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Three weeks to go and he's starting another one!!! Well, this time I know I'm unlikely to finish it in time. It's just that I'm in a Mirage frenzy at the moment. However, I have a lot of other GB-related irons in the fire and I know if I build it as an independent, it will get lost in the GB madness. At least this GB will give me structure for the first part of the build. I've never been too keen on the Mirage 2000. The 2000C has a weird sit-up-and-beg vibe which doesn't seem to fit its role as a warplane. But the 2000N and 2000D are a different kettle of fish. The canopy seems to be lower, giving the aircraft a broad-shouldered look. The tactical camouflage scheme makes it look very purposeful, almost as though it's a small Mirage IV. Hardly surprising as that's exactly what it was designed to be. This is the brand new Dream Model kit of the Mirage 2000N. Although the box top says "2000N", there are additional parts for the 2000D, which is the version that I shall be building.

Hi everybody! Totally unexpected my new project arrived today. As I already announced earlier it’s the tug boat SMIT Rotterdam/London by Heller in 1/200 scale. I will build this as the SMIT London, because it was the first of the two sister ships entering service and because this is BRITmodeller forum. But first a bit of history. SMIT London was built in The Netherlands by shipyard De Merwede NV in Hardinxveld and entered service in 1974. Constructed especially for towing of very heavy objects like oil rigs over long distances together with her sisters Rotterdam and Singapore these ships had been the most powerful and biggest tug boats of the world in their time with 22.000 hp engine power. They were also used for salvage assistance to ships in distress. Dimensions: 74,75m length overall 15,68m width 7,60m depth SMIT London was registered at shipping company SMIT Internationale in Rotterdam from 1974 till 1987, from 1987 till 1991 at SMIT Internationale in Nassau, from 1991 till 1998 as ‘SMITWIJS London’ at SMITWIJS Towage CV in Nassau, from 1998 till 2007 at Wijsmuller Scheepsholding BV in Singapore, from 2007 till 2013 as ‘London’ at Svitzer Ocean Towage BV in Singapore, and in 2013 her name was changed to ‘Global Change’ while being registered at Illiana Shipping Ltd. in Panama, but she was finally broken up in India in the same year. The box: What’s inside? Hull and deck parts Funnels, bridge parts, deck parts, detail parts Railing and anchor chain Decals Instructions come with a drawing of the paint scheme in the same scale as the model Seems like a nicely detailed kit. It comes as a starter kit, which has colours, glue and paint brush included. Also included is a gimmick, which made me smile: So on to new modelling horizons with my first ship build!

I recently finished the Heller M4A2 as Sherman III 'Sheik' from the Royal Scots Greys, as it appeared in the vicinity of Naples in 1943. This was for the Sherman Group Build on the Braille Scale Discussion Group forum. I just loved the tank's spotted 'leopard' camouflage and luckily Star Decals has it on their 'British Shermans in Italy' sheet. Although there is some discussion about the colour of the spots, I decided to go for black since other tanks in the unit were camouflaged in mud and blue-black, so they would have had access to that paint in theatre. I hope you like it. Peter

Dassault Mirage IVA EB1/91 “Gascogne”, Mont-de-Marsan, France, 1964 Heller 1/72 kit rescribed - Berna decals I also built this kit as a IVP with resin photo pod and Modelart decals some time ago:

You would have done the same as me yes? In a moment of enthusiasm for this GB, bought that just-listed, reasonably-priced Airfix/Heller Super Etendard that was still in it's original plastic shrink wrap packaging, untouched in 30 years? The retro 1990 Airfix box art and design may have also prompted an impulsive 'buy it now' acquisition! 😄 I may be deluding myself in thinking with so few parts it will be a quick build. But with only a handful of parts, it will be a quick build, yes? 🤪 Of course the old and out-of-register decals were a gateway to just a few other items of aftermarket! If I have to order new decals, I may as well order some masks (hope they can be made to fit as they're for the Academy kit!) and a new seat. I did though decide against PE. I'm going to leave the raised panel lines (for a quick build - yes? - and my scribing skills need a lot of work!) so it didn't make sense to add PE for better detailing when the kit still has raised panel lines. Meanwhile, these decals are on their way to me: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/berna-decals-bd-72-129-dassault-super-etendard-aeronavale--1410102 so I can build an Aeronavale aircraft, probably in the later blue/blue-grey scheme. And yes. I'll definitely hang the Exocet of it. I have seen some great models made of this kit online that set the standard for what can be done with this humble kit. So hopefully I can fly the flag for the Super Etendard in this GB (while also progressing my Mirage 2000 and finishing my Salty Sea Dog Intruder) and do this very pretty aeroplane some justice. Merci bien, Gerard

This stalled out six years ago, if I recall correctly I didn't like how the paint was doing on the undersurface. This was the intended subject: An appeal to the hive mind back when I started the thing got me the underwing number, and other useful stuff. Between this old debt, and meeting delays during the KUTA GB, I have come to take getting this done and dusted as a point d'honneur.... Here it is with top color on, and some dressing required still on the wavy demarcation. This is how it stood when I had to pause the thing short of the GB deadline. I shook down my decals, and found cockades and the needed letter and numbers for the matricule on the wing. The undercarriage doors are tacked in for the application, because the ID marking laps onto them. Here it is up on its hind legs: Getting legs under it was a production. Far as I can tell I followed the instructions, and the result was godawful. I lengthened legs and doors, clipped the braces, thinned down the tires, gave them new hubs and bits of stub to toe them in.. Before I did the gear, I prised off the rear canopy piece and put in the roll bar I had omitted by oversight in setting the clear bits on. I expect I will enlarge the rudder a bit, to match available decals. Still have to organize some decals, and tend to a few little bits and bobs.

Dear all, In my builds I tend to swap between 1:72 aircraft and armour. This is my latest in the latter category; the Heller M4 Sherman with deep wading gear from their D-Day boxing. The little vignette is depicting one driving up the beach in Normandy. The building and painting went pretty straightforward, just the vinyl tracks annoyingly wouldn't hold their paint. I may swap them for after market tracks from OKB Grigorov later on. The deep wading trunks are included in the kit, but also a regular rear engine deck in case you want to build a standard M4. The kit also has three different gear cases that IMHO are way better than what UM provides in their kits. The canvas cover and the tarp over the stowage were made with tissue paper soaked with thinned white glue, while the stowage items themselves are from Black Dog Resin. Weathering was done with diluted black brown enamel paint and 'mud' from Tamiya weathering set 'A'. I hope you like it. Peter

Hello everyone, what a busy start to 2023. Here's my little project. Don't know how old this kit is I just cut the shrink wrap off. All raised details but it's very well detailed. No particular jagdgeschwader as it's intended use will be for a Mistell. But it will be presented here on its own.

Dear all, Please find below some images of my recently finished 1:72 Heller Sherman III (M4A2) of the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (3CLY) 'Sharpshooters' as it appeared during the Sicily landings in 1943. Although not indicated in the instructions, the Heller kit has all the parts to build an early M4A2, although for this build I also needed the sand shields and deep wading gear from Dan Taylor Modelworks. The wading trunks for the Sicily landings were a bit shorter than the ones used in Normandy, so I replaced the etched trunks with new ones from thin plastic sheet. The decals are also from Dan Taylor, as well as some stowage, and this was complemented with stuff from O3D and Black Dog. I hope you like it. Peter

My plan for 2023's builds is to tackle at least 5 of the many kits I pick up, turn over, look through and put back on the shelf for some reason of difficulty or work - be it masking, decals, kit reworking, amount of detail required/planned or whatever. I'm starting that trend with the Heller DS3, which I picked up last year at some higher-than-I'd-wish price online. From France. At least it came with the extra 2013 decals, a much much nicer livery that the Red Bull version (or Red Blob, according to the box art). That I yesterday discovered Heller are reissuing this kit, so it's price will be normal.. ah well. At least I got decals. Decals being one of the two pain points here, the other being the amount of holes that need opening in the front of the body. Anyhow, I think the DS3 is a great looking hatchback, and a great looking WRC car. The Red/Gold livery is one of my top 5 favourites for a rally car. Here's the Heller decal sheet in all it's glory. Noticeably better quality decals than the (also Heller) Red Bull one provided with the kit. Some free paints for the bin, and a brush I'll keep and use. All the plastic. Interior looks good, rollcage looks comprehensive. Chassis and suspension are super non-detailed, although at least this time Heller have made the wheels steer. And provided door cards. 5 holes to be opened in the front. Two on the bonnet, the main grille and the two small circular inlets. A long long long time later. The plastic in the largest hole is nearly 2mm thick. That's a lot of scribing.

Hi everyone First and foremost I want to wish all B'mers a peaceful and happy 2023, with a lot of modelling fun. I start the year with an unreasonable opening gambit: with all the builds that are mounting on an overflowing shelf of doom, I am starting a Breguet Br 693. In my eyes it is a very sexy aeroplane and I have some decent documentation, so why not. This was a Christmas 2021 surprise arrival from Pat, aka @JOCKNEY. Thanks again Pat! So it has been started on January 1st, a fitting date for such unreasonableness. This is a kit from the famed Heller Musee, that made the days of young kids throughout the French Empire throughout the seventies. This Breguet shows its age, as there is absolutely nothing inside: no cockpit at all, no engines, no nothing wherever one looks! So I have decided to improve the front and rear cockpit a little bit, even if nothing much will remain visible considering the quality of the clear parts. Likewise the outside will be engraved Here are a couple of photos showing the utter emptiness . The good thing is that there is the same amount of work whether one wishes to build a 691, 693 or 695. I will gently stick with the 693. The men piloting them in operations during the battle of France were insanely brave. Thanks for watching. JR

The Heller Gmbh 2023 programme is presented by its boss, Heinz Engstfeld, on You Tube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5qG8llYFqY And is also available in the Heller homepage: https://www.heller.fr/en/categorie/only_coming_soon The complete aircraft programme 2023: V.P.

Hi folk's time for another oldie,I have a soft spot for the F-84 just finished a pair of Airfix kits and while doing the rounds on E-bay saw this bigger kit for £10 took a punt and got it.All present and correct from a seller I often buy from the decals are showing their age but a few days on the windowsill should bleach out the white serials which were the only concern,at present I'm thinking the Belgian scheme. Here's the Airfix pair.

Well, this model keeps coming back like a bad smell. It was kindly sent to me by @JOCKNEY two Christmas ago... It has already made two appearances on BM, and the worst of it is, that it is almost finished. Well, it would be finished if I knew what the acronym OOB meant... This is it: if I do not finish it this time I will go back to knitting. Here are a couple photos to show the advancement of this beautiful kit: Quite a bit of tidying up and some small details to add... That it is not yet finished is a disgrace! I will start it in the new year, when the other kits I am finishing will be on display. JR

hello guys. here is my last ( painful ) work job. So many pieces to re built and replace. This kit is a mess...never buy it. It was a poisonous gift from my "best " friend... anyway i did it !. My reference pic : My model :

A difficult base model, ill fitting, badly moulded and just plain incorrect in many parts and places. However, as usual, this gives great scope for the dedicated, or some might say foolhardy, modeller. The result is very gratifying even if It is not totally correct - there are some areas of the subject that there just isn't reference to and even common sense doesn't produce a completely satisfactory depiction; I've tried my best. Lesson learned - a complete and thorough dry fit is necessary, I nearly always find that something isn't square, but only at the very end! • Body colour - Tamiya TS 10 French Blue, over 26 Pure White - no clearcote • other components generally Halfords automotive spray cans - satin Black and weathered/toned with MIG dark wash • Chrome and other metal colours - Alklad • Seat cover is tissue worked with PVA glue, belt is inkjet printed on photoquality paper from my own artwork with resin cast hardware by Replicas and Miniatures Company of Maryland (Norm Veber, doesn't appear to produce any F1 items these days). The back (maybe a little whimsical) but one reference photo appears to show yellow carbon/kevlar • The Heller decals were useless not only because they were yellowed with age (and not even UV exposure treatment helped) but mainly they are incorrect - wrong typeface/sizes/poor definition. Bestbalsakits are by far the best for both quality and being comprehensive and the ONLY absolutely correct set. I also used BBK instrument/gauges decal sheet • I replaced every single rivet with PlusModel (Czech Republic) resin items • The air intake funnels and plug details, mesh etc of the DFV engine is Model Factory Hiro • Switches on the dashboard are by Decalcas • Surprisingly, the supplied Heller kit tyres - solid plastic, not vinyl - initially disappointing (their profiles are completely wrong), redeemed themselves with the 'hardness' of the plastic proving the perfect medium for detailing slightly worn formula one tyre texture • The Heller rear, inboard, brake calipers were... 'disappointing'. I replaced them with a pair of Italeri 1/12 Alfa Romeo 179 units (Italeri could not have been more helpful, for a cost, obviously) • The representation of the 'glass' (windscreen) in this model (and every vehicle model, especially at smaller scales) is woeful. Simple enough to re-cut it in thin acetate and, in this case, give it a very light coat of Tamiya TS71 Smoke • There are many small items that I have 'scratched' together - the roll over hoops are 2.5mm solder for instance

Hello During the "special operation" in Algeria, the Amée de l'air needed a lot of planes to support the ground armed forces against the FLN rebels. From 1956 to 1959 they used the N.A. T-6G but this one had a very noisy and underpowered engine for close air support in the mountains. The Air Force HQ was therefore looking for another two-seater aircraft and chose the N.A T-28B as it was used in the US Navy at the time. But these were not being available, France bought 146 T-28A airframes from the US Air Force, 1300HP P&W R1820-56S engines (excess of B-17) and three-bladed propellers like the T-28B. The Fennec as it was called was assembled by Sud Aviation and equipped 4 units in Algeria from 1959 to 1962. These units were sister squadrons of units in France and the pilots were temporarily assigned to Algeria. The four points under the wings enabled to carry any combination of 2 elements among the following : - containers of 2 machine guns of 12.7 mm; - T10 shaped charge rockets; - a 7 x 68 mm rocket launcher; - a 36 x 37 mm rocket launcher; - 120 kg bombs. Here is one with this Heller kit of T-28 with some parts in resin given by a friend of mine (machine guns, rockets and cockpit parts). This is Fennec N°7 from EALA 3/9 Numidie in 1961. (Escadron d'Aviation Légère d'Appui) Patrick

I have always liked the alpha-male looks of the turbo charged Bentley 4,5 L Blower. Somehow, it simply is so iconically British with the racing green colour and the Union Jack on the sides. The car took part in the 24 Heures du Mans in 1930 but had to abandon the race after 144 laps. There are still two specimens left of this legendary racer, one in the UK and the other one in the USA. I built the model from a Heller 1/24 scale kit. I must admit that generally I'm not a great fan of Heller kits. In the past I have encountered all kinds of problems with them, be it with the cryptic instructions or the poor fit and quality of the parts. Well, this kit was much better in many respects and with very careful reading of the instructions and with multiple dry-fittings of the parts the build was quite problem free. However, I must say that this is probably not a kit for new-beginners. I painted the dark green parts with Tamiya TS-9 British green and the other details with Vallejo acrylics and Revell enamels. Overall, the painting instructions had many discrepancies with the actual colours of the remaining cars. I tried to use the right colours and shades but here and there I have used artist's liberty in choosing them.

Hello everybody , after roughly 20 years away from the hobby , I'm back in the business ! Considerring that I have everything to (re)learn and new technics to discover and apply, I' ve decided to start with a rather basic kit. It will be a french carrier born classic : The Etendard IV M. The model is the very single one available in this scale : the Heller one that I bought 30 years ago ! The general shape is very accurate, but most details are inexistent , to sum up what I'm expecting from this model : it will be no picnic ! Let's start with the "bang seat" a Martin Baker Mk4. Détails in scratch ( copper wire , an old toothpaste tube , platic card ). See you !

Here's my WIP for the 1/24 Heller Renault Estafette. As you may notice it's more or less together and painted as I'm juggling several projects and time is precious and so I post when I have a spare minute. After a slightly heavy handed coat of rattle can lacquer [note to self don't used that again] I rubbed it down then went through the colour coat in a couple of places and so today it has been resprayed, a mix of Gravity Olde English White and Tamiya LP Flat Earth. I'm also convertimg it to a high roof using an aftermarket resin product from... oh I'm not allowed to say! This along with the wheels and bumpers have been sprayed Halford's Italian Racing Red, about the fastest thing on a 45PS powered van 😃. However, the real thing has white bumpers but they looked a bit anaemic and so I've used artistic licence. This will be finished in another alcohol themed livery to add to my collection. I'm not sure how quickly this will progress from here as it's back onto something else this afternoon.

I saw a couple of freshly painted Nigerian AF Jaguars in a hangar at Warton about 30 years ago and have always wanted to do a model of one. This is the Heller T2 kit with home made decals, I looked at using the Model Alliance decals but it was just as easy to draw and print my own. Thanks for looking. Steve

Hello. First post here for me, I'm usually skulking around the aircraft section. And my first modelling post for a long while. (Aren't you lucky!) My workbench often gets neglected over the summer when the weather is more pleasant. A double hernia op two weeks ago gave me a good excuse to get some kit time in, while I was confined to barracks. Well, it's been on the bench for months. Started straight off the back of the excellent Matchbox GB and I'm already trying to banish it from my memory, this kit really sucked all the joy out of modelling for me, right from the get go. Can't really put my finger on what exactly it was on this 30 year old kit that I found so uninspiring. I didn't like the fact the 2CV's best feature, the roll back roof, was molded closed. The only part of the kit that was animated was the bonnet, which just sits in place, it's not hinged, allowing you to lift it off and see the engine. And that doesn't even fit. I'm getting angry again just typing this out! I'm the type of modeller who builds one kit at a time. I don't have a shelf of doom. I don't park a kit and start another. Once I start the kit gets done, regardless. Of course there are many flaws in this method! As I got near the end of the build and my already low enthusiasm waned, I made several schoolboy errors in the final push to get it over the line. Mistakes that would have broken my heart on other builds just got a lackadaisical shrug! Also I was having a major battle trying to airbrush on the orange paint. The thinned Tamiya acrylic needed so many coats I lost count, and still showed grey primer though it. Like I said, one of those builds plagued with mistakes! Anyway, I didn't deem it worthy of setting up decent studio shots, you just get a few slapdash phone pics! I'm just putting this out there in the forlorn hope it may exorcise whatever modelling gremlins currently plague me 🙄 Heller 1/24 Citroen 2CV by Mike, on Flickr Heller 1/24 Citroen 2CV by Mike, on Flickr Heller 1/24 Citroen 2CV by Mike, on Flickr Heller 1/24 Citroen 2CV by Mike, on Flickr I have two other Heller Citroen in the stash, the Traction Avant, and the newish HY van. Two vehicles I love, but I may put a few aircraft through the workbench before tackling them!

Hello happy campers, the time is nigh when I will try once more to finish a model I should have finished long ago. I have to finish the Heller Etendard IV M, not only because I feel bad towards @JOCKNEY who kindly sent it to the middle of nowhere, but also because it is a beautiful plane, like all aircraft designed by Marcel Dassault. This is now personal. Here is the original build thread, for those who my be interested: Have fun! JR

Heller will put the La Seine Kit back in production! It is the best oiler model ever produced. I have build one and one in the stash. the first i bought for more than 100€, and then it was sold in package with a carrier and destroyer. I also bought this, but sold the carrier and destroyer again at the well-known auction site. Regards Andreas

Dear fellow Britmodellers, here's my 1/72 Heller Sherman M4A2, built as a British Mk.III. Stowage from Milicast, figure, decals and photo-etch from Dan Taylor Modelworks. Painted with Mr.Hobby acrylics, pictures by Wolfgang Rabel. I'm primarily an aircraft builder, and not an expert on Sherman tanks. However I understand that "a Sherman is not a Sherman" and there's numerous differences between marks and operators. Studying my (limited) references and the Dan Taylor Modelworks decal instructions (27th Armoured Briagde Set 3, T-76007) I hope I got most details right. The brushguards and the antenna socket are photo-etch parts from Dan Taylor's selection. The antenna itself is a piece of stretched black sprue. Markings represent a mid-production vehicle of the Junior Regiment of C-Squadron, 27th Armoured Brigade in France, 1944. Thank you for your interest, all feedback and comments on possible errors is welcome! Greetings from Vienna Roman