Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

Lindberg 1949 Ford Tudor Coupe


Stevearado

Recommended Posts

This is the current release of Lindberg's 49 Ford which I picked up at my local hobby shop.

lindberg49fordboxkt9.jpg

This kit is in 1/32 scale. This may not be favorable with those who prefer 1/24 and 1/25 scale kits.

However, it is another option for those who are into old Fords.

The Kit:

lindberg49fordspruesej1.jpg

This kit comes with 4 sprues: 3 in white plastic, and one in clear. There are no chrome-plated parts included. Therefore, the parts that are suppose to chrome will need to sprayed with Alclad chrome or covered with BMF. The wheel/tire assemblies come in two halves. Assembled, they appear too rounded, but nothing a sanding stick can't handle. This kit is also a curbside kit with the frame, exhaust, and engine molded to the floor pan. However, though molded together, the rear axle and driveshaft are separate. There is some flash on the parts that will have to be removed.

The Body

lindberg49fordbodyis7.jpg

The body comes in 3 parts. I have glued the body together, and it needs some putty and sanding to be perfect.

This is one of a few 1/32 scale car kits that is offered by Lindberg. For those into racing slot cars, this could be good for conversions as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish they would let people know on the box that it's for experienced modelers only. Some lady is going to buy one of those for her nephew and the 3-piece body and lack of chrome will turn him off to model cars forever.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

palmer kits almost did that for me! well-meaning but budget minded folks are the only reason they stayed in business; buying birthday and Christmas gifts for grandkids and nephews. i been building for 30+ years and i think i'd be challenged by this one. HOWEVER: looking at the kit parts shows little mold deterioration; the lines seem to still be sharp and the parts don't appear to be warped.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Many of you will not remember Pyro kits. Pyro had a very extensive line of 1/32 scale cars, many of which were never even considered in 1/25 scale. Unlike the popular AMT, Jo-Han, and Revell kits of the time (1960s), Pyro's 49 cents (yes, 49 cents!) kits did not come with customizing options, black vinyl tires, or chrome plated parts. In the early 1970s, Pyro's molds were sold to Life-Like, a hobby manufacturer most known for their train sets and accessories. In the late 1970s, Lindberg purchased the molds from Life-Like.

In general, these kits are very nice, needing only a bit of care and patience to get them looking splendidly. And, with Alclad II Chrome paint now available, the argument that the kits lack chrome plating is unimportant.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Pyro (later Life-like and Lindberg) did a series of 1/32 scale 1920s-30s classics that had full engine and chassis detail as well as plated parts. The range had everything from M-B SSKs, Duesenbergs (including Gary Cooper's SSJ), Cadillac V-16s, Packards, and more. I'm hoping that Lindberg's new owners see fit to reissue these kits.

Close behind these are the Matchbox 1/32 classic car kits. All of them had engine and chassis detail, and were very nicely done, though in some ways not as "crisp" as the Pyro kits I just mentioned. This range included an MG TC, Jaguar SS100, M-B SSKL, Bugatti Type 59, Porsche 917 Can-Am, Auto Union Type D, Porsche 935, Tyrrell P34, 1931 Packard Victoria, and Rolls Royce Black Diamond. Revell Germany now owns these molds and have reissued in recent years the 935 and the Auto Union. Hopefully more!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I wish they could've got it right on the box. That Lindberg kit is a tudor sedan, not a coupe! check the long rear side windows, and the short deck compared to a coupe.

Also it looks from the parts photo as though the front end is too flat. The real '49 Fords had a nicely curved front edge to the hood. Check the photo against the box art. I date back to the days of the Pyro original (!), and I noticed it way back then.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remember these old Pyro kits when I was a kid, I had a '57 Chevy convertible with the mult-piece body, no plated parts. I remember opening the box and thinking "this sucks" ! Now I think it would be fun to try one of these again to see what I could make of it now!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have many 1/32nd scale kits..one of the best plastic kits for the money is the Gunze Sangyo 1/32nd. This 1957 cadillac has all the engraved parts including speedo with full interior, rubber tires , 2 chrome trees, wire wheels and stock hubcaps , clear glass including head lights, and a 1piece body. in this series I've seen a 59 chevy, 63 t-bird, 59 eldo,59 ford skyliner, 57 chevy and 55 nomad. They were in the 50's..60's collection circa 1992...they were at most shows pretty cheap, i got this one for 5 bucks at the last hillside show...but then 1/32nd slot-cars were coming back and these kits seemed to dry up...

IMGP0049-vi.jpg

IMGP0048-vi.jpg

IMGP0046-vi.jpg

IMGP0045-vi.jpg I do have a few of the newer Lindberg kits, including that '49

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also it looks from the parts photo as though the front end is too flat. The real '49 Fords had a nicely curved front edge to the hood.

Part of the problem is the grille in the kit is too large for the car. I built one of those a year or so ago and I chopped some height out of the vertical parts of the grille then reglued it.

After that, I filled in the extra space at the front edge of the hood with some shim stock.

It wasn't perfect, but much improved, someone with more patience could probably reshape it to perfection.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Part of the problem is the grille in the kit is too large for the car. I built one of those a year or so ago and I chopped some height out of the vertical parts of the grille then reglued it.

After that, I filled in the extra space at the front edge of the hood with some shim stock.

It wasn't perfect, but much improved, someone with more patience could probably reshape it to perfection.

First, thanks to the guys on this forum who set me straight by explaining how Lindberg got an old tooling in their hands. I thought they stole it like they did the AMT 34 Ford Pickup. I don't hate Lindberg for their antics, I think they just took advantage of a situation.

Second, I have been a builder and devotee of 1/24, and 1/25 scale cars since 1952, at the tender age of 5. When Revell came out with the Highway Pioneers and Pyro came out with the 1/32 scale kits, I considered them "second class" models. I still have a bunch of built and unbuilt Pyro models in my collection. But, I built the ones I did to "practice" for work on the 1/25 scale cars. What I did was to section the car like what was in Rod & Custom and wanted to see what it was like before I started cutting up a buck and a half kit. After all I was only spending a quarter. The kit came out, but I had to shorten the bumper and make it into a rolled pan, fabricate some plastic for a new grille, install the rear pan as if a rolled pan. Then I totally ruined it with a Pactra Metallic Blue paint job, and no detailing. It still sits in my parts box, and maybe someday, but I have other important fires to attend to.

Third, I have never liked, no let me put it different, respected 1/32 plastic kits because they always seem to be out of proportion, never have details, (just one engine or set of wheels, please). Then along came some funny cars in the eighties and these were OK, but the 1/25 models for 3 bucks more were more worth it.

Sorry to be so negative, but when I saw the Lindberg ad for the '49 Ford, my blood pressure went up in anticipation. Now it is a lot of hoopla about reprising a "quarter" kit. After struggling by making their '37 Cord, I am convinced Lindberg's only hope is to continue begging, borrowing, buying, pilfering or stealing someone else's tool. I am impressed with their '53 Ford series, and had big hopes then.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 years later...

Hi everyone!

I found this post recently when I was searching for this car as I was converting it for Slot Car Racing. I thought you guys might get a kick out of my handywork.

Also, I found this kit (an original by another company) with chrome bumpers and grill. Wish Lindberg had done the same. Silver paint just doesn't cut it!

This is my conversion (so far) of the 1/32nd scale Lindberg 1949 Ford Tudor Coupe model. It uses Monogram Slot Car Parts on a home built Evergreen Styrene frame and body pan.

483031_470837646272455_1404695253_n.jpg

The 1949 Ford with the body removed. All I need to do to finish the car is to enlarge the hole ahead of the front axel and add the front pick-ups. Once this is done, I can then paint it. It will be orange with black and white racing stripes and numbers.

576880_470838456272374_654846795_n.jpg

Check out more here : http://www.facebook....163876670301889

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've built this kit too, and it's not very well detailed. The front end looks way too flat to me, as someone already said. It wasn't the funniest build I've had, because of the bad parts fit. Overall, it looks like nice basis for Slot Car body! But it wasn't expensive either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...