zebra Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 I'm going to build a Heller 1/72 Dragon Rapide. This is just a placeholder for now - I won't get to this until my builds in the Lancaster STGB and In The Navy GB are done. I built one of these some time in the mid-80s. I don't really remember the build, it's buying the kit that I really remember: My Mum was a French teacher and very keen that we go to France on holiday and practice our French. So on a trip to Normandy some time in the 80s (might have been 1985) when I wanted to try and find this kit, instead of browsing the shelves of French model shops I had to go to the counter and ask if they had it, in French. Despite my probably terrible pronunciation I did actually manage to buy one! This will be in the Tasman boxing - currently available and reasonably priced - with SBS photo-etched rigging and decals for Railway Air Services from Arctic Decals. I may not remember the 1980s build very well but I can confidently say I didn't do any rigging or use any aftermarket! cheers Julian 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 1 minute ago, zebra said: I'm going to build a Heller 1/72 Dragon Rapide. This is just a placeholder for now - I won't get to this until my builds in the Lancaster STGB and In The Navy GB are done. I built one of these some time in the mid-80s. I don't really remember the build, it's buying the kit that I really remember: My Mum was a French teacher and very keen that we go to France on holiday and practice our French. So on a trip to Normandy some time in the 80s (might have been 1985) when I wanted to try and find this kit, instead of browsing the shelves of French model shops I had to go to the counter and ask if they had it, in French. Despite my probably terrible pronunciation I did actually manage to buy one! This will be in the Tasman boxing - currently available and reasonably priced - with SBS photo-etched rigging and decals for Railway Air Services from Arctic Decals. I may not remember the 1980s build very well but I can confidently say I didn't do any rigging or use any aftermarket! cheers Julian Cool story julian, then this build needs french cliche paraphernalia dotted about subtley in your build shots. A string of onions, wine, cheese, a beret, ...etc 😁 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 Nice choice Julian. I've never built one of these but I have flown in one (full size not 1/72 before some smart bottom makes any comments) and thoroughly enjoyed it. One of my model club mates built one a few years ago and it looked excellent when he had finished it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 It's a lovely kit. It's probably telling that I still think of it as "fairly recent..." My late father had his first flight in an ATA Dominie from Grangemouth airfield when he was in the ATC in the early 1940s. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jb65rams Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Nice choice. I will be following this one with interest is this is my planned entry to the Classic Heller GB later this year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 I've got a couple of the Tasman kits in the stash, so I'll be following this build. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 Time to get on with this. First the box shot: The Arctic decals look really, really nice - looking forward to using them. I've made a start - interior parts have been painted - but not photographed it yet. This is going to be a pretty straightforward out of the box build, apart from the PE rigging, so should make some pretty quick progress. more tomorrow Julian 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 A beautiful aeroplane - looking forward to seeing it come together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 3 hours ago, zebra said: This is going to be a pretty straightforward out of the box build, apart from the PE rigging, so should make some pretty quick progress. Julian Oh boy, how many times have i said that ! 😢 Good luck with the build cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul821 Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 On 4/25/2020 at 4:51 PM, Jb65rams said: Nice choice. I will be following this one with interest is this is my planned entry to the Classic Heller GB later this year. Ditto from me. I could actually build the two I have this year one as a KUTA and one in the Heller GB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyW Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 A very graceful looking aircraft. It will be a treat to watch it come together. Tony. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 Great to see this one underway, those decals look very smart. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 Fantastic kit of an evocative aircraft. I bought the first Heller example that I saw but sadly I was past being a kid by then - at least chronologically 😱 John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 A basic paint job on the interior, and the windows attached, ready for the fuselage to go together: more tomorrow Julian 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Very nice, I was sat in the middle eat on the right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted July 2, 2020 Author Share Posted July 2, 2020 Fuselage and engine nacelles are assembled, moving on to the wings - I've filled the rather large holes that Heller provided for the rigging, once these are cleaned up I'll drill new holes for the PE rigging, then will get the wings together. Might even be able to start painting tomorrow. cheers Julian 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Great progress Julian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Flying along! Looks lovely. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Taking shape very nicely Julian, great work, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted July 2, 2020 Author Share Posted July 2, 2020 2 hours ago, AdrianMF said: Looks lovely Thanks Adrian, it's a lovely little kit. And a lovely looking aeroplane. Starting to change my mind about the cost of the Lukgraph 1/32 resin kit! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 Getting there - top wing on, bottom wing and nacelles assembled: 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 She really is taking shape very quickly Julian, and very nicely too. The kit certainly seems to capture the elegant lines of the aircraft very well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted July 4, 2020 Author Share Posted July 4, 2020 Wings on and started on the struts: Might get some paint on it tomorrow. cheers Julian 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted July 4, 2020 Share Posted July 4, 2020 Great to see the wings on Julian. You're making a really good job of her, very neat indeed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted July 4, 2020 Share Posted July 4, 2020 looking good Julian, such a beautiful aircraft 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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