That batch lot of four has the potential to be one of the bigger bargains I've seen in years. The
Reale, in my opinion, is one of Heller's best kits ever - a real masterpiece that, carefully built, painted, and rigged, would be downright spectacular. The
Pamir and
Amerigo Vespucci aren't bad either. With all the complicated deck gear (Jarvis brace winches, for example) they present some major problems for the manufacturers on such a small scale, but in general Heller did about as good a job with them as could be expected. The "Corona," I think, is one of those early kits from Heller's "let's-see-how-many-times-we-can-recycle-the-same-hull" period. It doesn't look much like anything that ever floated. But it would be a useful contribution to a spare parts box - and if the bidding doesn't go into the hundreds of dollars, it could be regarded as a throw-in freebie.
Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.