Back in the 1950s the US kit company Lindberg, of Chicago, Illinois, released a small range of space kits. All the kits were from the very dawn of the Space Age, and all pre-dated the first manned space flight in 1961.
The most famous was the Flying Saucer (used by Ed Wood, in his infamous movie Plan 9 From Outer Space). The other four kits were speculative designs, showing what the spacecraft of the future might look like.
All release dates from Scalemates.
517 Flying Saucer (1954)
12 Parts. Later issued as Unidentified Flying Object UFO. Also released by Glencoe Models as the U.F.O.; by Atlantis as the UFO Flying Saucer; and by Polar Lights as the Plan 9 From Outer Space Flying Saucer.
1001:98 Multi-Stage Transport Rocket (1958)
25 Parts. Later issued as Mars Probe Space Transport; then Star Probe U.S.S. Explorer.
1002:98 U.S. Space Station (1958)
20 Parts (or 70 according to early boxes). Later issued as the Mars Probe Space Station; then Star Probe Space Base.
1003:98 U.S. Moon Ship (1958)
40 Parts. Later issued as Mars Probe Landing Module; then Star Probe Space Shuttle. It later reverted to the U.S. Moon Ship name. It was also re-issued by Glencoe Models as the Lunar Lander.
1004-98 Satellite with Three Stage Launching Rocket (1958)
33 Parts. Later issued as the Mars Probe Communication Satellite.
Finally, in the late 1950s, came a magnificent boxed set of all five models, called 5 Space Ships of the Future, and numbered GB-103. This re-used the box art from the individual kits.
The kits were slightly re-named from the original kits, and were now: the Flying Saucer; Three Stage Transport Rocket; Space Station; Moon Ship; and Satellite Rocket.
Inside the full-colour outer box, the models were individually packed in blue and white boxes. The box illustrations were the same as the full-colour versions, but Lindberg were clearly trying to save on printing costs.
From photographs of the set in the box, only four kits are visible. Presumably the Flying Saucer was packed beneath one of the others ?
Today, this is a very rare set, although all the models within it have been re-issued several times.
Looking this set up on Scalemates, a 2017 re-issue is shown, with the kit number 609. By this time the Lindberg name was owned by Round 2. However, it seems that this planned set was cancelled before release.
A great pity, as it would have been a wonderful addition to any space model collection. The box art was the same as the original, but with slightly changed, and updated text. The Lindberg Line company logo was also changed to The New Lindberg Line.
Scalemates listing for the planned 2017 re-issue.
This site has photos of the planned re-issue box and decal sheets. It also mentions the cancellation.
Three photographs from Worthpoint.
Have you got this kit?
Paul Adams
New Zealand
I've got a re-issued moonship and a Star Probe version of the rocket, currently in bits. My mate had the station and ufo, back in the 80's. Great kits! Bill
ReplyDeleteSometime before 82 when I moved out, I had 3 of the model kits in this set. I had the moon ship, space station and 3 stage rocket.All were white plastic with red accent bits. I was disappointed in how simple they were but they were decent models. I despised the old Lindberg Ju-88 bomber kit I had as the fuselage halves would not line up fully.
ReplyDeleteOh my , how nostalgic! I never managed to grab the 5-ship set, but had all 5 of those beauties at one time or another! And loved them to pieces! Wish I had saved the Space Station, it was glorious! I still have one of the Flying Saucers, actually. SFZ
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing Paul and thanks for your article. I will have to check my copy of Classic Plastic now to see if its in there too. Am I right in thinking that Lindberg's flying saucer was the first real SF model kit?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, yes, the Lindberg Flying Saucer was the first SF plastic model kit. And it was used by Ed Wood Jr. in the making of his film Plan 9 From Outer Space. So it is a very important part of plastic model history.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Lindberg 5 Space Ships of the Future is in Classic Plastic Model Kits, on page 65.
Cheers Paul. Great info!
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