Snafu35 Posted May 31 Posted May 31 (edited) Hello, all. The deadline for the game has been extended to 22 June, so I think I'll make it. Thanks to @Enzo the Magnificent I opened this box which was always filmed; it's a pleasant moment, isn't it? I won't be adding any goodies, just updating the layout, which dates back to 1978. è Regards, Eric-Snafu35 Edited 4 hours ago by Snafu35 change title 12 3
TheyJammedKenny! Posted June 1 Posted June 1 Oh my gosh! This is going to be a Blitz Build of a Noratlas! What can possibly go wrong? 2
MrB17 Posted June 1 Posted June 1 If anyone can do it by the 22nd it’s you @Snafu35 and I’ll be following along happily. I found this incredible build of the Heller Noratlas last week, it’s 18 pages in French but translated automatically and it took me some hours just to go through it all. There’s no time to do it like this for this GB but if you want a challenge, try and beat this. It’s incredible! https://fighters.forumactif.com/t96785-heller-1-72-nord-2502-noratlas-uat-aeromaritime-par-regis-biaux-vintage# Cheers Jeff 1 1 1
Mjwomack Posted June 1 Posted June 1 On 5/31/2025 at 6:33 PM, Snafu35 said: The deadline for the game has been extended to 22 June, so I think I'll make it. Make It? I confidently expect you to make it with time to spare and decide to pop in a cheeky Spitfire to use the time up! What's more it'll be an absolute corker- no pressure there!!! 3
Snafu35 Posted June 2 Author Posted June 2 (edited) Hello all, Thanks for watching. @MrB17: I took part in an exhibition in Caen at the beginning of April, and Regis Biaux was exhibiting his Noratlas opposite my stand. While he came to see my Constellation, I was drooling over his Nord 2502. He didn't glue the glass roof so that you could see inside the cockpit. This model builder has been building a 1/32 Noratlas for three years. Mind your eyes! : https://master194.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=117593 astonishing, isn' it? Regards, Eric-Snafu35 Edited June 29 by Snafu35 6 1
Jinxman Posted June 2 Posted June 2 6 hours ago, Snafu35 said: astonishing, isn' it? Absolutely, what a piece of art.
TheyJammedKenny! Posted June 2 Posted June 2 Hey there, @Snafu35! I have no doubt this will be a project for the ages. Would you mind scanning the drawings and sharing them with this board? Others could use them. 1
MrB17 Posted June 2 Posted June 2 Oh my! Maybe I should take a course on 3D printing and make a B-17 from Boeing blueprints not a drawing from a book. That Noratlas is quite an accomplishment and it’s not even finished yet. I’ll be checking in on it regularly. Thanks for the link @Snafu35 Cheers Jeff 1
2996 Victor Posted June 3 Posted June 3 Excellent to see a newly-started kit - the first in a while - and it looks like you're going to town on it if that wing is anything to go by! Looking forward to watching your progress. Cheers, Mark 1
Snafu35 Posted June 9 Author Posted June 9 Hello all, I'll give you an update on the progress of the work, just to let you know that I'm fully committed to the project. I'm still working on the engraving of the model parts: I'm going to start riveting the fuselage and finishing the wings. I'll finish with the beams, then start the construction. Boy, it takes a long time to prepare the parts, no blitzbuild for me! @TheyJammedKenny! and @MrB17: I promise I'll make the 1/72 plans available on Britmodeler! Regards, Eric-Snafu35 9 1 1
MrB17 Posted June 9 Posted June 9 Nice work on the scribing and riveting Eric. I’m sure this is going to be a masterpiece, and thank you for the offer of the plans. Cheers Jeff 1 2
Snafu35 Posted June 11 Author Posted June 11 (edited) Hello everyone, I've prepared most of the exterior surfaces, like this half of the fuselage: I'm going to finish the other half, then work on the beams and their wheel bays. I sent a request for new decals to Heller on 30 May, and received them yesterday! Many thanks to Heller for its responsiveness, and I really need to move on now. Regards, Eric-Snafu35 Edited June 29 by Snafu35 8 1
Snafu35 Posted June 13 Author Posted June 13 Hello everyone, I've finished preparing the fuselage and wings, so I can finally do something else. I spent an hour last night furnishing the front wheel bay of the Noratlas: I printed out the photos taken by Regis Biaux and redid them more or less identically. The ceiling is the cockpit floor. I hope to be able to show you the dressing of the main gear bays in the beams very soon. Regards, Eric-Snafu35 8
George Norman Posted June 13 Posted June 13 On 6/11/2025 at 4:22 PM, Snafu35 said: Hello everyone, As promised, I'm sending you the drawings of the Noratlas that I've recovered. I have scanned these documents which are at 1/72 scale. You just have to print them. At least, I hope so! 🤞 I've prepared most of the exterior surfaces, like this half of the fuselage: I'm going to finish the other half, then work on the beams and their wheel bays. I sent a request for new decals to Heller on 30 May, and received them yesterday! Many thanks to Heller for its responsiveness, and I really need to move on now. Regards, Eric-Snafu35 Wow, I was missing a clam shell door on my build , filled out the form and absolutely nothing back from them at all. Not even an email. looks like they look after the locals which is a good thing. I parked my build. Might restart it at some stage. fine work you are doing.
MrB17 Posted June 13 Posted June 13 1 hour ago, George Norman said: Wow, I was missing a clam shell door on my build , filled out the form and absolutely nothing back from them at all. Not even an email. looks like they look after the locals which is a good thing. It took a year for them to ship my Constellation decal sheet, but I did get it. I just kept reminding them every couple of months. In looking at my old emails, I noticed 3 different addresses: info@heller. fr [email protected] [email protected] You could try sending your request to all three Cheers Jeff
paul-muc Posted June 13 Posted June 13 When I started my 40 years old kit of the Noratlas two years ago I asked for a new decals sheet and it was sent immediately. You may try it at Glow2B, the German owner of Heller France. Look at https://www.glow2b.de/# It is Service. Download the excel sheet because it is also in English. Perhaps it would help if you add a link to this ongoing exceptional build of their kit. 1
Snafu35 Posted June 15 Author Posted June 15 Hello to all, @George Norman: I didn't think that the Heller after-sales service, which is now based in Germany, would be so quick to send me back a sheet of decals from the Trun factory in Normandy-France. I was thinking that I wouldn't be able to finish this model for the Heller group build! I've finished detailing the main gear wheel bays: I made a wedge to keep a constant gap between the heddles, and I lost it after I'd finished the first bay. I cut a new wedge, and of course realised at the end that it was slightly smaller than the first one. And I also found the first template when I'd finished all the work! I don't think this detail would be obvious if you didn't know it. I drew inspiration from the two montages for this work. I copied the bottom photo to represent the stringers, but I can't match the work of this talented French model-maker who built this Noratlas Heller a few years ago. I'm going to do some work on the cockpit and paint these sub-assemblies. See you soon! Regards, Eric-Snafu35 6 1 1
MrB17 Posted June 15 Posted June 15 Wow! Eric this is stunning work you’re doing here. I am very impressed with the quality of your scratch building. How many days are left? I don’t even want to know but I’m hoping to finish my Connie as well. Really enjoying this build here. I think the Noratlas is an incredible aircraft and only one left in flying condition. I love to watch the videos on YouTube and turn up the sound, it doesn’t sound like anything else I have seen and heard. Cheers Jeff 1 1 1
Mjwomack Posted June 15 Posted June 15 43 minutes ago, MrB17 said: How many days are left? I don’t even want to know but I’m hoping to finish my Connie as well. Really enjoying this build here. A week 🤪, give or take a few hours depending on your timezone; still without the 11th hour nothing would ever get done. Time to knuckle down for us because Eric's going to finish this and pop out a cheeky Spitfire for good measure 2
Snafu35 Posted June 15 Author Posted June 15 Hi Jeff and Mickael, thank you for your message. The deadline is Sunday 22 June, so there's still a good week to go. I'm going to do a bit of work on the cockpit, the side opening for the crew, maybe change the portholes, and add the harnesses that appear behind the cargo bay windows. Closing time is approaching and the parts are ready. I'd really like to include this finished model in the gallery. @Mjwomack: I'm very bold indeed, but I'd be pretentious if I added a Spitfire! Regards, Eric-Snafu35 4 1
TheyJammedKenny! Posted June 15 Posted June 15 This is splendid work. How did you get the stringers to fit so well in the after part of the booms? It looks effortless on your part. 1 1
Snafu35 Posted June 16 Author Posted June 16 Hello @TheyJammedKenny!: Thank you for your comment. I made an impression with modelling clay, then traced and cut 1mm wide curved frames in 0.25mm evergreen plate. I even drilled 0.5mm holes every 3mm! These frames are spaced five millimetres apart and glued with Tamiya green plug glue. Then I made a shim that allowed me to keep the same spacing between the frames. The horizontal rails are made from 0.5 x 0.5 mm evergreen strips. Cutting small 5mm logs is rather boring, but seeing the result is an excellent motivator. I can't wait to paint and see the final result!. Regards, Eric-Snafu35 1 1 1
Mjwomack Posted June 16 Posted June 16 10 hours ago, TheyJammedKenny! said: This is splendid work. How did you get the stringers to fit so well in the after part of the booms? It looks effortless on your part. Totally and all with the effortless understatement of 'a few details'! 1
2996 Victor Posted June 16 Posted June 16 Fabulous work, Eric, you're really doing this kit a world of justice. Those wheel bays are a work of art! Cheers, Mark 1
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