Hindenburg Blimp
Hindenburg Blimp
Zeppelin Hindenburg returns - Big, unusual, and easy to build - lots of bang for the buck

Round2 Models has brought back the AMT Hindenburg kit 40 years after its first release. Revell’s 1/720 scale Hindenburg is more accurate, but is quite a bit smaller than this version, which measures over 18” in length. So, if “Size Matters,” you’ll prefer this model. My kit, molded in its original thick-plastic guise, had no sink marks to mar the hull. The hull halves came dry-fitted with a rubber band holding them together. Securing them in the packaging this way probably prevents warping, and my kit’s hull halves fit together perfectly when it came time to glue them. Fin and engine cars have some minor seams that will need some sanding but parts fit isn’t bad and the kit is very easy to build. The box art appears nearly identical to the original release of the kit. The notable exception is the missing swastikas, depicted this way so the kit can be sold where anti-Nazi laws in certain parts of Europe forbid this symbol. These markings are included on the decal sheet in multi-part form. Likewise, the Olympic rings symbol is included as individual circles. AMT cleverly avoids having to pay royalties to use this logo but the modeler must carefully combine the decal circles to make the logo on the model. Round2 had added new window details to the decal sheet, so this improves on the original release of the kit. Propeller blades are overly thick and the landing struts are over-size. Fin edges are too thick and then there is that fabric texture that would probably look like loaves of bread stuck to the outside of the zeppelin if scaled up to full size. In spite of this, the modeler gets a reasonably priced, impressively sized model that is very easy to build. It’s definitely an unusual subject that will stand out on your display shelf. Aforementioned flaws aside, this is a great kit and Round2 did a great job bringing it back.