Paul H Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 This has been on Heller's to-be-released list for quite a few years now, but now looks like it is becoming reality, with both civilian and gendarmerie releases: https://www.heller.fr/en/80743-renault-estafette-new-mould-1000807430 https://www.heller.fr/en/80742-renault-alouette-gendarmerie-new-mould-1000807420 Heller's social media also has pics of the sprues: https://www.facebook.com/heller.fr/photos/a.100962021719016/140329837782234/ https://www.facebook.com/heller.fr/photos/175415954273622 (in other news, they are also reissuing their Bugatti EB110 😎) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 33 minutes ago, Paul H said: both civilian and gendarmerie releases Is that the one that Inspector Clouseau keeps getting carted off in, in A Shot In The Dark? And, while I have you, how far have you got with your Bonner Sapphire Chipmunk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Work In Progress said: Is that the one that Inspector Clouseau keeps getting carted off in, in A Shot In The Dark? And, while I have you, how far have you got with your Bonner Sapphire Chipmunk? Not sure about the film - haven't seen it for ages! It's probably either one of these or perhaps the Peugeot equivalent? Annoyingly, the usual source for such questions, the IMCDB website appears to be offline. As for the Bonner Chipmunk, that's still early days. I've test fitted the major parts of the donor kit, and am about to start making the new, extended cowling. I had all the dimensions somewhere for the length increase, and also the size of the new spinner (I measured these directly off the former used to make it), but have mislaid them so will have to ask Bill again when I next see him, which will probably be as soon as the lockdown is over. If I ask nicely enough (& have finished the current CAD work I'm doing for him) I may be able to borrow the cowling drawings, but reckon I have enough pics to eyeball it. I suspect I will have to make two models of it though, and so I'm still thinking about whether to 3D print the new nose. However, once I am a bit further along, I will start a thread for it. 🙂 Edited January 12, 2021 by Paul H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 The only pics I have are from the original Pilot article in I think 1979. If Bill has any decent pics of WB from that era it would be good to see them. Such a shame it was not the first of many, it was the Chipmunk version I always wanted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbdesignart Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Regarding the Renault Estafette, before the rivet counters went off topic 🤣, there are some decal schemes available for when the Heller kit is released. Seen Here 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted October 23, 2021 Author Share Posted October 23, 2021 An update from Heller, which shows detailed sprue shots & the instructions: I can't remember if they were there previously when I posted this link in one of my earlier posts, but if not, there are some good photos of the built up kit here: https://www.heller.fr/en/80742-renault-estafette-gendarmerie-new-mould-1000807420 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbdesignart Posted October 24, 2021 Share Posted October 24, 2021 Heller wbsite shows it as available, finally. Some online retailers say 6 week delivery. I'm keeping my eyes peeled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ka-Efka Posted October 24, 2021 Share Posted October 24, 2021 (edited) Same here. 162 parts shouldn't mean it's not overly simplified. 😊 Edited October 24, 2021 by Ka-Efka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted October 24, 2021 Share Posted October 24, 2021 Have to get one - it would be cruel not to; my H4 needs company ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted November 5, 2021 Author Share Posted November 5, 2021 On 24/10/2021 at 13:00, mbdesignart said: Heller wbsite shows it as available, finally. Some online retailers say 6 week delivery. I'm keeping my eyes peeled. This UK retailer has stock of both versions: http://www.davecoleysemporium.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p11058_Heller-80742-1_24th-scale-Renault-Estafette-Gendarmerie,-1968-New-Moulds-.html http://www.davecoleysemporium.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p11075_All-NEW-for-2021-Heller-80743-1_24th-scale-Renault-Estafette-Van.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 5, 2021 Share Posted November 5, 2021 Ive never seen or heard of these before. Were these Renaults answer to the VW Micro bus ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepy Pete Posted November 6, 2021 Share Posted November 6, 2021 There's a review with sprue shots at Modellversium here. Looks nice. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 17 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Ive never seen or heard of these before. Were these Renaults answer to the VW Micro bus ? Kind of - I suspect that Renault had a much closer eye on the Citroen H van & equivalent Peugeot van than the VW though, given the configuration that they chose for the Estafette. They were already producing rear engined passenger cars at this time (4CV, Dauphine, 8, 10 & Caravelle / Floride) so that configuration would not have been a big step. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 4 hours ago, Creepy Pete said: There's a review with sprue shots at Modellversium here. Looks nice. It does indeed - I was about to post a link to that page! Typical Heller in how they have moulded the glass as part of the whole panel, but with careful painting, it should make for a better and more realistic model than the more conventional method. I've always liked their alternatice approach to designing model kits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperService Posted November 6, 2021 Share Posted November 6, 2021 18 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Ive never seen or heard of these before. Were these Renaults answer to the VW Micro bus ? 31 minutes ago, Paul H said: Kind of - I suspect that Renault had a much closer eye on the Citroen H van & equivalent Peugeot van than the VW though, given the configuration that they chose for the Estafette. They were already producing rear engined passenger cars at this time (4CV, Dauphine, 8, 10 & Caravelle / Floride) so that configuration would not have been a big step. UK, French and German manufacturers all produced small van ranges for the same reason: Narrow streets, big enough for most delivery and trade jobs, and easy to drive. The US had similar markets but went a little larger. In Italy the same types were augmented by motor tricycle vehicles produced by some of the motorbike manufacturers. I've yet to discover whether they had an on/off switch for the horn though.... Heller have come up with some good design solutions over the years as well as idiosyncratic Gallic whims and fancies. Hopefully their recent releases sell well enough for them to do more along the same lines. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted November 7, 2021 Author Share Posted November 7, 2021 (edited) 23 hours ago, SleeperService said: Heller have come up with some good design solutions over the years as well as idiosyncratic Gallic whims and fancies. Hopefully their recent releases sell well enough for them to do more along the same lines. What I've always liked about the Heller kits that I have is the way that the majority have been engineered to be prototypically correct. That is what initially attracted me to their old classic & vintage stuff, and their recent R4 (which I also have) is done in a very similar way, as is the Estafette, rather than in the more toy-like manner that some recent 1:24 car kits are. Whilst the Estafette isn't really my cup of tea, it is fantastic to see Heller producing new tooled vehicles in 1:24 (as well as re-releasing more of the amazing stuff from their back catalogue), and I'm very interested to see what they will produce next. There is clearly a decent market for kits of old & quirky French cars, as has been shown by Ebbro's releases. Edited November 7, 2021 by Paul H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted November 7, 2021 Share Posted November 7, 2021 On 05/11/2021 at 22:19, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Ive never seen or heard of these before. Were these Renaults answer to the VW Micro bus ? These were the eqivalent to the Ford Thames 400E 15 cwt panel van. Forerunner of the ubiquitous Transit. My then (1967) girlfriend's father had 2 of these in his fleet, one with a fibreglass high roof. Used to work saturdays for him, and travelled in these, hence my interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 Has this actually been released? I found it on the Heller site (which seems to be down as I type this) but apparently you can't buy from there, and none of the usual suspects seems to have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homebee Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 (edited) Released - go to the Heller owner site: GLOW2B https://www.glow2b.de/view.php?sku=1000807430 https://www.glow2b.de/view.php?sku=1000567430 https://www.glow2b.de/view.php?sku=1000807420 https://www.glow2b.de/view.php?sku=1000567420 V.P. Edited November 17, 2021 by Homebee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I had this on back order at Hannants for £19:99. They have dropped it. It is listed on Davey Coley's Emporium at £23:99 'out of stock' yet it is on their ebay site for £29:99 posted with 9 in stock. Modelsforsale has it for about £1 cheaper posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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