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Enzo the Magnificent

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My effort on this GB, sadly not an experience I enjoyed & only partly my fault, an old kit with very brittle plastic made for a lot of hassles. Some weird paint issues didn't help either. Anyways, here it is, a North American Harvard 4KA of the Belgian Air Force, based at Kamina Air Base in the Belgian Congo & seen here at Kigali during the post independence chaos in that country when it would likely have been operating as a light attack aircraft in support of ground forces trying to free hostages taken by rebel forces. My Wip here.

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 Photos replaced with better lit ones, I think. :)

Steve.

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255 - Saab F-35 Draken

Number ten and my most ambitious build in this GB. Or maybe, the most crazy one as well... The original Heller kit was combined with left-over parts from different Hasegawa Draken builds, fixing the most prominent errors on this old - but still pretty good - kit. This was combined with both aftermarket parts and some scratch-building. The "camoflage" on the real thing was originally matt green, but since Danish Air Force Drakens were parked outside, it weathered heavily, creating this fantastic pattern, hard to resist for model builders! In the late 70s all Danish Drakens were upgraded and re-painted in gloss green that could stand the weather better.

Additions:
- Nose, air intakes, fin, exhaust cone, front part of spine, nose gear doors, cockpit and canopy from the Hasegawa kit.
- Re-scribed panel lines
- Photo-etched cockpit details from Maestro Models
- Fuel tank from Maestro Models
- Scratch-built main gears and wheel wells
- Scratch-built RAT generator
- Scratch-built main gear doors
- Decals from Stoppel Hobby

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WIP thread:

 

Edited by Bjorn
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255 - Saab S 35E Draken

 

Number eleven is another Draken, but quite a different build from that above. This one is almost straight OOB - almost the one on the box art. That one is F 11 wing - 51, this one is F 21 wing - 51. The reason not building the one on the box art is that the recce Drakens had two different canopies and that one had the old, flat canopy. F 21-51 had the same one as in the kit. Besides that, F 11-51 had a very sad story, that made med less keen on building it. The pilot should show the plane to his parents and take photographs of his family's home. But just above the house, the plane stalled and crashed, killing the pilot in front of his father.

This individual also crashed after only two years in service, however the pilot ejected safely. So no heavy weathering this time. A strange thing is that although there is a S 35E on the box art, none of the options in the kit is that version. So I used the Danish recce nose - the shape on the real thing is slightly different, but since Heller didn't get it right at all (the upper part is too cone-like), I did not care about that. I used decals for the camera windows, just to keep it simple. I must say that apart from the nose, the kit has aged at least fairly well. Shapewise it is mostly correct and fit is really good, almost no filler was needed. The air intakes - a weak part on many other old Draken kits (especially Airfix), is also much better than I remembered.

Additions:
- Decals from my spares box, mostly a mix of Flying Colors and Moose Republic Decals. The small red signs are from the old Airfix kit.
- Additional fuel tanks from another Heller Draken kit.
 

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WIP thread:

 

Edited by Bjorn
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201 1/72 MD 450B Ouragan no. 359 Toofani, no. 29 Squadron, "Scorpions" New Dehli 1957.

 

My second Ouragan for this GB, straightforward little kit that built up ok.

 

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This is build number 10 in the GB and is the Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, #155 in the Heller catalogue. Scalemates do not list a release date for this kit, but my guess would be sometime in the early 1970s. It's better than the early stuff, but lacks some of the finesse and detail of the mid to late 1970s Heller releases. The supplied engine for example is very basic. It's still a nice kit though and builds very well, the only problem I encountered was with the wing to fuselage fit. To be fair to Heller, had I thought about it a bit more, the fit could have been improved a lot.

 

This was certainly not a kit I considered building for the GB. I wanted to build their more unusual subjects and the Hellcat was only chosen as it was missing from the GB build list. I'm glad I did now as the Hellcat has become one of my favourite kits out of the ten I've built, mainly because I really like the markings on this bird. This is probably the first Aeronavale subject I've ever built. It won't be the last. The Hellcat was built mainly out of the box with the exception of some Eduard photo etch in the cockpit and the wheels were replaced with some spares from the Academy P-40N. The colour scheme was painted using an old tin of Gloy Gloss Sea Blue and a hairy stick. Decals were from Berna, and excellent they were too. Overall, a really enjoyable build. I really should weather this model though, but I'm rubbish at weathering. I may attempt exhaust stains at some point.

 

WIP here....

 

 

 

Thanks for following!

 

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Steve

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My second (third) completion for this GB, after the earlier pair of Taifun's. Heller 1/72 Caudron C635 model using one of the decal options in the box. Great wee aircraft from the 1930's and looks so French and something that could slot right into a Tin Tin story! Simple build with no issues straight out of the box. I added a couple of scribed panel lines etc and a pitot tube. Xtracrylix yellow airbrushed on and I decided on zero weathering for this scale of civil aircraft. Thanks for a great GB!

 

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The Arc is done!

 

An enjoyable salvage job, saving a beat to death old model and giving it the full Cinderella treatment.

 

There was never much chance of a restoration taking place, the model was too far gone. A fill, sand, flat and polish using the miracle that is S 'n J polishing powder was achievable though and here's the result.

 

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Build thread here...

 

 

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My take on the Gloster Gladiator.

a rush job but got there in the end.

im going to have nightmares about getting that top wing on and a bit silly to have put the undercarriage legs around the wrong way. Bugger.

 

Still it looks like a Gladiator. Subject is N3209 of 1401 Met Flight. 
 

apart from that wing went together well and started and done in 24 and a bit hours. Thanks everyone.

Heller Gladiator 1/72

 

Heller Gladiator Heller Gladiator 1/72 Heller Gladiator 1/72

 

Edited by Rafwaffe
Fixed typo
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Heller Mirage IIIB (High Tech boxing)

1/48

 

Israeli Airforce ~ 1967 119 Bat Squadron

Armycast decals

 

with some parts stolen from elsewhere!

WIP:

 

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cheers, 

was great fun!

thanks :) :) 

🇫🇷 🇮🇱

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SEPECAT Jaguar A

No.20  7-HF, EC 1/7 Provence

St Dizier, 1976

 

Kit and Decals:  Heller 80263 

Build thread:  https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235083667-263-french-heavy-metal-part-1-jaguar/

 

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Dassault Mirage F1CT

No.260  30-SO, EC 1/30 Alsace

Bangui-M'Poko, Central African Republic, 1997

 

 

Kit and Decals:  Heller 80316

Build thread:   https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235083706-258-french-heavy-metal-part-2-mirage-f1/

 

 

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Dassault Mirage IIIE

2-EH, EC 1/2 Cigognes

Nancy-Ochey, 1970

 

 

Kit and Decals:  Mistercraft E-33  Rebox of Heller 253

Build thread:  https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235083710-253-french-heavy-metal-part-3-mirage-iiie/

 

 

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Dewoitine D.510

No.219  R-D49/5, GC 1/8

France, 1938

 

 

Kit and Decals:  Heller 80219

Build thread:  https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235080623-102-dewoitine-d510/

 

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Les Mureaux 117

No.73  X-071/5

Groupe Aérien D'observation 515

France, 1938

 

 

Kit and Decals:  Heller 80219

Build thread: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235080628-095-les-mureaux-117/

 

 

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Yakovlev Yak-3

No.22  GC 3  Normandie-Niémen

Le Bourget, 20 June 1945

 

 

 

Kit and Decals:  Heller 250

Build thread:  https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235080621-090-bloo-da-ba-dee/

 

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:hmmm:   Not quite finished!  The exhausts are missing!  :banghead: 

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HELLER #1

. La premiere maquette originale du Heller au 1957..... La Belle Caravelle! 

 

French national pride was up to the Max with the introduction of the SE210 Caravelle jet Airliner. Developed by Sud Este Aviation, the 1st prototype F-WHHH took off in April 1955. From what I can see, this airframe didn't have the big, familiar spine /fin extension we associate with the Caravelle. 

It was over a year later that the 2nd prototype took to the skies. Several mods had been made and the o-so-typical spine extension was one of them. 

In that time, Sud Este had merged with Sud-Oeste to become Sud Aviation, but the original SE 210 type no. was always kept. 

The kit was in the shops in 1957, totally contemporary with these first Airliners. And bearing in mind that it's Heller's very first plastic kit, they must have really moved heaven and earth to achieve the model launch! 

I should point out, for the sake of the health of those collectors among us, this is not a 1957 original that I've glued together. 

Heller reissued the kit in probably 2007 for a 50th anniversary and this is an "Exact reproduction in a numbered limited edition, of the first HELLER box produced in 1957" 

The instructions and decals were also a faithful facsimile of the original, with all the nutty quirks. 

 

I've opted for the 2nd prototype aircraft F-BHHI, making use of the kit decals and alternatives as required. 

Flaps extended and perched on a clear styrene pole, she sweeps gracefully in to land, tyres about to squeal. 

 

Due to the pedigree of the kit, for all it's oddities and oldness, it gave me a real sense of connection with the real history of the plane and the time. 

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If I get some better pictures before locking, I ,will swap some of these out for better, but I wouldn't want to miss the line with this one. 

The build thread is here, 

 

Edited by rob Lyttle
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256 - Saab AJS 37 Viggen

 

The twelfth and - I promise ;) - last build from me in this GB. This individual was the last Viggen at F 10 wing before converting to Gripen (and a few years later, shutdown). The AJS Version was a converted AJ 37 that also could be used for recce purposes (S=spaning=reconnaissance), while waiting to be replaced by the JAS 39 Gripen. The colour of SwAF first divisions is red, so the last one was painted in this colour. This aircraft is todady preserved at  Stenbäcks Aviation Museum in southern Sweden where it is being restored. The ghost was an old symbol for this division, today it is actually used for other quick vehicles, the Koenigsegg Swedish supecars that are built in a factory in the old F 10 area. Close to that, there i a lovely little aviation museum, also worth visiting. 

This kit is built almost entirely OOB, and I spent less than 10 hours on it, keeping the raised panel lines that I felt looked good on this one, making it look more than the real thing than recesse one would have done.

Additions:

- Pavla resin seat
- Maestro Models pitot tube

- Decals from Hasegawa's "Red Viggen" release.

 

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WIP thread:

 

Edited by Bjorn
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My Constellation build is as done as it's ever going to be for the GB.

Not without its problems, there's a fair chance I'll be refinishing it at a later date.

 

It's a three footer due to a few boo boo's that can't really be fixed to allow close up shots. The decals especially won't stand close examination.

Pictures were taken on an A1 sized baseboard and it wasn't big enough! Runway edges have been added in photoshop to fill the frames where necessary. Natural daylight used.

 

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Build thread here...

 

 

.

 

 

 

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AMX13/75 Echelle 1/35 #784

 

First of all I like the Heller  group build organisers for their positive influence in this build and I also had a lot of  joy and inspiration from all of the other builds posted here ..

It surely shows that with a little effort you can make almost every Heller kit in a reasonable accurate representation of the real thing!
The green old 70’s plastic still works well and don’t become brittle....

This tank was on the list to be sold but than this group build came along and I decided to build this one as a tribute to these nice petite little kits Heller once proudly produced!
And after 45 years in the box everything still was as advertised... a true 45 year old virgin as if age didn’t affected it at all as even the decals worked well.
This tank is a very nice one and builds into a fine example of a 75 mm AMX13 , it was a very diverse tank as they build it in many variations like the howitzers , ambulance tanks and troopcarriers and even a 105 mm version tank!

The only aftermarket addition are the tracks as I  really don’t like the rubbery ones as they are a pain to paint and difficult to be placed in such a way that it looks real...

The turret mantle is made from scratch and with my own added details and tracks this is almost a 500 parts build which you don’t expect it to be..
The hammer and other tools are on the tank are also in the hull color as this is pretty common as wel..

Weathering is not too heavy as I really don’t like that all , I just added a grey wash and some brown pastel powder. 

I really had some fun with it and it isn’t perfect but i am still quite happy with the result ...

 

build report here!
 

 

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cheers, Jan

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This will be my 6th and final Gallery entry into this Epic Group Build, the Bücker Bü133 Jungmeister.

 

Thanks to Steve aka @fightersweep for daring me to do an extra build, I thought 5 completed builds and co-hosting this GB with Wez, Heather Dave and Jeroen, was sufficient, but apparently not ! :whistle:

 

As I haven't built a biplane in years and want people to build more of them, myself included I decided to have a go at rigging it. Fortunately Heller are kind enough to supply all the holes so the rest is up to you, as this one has turned ok out, I would say there is hope for all of us !

 

Completed pictures below, I hope you like them

 

cheers Pat

 

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Work in progress below

 

 

 

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A Dewoitine 510, old old boxing. Beautiful kit, decals were shot and my last 24 hours of the build were as close as I’ve got to binning a kit in the past decade (build thread here). However, all is now forgiven:

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And a group pic of my four French fighters for this GB:

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The Vampire was hiding when I was rounding this lot up...

 

For me, this has been the Travelling Wilburys of group builds - thanks for such an educational and fun time in good company!

 

Thanks for looking,

Adrian

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Hi all,

 

here are a few photos of my Nieuport Delage 622. I love these sesquiplanes, but they can be a real challenge to build, unless you have more than two hands!

This one was such a challenge and it stumped me for a while, not real sure how to go about getting everything lined up without smashing these fragile legs.

Anyway, it gave me great pleasure and I re-learnt things about varnish and aluminium paint that I had forgotten (it was very close to ruin the model...)

 

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In all modesty, the French were pretty good at designing nice-looking planes!!!

Thank you for your support all along this build.

 

Keep having fun.

JR

Edited by jean
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279 North American T-28 Fennec.

 

Not quite complete but complete enough to get it in the gallery, this is my first (95%) completed model for decades, build thread is here.

 

Plenty for this old dog to re-learn for his next GB, apologies for the quality of the photos but I'm no photgrapher.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

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A bit of a last minute Banzai rush got another finished here. A long stalled Hawk, my second for the GB, finally got completed with the last couple of jobs done on it less than an hour ago.

 

Here's the model...

 

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This shot of the plane still incomplete, sat with five others that did get finished, is what made me get the job done. It was so close at this point, there was no good reason not to complete it!

 

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