Have Model Companies Ever Responded to Statements Made On The Forums ?

there are a few threads on several forums about the Lindberg 1/144 USS Arizona, none of which are positive. People say its junk, they are confused as to what Lindbergs intentions really are as to whether or not the kit will ever be released, etc.

Has Lindberg ever responded to such claims made by some, its safe to say, over zealous modelers? Lindberg is and always been a whipping boy when it comes to detail and quality. Just curious if companies ever respond in writing to all of what is being said about them.

the only recent thing I can recall in terms of a response was when Trumpeter delayed or pulled their Wildcat release, but am not sure who or what caused them to act.

Craig

Reply to
Musicman59
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Hi there.

I think that any military Lindberg kit and a positive response is an oxymoron.

I had a very nice response from Lindberg when I needed some parts for their 1/32 scale PT-109 kit. However, the only company I have had a response from to whom I have made suggestions is Masterbox in the Ukraine. Masterbox is a relatively new styrene figure company that also offers a few kits in styrene too. These are 1/35 scale military and civilian kits. Masterbox is currently working on a 1/35 scale C-47 and a 1/35 scale Horsa glider as well as a 1/35 scale Junkers Ju-52. All these kits will have flight crews and paratroop figures. The C-47 and Horsa glider will both be available as British or U.S. aircraft with the respective crews and paratroops. So yes, some companies do respond.

Cheers from Peter

Reply to
Sir Ridesalot

Sir Ridesalot wrote: : : I think that any military Lindberg kit and a positive response is an : oxymoron. : Well, Limberger did release that Japanese(?) submarine in 1/72. At least, they claim it is Japanese. The shape is reminiscent of a Japanese class of sub. but the details, well, not so much.

And, where is the Los Angeles? They still attempting to excrete it from between the cheeks?

Bruce

Reply to
Bruce Burden

=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Bruce

urden =A0 =A0Austin, TX.

hey, I have that "japanese" thing you referred to. Liking kits big, I bought it w/o thinking much (one of my specialties) how about listing a few things that are obviously wrong with it? For me its gonna look fine with all the big honkin' models in the garage....

Craig

Reply to
Musicman59

=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Bruce

Burden =A0 =A0Austin, TX.

Hi there.

If that Lindberg Japanese sub kit is anything like their 1/32 scale PT-109 or their Blue Devil Destroyer or their 1/48 scale Mig-31 kits it might be much simpler to list what, if anything, is right about it. I mean let's face it they really bothched the 1/32 scale kit of the

109 by giving it a hull more suited for a 77' Elco boat or even better a 78' *HIGGINS* boat plus an engine room hatch cover from a *LATE WAR* 103 Class of 80' Elco boat. I do not know of any single Lindberg military kit that is even reasonably accurate.

Cheers from Peter

Reply to
Sir Ridesalot

I recently finished the Lindberg Civil War cannon. I thought it was great. I showed it to a civil war artillery expert yesterday. She pointed out that the limber seat covered with leather is not correct, it should have been copper covered. And the hooks for the buckets were incorrectly placed. To me these are very minor errors. The kit is generally quite accurate with very good detail.

Lindberg has a long history of producing both wheat and chaff.

Reply to
Don Stauffer

Lindberg came out with the Dornier Pfiel, the Heinkel Salamander and the Messerschmitt Komet years before anyone else bothered. Their kits have generally good entry-level offerings and a reasonable starting point for some serious kitbashing. And who else has produced a He.100D?

Reply to
The Old Man

I remember a while back when you had a few painting questions on it - which way did you eventually go and what did she have to say about it?

WmB

Reply to
WmB

I have to believe they listen to their marketing folks mainly - hey they are a profit seeking business..

An example some years back one of the big companies did re-releases - the ones where the molds were in good shape, they marketed as priemium limited re-releases for the collector. The others, from the same basic series, where the molds were damaged - lots of cleanup or warpage, they markets for youngsters complete with a patch, booklet and membership certificate. When one of the magazines noted this they threatened to pull their advertizing. Big and cool subjects seem to trump accuracy and quality. And since a lot of people build for fun - I know people who love to glue parts together, they find it relaxing, and wouldn't touch a paint brush, or simply build straight from the box. Hugh Japanese submarine has appeal.

On the other hand - folks have tried really hard to influence re-releases and failed. There were multiple attempts via r.m.s to get Revell to reissue the 1950s space station and XSL-Moon Rocket. Write to the message board, email revell etc - many participated but it never happened. I just bought some re-releases from that period and couldn't help but wonder - weren't these some of the least interesting kits from those sets - but that could mean the ones whose molds aren't worn and in need of repair,

There have also been some subjects that modelers consistently asked for and never got - my view here is another subject was available in a museum near the manufacturer.

Bottom line is - many things drive the hobby - not sure the modeler is one of the main ones.

Val Kraut

Reply to
Val Kraut

some people may dump on lindberg, ignoring the fact they do make a lot of kits others don't. their jn4 kit is the best around and reasonable. i like the 1/72 german kits because you can make them as well as your talents allow. some of them are packed 2 to a box for 10-12 bucks. if you want to build easy 100 dollar kits, fine. i want to practice my scratch building on harder kits that don't cost a left nut. the people at lindberg do listen and respond to emails. so don't kill of another model company with indifference.

Reply to
someone

Musicman59 wrote: : : how about listing a few things that are obviously wrong with it? :

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Bruce

Reply to
Bruce Burden

I didn't mean this as a shot at Lindberg in particular. In Fact I just purchased multiple copies of Linberg re-releases that I originally did when they first came out. Not exactly new high tech - but with a little work build into a passable result. others in my opinion should not again see the light of flouresents in the local hobby shop - yet if people enjoy them and they sell - so why not. My gripe was with how the companies react to the hardline modelers.

Val Kraut

Reply to
Val Kraut

I thought MPM has done one. Am I in error? As for Lindberg's, I liked it and have built a few of them over the years.

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

Reply to
William Banaszak

That's because we're the luatic fringe. We buy models because that's what we do. We do not represent a mass market. The same situation applies to Star Trek. When the studio puts out a film, they really don't care if they don't follow established canon. It's their product and they'll make it the way they think will sell tickets and let us Trekkers fret over the non-compliances.

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

Reply to
William Banaszak

"> That's because we're the luatic fringe. We buy models because

That's an interesting point about where a particlular company's market is. In the late 60s Revell produced a much awaited B-25 - a terrible kit - disappointed most of us "modelers". At the same time Tamiya produced a Lanchaster -same scale - a work of art. The difference was the Revell kit was under $10, the Tamiya was $40. The local hobby shop discussed with the Revell rep and was told - Revell's market dictated kits under $10. Meanwhile the Lanc's sold very successfully in the Hobby Shop. The B-25s remained on the shelf. Revell couldn't sell kits for over that - no matter how good. Revell's market place was obviously the 5 & 10s and variety stores - so that's what they catered to.

I think the desmise of most of the Floquil line followed this also - when they were merged with Testors - Testor's market place didn't fit Floquil cost and quality.

Val Kraut

Reply to
Val Kraut

If MPM made one, I've never seen it sold locally. I've bashed a number of the Lindberg 100s, besides the actual test aircraft, a couple of "front line" fighters (never got that far) and several of the design prototypes that included a contra-rotating prop and swept-forward wings, usually done as front liners as well.

Reply to
The Old Man

i know val, you're a good guy.

Reply to
someone

That all-red me262 I saw online isn't canon?!

Reply to
eyeball

Greyish green (except for bronze barrel. The only two negative comments are above- other than that she really liked it. I think I will redo the limber lid to make it copper covered.

Reply to
Don Stauffer

any pictures you are willing to share? they sound cool. i've done almost all the varietys of ar 234 prototypes. i've done trolley, 2 engine, both 4 engine x's, night fighters, etc. the nightfighters turned out better than eitther the heller or revelle kits, which were supposed to be nf's but were just messes. sure, the first assembly is removing the rivets and rescribing all the panel lines. it doesn't take that much effort and it sure teaches you how to do the panel lines. this very usefull skill's learning cost is cheap and and the results are very satisying as you improve. i've also learned how to paint or make canopy frames, how to prepare and make vacum formed canopys, and other small parts. that is no small feat, a crappy canopy makes for a crappy model. i've learned 4-5 ways to make rigging, gun barrels, antennas, tires and treads and bulges, how to make and repair parts, and how ro mark and paint. all of this for relatively short money. and the best part? i've had lots of fun, satisfaction and gotten a bargain history education. getting an actual b.a was almost anticlimatic. my reading and research into how to build figures and hardware necessitated learning lots of history. i worked on that b.a. from the time i was 7 to the day i had sufficent credits to get it. it may have taken 40+ years, but i did it. my lindberg "textbooks" were a real teacher and a bargain. if you subscribe to a snob idea that learning and fun must be pricey, well, i pity you. (not YOU personaly, old man.) sure, super kits and shake and bakes can be fun, too. but as a guy once said about collecting large cents, i paraphrase, spending an evening looking through and studying a box of those old coins can be very satisfying and rewarding. build what you love. remember what al s said.....

Reply to
someone

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