U.S.S. Akron

[steveoh54]

I'm searching for a model of the U.S.S. Akron. My father worked for Goodyear Aircraft in Akron,Ohio,then for Goodyear Aerospace. After he retired,he worked at Wingfoot Lake,Blimp Base 1, on the Spirit of Akron blimp,then after it's crash,the new Spiit of Goodyear. He passed away recently and I inherited a piece of Duralumin girder from the recovered wreckage of the U.S.S. Akron that crashed off of New Jersey in 1933. This internal structure hung in the Akron airdock for years and when they decided to dispose of it, the employees that were involved with the blimp program all cut a 10-12 inch piece to save.I have a plastic model of the Akron from the 70's or 80's,but it's in really bad shape. I'm planning on building a case to show all of the airship memento's I have and would like to have a GOOD model of the Akron. Any help would be greatly appriciated.

[wag]

I'm afraid your choices are fairly slim. In plastic the only kit out there was the old AMT kit which you described and can still be found occasionally on e-bay and the like. There is a card model of the Macon which is still shown as available from PMI here http://papermodels.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=20_26&products_id=1161. Please note PMI changed ownership about a year ago and the new owner doesn't seem to be restocking very quickly so if you're interested you might want to get one soon.
Wayne

[enewsom]

The AMT Akron model doubles as the Macon model as well. If you're eBay searching, it might help to search for both, as not every seller is savvy enough to list both in the title.

[Dirigible_Nut]

How bad of shape is your Akron model in? It is possible to restore a built up plastic model, if it isn't too far gone. If the hull, fins, and control car are still intact, but all the prop outriggers are gone, for an experienced modeler, these details can be made from scratch, and then model could be repainted, and new decals made for the thing on the computer, without much of a problem. The key ingredient in doing this is patience.

Can you post pictures of your Akron model?

Jim.

[steveoh54]

I'll see if I can post a couple of pictures of the AMT model I have. It's really not in that bad of shape...definately fixable.

[enewsom]

If decals are a problem, I have a set leftover from the model I've just built. In shape, it's the Macon, but I'm using it for a fiction project. Let me know, and I can drop them in an envelope and send them your way.

[Blimpy]

I'll see if I can post a couple of pictures of the AMT model I have. It's really not in that bad of shape...definately fixable.

If you want to get rid of your AMT model and it goes unclaimed, please drop me a note. It'd be perfect for my needs.

Thanks in advance,
Blimpy

[steveoh54]

I want to hold on to this model and try to repair it. I'm going to try to attatch some photos and see if anyone has any ideas about fixing it.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q84/steveoh54/Akron-MaconModel001.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q84/steveoh54/Akron-MaconModel006.jpg

[Blimpy]

I can't fault you for that, Steve. She's a beauty!

Blimpy

[JBOT]

I drew some replacement decals for a friend who had the model but no decals. Could you show me the decals that come with the kit, so that I can see if my research and drawing was correct / accurate?

My decals include silver for the windows with thin black outlines.



Jimbo
JBOT DECALS
www.jbot.ca

[Peter O]

I drew some replacement decals for a friend who had the model but no decals. Could you show me the decals that come with the kit, so that I can see if my research and drawing was correct / accurate?

My decals include silver for the windows with thin black outlines.



Jimbo
JBOT DECALS
www.jbot.ca

Are you planning on adding them to your website? I've got the AMT kit, so if you still need a scan of the decals, I'll be happy to send you one.

Peter

[enewsom]

...I actually have a set of decals that I'm not going to use, as I'm using my Akron model as a base for another project. Shoot me an email if you have interest in them: enewsom@gmail.com