The SS United States was the largest ocean liner ever built. In the 1950s, she was one of the largest ships afloat, and on her maiden voyage (July 3, 1952) broke the transatlantic record previously set by the HMS Queen Mary, a record that remained intact until 1990.
Designed as a war reserve ship, the designers were heavily influenced by the logistical problems moving troops across the ocean. Even though the war ended before work started on this ship, planners were looking ahead to World War III. A ship of this size could move approximately 15,000 troops. Her impressive engine room could move this huge vessel over 40 knots, speed that would easily out-pace submarines of the day.
The ship's designers make the ship virtually fire-proof. Rumor had it that there were only two pieces of wood aboard - the butcher's block and the piano. Even the metal surfaces were given a protective coating of an advanced new material - asbestos.
By 1969, the SS United States was suffering the lack of passenger bookings due to the booming jet airliner industry. To further complicate matters, the cost of removing all of the asbestos was prohibitive. She was mothballed in Newport News, VA after 400 voyages and today awaits restoration in Philadelphia, PA.
The Glencoe 1/400 SS United States kit has been around for a while. The molds were originally developed by the Ideal Toy Company in 1954. The original kit was molded in the appropriate colors and pre-painted to allow for quick assembly. Another interesting touch of the day was to light the interior of the model.
Glencoe rescued the molds from the scrap yard and has restored the kit completely with only the exception of the stand. For this, Glencoe has provided a wooden display stand with wood dowels that will fit into the holes molded on the bottom of the hull.
The kit is molded in white styrene with the exceptions of the hull molded in black and one tree molded in silver.
