Has anyone built the Heller 1/72 Lufthansa Lockheed L-1049 Constellation...

the fit was so bad i t turned into a boneyard diorama that is all it is good for

Thats a real score. TWA 1049 decals in 1/72 aren't an evryday kind of thing. Hang onto them.

 I found  a 1/72 Heller/Humbrol Super Connie with TWA markings in ebay for $23. It should be the same as the one in Lufthansa markings, just re-boxed. I haven't started building it but  I've been looking at the parts which have excellent details except for the raised panel lines that I will scribe to make them recessed. I'm still looking for the Extra Tech PE detail set to add extra detail. I've been wanting to build a Connie in Cubana de Aviacion markings from the mid 50's for some time now but was unable to find the decals. I finally was able to purchase the Cubana decals from Atlantic Models. They custom make their own high quality sets. The set numbers feature  CU-T631 which was delivered to Cubana in June of 1957. Even at 1/72 scale, the wingspan is 20 inches! This kit will make an awesome Connie display in any marking.

Hi Henry, welcome to the Forum. Where do you live? I'm am going to guess Chile? I look forward to your insights.

Bill

Hi, I was on my hibbie shop last week, and have in my hands the Constellation repacke by Arfix, as I knew the owner of the shop, we togheter take of the fuselajes sides from the sprue, and the  fit of one halve to the other was excellent!

I don´t buy the kit becasue even if I start making today (thing probably NOT happend) I don´t have where to put it!

But I probably buy!

The other problem is regardin to the decals sheet, I´m having a lot of troubles abut the new Airfix decals... and what can I do if  I hace troubles with this BIG decals sheet?????

 Regards

Henry Ghisolfo

Nope, but I've built two of their 749s, Which I happen to prefer anyways. And I've built two of their DC-6Bs which I highly reccomend. Plus all kinds of other Heller/Airfix stuff.

To the point however, I love the kits. The only fit issues on the 749 is getting the five pieces of wing together smoothly. I glued the fuses together, then in a massive assembly the middle underside plus both tops, bonded securely to the fuse roots. Then I added the underside end panels last, and had to deal a little with that seam, but it's underneath so what the hay. The landing gear is nice and sturdy. I wouldn't waste time on the cockpit as there's no way to see anything through that tiny windscreen. Must have been kind of weird to fly.

I've got the L-1049 reissue in an Airfix box, in the stash. it's destiny is to be an EC-121.