L098 - Heller 1/72 Morane Saulnier MS-230, with SMĚR decals in Czech livery

[TonyTiger91]

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all having a nice day or evening.
 

I had hoped to build the Heller 1/72 scale Dewoitine 501 as a Lithuanian D-501L.

 

However I ordered a conversion set from LF / Kora store a few weeks ago; but unfortunately the set is still on back order from Kora.

 

It has been almost a decade since I built a kit, so I wanted to build something all one colour 😁 . Thankfully an old loosely bagged kit came to my rescue 👍 

 

I have a Heller Morane-Saulnier MS-230. It was loose in a zip loc bag, with no instructions or decals. However EBay to the rescue, with a set of decals from the SMĚR boxing of the kit. 
 

Scalemates to the rescue with instructions. 
 

Therefore I will be building a Czech version of the MS-230 👍 

 

If anyone has a PDF of the SMĚR instructions, I would be very grateful. However I think that I can muddle through with the resources that I have here.

 

My lighting conditions are a little questionable, but I will do my best to create bright photographs 📸 

 

Here is what I started with:

 

I hope to use the vac form canopy, from the Falcon Canopies set in the photograph.

 

I printed out the older Heller instructions, in truth they are the right ones for the old kit that I had in the bag. Old, crisp Heller plastic. I like the detail and plastic of the old Heller kits.
 

Just a starting post. Tomorrow I will wash the parts, as they are quite shiny. A little wash might help primer to stick to the surface 🙏 

 

Just like the originally planned D-501L, this aircraft is in just aluminium/silver dope finish. If I’m feeling brave, I might airbrush the final colour. However at this stage, I’m erring towards caution and think that I might brush paint the model. Let’s see how it goes 👍 

 

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to grab a comfy seat.
 

Tea, coffee and biscuits are by the hatch at the back of the room. Help yourself to a newspaper, enjoy the relaxing music (currently Neil Young -“Harvest Moon”), and normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

🛋️ ☕️ 🍪 🗞️ 🎶 

 

TonyT91

[wanders_up_the_wrekin]

Hello Tony, 

 

I'll definitely be following along, I have the SMĚR kit and plan to do it in the French markings. 

 

I couldn't figure out how to attach a pdf of the instructions so I hope that some photos will help:

 

 

 

 

Hope they help. It looks like SMĚR used the Heller images and just reformatted them a little, and added a new view for the assembly of the struts. 

 

 

John

 

 

[TonyTiger91]

Hello John 

Thank you so much for the instructions 🙏 

 

This will help a lot. My eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be; the pdf of the Heller instructions that I have… it’s hard for me to read it.

 

However I managed to take some photos of the instructions today, then enlarge them.

 

I managed to figure out that Heller suggest that the interior should be painted grey.

 

Along with your instructions, I’m starting to get a good idea of how to go ahead with the building. The central struts should be built as a sub assembly. Heller suggest closing the fuselage, before installing the seats. This is interesting.

 

Good to have you on board John 😊 

Thank you again 👍 

[TonyTiger91]

Hello everyone,

Just a tiny update.

 

It has been busy at Tiger Towers, so not a lot of time for relaxing model making.

 

However time was spent doing something that is difficult to photograph… pondering instructions 🤔 

 

I have tried to build other Morane parasols before, and an Azur models Lioire 46. These all have struts supporting the parasol wing and; getting these and the wing aligned can be tricky.

 

My current theory is that it’s the order in which these struts are assembled, left to dry and then more parts added; that can make or break the geometry of the wing.

 

The Heller instructions suggest a building sequence; in French, that I could mostly figure out, and makes sense. John’s helpful SMĚR instructions have nice clear images, that help to figure out what goes where, and when 👍 

 

All that I did apart from this, was to put all of the parts in a bowl, and soak them in isopropyl alcohol based household cleaner. The older Heller kits sometimes have a quite shiny, greasy surface. Maybe a mould release agent residue. I get the feeling that trying to clean this off, will help with the adhesion of primer.

 

I will leave it to soak overnight, then wash in household detergent tomorrow

 

I have ordered some Ushci Van Rosteh rigging thread. Heller instructions suggest 0.2mm, but I have ordered far finer thread.

 

How and where to thread this isn’t clear on the instructions. I will try to find some other builds of this model, and see how others have tackled this. 

 

 

As always, any suggestions on how to build the kit are very welcome 🤗 

 

That’s all for today, thank you for visiting and reading about this build 👍 

 

TonyT91

[Milan Mynar]

It is very interesting.

[wanders_up_the_wrekin]

Hi Tony,

 

I've also been pondering on the assembly sequence.

 

I've never built a biplane and I have only one parasol wing aircraft built, so this is something of a challenge. In the end, I'm sure I'll be reading some previous builds and probably copying the build sequence. But it is interesting to try to figure it out first. I have a plan sketched out in my head - I should probably write it down before I forget it. Looking forward to starting it now but I need to finish the Saab Safir first. 

 

John

 

[JOCKNEY]

Hi Tony

 

Great to see you back on here.

 

Below is my WIP when I built the kit last, I hope this is helpful 

 

 

Cheers Pat 

[PeterB]

Hi Tony,

 

For future reference, you should be able to download the instructions from the Scalemates web site- this link is for the MS 230 but you can search for pretty much any kit on it though I have seen suggestions that as it is compiled by modellers, one or two kits are either not listed, or the issue date may be slightly out.

https://www.scalemates.com/search.php?fkSECTION[]=All&q=1%3A72+MS-230*

 

Pick either a Heller or SMER boxing from the thumbnails on the left, open them and scroll down then click the instructions download tab usually in green - note, they do not have instructions for some of the boxings but they should all be about the same except perhaps for colours/markings. On my computer most open on screen with the option to save, though some just go straight to download for some reason - maybe the way they were uploaded? I use the site quite a lot, sometime to look at other makes of the same plane which may be more detailed, and to check the suggested colours.

 

Pete

Edited March 21 by PeterB

[TonyTiger91]

Thank you Pete, Pat, John and Milan 🙏 

and all of those following along: Thank you ☺️ 

 

Well, I haven’t built a model since I was last on Britmodeller many years ago. Maybe ten years…

 

All of my paints, paintbrushes, tools, glue, filler and so on were packed away; following a house (and country) move.

 

The parts of the kit are clean now. Isopropyl alcohol household cleaner, then a soak in water with a little washing up liquid. Drained and left to air dry.

 

I had been wondering what to do about the instrument clusters. I don’t believe in coincidences and, as is often the case, the cosmos made me smile 😊 

 

I have a biscuit tin full of aftermarket accessories. Parts. Decals and so on. I opened it. Right on top was this; the very first item:

 

 

Bought many years ago. Steelwork products are good. A very polite, friendly and helpful one man operation. I used to buy a few things at once from him, better for postage. 
 

It will be interesting to see how I manage sliding these tiny decals onto the model.

 

Here is a photo of a real Morane 230 cockpit. The decals look appropriate 👍:

 

I will pretend not to have seen the potential for detailing the interior 🙈

 

OOB will be alright for this model. If I manage to complete it, that will be more than enough. I will be amazed if that happens.

I opened various boxes and biscuit tins. Pulled out things that might be useful for the build:

 

Lots of old paintbrushes:

 

If anyone has advice on organising the workspace; I would be very grateful. The space soon fills up.

 

I can’t find an aerosol can of primer. I found my compressor and spray booth; hidden under the desk. However I don’t know where the airbrush is 🤷‍♂️ 

 

I might buy aerosols of primer and aluminium, as the airbrush could be anywhere in a big storage room. Approximately three tonnes of stuff, and I don’t feel like moving all the boxes around at this time. It’s always the last box isn’t it 😁?

 

Hopefully I will have painted something by the time I make my next post 🧑‍🎨 

 

Thank you for reading and any tips or suggestions. Have a nice weekend

 

TonyT91

[Jinxman]

10 hours ago, TonyTiger91 said:

Bought many years ago. Steelwork products are good. A very polite, friendly and helpful one man operation. I used to buy a few things at once from him, better for postage. 

 

Thank you for reading and any tips or suggestions. Have a nice weekend.

Agree with Steelworks comments - I have some lovely accessories and decals from the website, though not the MS230 ones - they look very useful.

 

The only tip I have re. the work area is regarding the edges of the desk. If it were my desk I would be forever knocking things off the edges - I think I would attach some sort of edge protection/barrier. It's because I'm so clumsy of course, which is why my bench space is tight up against walls.

 

Good luck with the build.

[TonyTiger91]

11 hours ago, Jinxman said:

Agree with Steelworks comments - I have some lovely accessories and decals from the website, though not the MS230 ones - they look very useful.

 

The only tip I have re. the work area is regarding the edges of the desk. If it were my desk I would be forever knocking things off the edges - I think I would attach some sort of edge protection/barrier. It's because I'm so clumsy of course, which is why my bench space is tight up against walls.

 

Good luck with the build.

Thank you 🙏 

 

I bought this desk especially for model making. 
I’m economising at the moment, it was a real bargain from IKEA 👍 🇸🇪 

 

You are right. I have already had a paintbrush and bottle of household cleaner fall off of the edge 🙉 I’m also worried about tiny parts falling off, and the dreaded carpet monster …

 

I will try to think of something for the edge. Maybe just nail on some 1/4” square wood 👍 

[TonyTiger91]

Hello everyone, 

I hope that you are having a nice restful weekend 😊 

 

I made a little progress today.

 

My paints; most of them have been in storage for approximately 10 years. There are even some tins of Airfix paints from my childhood. Maybe over 50 years old.

 

i decided to simply choose colours by eye; not worrying too much if they are enamels or acrylics.

This old tin of Humbrol silver had to be thrown away:

 

Fortunately another old tin was just fine 😊:

 

 

This was chosen to brush paint some engine details.

 

I decided to use a Revell Panzer Grau grey as a substitute for real black. It’s just my preference, but absolute black can look a bit too dark on 1/72 models. Let’s see how this dark grey works out:

 

It survived storage well, and just needed a little stir with a lollipop stick.

 

At this point, I remembered some advice from @TheSpadgent years ago. To keep paints away from the building area. I remembered after the PanzerGrau appeared to be spreading everywhere 😱!

 

This stuff and paper towels to the rescue:

 

I’m a little colourblind, but based on the photo I have of an aircraft in a museum; I chose this Mr. Hobby Hobby Colour H57 for the cockpit and seats:

 

 

You can see evidence of the PanzerGrau spreading everywhere here 🫠
 

Black, black, everywhere black (Johnny Nice Painter for those that remember “The Fast Show” on UK Television)…

 

All cleaned up 🧽 👍 

 

Making a start with a fresh AK 2 flat brush. I liked using this brush.

 

After approximately 1 hour, listening to the excellent ‘Silicon Curtain’ podcast, whilst trying my best to remember how to paint, stir and clean the brush…. Some results:

 

 
Humbrol enamel bronze used on the exhaust collector. It was a little thick, but it will be ok 👍 

 

I will leave the parts to dry overnight. Hopefully another coat tomorrow.

 

Still waiting for the Uschi Van Der Rosten rigging thread. If it takes a long time to arrive, all is fine: I found a few other spools of thread in the box of bits and bobs under the desk 🧵 😊 

 

Thank you for reading and following along, have a great weekend,

 

TonyT91

[2996 Victor]

Great progress, Tony, I've enjoyed catching up with your build so far! Very much looking forward to watching your progress with this lovely little kit.

 

Cheers,

Mark

 

P.S. I've got that interior shot of the real thing as well - I did start trying to detail the interior on one of these but as with so many of my builds it has long since passed into obscurity  

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

10 hours ago, TonyTiger91 said:

You are right. I have already had a paintbrush and bottle of household cleaner fall off of the edge 🙉 I’m also worried about tiny parts falling off, and the dreaded carpet monster …

 

I will try to think of something for the edge. Maybe just nail on some 1/4” square wood 👍 

The wood is a good idea but a bit hard on your arms if you have to lean on it. I was thinking of an old bike inner-tube cut to length and screwed in to the edge. Leave about .5 centimeters or a full cm above the top of the flat surface. I would also use a caulk to seal it so it would contain spills of fluid. 

Edited March 23 by Corsairfoxfouruncle

[The Spadgent]

Ahhh and here you are. Just caught up. Wonderful to see you back at it dear boy. Looking forward to watching this little wonder coming together.  Great start. 👌🫡
 

Johnny

[TonyTiger91]

On 24/03/2025 at 00:44, 2996 Victor said:

Great progress, Tony, I've enjoyed catching up with your build so far! Very much looking forward to watching your progress with this lovely little kit.

 

Cheers,

Mark

 

P.S. I've got that interior shot of the real thing as well - I did start trying to detail the interior on one of these but as with so many of my builds it has long since passed into obscurity  

Thank you Mark 😊 

 

Now… I have succumbed to detail work … could it be AMS 😁? I don’t know, details in my next post.

 

On 24/03/2025 at 08:36, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

The wood is a good idea but a bit hard on your arms if you have to lean on it. I was thinking of an old bike inner-tube cut to length and screwed in to the edge. Leave about .5 centimeters or a full cm above the top of the flat surface. I would also use a caulk to seal it so it would contain spills of fluid. 

Thank you 🙏 

I like this idea! Easier on the arms. Also screwing the tube in somehow feels a little gentler than hammering wood into the desk. I will give it a try. I might have some unused 26” inner tubes in storage 👍 

On 25/03/2025 at 10:21, The Spadgent said:

Ahhh and here you are. Just caught up. Wonderful to see you back at it dear boy. Looking forward to watching this little wonder coming together.  Great start. 👌🫡
 

Johnny

It’s great to have you following along Johnny, welcome 🤗 

 

It looks like I will need to take a little break from

the bench, but not for long. 
 

Hope the you are having a nice weekend 

Tony

[TonyTiger91]

Hello everyone,

hope that you are all well and able to shake your tail feathers 🕺 

 

I had originally intended to build OOB but… after looking at this great little kit, the photos online and other builds, I started to ponder.

 

There are detail sets available from Kora and these look like a good compromise for me at the moment. I don’t yet have the confidence to scratch detail the interior. Nor to correct a few exterior details. 
 

The Kora interior set looks nice. The interior is basic on the kit OOB. Also one of the seats has a sink mark. It looks like the Kora set also has the impression of seatbelts for the seats.

 

 

I looked online and ordered these sets from a shop in Poland. It will take 4-5 weeks for the parts to be available. That’s ok, as; I am going to Poland for 4-6 weeks. Hopefully to include a visit to the National Aviation Museum and The Uprising Museum. There is a 1:1 model there of a B-24. I would like to look at it and ask a few questions. This will help for a model project for much later this year.

 

I’m sorry that this means there will be a hold on this MS-230 for four to five weeks 😔 

 

One tiny update. I was originally happy with the exhaust collector (or is it a heat shield  🤔?). However two things started to trouble me. The paint was thick and also, photos show that this often isnt quite so bronze in colour. Like those rings on Bristol Beaufighter engine cowl fronts; it can vary in shade, but is often a heat affected alloy shade.

 

I used orange peel paint remover gel:

 

 

This usually works well. Apply in a blobby way. Leave to make the paint crinkle, wipe off with a damp paper towel or cloth:

 

I will repaint with a Matt alloy, somewhere between whiteish aluminium alloy and a copper/bronze like shade. Trying to achieve something like this:

 

 

Thank you for being here. As Arnie said;

”I will be back”

Soon 👍 

 

Have a nice weekend and see you soon; Im

happy to take photo requests for the museums; just send a message to me here on BM 📸 

 

Tony 

[The Spadgent]

Nice looking detail set. Looking forward to your return to the bench already. 😇