Academy U.S.S Kitty Hawk Model Kit

I haven’t put it together yet , but it looks great

This model was great for my 11 year old grandson to put together. At first he was overwhelmed by all the pieces but his Grandpa instructed him to follow step by step. Took him about 3 partial days but he was so proud to have finished it!

First, I want to point out these kits almost always state somewhere (on amazon or on the product box itself) states "NOT A TOY" or for a young adult, so it's odd how these are listed as "toys" on amazon... but anyway, heres what I thought of this item once I completed it after 2 and a half weeks working on it:The worst points of the model kit, with the number of incredibly TINY TINY pieces, I really expected the kit to include those pieces with extras, because if you do not use a tool like wire cutters or a fine razor, etc. it's HIGHLY likely the small pieces will break and if they do, well you could try to use your glue/cement on the broken parts (thats IF the part doesnt ger flung into the void and you happen to retrieve it). Example: the propellers, the main antenna, the rotors for the small little heilos, or many many other numerous ultra tiny/ultra thin PLASTIC PARTS you are required to disconnect 3 to 4 segments for EACH AND EVERY PART. This was my first model kit I have built since I was a child back in the '90s so I was ignorant of how fragile the kit is; ALSO, you should definitely paint the parts PRIOR to detaching them with a blade of some sort. One other thing, the paints are not exactly specific when it comes to WHERE to paint. The "instruction" does state the exact paint you should use.... but doesn't really tell you wheree that paint is to go.Another issue, again if you're unfamiliar to model kits like I was, the DECALS are so so unnecessarily confusing. Basically, think of them NOT as stickers, moreso think of the decals as those water-based temporary tattoos many of us used at some point growing up. Cut them out of the sheet when you are ready to use that one, dip that cut-out "decal" into a small sample of water (just enough water that the decal will be able to be fully submerged for a short few minutes, then use your really fine tipped tweezers to retrieve the cut-out out of the water... then put the decal on the model where you want it (after you've painted already, of course)... and just like those oldschool temporary tattoos I mentioned, press down on the back of the decal, hold for a few seconds and then release some of the pressure you're applying to allow the back of the decal the slide out when you try to pull on it with those tweezers I recommended earlier. None of that was stated at all in the kit's "instruction" (which by the way was all pictures on a single piece of paper. So hopefully reading this helps someone who is as confused as was, because they also don't include extra decals. If you mess up applying one like the biggest "63" that goes on the deck - hopefully you still have some paint left because otherwise you're out of luck if that decal tore... theres also A LOT of ultra tiny decals which are such a pain in numerous ways, I ultimately just used a fine paintbrush tip to blot a super small drip of paint onto the jets/heilos instead. Seriously, those are a real N-I-G-H-T-M-A-R-E !!! Stickers or just paint would be so much wiser if you have a problem with patience like me).Side notes: the elevators are not functional, despite having the doors to them.... just a bit odd I thought. The rear of the ship has an opening which the instructions were totally not helpful with. I ended up just guessing what that part looks like or was to look like, but concluded it didn't matter since nobody is even going to see that part of the ship unless they pick it up and carefully examine it.... which can also be said for the front where the anchor is to go; The anchor is a pain to get to not detach some way (hopefully you're using the recommended cement glue but even if you are this this plastic part is highly likely to snap off and get lost... ultimately I was lucky enough to see where the anchor fell whenever I just accidentally gently tapped on it, and I felt if it's this much of a pain, I'd make it worth while, and so I used one of the thin antennas that go on the sides of the deck (I don't know what those are if not antennas but if they are antennas, what are they doing along the deck of an aircraft carrier(?) and those also are highly likely to snap off like the anchor.... so I used 2 of them once those snapped off when the whole model fell from the table I was using (thanks to my pet cat) and broke or lost a few of them as a result (those pieces are like as thick as hair almost! so if you lose one, you wont find it. Believe me). So I took 2 of the broken ones and the anchor, and glued the pieces together to make it look like the anchor had been deployed and hangs from the place where the instructions want you to make it appear to be waiting to drop down. In my opinion, much better visually for the pain-in-the-a** it was to be normally).All-in-all, I would say its a good model kit for beginners, but just be patient with the tiny parts or you'll have many parts break for some reason or another. It'd also be wise to put something down under your workspace, i.e. a solid color bedsheet or brown box flattened, so you can spot pieces that fall or snap off, easier many times. And try to keep pets away from the model until you're fully finished with it and ready to put it on display. Again, not for children. Good way to help those of you who may have problems being patient (was for me anyway). Best of luck everyone.

Very good model. I didn't use stickers.

I bought this for my grandson, and he absolutely loves it! Makes a great birthday or holiday gift. He spent hours doing detail work with paints, and has it displayed on his dresser.

Gift for grandson. He had lots of fun

Absolutely pleased with everything

very cool model