My Review and Build of Hellers 1/400 scale Kit #81072,
French Charles de Gaulle, R91, Aircraft Carrier
Introduction and What's in the Box - November 12, 2013
Introduction and Overview
The French Navy has operated CATOBAR (catapult assisted take off, barrier arrested recovery) aircraft carriers for many decades. Their two Clemenceau Class carriers began to age and the nation needed a replacement so France embarked on the difficult task of building a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. The only nation to that time that had such carriers was the Untied States. The design established for the French carrier was significantly smaller than the US Navy "super" Nimitz class carriers which each displace in excess of 100,000 tons. The French carrier would displace 42,000 tons and carry a smaller air wing. But this was viewed as acceptable for France's deefence needs and the carrier was built.
It was not an easy process. There were significant delays and cost overruns. She was laid down in April 1989 and launched in MArch 1994, which was a good time frame fpor building, but that is when the troubles strted. Due to numerous problems, all of which were corrected, butt took significant time...like finding that the carrier deck was too short for the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft the carrier was to use for AEW purposes; or having one of the propellers crack and fail during sea trials and finding that the other propellers has similar issues and that the company that had built them had gone bankrupt and the records for the design and maintenance were lost; or having the nuclear reactor trigger the combustion of isloation material and producing heavy smoke in the engineering spaces and then later finding that another faulty isolation element was allowing too much radioactivity to escape from the reactor; or after the propeller fix (which required that they use older, less effiecent propellers from the older carriers), having 100db noise levels in the engineering spaces near the starboard proeller, rendering those spaces unihabitable. It took seven years for the French to find and correct all of these issues (along with more normal new ship issues) and finally the carrier was commissioned in May of 2001, over 12 years after the start of her construction, and five years later than scheduled. But, by that point, her costs were so significant, that the idea of building a second nuclear carrier was dropped and France to this day (2013) has still not settled on the design for a second carrier with convetnional power
Having said all of this, once the problems were corrected, the Charles de Gaulle has gone on to have a very admirable service record. She has served in Operation Enduring Freedom off and on from 2001 until 2006, off of Afghanistan, helping provide air cover and support for French and colation troops. In Speptember of 2007 she went through a 15-month refit process. This saw her propellers replaced with the new, more efficient ones intended for her from the start. Her stores and aircraft maintenance areas were upgraded to allow for full use of the Rafael fighter and its munitions, The satellite and other communications equipment was upgraded producing a significant increase in bandwidth and speed.
In 2010 a French naval task group, designated Task Force 473, led by the Charles de Gaulle departed Toulon on 30 October 2010 for a four-month deployment. This operation was named Operation Agapanthus 2010, and was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean. and Persian Gulf. The French carrier task force included the French frigates Forbin and Tourville; a nuclear attack submarine Améthyste; and a replenishment oiler Meuse. The Embarked Aviation Group (EAG) consied of 12 Super-Étendard attack aircraft, 10 Rafale multi-role fighters, and two E-2C Hawkeye 2000 AEW aircraft. The task group was deployed to help patrol for pirates and to support coalition oefforts in Afghanistan.
In March 2011, the Charles de Gaulle was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as a part of Operation HArmatten, to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 which called for a no-fly zone over Libya. Accompanying the Charles de Gaulle were the frigates Dupleix and Aconit and the fleet replenishment tanker Meuse. During the following, Operation Unified Protector, the aircraft from the Charles de Gaulle flew 1,350 sorties during the war on Libya. The CdG was then withdrawn for maintenance at Toulon in August 2011..After this short maintenance period, the Charles de Gaulle was again underwayin December 2011. In March 2012, Charles de Gaulle departed for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. This Charles de Gaulle's task force consisted of the frigates Chevalier Paul, Dupleix, Montcalm, and EV Jacoubet; the replenishment tanker Meuse; and the nuclear-powered submarine Émeraude. The embarked air group consisted of 7 Rafales fighters, 7 Super Etendards Modernisés (SEM) strike fighters, and 2 E?2C Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. During this deployment, the task group took part in the 2012 FANAL exercises which also included land-based Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft. 2012 FANAL was the first major exercise involving the French Navy's new Caïman helicopter.
The specifications for the Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft carrier include:
Displacement: 42,000 tons
Length: 858 feet
Beam: 211 feet
Draft: 31 ft.
Speed: 27 knots
Propulsion: 2 × K15 pressurised reactors, 2 shafts
Crew: 1,950
Aircraft: Up to 40 aircraft, consisting of:
- Rafale M fighter/bombers (10-12)
- Super Étendard attack aircraft (10-12)
- E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft (2)
- SA365 Dauphin Helicopters (12 helos total)
- EC725 Caracal Helicopters(12 helos total)
- AS532 Cougar Helicopters(12 helos total)
Armament:
- 4 × 8 cell A-43 Sylver missile launchers
- 2 × 6 cell Sadral Mistral launchers
- 8 × Giat 20F2 20 mm cannons.
Elevators: 2
The Charles de Gaulle, R91, is meant to have a service life of in excess of 40 years. Every 6-7 years she requires a 15 month refit where her nuclear reactor is refueld.
What's in the Box:
Heller is a French model making company. They do most all of the French modern naval ships in the larger scale and you simply cannot find them with Trumpeter, Dragon, Airfix, or the other model makers in 1/350 scale. So, if you want to build a larger scale French Carrier group (as I do) then you deal with heller and their 1/400 scale vessels. so that's what this is. it is Heller's Kit #81072, Charles De Gaulle, R91.
Heller does a good job with its models. Earlier, they had a bit of an issue with larger sprues and moldings with some excessive flash and not as clean a finish. But over the years they have overcome that and now produce some very good moldings that are free of flash and are quite detailed. The Charles De Gaulle fits that latter category.
Inside the box, you find that the hull is a single, well detailed piece, as is the flight deck, both molded in a light grey. A lot of small details that would otherwise come as small parts in a newer kit from Trumpeter are molded into the larger pieces. You find this quite a bit in the island structure too. So, not as many parts, actually 152 parts altogether on six sprues.
There are two sprues molded in light grey in one bag full of aircraft and other fittings. The airwing included consists of 12 Rafael M fighter/bombers, 8 Super Eternard attack aircraft, 2 Dauphin helicopters, and 2 E-2C AEW aircraft for 24 aircraft in all, each one fo them a miniature model itself. This is sufficient for my needs. There are four other sprues in another bag, also modled in the same light grey, full of other sensors, the island structure, details, props and rudders, the stand etc. Also included is a sheet of 38 international nautical signal flags, chord for rigging, and an excellent water slide decal sheet with 55 decals that give extensive and complete flight deck mrakings, island markings and hull markings, including the waterline mark. The instruction book is very extensive and intuitively easy to understand (as shown above).This is a full hull model, which is what I build anyway, but if you want to build a water line version, you will have to cut the hull accordingly to make it.
The model itself is 26" long (so over 2 ft), and is about 6 1/2 inches wide. With the mast, it will stand nearly 9" tall.
Here's the box and its contents, including the dcal sheet.
 
 
  
The instruction booklet is quite detailed.
  
  
This looks like it is going to be a fun build, and for a complete carrier and its airwing, a failry quick build relatively speaking. I intend to use some Tom's Model Works 1/400 scale railings, and may put a hanger deck and lighting system in there...we will just have to wait and see.
I have been looking forward to building the French Carrier Group for some time, even if it is in 1/400 scale. I believe she and her Lafayette FFG Escorts and a couple of DDGs will go well together. I just wish there were the more modern Horizon and FREMM models available in 1/400 scale, and hope at some point Heller comes out with them soon.
Tally Ho!
SCHEDULE for Future Activities - November 12, 2013
- By Dec 31, 2013: Complete the French Carrier Group centered on Heller's Charles de Gaulle with two FFGs and a DDG.
- By Feb 31, 2014, Start the Russian Carrier Group centerd on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov with two DDGs and an SSN.
- By Apr 31, 2014, Start the US Navy Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Gallery USS Wasp with an LHD, an LPD, a DDG, a SSN and a LCS.
- By Jun 31, 2014, Start the PLAN Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Trumpeter Type 071 LPD-999, with a FFG, and three DDGs.
The completion of the PLAN Carrier group was centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168. I recently pre-ordered a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, announced by Trumpeter and due out in October, 2013. I will end up adding two of those, propbably LPD-998 Yuzhao and LPD-999, Jinggangshan, add the PLAN- DDG-139, Ningbo, and the PLAN DDG-115, Shenyang, along with the PLAN Weifang, FFG-550 and thus build a PLAN ARG.
The completion of the US Carrier Strike group was centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) included Trumpeter's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Dragon's USS Preble, DDG-88 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) is released from Trumpeter, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whichever Ford Class coms out in 1/350 scale, I will build it as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.
The US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62(which I have already completed), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, Bronco Models 1/350 Scale USS New York, LPD-21, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Acadamy's 1/350 scale USS Rueben James, FFG-57, and another Flight IIA US AEGIS class detroyer based on Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Lassen, DDG-82...all of these models which I already own.
The completion of the UK Group featured the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious, R06as its centerp[iece until a 1/350 scale Queen Elizabeth carrier is released. When that happens, I will add that carrier to the group as its centerpiece. The Roylal NAvy CSG will also include two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (one of which is already completed), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (one of which is already completed), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN (which is also already completed) and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will use tt to start building a Royal Navy ARG.
The French CSG will be centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle (which I already own). I have purchased the 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Duquesne, D603 DDG which is an anti-air multi-purpose DDG, and the French Aconit F713 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These five vessels will round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will purchase two of them and replace the De Grrasse and Duquesne with them, and then save those two for when a Mistral Class LPD is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale so I can create a French ARG with those vessels.
The completion of the Japanese JMSDF group was centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG and the JMSDF, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and DDG-111 (both of which are Takinami Class DDGs which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soon as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale is released, I will add it to this group. Should a 1/350 scale Osumi Class LPD be relased, I will buy two of those vessels and create a JMSDF ARG.
Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Udaloy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the new Yasen class Russian SSN which I own in 1/350 scale. Some time in the more distant future when a 1/350 scale Russian version of the French Mistral class comes out (which is building in real life right now), I will add two of those and build a Russian ARG.
Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, the Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and became the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present. I have however purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers to build a suitable airwing for the Sao Paulo.
Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike Group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier, the Vikrant, and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.
Years more worth of work!
You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:
WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
...and most of their surface escorts at:
AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD
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