rattle around for eternity! That said, it was my very first kit and if I tried it now I would probably do it more justice.

the Baron

I built the landing ship when I was a kid.  Since I got back into modeling, I've built the F11C Goshawk.  Not a bad kit, but it really does need some additional details added and some of the kit engineering (eg, the radial engine with detail only on the front) needs to be corrected.

As others have mentioned, Lindberg was never really noted for being on the cutting edge of detail or for manufacturing the most accurate kits.  But they can be fun, and they can be found on the cheap.  Lindberg also bought up the lines of other makers, such as Life-Like/Pyro, whence come the old dinosaur kits, and the 1/1200 "Table-Top Navy" ship kits.

Here in the Mid-Atlantic region, we have a chain of discount stores called Ollie's.  Ollie's is almost an indoor flea market; they buy up discontinued lots, merchandise from stores going out of business, etc.  But they also sell Lindberg kits, which are produced and marketed through Round2.  That includes aircraft, cars, dinosaurs.  It's always worth stopping in at any location, just to see what they might have on hand.  Lindberg kits are always good for a quick build.

 

Doing one now,sub-par fit,flash,pin marks,but not reprehensible.

UnwaryPaladin

 

the Baron

 

 

UnwaryPaladin

...The first kit I picked up when returning to the hobby was the Revell P40...

 

 

 

Was it the original Revell 1/32 P-40E, the Revell 1/48 P-40E (pantographed down from their 1/32 kit, and which was the basis for the ProModeler P-40E kit), or the Revell 1/72 P-40E?  Or was it Monogram's P-40B reboxed under the Revell label, post-merger?  I'm curious to know more specifically, because Monogram's 1/48 P-40B isn't a bad kit at all.  But each has its own quirks, and I'm curious to know what problems the kit gave you.

 

 

 

 

It was the 1/48 P-40B Tiger Shark. I had trouble with all the seams, especially the wing root and the top of the nose. At one point I guess I squeezed the exhaust assembly too hard and it popped into the closed fuselage to rattle around for eternity! That said, it was my very first kit and if I tried it now I would probably do it more justice.

 

Thanks for replying!  Yeah, it's not a Revell kit, it's Monogram.  It sounds like you got a newer boxing of the kit, and those molds are almost as old as I am.  I like to pick up older boxings, from the 70s.  I sometimes do install a spacer in the nose opening, to prevent a potential step between the nose piece and the fuselage halves.  Otherwise, it's a pretty good kit.

Lindbergh kits makes a better modeler out of the typical modeler.I took the Lindberg 1/48 scale F-100D and turned it into a contest winning model.Re-doing the panel lines ,scratchbuilding and so on.Its a good practice for anyone.

Matchbox kits are the same.Airfix a clove 3rd.

MMMM;

 Good Question . Yes , I still do . Why ? Well , let's put it this way . I have more fun on these than the more expensive ones . I have built many over the years . They still test my skills .

 My main pleasure in these rough cut versions of models is twofold . One I just plain like them for a mindless build . Second and most important , they remind me of the link I had with the one time CEO of said company and the heart-break I've seen him go through on the company's behalf .

    Besides , where can you get a good starter kit for the uniniated that will still look good if they mess up a little . And they offer subjects no one else does , for the most part . Can you say that for Tamiya , Hasegawa or Revell of Germany ? No , of course not .

   There are Revell of Germany kits that give me nightmares . I think on some , the test shots must've been better , than what hit the market . Fit issues galore . On ships anyway !

Hi Don ;

    I shall make this short .The Lindberg / Pyro/LifeLike / Round 2 " Shrinp Boat " is NOT a compendium of types . In the late fifties early sixties , all the older boats looked like that ! The boat modeled is the type found in South West Coast , Florida ,many owned and operated by members of the Seminole tribe .

  They were then , Most , if not all , Forty year old boats ! I think they were turned out assembly line style in yards in Northern Florida and Louisiana . Last time I visited the relatives of my late first wife ( She was a Seminole ) , Uncle Carl had two . One with an engine similar to the old flywheel type found in Monterey fishing boats in California !

 It was his oldest , de-rigged from shrimping to being a supply boat . I imagine she , by then , had every plank below the waterline , replaced at least four or five times . Oh , and she smelled like a shrimper too !

Some of the nineties car kits were good and some were recently reboxed as AMT kits by Round Two.  While they some times take some work the classic fifties IMC car kits are also very good.  Then there is the found AMT 34' Ford Pickup released, during the nineties, as a Lindberg kit.  Then there were the Testor's Dodge police car kits.

The sixties (50s" hot rod kits, on the other hand, are often enough to make one want to swear off modeling.  Many were designed to be motorized which did nothing to improve the level of detail.  Recently one of the kits was released as a rat rod photo etched parts.  It would take more than that to interest me. 

The ship models, in many cases, were tooled during the fifties.  Many were Pyro kits from early in that decade.  The fleet type submarine was originally released by Varney in 1946 making it the oldest plastic kit ever marketed.  

Another kit with a long history, returning to the Lindberg lineup in the near future is the Flying Soucer/UFO.  released during the early fifties it was arguably the first science fiction model.  It was known, infamously, for its use in "Plan Nine From Outer Space".   

I'll say one thing for Lindberg, they came out with some subjects that nobody else did.  Still looking for a XF-91 and maybe a XF-88.

I picked up a few Essex class carriers at Ollies as well as most of the planes they had.  I practice on the Lindberg kits.

Marcs in Northeast Ohio got a whole bunch of Lindberg kits in.  For $5 each i picked up the B-58 Hustler, a Junkers 88, a Handley Page Victor, Avro Vulcan, F-104C and a Hainkel He-111.  Varying scales but all decent size.

They also had a USS Delong destroyer in 1/300 scale for $6.88.

All great for practicing with my new airbrush, preshading or metallic finishes.