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Warning , Lotsa Work !

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  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Warning , Lotsa Work !
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 12:02 PM

 Hi ;

 This refers to the French Carrier " Charles De Gaulle " By Heller in 1/400 . This kit is nice in one way . For a carrier , she has some unusual design features . Now that said .The kit is nothing but headaches .

     The island is multiple parts that don't want to fit right . Windows only half indented in some areas and boy , it's got a lot of windows ! Some seams run right through the window area making that an essential tight fit area . No way Jose !

     Plus the island , when assembled doesn't want to fit where it's supposed to !

 Going to the hull . It's cleanly molded with the stabilator wings . Where they are though , is a mold break line that in some cases requires filler , when you can get a clean sanding !

    There is also a Sponson that runs along both sides . It's separate so this caused no easy fix .They were twisted , and didn't settle down all the way . It's filler time again . They are less than a sixteenth of an inch from the molded waterline

 They do give you a boot stripe decal that is correct in the wide and narrow areas . Now also , Beware of the centerline on the fore and aft part of the hull .There is a mold separation line there that needs heavy sanding . Now these problems were on my model . I hope yours doesn't have those , it's a neat kit otherwise .

 Gosh , I wish I could get this picture thing done . Now I've gotta learn how to operate a new camera too .    T.B

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 12:36 PM

Cross that one off my list.

I'm poking along on the 1/400 HMS Illustrious by Heller, World War 2 version. It's not bad at all, probably the biggest glitch is that the gun platforms around the edge of the deck are molded as a part of the deck and are maybe a scale 50" or so lower than the deck. Could be a problem if an exuberant cook swung his Pom-Pom a full 360...

But it would be way too much work to fix.

I am interested in the Heller 1/400 Arromanches, which of course is the former HMS Collosus of end-of-WW2.

Will keep an eye on you, Tanks.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Thursday, January 26, 2017 8:28 AM

Hmmmm;

 Tank You Sir ! LOL.LOL.LOL. How is the Illustrious by the way . Is it an okay kit ? T.B.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, January 26, 2017 9:14 AM

Those problems are pretty much normal for Heller kits, regardless of the subject genre.  They will never mold a part in one piece if they can use four or five :-)  Of course, there are some advantages to that, no need for relief angles on deckhouses.

On the other hand, if you have the experience and are willing to put in the time and effort, many Heller kits can result in beautiful models.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Friday, January 27, 2017 12:19 PM

Don;

    Now with that I will agree .I have built so many LeSuroit models as gifts .They do build into great models .I was just taken aback .This is the worst of this I have ever experienced from them .

 They're sailing ships were always so great to figure out .  T.B.

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