USS Akron/ Macon Flying Aircraft Carriers 1:520 Scale AMT Model Kit #892 Review
Right On Replicas, LLC Step-by-Step Review 20150722*
USS Akron/ Macon Flying Aircraft Carriers 1:520 Scale AMT Model Kit #892 Review
Review and Photos by Doug Cole 
 The USS Akron and USS Macon were developed prior to WWII with the help of engineers from Germany’s Graf Zeppelin Company. It was a military experiment for rigid frame lighter than air (LTA) aircraft carriers built for the US Navy by Goodyear. It included many refinements from the original dirigible designs such as the use of helium. These airships were designed to carry five single-seat Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawks as advance scouts or Fleet N2Y-1 trainers. They even carried a gondola that could be lowered below the clouds for reconnaissance. Unfortunately, these airships crashed due to storm damage at sea soon after they went into service ending the public and military love affair with LTA transportation.
For the Modeler: This review covers the USS Akron or Macon LTA Aircraft Carrier 1:520 Scale AMT Model Kit #892. A 2015 re-release, this model should be readily available at most outlets. The kit has markings for either the USS Akron (ZRS-4) or the USS Macon 
(ZRS-5). AMT designates this as a Skill Level 2 kit for modelers 10 years and older but I think that might be a little light due to some of the small parts and decals in this kit. For a kit with only seven main pieces it will give you a workout with the tweezers. It is molded in light gray styrene and has waterslide decals with a basic construction guide.  Large but simple, this kit is a great example of the excellent subject matter that used to be commonplace in the modeling industry. With some scratch building you could open up the hatch door and make it into a diorama with biplanes or a spy basket!
Covered in this Review: If you want to perfect your build; basic construction; preparing parts for better finishing; fuselage assembly; construction methods for braces; realistic detailing for the Maybach motors; alternate assembly sequence suggestions for fit and ease of finishing; complete paint and adhesive selections and applications; test fitting; detailing the propellers; making realistic windows; display stand finishing and detailing; installing hooks for hanging the model; locating and opening the radiator openings; clamping methods; painting techniques using the cradle; modifying the horizontal stabilizers for fit; repairing seams and sinks; version considerations; adding detail to the roof vents; detailing the motor stripe; enhancing the radiator openings; stabilizer brace “handednessâ€; working with small parts; decal handling, preparation and application; using “setting†solutions to enhance the decals; are all fully examined in this 11 page, full-color Step-by-Step review in PDF format.
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