Big 'n' Classic - Lindberg 1/20 cars!

[Faust]

Sometimes, you end up with a bunch of similar things without even trying. A perfect example of that is my (admittedly small) collection of Lindberg 1/20 model cars. I never really went out of my way to collect them, I just kinda bought them when I saw them. Then, I realized I had a gaggle of them hanging around my stash!

So, I thought it would be fun to visit a bit of a model car Brobdingnag and see how the “bigger half” lives. I have some older MPC 1/20 kits, but the Lindbergs are neat because they’re all from the ‘90s, when kits of this size were really not a thing!

Check them out and let me know what you think? Did you ever get into these? It doesn’t seem too many did…

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/lindberg-1-20-scale-cars/

[Tabbysdaddy]

I like them, I buy different scales. I have the GMC Sonoma and the Ford Explorer.

[Oldcarfan27]

I remember when the 1989 ads read "Lindberg's Back!" and they promoted the 1/20 Stealth and the S10, as well as small clips of their 1/32 Porsche 930 and Corvette ZR1. These kits were to be the first out of the gate for Lindberg's resurgence. 

At the time, no other manufacturers had kits of these in their lineup yet, so the interest was there.

I remember my friend and I each bought the Stealth and we looked forward to the S10. I built mine as a roadster, because the roof looked so out of proportion that I just wacked it off and made a trunk with a top boot to remedy it. I think my friend gave up on his because there was no turbos in the kit (a mistake they later corrected in their Mitsu 3000GT, but by then it was too late).

I was unimpressed because, other than the large size, detail was no better than a smaller scale. In fact it was less! The wheels and tires were blocky, the mirrors looked too big and many parts didn't fit together well. Reviews I read said the S10 was even worse, so even though Lindberg's quality improved with later releases, I'd lost all interest in the series and 1/20 scale and never bought another one again. 

It didn't help that their box art was totally uninspiring, or the fact that it seemed that almost every car on their boxes was either red or black - practically blending in with their dull display layout. 

To this day, I still have an aversion to 1/20 scale kits (except the Econoline van, but that's another story). 

Adam, these kits really are losers to me, but your writing on the subject at least still makes them seem interesting. Keep up the good work!

[Luc Janssens]

Got a few, IMHO Mr. Toteff had the right scale in mind, but not the medium. if he had these released as build diecast from the Sixties on, there never would've been 1/18 Diecast, and probably hurt the plastic model it industry much sooner.

About the kits themselves, one would expect better detail when going bigger.

[Mark]

The idea probably didn't involve more detail, so much as just making the parts easier to handle.  The boxes were bigger too...another part of the deal...leaving less shelf space at the store for competing items.

The first S-10 was disappointing, the Stealth and Mitsubishi had that terrible looking roof.  The later kits aren't bad, I have the later S-10 and one of the Firebirds.

[64Comet404]

The trucks and SUV kits were well detailed, but 1:20 wasn't the scale which builders were clamouring for at their local shops. I did find one of the Blazer kits (the one moulded in aqua styrene) at a collectibles store recently. Unfortunately, the body had shattered in a few places (very much like some of the old Monogram kits), so I didn't bother.

One small correction on the article: there was a 1:24 kit of the Grand Cherokee, which was produced by Tamiya. Nice enough kit for the time, but you don't see them too often at shows anymore.

[Motor City]

My buddy was cleaning out his parents' house and gave me the unbuilt 1/20th Lindberg GMC Syclone kit that his brother didn't want.  I haven't done anything with it yet, and I don't have anything else in that scale. 

[kelson]

I have a collection of these and have built the Camaro SS and the Z10 pickup,little fiddly but do look good enough for me.?

[Motor City]

Very nice!  Did you airbrush those and what paint did you use?

[Faust]

Wow, they made a Cyclone, eh? Interesting...

I love that Camaro, and the colour is dead-nuts '90s!!! 

From what I can tell the "Z10" is actually the Chevy S10 "Xtreme". I think they should have stuck with "Z10", but that's not as '90s.

Thanks for the info about the Tamiya Jeep, too, Ken. I've never seen that kit nor even heard of it (obviously). 

[Motor City]

2 hours ago, Faust said:

Wow, they made a Cyclone, eh? Interesting...I

[Toast]

I'm a bit of an S-Series fan so i geeked out over some of these offerings.

Have the GMC baja pickup that i swapped with a Chevy grill to do a proper Baja S-10.

Also have their mid 90s ZR2 pickup to build.

The kits look really nice. 

[Luc Janssens]

7 hours ago, Faust said:

Wow, they made a Cyclone, eh? Interesting...

I love that Camaro, and the colour is dead-nuts '90s!!! 

From what I can tell the "Z10" is actually the Chevy S10 "Xtreme". I think they should have stuck with "Z10", but that's not as '90s.

Thanks for the info about the Tamiya Jeep, too, Ken. I've never seen that kit nor even heard of it (obviously). 

Edited May 28, 2022 by Luc Janssens

[Luc Janssens]

This is also a nice version, sadly of my copy the decals are shot....

[Hawk312]

 

To my knowledge, this is the only Firehawk kit we have to choose from. It was decent, lots of nice detail. Unfortunately the wheel and tires are just a little off proportionately. 

If I ever get time, maybe I will try to print and cast some wheels and tires that are perfect proportionately. I also wish Revell or AMT would convert one of their f-body kits to a Firehawk. 

[Stef]

Loved building Lindberg's Firehawk kit. It came out after their "Formula" kit.

The Formula kit actually came with oval-slotted base model wheels, rather than the tri-bladed Trans Am/Formula wheels depicted on the box.

The rear hatch glass in both kits looked a bit unweildly sans engraved defroster detail, though overall, I really enjoyed building both.

I also enjoyed Lindberg's 1/20 pink snap Blazer.

FWIW, I also loved all of Lindberg's 1/25 90s kits, including Crown Vic, Chrysler Atlantic, Colour Me Gone 64 Dodge, Dodge Caravan, 53 Ford, Chrysler Sebring, 67 Olds 442, and 61 Impala.

Good times.

 

 

[kelson]

21 hours ago, Motor City said:

Very nice!  Did you airbrush those and what paint did you use?

Thanks,i airbrushed both,the Camaro was painted Factory Bright teal( p.code 38) and the Z10 was painted in a ford color Kona Blue (p.code L6)

[kelson]

Here's a couple more collecting dust in my stash that i don't think were mentioned?

[Stef]

5 hours ago, kelson said:

Here's a couple more collecting dust in my stash that i don't think were mentioned?

Nice additions, @kelson. Never built any of these, but would love to. The only 1/20 in my current collection is MPC's 74 HighJacker, and it would love to play in the dirt with your three amigos.

Edited May 29, 2022 by Stef
style and humour

[64Comet404]

On 5/27/2022 at 7:29 PM, Faust said:

Thanks for the info about the Tamiya Jeep, too, Ken. I've never seen that kit nor even heard of it (obviously). 

Tamiya even made a limited-run TS paint for the Grand Cherokee, to replicate the dark green metallic. I still have a couple of cans of the colour ready for decanting and airbrushing. 

[Toast]

From my understanding these two are the same kit. Looking at the parts layout on the back of the AMT box it even has the extra offroading parts.

Also, they are basically a lifted Syclone.

[Daddyfink]

I know I have one of these somewhere

[Daddyfink]

 

Anyone ever see this one? I just found it looking for an image of the Bay Watch kit. 

[Faust]

Wow, that Toyota Dually is awesome!

I have to find one of those somewhere!

[stavanzer]

I want the Jurassic Park Explorer! Neat kit. Always thought it would be a Bang-Up Mad Max, Post Apocalypse Build.