HeLLeR 1/100 1700 ship of the line

kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

HeLLeR 1/100 1700 ship of the line

Posted by kpnuts on Sunday, December 27, 2015 5:53 AM

Hi all i received this infamous kit as a present from my missus (note from the title I will only be correcting those errors my megre skills and even megerer knowledge will allow) that said as I'm building just a generic ship of the line it will end up being exactly right.

I have today ordered some gold leaf for this kit as it worked so well on the La Reale and the Royal Sovriegn, I have some copper leaf and brass leaf, wish I could find some bronze leaf for the canons (does anyone know how I could colour brass leaf to look like bronze).

I won't bother posting the box or sprue shots as they have been done elsewhere, looking at all the sprues is a bit daunting.

I know everyone will be saying get good am blocks and tackle also bin the thread and get some proper stuff, but, the missus has said keep the costs down, also I feel why spend more on am stuff than the kit cost, so will be investing in bees wax and apart from the gold leaf all else will be oob (apart from maybe some scratch building.

Will be starting soon so watch this space.

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David_K

Member since
March 2012
From: Marysville, WA

Posted by David_K on Sunday, December 27, 2015 8:55 AM

Yay! I'm happy to hear someone else will be building this kit at the same time as me :)

Looking forward to seeing your progress...

Dave

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     _!__!__!_         
     (_D_P_K_)
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Current Project: Imai/ERTL Spanish Galleon #2

Recently Finished: Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark

Next Up: ???

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Monday, December 28, 2015 5:36 AM

Can anyone workout my first problem(It's a biggie, wont be able to go far with this at the moment )
You would think I would have learnt with heller by now (check everything, then check it again.

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Don Stauffer

Member since
November 2009
From: Twin Cities of Minnesota

Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, December 28, 2015 8:44 AM

Heller blocks and deadeyes are not that bad, and in that scale most can be cleaned up and painted well, so I think using the kit rigging parts will not hurt much. A lot of the final appearance of a ship model is in the stand, so doing some work in this area can pay off. I would do a wood base. If you have no woodworking tools maybe a friend could help. A brass nameplate with decal won't cost much and adds a lot.

For bronze I first spray a coat of copper, either from an airbrush or spray can. I then put on a very thin, semi-transparent coat of gloss medium or dark brown, either with an airbrush or dry brush. On civil ships I sometimes add a little green patina, but warships usually had enough manpower to keep their guns and metal fittings in pretty good shape, so I would not add patina.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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ejhammer

Member since
May 2008
From: Wyoming Michigan

Posted by ejhammer on Monday, December 28, 2015 8:54 AM

It appears from the picture that there are two port side hull halves. Is that the problem?

Completed - 1/525 Round Two Lindberg repop of T2A tanker done as USS MATTAPONI, USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa Dec 1942, USS Yorktown 1/700 Trumpeter 1943. In The Yards - USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa 1945, USS ESSEX 1/700 Dragon 1944, USS ESSEX 1/700 Trumpeter 1945, USS ESSEX 1/540 Revell (vintage) 1962, USS ESSEX 1/350 Trumpeter 1942, USS ESSEX LHD-2 as commissioned, converted from USS Wasp kit Gallery Models. Plus 35 other plastic and wood ship kits.

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goldhammer

Member since
August 2014
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Posted by goldhammer on Monday, December 28, 2015 9:34 AM

Makes doing a cut away a lot easier.......or do a slice down the centerline on eveything else and save some wall space. Got to wonder who has two starboard halves.

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GMorrison

Member since
September 2012

Posted by GMorrison on Monday, December 28, 2015 10:36 AM

goldhammer

Got to wonder who has two starboard halves.

I like the way you think!

Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

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jtilley

Member since
May 2003
From: Greenville, NC

Posted by jtilley on Monday, December 28, 2015 10:45 AM

Those people are unbelievable. I'm beginning to wonder if Heller has any concept of quality control.

That said - kpnputs, you really must be behind the 8 ball. For something like this to happen twice to the same customer....

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Monday, December 28, 2015 10:47 AM

Hi all well I cant do much more than this(of course when the gold comes will get more done) I really am peed off though, I know from experience it will be weeks before I get the replacement hull half, stuff like this is really frustrating.

Actually I know that was a bit toung in cheeck but I am considering doing a cutaway as I realise it could be weeks or even months before I get the parts from Heller TBH this is their last chance if the parts dont turn up in a reasonable time this will be the last of their kits I buy, from my personal experience their customer service stinks.

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David_K

Member since
March 2012
From: Marysville, WA

Posted by David_K on Monday, December 28, 2015 10:49 AM

Oh, that's hilarious (or should I say Heller-ious!)....

Luckily Heller is pretty good at replacing parts. You can contact them from their website to request a starboard hull. Just be very clear in your email (send them the actual part number, and use small words with simple sentences; the CSR I've dealt with has had trouble understanding what I needed, and once they sent my parts to Australia by mistake)...

http://www.heller.fr/en/contact-us

I would recommend going over ALL your other parts to make sure nothing else is missing or damaged, and try to get all such replacements handled at once...especially look at the upper bulwark parts, they have these tiny belaying pins molded into them that break off easily, my kit parts were damaged, and then the replacements they provided were also (slightly less) broken in the same way.

Dave

        _~
     _~ )_)_~
     )_))_))_)
     _!__!__!_         
     (_D_P_K_)
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Project: Imai/ERTL Spanish Galleon #2

Recently Finished: Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark

Next Up: ???

Reply

David_K

Member since
March 2012
From: Marysville, WA

Posted by David_K on Monday, December 28, 2015 10:56 AM

I bet you'll get your replacement parts in a week or two...and rest assured, there is plenty of other stuff you can get started on while waiting (you can easily spend weeks just planning and assembling your guns)....this certainly isn't a kit to be impatient with...

That said, it is pretty lame that they packed the parts incorrectly.

Hakuna Matata.

        _~
     _~ )_)_~
     )_))_))_)
     _!__!__!_         
     (_D_P_K_)
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Project: Imai/ERTL Spanish Galleon #2

Recently Finished: Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark

Next Up: ???

Reply

kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Monday, December 28, 2015 11:08 AM

I did check all the parts very carefully as I had a terrible experience with the La Reale it took litterally weeks to get the parts (they ignored 4 emails) and even then it still took ages to get the parts (of course I stupidly didnt check for handed parts) I personally dont hold out much hope of getting the part for at least 2 months (assuming they bother to answer the email)

do I sound bitter and twisted, well thats my experience of Heller, as I said I was looking at the victory next, but if the part dont turn up quick smart this will be the last kit of theirs I buy.

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scottrc

Member since
December 2003
From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W

Posted by scottrc on Monday, December 28, 2015 1:42 PM

Gad, I had a similar experience with a Le Stella Del Notre kit, except instead of two sides being the same, I have one hull half for my kit and another hull half for a different kit of the same scale but the stern section had about 1/8" shortened. I thought something didn't look right with putting the two halves together. Hope you can get it worked out. I never did because this happened during one of their re-organizations. I also got the kit for about $10 back in the early 90's when Squadron and Model Expo seemed to practically give Heller kits away so I wasn't too put off. At the prices they charge now, I hope they make good for you.

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 12:15 PM

Hi all well the gold leaf has arrived for this but will leave any guilding untill\if the other hull side turns up.

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 2:12 PM

Hi all well the part is coming, so here is 2 nights of guilding run out of gold leaf now, will have to order some more)

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Friday, January 22, 2016 3:16 PM

here's tonight's update

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surfsup

Member since
March 2009
From: brisbane australia

Posted by surfsup on Friday, January 22, 2016 7:04 PM

The Gold Leaf really makes these parts stand out. Lovely work.......Cheers mark

If i was your wife, i'd poison your tea! If Iwas your husband, I would drink it! WINSTON CHURCHILL

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Saturday, January 23, 2016 7:44 AM

Hi all I've finished one of the rear gallerys so I thought a lot of the detail was hidden so added an oil wash to them

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Thursday, January 28, 2016 1:47 PM

Hi all here is my first modification

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Monday, February 1, 2016 2:44 PM

Hi all well all the guilding is done Just waiting on the hull now

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steve5

Member since
July 2013

Posted by steve5 on Monday, February 1, 2016 8:57 PM

very nice kpnuts , it,s great to see there is 3 of us ., I am learning so much off of you two guy's

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Monday, February 15, 2016 12:19 PM

Hi all well it's amazing the effect threatening to sue, not just for the cost of the kit but also compensation can have. Special delivery today the hull half arrived(no letter of apology or even a note just the box with the hull in it)
So looks like it's back on then.

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Monday, February 15, 2016 1:35 PM

Hi all well now the hull half is here I'm like a cat with 2 tails, so my first job to remove the moulded plimsole line (I'm raising it a bit to improve the look) (seen it done elsewhere (davidk's build) and it looks much better)

I must say I think it's worked really well, you cant tell it was there at all

couple of strengthening strips in the bottom

She is huge.

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steve5

Member since
July 2013

Posted by steve5 on Monday, February 15, 2016 1:38 PM

nice to see your back in the swing of it again kpnuts . looking forward to your next installment

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 12:07 PM

Hi all here is tonights update .

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kpnuts

Member since
March 2014

Posted by kpnuts on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 1:49 PM

Hi all, I was asked by a few people how I did this wood effect so thought maybe some of you would be interested.

First of all I apologise my the first pics of the procedure are missing as the pics on my phone we're corrupted for some reason, it dosn't really matter as the process it the same throughout I will explain as we go.

First here is the huge list of things required

this is where my phone let me down I have no pics if this part as they were corrupted(sorry)

the pastels wont stick to plastic so you have to use matt paint (I've no idea if this will work with acrylics as I use enamels but I think it would)

I picked the lightest colour of the wood I'm trying to replicate for the base colour (in this case Humbrol m 63)

paint the wood with a thin coat in the direction of the grain if it looks patchy that is good (helps with the effect)as long as it all has some paint on it (look at the pictures of the hull you can see its very patchy)

once that is dry take the darkest wood colour pastel you are using and lightly drag it over the grain in a random manner not everywhere so it all looks the same , then with the brush, again in the direction of the grain brush it in

then with the highlight colour (we have pictures of the rest of the process from now on) do exactly the same

again brush in the direction of the grain

next get some black pastel and dab on details (anywhere that may get stained from water or nooks an crannys where swilling the deck wouldn't get plus a few random areas

now brush across the gain (only very lightly and only a couple of passes)

now brush with the grain as much as you like till you get the desired effect

now comes the important bit (DO NOT VARNISH THIS YET) the varnish stays wet too long and the pastels merge and you just end up with brown blotches. spray with your missus hair spray at a distance of at least 12 inches ( you don't want it to look wet when that is dry then you can spray your varnish.

Just to show the versitility of this here is some wood from my Mefistofeles which I wanted a mahogany effect (its 1/12 so the wood grain effect is much couser)

red base coat

first pastel colour

the genius of this method is if you make a mistake or don't like the effect (untill you varnish it) wash it under the tap dry with a cloth and your missus hair dryer, ten mins and you're ready to go again, you tell me any other method that's that easy to redo.

Hope this is of some help to some one

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docidle

Member since
July 2010
From: Tempe AZ

Posted by docidle on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:05 PM

Very cool effects you are able to create with this method Kp. I especially like the weathered look on the hull. Your "how to" was both informative and well done.

I have always steered clear of pastels, although the armor guys really like it, but I think I might have to give it a try sometime. I'm glad to hear you FINALLY got your correct hull half!

Steve