Hawk Model Company

1/245 LZ-127 "Graf Zeppelin"

Kit Number: 70816

Reviewed by  Rod Lees, IPMS# 10821

MSRP: $74-$80 depending on where you find it … sometimes less! Website: www.hawkmodels.com/ Hawk models is literally the oldest active model company in the United States. I have an original "Hawk" P-39 instruction sheet from when my father was much younger; dated 1942. I have entertained constructing an Airacobra from basswood and these plans, but that story is for another time… The "Graf Zeppelin" is a large model, in a big box; however, when you open that box, you will find few parts compared with a certain company that excels in models with lots of little bits to make a simple strut… or second clear fuselages that you have to pay for and charges as much as an R/C kit for those parts. Now, this kit is not cheap in cost either; however, the "limited" factor of sales for Zeppelin kits drives this one into the "Not a lot of sales so it's gonna cost" category. Be forewarned but not disappointed. If you are looking at this kit, you are interested in a Zeppelin, not Barbie ® dolls. The Graf Zeppelin was one of the more successful of the rigid airships; included in the kit is a history of this short-lived mode of transportation. What I found most interesting was it was a world-girdling airship, having made the journey from Lakehurst, NJ, on August 29, 1929, around the world, and back, in only 28 days. The reason for the U.S. start and finish was the financier, Randolph Hurst, insisted on it. ("He who pays for the trip sets the rules"). I also noted some of the same issues of certain countries allowing over flights; a similar situation occurred to the U.S. military during operation "El Dorado Canyon" in 1986… That's all I'll comment on. Check the internet for more "Zep" details. The Graf Zeppelin survived for just over 10 years, and was scrapped in 1939 in South America. And here we sit, with the aircraft I work on (B-52) being well over 50 years old. Quite a comparison in economy and utilization… but what a way to travel. On to plastic: This kit is more of an exhibition piece than anything; provisions are provided for hanging the model from the ceiling, or use the included display stand. The lower gondola houses a light assembly and 3-volt flat Lithium battery to illuminate the interior; three bulbs provide a slight bluish light. I assembled these parts in ten minutes, painted the whole thing silver and then painted the chairs dark reddish-brown. Install the lighting system, battery, and check it out to make sure it works. The clear "window" part was next, then snap to the hull at the end of assembly. I had some fit issues later on with a large gap between the cabin and the hull; a Dremel tool on the bulkheads fixed that. I used superglue and accelerator with success, then touched up the paint. The hull is a two-piece injection molded item; The original Hawk release had two vacform halves; having build several dozen vacform models over the years, I am mightily pleased Hawk took the time and expense to give us the injected plastic version. These new hull halves incorporate hefty alignment pins and sockets to ensure a sturdy assembly. Take your time, use liquid cement, and the joint will be more than adequate. Not difficult, just time consuming. The four tail fins are two-piece items as well; after assembly, they snap into position on the hull. The control surface mass balances are not accurate based on photographs of the Graf Zepplin; Not only are they Nylon, (of that more anon) but in the kit they are teardrop shaped masses on rods (much like on ME-109 ailerons, Stinson L-1, etc.), while the actual items were airfoil blade shaped. I used Aeroclub strut material to make new mass balances. I also added rigging cable between the fins, made from long black brush bristles; in the photographs I have acquired from the net it appears they were installed on the rear spar area of the fins. The engine gondolas and propellers are made of Nylon. This was (personally) extremely frustrating. I believe Hawk did this to allow flexibility and "oops" factor for handling; Nylon is very forgiving, but it also is a you-know-what to paint and fill. After supergluing the five engine halves and attachment trusses together, I puttied them, sanded down, then installed using more superglue. I used brass wire for the remainder of the truss rigging; If is messed it up, oh well, because this is one area where the instructions truly failed. "Look at the box" is not acceptable, but oh well. I adapted. The kit includes monofilament line to do this part, and there is no way in you-know-where it would work to an acceptable degree for rigid struts. You know, drill holes, insert monofilament, wait for it to dry, then use a punk or smoldering match head to "snap taut" the line. Hence the brass wire… I used the heat method on the fin braces, but had to replace two because I held the heat too close to the nylon bristles. Ham fisted me, but… The only really bad time I had was in choice of aluminum finish for the kit; I opted not to do several different color panels, because I had no reference that matched. I used Kryon ® Silver to finish it initially; I then sanded down the finish, and tried to use "Duplicolor" ® lacquer car wheel paint, because the Krylon did not like to stick to the nylon gondolas. BAD decision; I ended up with a pebble/sandy finish on the entire model, including the struts. In the end I shot another three coats of Krylon silver over the Duplicolor after sanding the whole model down. Don't look at the gondolas too closely… I painted the props dark brown, and gave up. The kit decals include the registration numbers for the fins, and "GRAF ZEPPELIN" markings; I only used the GZ marks, because late in its service, the Graf Zeppelin acquired red fins and Hakenkreutz markings. I painted the fins Krylon Flat white while they were off the model, masked the circles, then painted the fins Tamiya bright red from a rattle can. I then used some Hakenkreutz decals from the stash. The red fins and Hakenkreutz markings adds historical authenticity and color to an otherwise drab all-aluminum model. At the end of the week, this was a good exercise designed to break me out of my AMS and reviewer's cramp slump. I enjoyed this model; it wasn't complicated, I had NO aftermarket stuff to deal with, and was, overall, a trip back to modeling as it should be in my opinion. Thanks go to my wallet for the review kit; it can be seen hanging from the ceiling in "Freedom Hobbies" in Norman, OK

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