halcyonjet Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 Hello, this is my entry for the GB, a Heller Ecureuil (or Squirrel as it was more commonly known in the UK). The kit has been a long term (39 years!) resident of my stash, so this is the perfect opportunity to get it built at long last. Dave 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 Great stuff, 39 years in the stash thats the spirit. However @Wez will be furious you didnt save this one for his forthcoming Classic Heller GB 😉 cheers Pat 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 3 hours ago, JOCKNEY said: Great stuff, 39 years in the stash thats the spirit. However @Wez will be furious you didnt save this one for his forthcoming Classic Heller GB 😉 cheers Pat Don't worry Pat, I've already signed up with @Wez for the Classic Heller GB. That's what the 40+ year old stash items are waiting for! 😏 Incidentally, just read the blurb on the instruction sheet and the first flight of the Ecureuil was on June 27 th, 1974. Must be fate! Dave 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Dave, Glad to see a Heller kit being built, also glad you've got plenty more Heller kits in the stash that would be suitable for the Heller Classic GB later in the year. I only ever had one opportunity to buy this kit and as it was at the time, a civvie, I bought something more fighty instead (it was all about bullets and bombs back then), good luck with it. Pat @JOCKNEY thanks for watching the Heller Classic GB's back. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockeyboy76 Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Good luck with this oldie. Have the decals survived? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Nice subject choice Dave, never knew this kit existed, will be watching to see how it goes together for you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted June 28, 2020 Author Share Posted June 28, 2020 6 hours ago, Hockeyboy76 said: Good luck with this oldie. Have the decals survived? Cheers! The decals (I've had postage stamps as large as the sheet) don't look too bad, but I'm planning on cobbling together bits and pieces to do it as G-MORR of Colt Cars, which is quite special to me. Dave 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 A quick update - the rear passenger seats come as a single 4 seat moulding, but my subject had a 'more luxurious' 3 seat layout with armrests between them. I used a razor saw to separate the seats, then cut out the armrests from spare plastic from a vacform kit. Dave Note the mega kit decal sheet. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Nice update work. That'll pay off once intalled and looking great 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 I just saw this in my e-mail and thought you might be interested: https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/vertical-lift/airbus-planning-fuel-thrifty-ecureuil-successor?elq2=7d3a622be4304047bb780d356183f46b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted July 5, 2020 Author Share Posted July 5, 2020 Cheers Col. and thanks for that gingerbob -very interesting! Not much chance to sit at the modelling table this weekend, but I did manage to get the main parts of the fuselage together. Dave 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Great topic! Rarely seen built unfortunately .... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 Looks as if there's a little tidying up required around the top and rotor hole but how was the fit of parts so far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted July 12, 2020 Author Share Posted July 12, 2020 17 hours ago, Col. said: Looks as if there's a little tidying up required around the top and rotor hole but how was the fit of parts so far? Col., it is going together better than it actually looks in the photos (digital cameras are so unforgiving!), with just a little sanding of the joints required and a smidgen of filler in a couple of places. Cabin interior is mostly painted and slowly being installed, ready for the clear parts of the front end. That'll be fun! Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockeyboy76 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Those seats look very comfy now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 5 hours ago, Hockeyboy76 said: Those seats look very comfy now. Just like the real ones, lol. Interior coming together... 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Wow that interior looks very classy, i hope if you have crew members they take their shoes off before they get it ! cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 1 hour ago, JOCKNEY said: Wow that interior looks very classy, i hope if you have crew members they take their shoes off before they get it ! cheers Pat It might be 40 years ago, but I can still remember vacuuming that carpet quite a few times! I'm sure they carried some rubber car mats for use in bad weather -they won't be featured here though... Really enjoying this whole GB, it's bringing back lots of memories. Dave 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 Things have been a bit busy on the home front lately, so only managed to snatch a few minutes here and there. I've added a small fairing from plastic card onto the spine of the tail boom, painted the inside of the clear side panels/doors to avoid the exterior paint showing through and started the rotor blade hub. This took a fair bit of time, and caused a few choice words to be uttered. The 3 linkages (they resemble tiny cartoon dog bones) proved particularly fiddly to attach properly, and the central spindle was a bit on the short side, making the whole assembly very weak. This has now been replaced by a length of wire, which should now make the rotor blade hub removable -a bonus! I'm still working on creating something to fill the void where the front spotlight should be (attempt #4 coming up). Anyway, I'm still enjoying myself!! Dave 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desert falcon Posted August 4, 2020 Share Posted August 4, 2020 Your attention to details certainly paid off so far Dave !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted August 16, 2020 Author Share Posted August 16, 2020 Some more progress, albeit slow. The clear nose section has had a scratch built spotlight fitted -this was a piece of plastic card with dish shaped indentation and covered with shiny foil. The two windows above the front seats have been tinted using Mr Hobby smoke blue clear paint. Finally, the 'dashboard' was glued inside (that was tricky!), and the front end fitted to complete the fuselage. Next stop is the paint shop.... Dave 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 Looks very sleek. I haven't built a Heller kid since I was a nipper so I am looking forward to the GB. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 What a nice little build! Looks cute! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halcyonjet Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share Posted September 2, 2020 The body has now been sprayed with some Tamiya white acrylic and the area around the windows painted black, as per the subject G-MORR. The black striped design is next.... 🤔 Dave 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted September 5, 2020 Share Posted September 5, 2020 And stylish! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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