TonyOD Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 In the spirit of the French Fancy GB, my objective was to choose a subject as French as Charles Aznavour playing pétanque with Brigitte Bardot in the middle of the Champs Élysées (to a soundtrack by Jacques Brel). So here we are, with my finished offering. It could only be one kit manufacturer, really: the venerable Heller (pron. “Ell-aire”!). This is their 1/72 Potez 540 kit, first issued in 1967, built almost entirely OOB (for if you seek aftermarket for this kit, you will find none!), with the addition of scratchbuilt seatbelts and navigation lights. This is the most recent “Musée” boxing, which comes with two new schemes to add to the ’67 original: I chose this rather handsome (in as much as the 540 could be handsome) government-registered plane that was used to ferry General Charles de Gaulle around French possessions in Africa in 1941. I’ll stick my neck out a bit and opine that you can’t get much more French than that! For an old kit it built up really nicely. I did some modest panel line scribing, and the main assembly goes together beautifully; the side walls of the fuselage only took on their elegant tapering curves when glued around the ceiling and floor panels, and then, as if by magic, the nose panel and canopy fit perfectly. It’s quite clever. All that stuff under the wings was very fiddly of course! I didn't go searching too hard for information about the accuracy of the model; the most obvious issue is the ribbing of the fabric wings, which is exaggerated: the ribs are too many in number and too deep. I briefly considered having a go at sorting them, but quickly decided that it would take a modeller with more skill and patience than me to get it right. Painting was by brush with Humbrol enamels. I struggled with the turrets and canopies a bit, I used Montex masks for the main canopies and Tamiya tape for the turrets and had problems with sections of framing coming away with the masks, but I persevered with a bit of cocktail stick touching-up. The main exterior colour is no. 71, which was a pig to work with but I got there. Just a light enamel wash on top, et Robert est le frère de ta mère. Build thread here if you're interested: Thanks for looking! 43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 Magnifique! I used to have this kit, but got rid of it a long time ago and realized it was 'way beyond my skills as a modeler at the time, so I think I traded it for a Caudron C.714 and an Ms225...not much easier, as it turned out! Very nice model that does not look its age- you should be proud of this one! (Wonder if the arrogant DeGaulle had to hunch down to get in and out of the cabin; if he turned his head sideways, I don't think he would have been able to get through the entry door with that proboscis! Mike Seriously, that's a great build, Tony! Heller certainly did give us some very esoteric types and not too shabby kits, considering when they were released, for which we should all be grateful. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted September 14, 2021 Author Share Posted September 14, 2021 @72modelerThanks for your very kind words Mike, it was one of those that I didn't think would be up to much but it looks decent on the shelf. It was a bit tricky in places, Shake'n'bake Tamiya Zero next... 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 Zut alors! He's finished another 'eller one. Nice one Tony looks like you're getting the hang of this French bomber thing 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted September 14, 2021 Author Share Posted September 14, 2021 4 minutes ago, alt-92 said: looks like you're getting the hang of this French bomber thing Amiot 143 ✔️ Potez 540 ✔️ Just the Bloch 210 to complete the “blocky French bombers by Heller” trilogy! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 You did a great job on that. My goodness didn't the French design some quirky bombers pre war. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 She is great, mate. I was tempted to say gorgeous but ……. Well, you know Martin 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted September 15, 2021 Share Posted September 15, 2021 A wonderful build - definitely a subject not often seen around here. I don't see much evidence of the kit's age, which suggests you've got skills in abundance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted September 15, 2021 Share Posted September 15, 2021 Fantastic result and a true classical kit. I had this often in my hands back in the days at my local hobby shop but it never went with me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted September 15, 2021 Share Posted September 15, 2021 An excellent build on the old Heller, wonderful work ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted September 15, 2021 Share Posted September 15, 2021 Really nicely done, bags of character. great job 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted September 15, 2021 Author Share Posted September 15, 2021 18 hours ago, noelh said: You did a great job on that. My goodness didn't the French design some quirky bombers pre war. 18 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: She is great, mate. I was tempted to say gorgeous but ……. Well, you know 12 hours ago, kapam said: A wonderful build - definitely a subject not often seen around here. I don't see much evidence of the kit's age, which suggests you've got skills in abundance. 7 hours ago, BerndM said: Fantastic result and a true classical kit. I had this often in my hands back in the days at my local hobby shop but it never went with me. 7 hours ago, Wulfman said: An excellent build on the old Heller, wonderful work ! 5 hours ago, russ c said: Really nicely done, bags of character. great job So many kind words, I'm humbled, really... this was one where I thought well I'll get it done but it'll never make the cabinet (when i get around to getting one), but the more I look at it, the more I like it, and it holds its own against my other efforts. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro1 Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 What's not to love of such an iconic French bomber. Well done! Peter PS: Jacques Brel was from Belgium... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangor Lad Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Great build! I have a soft spot for these Heller kits. I built a Leo many years ago as a youngster and have one in my stash to build when I get a chance. Your build may have just moved it up in the queue! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 5 hours ago, Pedro1 said: PS: Jacques Brel was from Belgium... Whut?!?!? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Congratulations Tony, Shake'n'Bake Tamiya Zero, where's the challenge in that I was expecting a one handed Unicraft kit build, while riding a unicycle as a bit of light relief Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
occa Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Simply WOW !!!! And with a camo combination I've never sen before. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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