TimV1969 Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 I'd like to enter this group build with the 1/72 Sud Aviation/Alouette Alouette III, which I notice no one else has picked yet, and I think is eligible as according to Scalemates it was first released in 1980 so is a Classic? Looks like new parts were added for the civilian versions in 1989 but I won't be using them anyway. I've just bought a recent re-boxing of this (from Creative Model's bargain 'damaged box' category on eBay): but perversely, even though it comes with a nice-looking modern decal sheet for the Gendarmerie (much the best I've seen in a Heller kit), I intending building it as a SA319 from the Armée de l'Air, using earlier Heller decals and/or yellow numbers/letters from ModelDecal 50 (intended for the Puma): Should be fun to build, I don't remember any major problems with the previous one I built (as a Naval SA-316B - hence my desire to build a contrasting Armée de l'Air version with the Astazou engine) Tim 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Welcome to the GB! I'll look forward to this as I've never built a Heller helicopter, but judging by what I can see in the box, it looks nicely detailed. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Ah ha! I’ve been waiting for one of these to come up :). A nice choice Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Welcome to the GB Tim Always great to see another different kit join the GB, the very best of luck with your build. cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 Great choice Tim and a big warm welcome to this GB. Heller's Alouette is a lovely little kit. I've got an original 1980 mould in blue plastic and boy is it finely detailed for something from that kit era. Clearly Heller were well and truly on their game with this one. Cheers and best of luck.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 Nice choice - great little (more like tiny!) kit, I remember building one more than 30 years ago. I have a feeling it was a tail sitter so watch out for that - not a lot of space for weight up front as I recall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimV1969 Posted November 3, 2020 Author Share Posted November 3, 2020 Thanks for your welcome, guys, and yes, it is a good kit for its age, comparable to Airfix's Lynx or Puma of the same era, although maybe not as nice as their Sea Sprite. Thanks for the reminder about weighting the nose, zebra, that does ring a vague bell from the previous one I built, several years ago. I think on that occasion I only noticed after assembly and had to drill a hole in the bottom of the fuselage to get some weight into it! This time I'll try to remember to put some Liquid Gravity in before I glue the floor in place. At least, unlike Airfix's Gazelle(*), there is a suitable cavity under the floor to hide it. So, a slow start so far on this, but I have completed the basic fuselage assembly, and completed and painted the interior. The seats look pretty good as they are in the kit, but I have added masking-tape seat belts, and a couple of strips of half-round plastic strip on the back to better represent the framework visible in reference photos. I also cut away the 'step' from the floor, which, as far as I can see, folds down when the winch is in use, as I want to make this model look as different as possible from my previous, Naval variant, and that means modelling it with the winch fitted, and the door open. This meant cutting the rear door out of the port-side glazing, which didn't go that well as I cracked the corner of the door glass. Fortunately I found I could cut out a similarly-profiled window from a left-over piece from an S&M Models Sycamore (knew I kept it in my spares box for a reason!) so hopefully that will come together later. For now though, the interior, placed (but not glued!) in the fuselage just to check that it fits: Those photos remind me that I need to scratch build some rudder pedals! Tim (*) built two gazelles as an adult, and one a long time ago, all of them tail-sitters! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 You got me! I’ve ordered one. I just couldn’t resist at £9.60 and free postage . As you’d expect, I have some exotic decals on the way too. It’ll be Chadian. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 On 11/3/2020 at 10:34 PM, RidgeRunner said: I have some exotic decals on the way too. It’ll be Chadian. That the Berna Decals sheet? There's a lovely variety of aftermarket decals out there for this little chopper. If the Africa GB gets through the bumfight for next year I might go with one myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 5 hours ago, TonyOD said: That the Berna Decals sheet? There's a lovely variety of aftermarket decals out there for this little chopper. If the Africa GB gets through the bumfight for next year I might go with one myself. If you do I will have some decals! What do you fancy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 12 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: If you do I will have some decals! What do you fancy? It wasn't a hint! 😂 Kind offer though. The Congolese one looks interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Hi @TimV1969 Have you had a chance to do any more to your Sud Aviation/Alouette Alouette III since we last heard from you ? You had done a lovely job of the interior, and with our 2 week time extension to the GB, I do hope we will see this cracking kit finished. Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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