***C'est magnifique!!!*** Heller Classic GB 2025 Chat

[erniewise]

Ooh. Didn't get my act together for the last Heller GB.

Am I too late to get this beauty in?

[2996 Victor]

22 minutes ago, erniewise said:

Ooh. Didn't get my act together for the last Heller GB.

Am I too late to get this beauty in?

It's never too late  and that's a great subject! Welcome aboard!

 

Cheers, 

Mark

[stevej60]

Well I'll be kicking off with the Vampire and certainly a Sabre will follow.

[Wez]

2 hours ago, stevej60 said:

Well I'll be kicking off with the Vampire and certainly a Sabre will follow.

 

Both great kits Steve, personally, I think the Sabre has the best undercarriage of any 1/72nd and the Vampire is still hard to better dimensionally and shape wise.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

About four decades ago, I was in the RAF.   I had joined the modelling club at the unit where I was posted.   

 

I bought a Heller Bf 109K from the local model shop and built it in a scheme from 3/JG1 which had been featured in a colour profile and supporting photos in a copy of Scale Models a few years previously.  Given that the aircraft was photographed in early 1945 when resources were slim for the Luftwaffe, the aircraft had a number (probably the last three of its Werk Nummer) crudely handpainted on the fuselage side. 

 

I carefully recreated the handpainted number and proudly displayed the model at the next meeting of the modelling club.  The officer in charge was not impressed.  He loudly told me "Matrix, old chap, that is not the standard we aspire to in this club.  Could you not have found some suitable decals for it?  It just looks scruffy."   I tried to explain the situation, but he wouldn't have any of it. 

 

Well, it's been forty years or so, but I've finally found some decals.  So this one is for you, Squadron Leader Henderson, you patronising...  erm...  officer!   And guess what?  It's still going to look a bit scruffy!   

 

 

 

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Another option in The Stash...

 

[2996 Victor]

Two excellent options there, Enzo, but which one will you choose? Oh, wait.....  

[Enzo the Magnificent]

1 minute ago, 2996 Victor said:

Two excellent options there, Enzo, but which one will you choose? Oh, wait.....  

 

I think you already know the answer to that... 

[Wez]

1 hour ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

Squadron Leader Henderson, you patronising...  erm...  officer!

 

Let's face it mate, if you've been in the Mob, regardless of service, we've all met people like that.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

1 minute ago, Wez said:

 

Let's face it mate, if you've been in the Mob, regardless of service, we've all met people like that.

 

Yep. That's true.  And sadly it's not restricted to the services. That sort of hubris can be found everywhere.   

[Troy Smith]

2 hours ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

the aircraft had a number (probably the last three of its Werk Nummer) crudely handpainted on the fuselage side. 

Definitely the last 3

330209,  which went to the ANR,   

 

 

 

not on all K-4s, some have the last 4 stencilled IIRC,  I'd have to go through the books as I can't spot one on quick search

there is this profile by a decent artist though,  and I have seen other with this style

 

2 hours ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

The officer in charge was not impressed.  He loudly told me "Matrix, old chap, that is not the standard we aspire to in this club.  Could you not have found some suitable decals for it?  It just looks scruffy."   I tried to explain the situation, but he wouldn't have any of it. 

 Surprised he didn't think K-4's looked the profile at the bottom...

 

from

https://boxartden.com/reference/gallery/index.php/Aircraft-Profiles/Germany/WWII/Messerschmitt-Bf109G-Gustav

 

for those puzzled, the apperance of late model bf109's has taken many years to pin down, with various revisions as more information got collated...

the link is to the 1966 Aircraft in Profile on the Bf109G, which shows how little was available to the public at the time

 

The Heller kit @Enzo the Magnificent  talks about was the replacement to the previous Heller "K-4"  which was, erm, terrible and not K-4 at all,  the 2nd go by Heller is till rated as basically accurate shape and detail wise.

 

 

this was cutting edge on the K family in the early 80's

https://boxartden.com/reference/gallery/index.php/Monogram-Close-up/Messerschmitt-Bf-109K

 

Of note as this was pretty much ALL the K pics available back then....     not that I was a deeply anoraky teen at secondary school who got serious enough to buy this and Beamans Last Of The Eagles at age 16.....   

It was only many many years later when finding model sites did I realise just how far down that rabbit hole I'd gone back then....  

 

That colour pic of White 8 above was jaw dropping when I saw it online the first time..... A K-4 IN COLOUR!!!!!!!!

 

anyway....... 

3 hours ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

when resources were slim for the Luftwaffe, the aircraft had a number (probably the last three of its Werk Nummer) crudely handpainted on the fuselage side

it was actually done at the factory

 

same factory

 

HTH

[Enzo the Magnificent]

6 minutes ago, Troy Smith said:

Definitely the last 3

330209,  which went to the ANR,   

 

 

Thanks Troy.  This is my intended subject.   

[JOCKNEY]

Lots of handsome French twin engined bombers to chose from, which will make an ideal poster girl for this GB 

[Enzo the Magnificent]

1 minute ago, JOCKNEY said:

Lots of handsome French twin engined bombers to chose from, which will make an ideal poster girl for this GB 

 

Lots of French inter-war fighters as well.

[Troy Smith]

16 minutes ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

This is my intended subject

as this, or in 'best guess' ANR markings?   

 

note, for those curious, best guess on this is  pretty good, as the ANR number applied is known, and other ANR photos show typical styles used for insignia and numbering...  Messerschmitt Bf 109K4 WNr 330209  was ANR 1 Gruppo 3 Sq 3 17

https://www.stormomagazine.com/ModelArticles/Me109K4/MichelGruson/Bf109K4_1a.html

 

@Enzo the Magnificent

the instructions for the Eduard 1/48th K-4 have the most up to date ideas on the colours used, from JaPo

https://eduard-cdn.oxyshop.cloud/out/media/11177.pdf

 

seems that they used a lot of 74/75 .....

 

HTH

[Richard Humm]

It's possible that Enzo's 109K is the rare intermediate kit, which was the old "tadpole" fuselage version but with a tall tailwheel and enlarged wing fairings. I've never actually seen one myself but they were around in 1980 as one is described in the last issue of PAM News, along with a review of the then completely new and good 109K kit. That would put them in the black box.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

9 minutes ago, Troy Smith said:

as this, or in 'best guess' ANR markings?   

 

 

It will be in the Luftwaffe markings.  The Scale Models profile from back in the day showed it with uppersurfaces in RLM 81 but your photo (and the Print Scale decal instructions) clearly show it with a two colour disruptive pattern.  

 

Oh..   and now I want that Eduard kit!!!   

[Troy Smith]

2 hours ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

It will be in the Luftwaffe markings.  The Scale Models profile from back in the day showed it with uppersurfaces in RLM 81 but your photo (and the Print Scale decal instructions) clearly show it with a two colour disruptive pattern.  

The Print Scale decals look OK, but the profiles look dated and/or wrong

https://www.printscale.org/product_416.html

Well, you wanted 'scruffy' ... recent posts on Hyperscale from Lynn Ritger and Eduard use of JaPo, suggests that they often were quite patchwork in appearance due to extensive use of dispersed sub contractors making various parts, using what paints they had.   Main K-4 parts were specific, and some were only built by a few places,  and there are often distinctive features, like the cowl panels,   in that colour shot above, note the cowl panels, and the the tail unit is in different colours to the fuselage, (check the underside colour)  and the wings in both colour shots look 74/75, probably with some bare metal as well.   I'm sure that would have given Sq Ldr Henderson kittens.... 

bet he painted his Spitfire outer wheel wells grey green as well

 

I know we had a long discussion on here about K-4 as well. 

 

Plenty of space for a discussion on the options      Lynn Ritger's new 109 book should be out as well by then....

 

2 hours ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

 

Oh..   and now I want that Eduard kit!!! 

it does look good in the box,  I think the 72nd kits are due to follow, as they have been doing G-10/G-14AS boxings...  and a G-6AS /G-14AS as  well, with lots of interesting schemes....  I digress I really really don't need any more kits but I'm sorely tempted. 

I did buy the 48th K-4 as one turned up on Farcebook with a set of overtrees (the kit has enough decals for two)as well for a good price,  and given my teenage interest I could not say no....

I still have a part done conversion of the old Revell G-10 in a box 'since then' as well....   

 

Must be time for the meds..... nurse! 

[Wez]

10 hours ago, JOCKNEY said:

Lots of handsome French twin engined bombers to chose from, which will make an ideal poster girl for this GB 

 

The Amiot 143 and Bloch 210 perhaps?  Such fine looking arial conservatories...

[srkirad]

@2996 Victor, @Wez, Hello,

 

I've started this kit for the 2024 "Baby Boomers" GB, but during summer months got stuck with heat and loss of mojo, so I ask if this so far progress is within rules of GB (cabin is mostly painted, but car body and everything else is to be painted). This kit is Heller's originally 1979 new tool, so it's eligible in that context.

 

So far latest progress photo....

 

 

Thanks in advance and cheers,

S.

[2996 Victor]

I'm not familiar with this kit, soI'm minded to say yes, go ahead - maybe Wez will be a better judge. In the meantime, could you please post a photo of the whole kit so that we can at an idea of how much of it is complete? Many thanks!

 

Cheers,

Mark 

[srkirad]

Sure,

 

here are all the previous photos of the kit, starting one, and first progress stage...

 

 

 

There is work to be done on painting of the car body (color + multiple layers of gloss varnish and polishing) + detailing (tires and body details)...

 

Thanks,

S.

[2996 Victor]

16 minutes ago, srkirad said:

Sure,

 

here are all the previous photos of the kit, starting one, and first progress stage...

 

 

 

There is work to be done on painting of the car body (color + multiple layers of gloss varnish and polishing) + detailing (tires and body details)...

 

Thanks,

S.

Thanks that's absolutely fine!

 

Cheers,

Mark

[Rabbit Leader]

Thinking out aloud, this Heller GB could also be a potential place for those disappointed the ‘Les Français en Afrique GB’ didn’t get up. 
 

Possible kits could include, the T-6 Texan / Harvard, T-28 Trojan and DH Vampire / Mistral. There’s possibly as few others but that’s not a bad start. 
 

Having all there in the stash, I’ll see what I can contribute. 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

 

 

[MrB17]

5 minutes ago, Rabbit Leader said:

Thinking out aloud, this Heller GB could also be a potential place for those disappointed the ‘Les Français en Afrique GB’ didn’t get up. 
 

Possible kits could include, the T-6 Texan / Harvard, T-28 Trojan and DH Vampire / Mistral. There’s possibly as few others but that’s not a bad start. 
 

Having all there in the stash, I’ll see what I can contribute. 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

 

 

Good call Dave. I had been hoping to do a Noratlas for the French in Africa GB, I haven’t purchased one yet, but the kit is now sold as a twin pack by Heller. So I could still have one for 2026 as well. The T-28 is very tempting as well, I painted a few in 1/1, a very cool airplane. The passion never wanes.

 

Cheers

 

Jeff