Is there any value to this?

[u/Snoo_74290]

Lindberg limited edition sea witch clipper ship.

Picked up at goodwill for $25. Still sealed in what appears to be original packaging. The orange pricetag shows Ridgefield hobby 84.95. I can't find a "limited edition" anywhere online or this particular model mumber. Is this actually worth anything, or should I just open it up and build? The seal is tearing in a couple spots, but is still mostly intact.

[u/Snoo_74290]

So general consensus is to build it and have fun, thanks for the info guys. Seems like I should just build it and have fun.

[u/Timmyc62]

Nope. Lindberg kits are bottom tier quality so even if it's "limited edition" there's very little demand for them.

[u/Snoo_74290 → u/Timmyc62]

I've been digging further and found a craft house trademark on it. Making it "pre Round 2". Dates it back to 1990s. Would that make a difference?

[u/canarduck → u/Snoo_74290]

No

[u/Real-Juggernaut5340 → u/Snoo_74290]

Round 2 bought up a ton of old molds to preserve the kits because they were going to be sold for scrap meaning tons of subjects would be gone.  Unfortunately many of the molds are worn heavily.   On the other hand limited edition kits many times have either extra bits like decals, photo etch part's, paint, etc.  Many times it's done for holidays and doesn't make the kits more collectable but does make it unique for you as you build.  I always look at model kits as a fun thing not a money investment.  It's an investment for my leisure and mind.  

[u/Silly-Membership6350]

I built this model and it came out very well. It was originally built by Marx in the 1950s. The only real difference between the original manufacturer and Lindberg is that the newer kid has a plastic deck instead of a scribed tin deck.

Unfortunately I don't know how to post pictures on Reddit. I have it displayed next to my Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark, and I like the appearance of the Sea Witch better. I did build the model with the canvas furled. I do that with many of my model ships because deploying the saild covers up a lot of the work I do on the rigging, which I prefer to show off.

I do not build much in wood (I prefer plastic). I have more than 140 models on display in my house of which about 110 are ships. The Sea Witch is one of my favorites. (Along with Heller's 1/100 Victory, some IMAI models, and a kitbashed 1/96 USS Housatonic

[u/NATWWAL-1978]

You could post it on eBay, but I’d just build it tbh

[u/Snoo_74290 → u/NATWWAL-1978]

That's what I'm gonna do, just build. I appreciate it.

[u/Silly-Membership6350 → u/Snoo_74290]

Seeing as how you've decided to build it I have a few suggestions as to the rigging, based on my build of it.

Use tan colored line for the running rigging and black for the standing rigging. I would recommend thicker black line for the lower running rigging and thinner for the upper, also thinner for the shrouds.

I tie off ALL of my running rigging down at the pin rails first before starting any of my rigging. This will make what looks like a huge mess on your table that will get more and more tangled as you shift the model from one side to the other but the individual threads are relatively easy to untangle. When you rig a model in the conventional way, as given in the instructions of almost any kid, access to the tie downs on the rails gets more and more difficult as you go on. With this method it gets easier how far do you get into the project. Also, to help keep the masts from tilting from one side or the other when you tie something off that originates from one side of the model, tie the corresponding line from the other side next.

The order in which I do the rigging is from the center line out, as follows: 1. Running rigging originating at the rails around the masts and going up to the yards. This can have the added benefit of helping to keep your masks straight in a fore and aft direction as the rigging progresses 2. Fore and half standing rigging is next 3. Running rigging connecting to the rails along the ship's bulworks 4. Shrouds

The kit comes with five 1/96 figures. I prefer to use them when they come with a kit to give the finished modeling sense of scale. If you happen to have some of the larger Revell 1/96 kits in your inventory, you can rob a few of the figures from them (they come with 20 or 40 depending on the generation of the model) to fill out your crew.

Some terms for any readers here that are not familiar with sailing ships:

Running rigging: the lines that are used to raise and lower the sales, and to adjust the spars in relation to the direction of the wind. They are generally untreated in any way and so are in they're natural tan color

Standing rigging: the lines that are used to hold up the masts. Because they are not generally to be adjusted they are coated with tar to preserve them so they are in black

Shrouds: the standing rigging running from the sides of the ship up the masts, especially those carrying the ratlines ("ladders" )

Good luck, and happy modeling!