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Heller military kits in 1/35

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Heller military kits in 1/35
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 20, 2003 9:06 PM
Hi all,

Does anybody have any experience with Heller's 1/35 military kits? And if yes, how do they compare. I am highly interested to build their 1/35 LeClerc French MBT. And is there a kit of the italian Ariete MBT available?

Thanks again for any hint I can get

Joe
.
The Leopard is the most dangerous cat. Fast, agile, strong and deadly.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 20, 2003 9:48 PM
Sigh [sigh] I have the Leclerc, the provides some P/E parts and hosing. Other wise be prepared to toy around with fit and finish. On the kit I have the upper and lower turret halfs have large gaps in which I have to shim. I have not started the build yet and I will be looking for a after market barrel and upper date kit.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 20, 2003 9:55 PM
That surprises me, because what I remember from their 1/400 ships, that were fairly decent kits for their time. I had the Bismarck, The Graf Spee and the Gneisenau and the fit was good and they had some good detail. Well, I think I just have to give it a try.

Joe

The Leopard is the most dangerous cat. Fast, agile, strong and deadly.
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Ft. Sill, OK
Posted by beav on Thursday, November 20, 2003 9:58 PM
I have only built one of their kits-the f-22, and I was totally unconvinced that it was worth the money. If anyone, can show me any pictures of Heller kits finished, maybe I will change my mind.

"First to Fire!"

Steven

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Friday, November 21, 2003 3:33 AM
Heller's 1/35 Leclerc depicts a very early model, and has a number of little annoying defects.. The tracks are not very good, and the hexagonal holes of the grenade launchers are badly represented. Those are not easy to correct!

Terre Modèles have a resin kit to bring the Heller kit to the T5-T8 variants (the latest in service). Metal tracks are also available. The T5 was used in the Balkans, while the T6 is still very well documented on the net. Edward have a PE set that will advantageously replace the set given in the Heller kit!

Here's a link to a site that has tons of info on French AFVs including the Leclerc, with dozens of detail pictures (from the prototype to the T6 variant). For info, the Leclerc 'Serie 1' include the T1 to T5 production series, T1 and T2 being pre-production vehicles (I think Heller's kit is a T2). 'Serie 2' includes the T6 to T9 production series (the T9 are not in service yet).

http://www.chars-francais.net/

As far as the other Heller kits are concerned, unlike the Leclerc which is a early '90s kit, all the others are from the '70s. They are overly complicated in my eyes, with too many parts. The detail is OK, but could be improved upon. The plastic is soft. Still nothing to deter you if you really want 1/35 French AFVs...!

By the way, Trumperter's Leclerc is not much better than Heller's...
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, November 21, 2003 8:53 AM
I've got the LeClerc, AMX-30, and Somua S-35 (imported by Gunze Sangyo).
DJ is absolutely right on all counts!
They'll all build into nice models with enough TLC, but OOB they certainly do have their problems.
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 22, 2003 12:30 AM
Thanks for all the info. I guess I wait till maybe one of the big companies decide to bring out a Leclerc in 1/35.

Joe

The Leopard is the most dangerous cat. Fast, agile, strong and deadly. The Leopard rules.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Saturday, November 22, 2003 3:48 AM
Or you could try Revell's 1/72 kit. It's quite nice! (it's a T5 variant). Pretty big for a 1/72 kit too! I'll post pics of mine very soon...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 22, 2003 12:41 PM
DJ, thanks for the tip I will give it a try sometime even so I am a fanatic 1/35 modeler.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: United Kingdom / Belgium
Posted by djmodels1999 on Saturday, November 22, 2003 4:27 PM
Cool! I'm sure you'll enjoy the change!
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