Heller tanker Lavera

Well, on the basis of he boxtop illustration and the parts coun, is looks a good deal like the old Revell J. L. Hanna.  According to Dr. Graham's book, it was initially released in 1956; it was reissued several times as a Navy fleet oiler under the name U.S.S. Mission Capistrano, and is currently in the Revell Germany catalog as the S.S. Glasgow. 

The only other plastic tanker/oiler kit that comes to mind is one that Lindberg made almost as long ago. I don't remember anything about it beyond the fact that it was part of Lindberg's "12 inch" series, and came with an electric motor - which, connected to a single screw with a simple plastic universal joint, actually worked rather well.  At least in my parents' bathtub.

Thank you, John,

though the Heller model is a copy of a Merit model, and this is not the Revell model, maybe a copy of an Aurora model?

Michel

I'm out of ideas.  I can't remember an Aurora oil tanker; in fact I don't remember that Aurora ever did any merchant steamships.  The nearest I can recall was the German WWII Q-ship Atlantis, with its concealed guns.  As I understand it, it's one of the most sought-after ship kits on the collector's market.

If you can post a photo of the kit parts, maybe my memory will be jogged - but I doubt it.  Sorry.

Wow that is really interesting..... I have once owned and built built a tanker that was looking EXACTLY like the one on this boxart - the Revell "British Sovereign"!

While many people state that the "Sovereign" is yet another derivative of the Hannah/Capistrano/Glasgow design, this is not the case. This model, while similar in appearance and size, has a full hull complete with screws and rudder, different superstructures and, judging from the height of the railings and bulkhead, is around 1/500 in scale.

Curious that this one seems to be "borrowed" from Revell as all the others I know of seem to be of Aurora/Pyro origin - and I doubt that the "Sovereign" is from a source other than Revell, details, parts breakdown etc. are exactly the same "handwriting" as Brazil, Savannah, Repose,... and the older "flat-bottoms" in the line.  

I bought my copy while on holiday in Austria, circa 1983, but the box looked like it could habe been lying in the shop for decades, it had the typical Revell layout that was used during the 70s. I´m not sure but I think the kit was briefly reissued by Revell Germany in the early 80s, but my sample was definitely older. The kit itself seems to be newer than the ´55s Capistrano, Lykes Lines or Pine Island, but in my copy of the 1968 Revell catalogue (the oldest I have) it had already disappeared. 

Thank you, Honneamise,

very interesting informations, and, as we see pictures of British Sovereign :

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum/Old%20Ship%20Picture%20Gallery/B/slides/British%20Sovereign.html

there is no doubt.

Michel

Hi again Fred,

 yes that´s true. I bet on it my self, but get of, when the bidding going ridiculous. The tanker Lavera is the same plastic kit as Revells British Sovereign and Hellers La Seine. And also sold this days as the tanker in Hellers carrier task force kit For my self i only want it for to build an tanker replica, so for me anyone will be ok.. 

Regards,

Hasse.

Hasse while the eBay price definitely IS ridiculous, I want to point out that the Lavera/B.Sovereign is not at all identical to the Seine/Saone kit.

The latter are 1/400 fleet oilers (although could be convertet to a pre-military civilian version) while the other kit is about 1/500 and is strictly a civilian ship. The hull lines are far from identical. I guess that the Lavera is indeed a sought after rarity while Seine is readily available at least at the moment.

Seine is definitely of Heller origin and is a far better detailed model, in fact the finest tanker as well as the finest kit of a military auxiliary ship  out there IMO ( not counting the new Hasegawa SOYA icebreaker - just got it and this is easily the best plastic ship kit I have EVER seen.

honneamise wrote:

Hasse while the eBay price definitely IS ridiculous, I want to point out that the Lavera/B.Sovereign is not at all identical to the Seine/Saone kit. The latter are 1/400 fleet oilers (although could be convertet to a pre-military civilian version) while the other kit is about 1/500 and is strictly a civilian ship. The hull lines are far from identical. I guess that the Lavera is indeed a sought after rarity while Seine is readily available at least at the moment. Seine is definitely of Heller origin and is a far better detailed model, in fact the finest tanker as well as the finest kit of a military auxiliary ship  out there IMO ( not counting the new Hasegawa SOYA icebreaker - just got it and this is easily the best plastic ship kit I have EVER seen.

 The Revell J.L. HANNA (U.S.S MISSION CAPISTRANO) is an T2-SE-A1 tanker imo.nr 2248531. Build by Sun. in1945, tons 10246, (also sold as ESSO GLASGOW). The kit is in 1/400 scale (flatbottom).

The Revell BRITISH SOVEREIGN imo.nr. 5053193 (same as the  Heller´s LAVERA kit ) is one of BP´s own design,one of an initial batch of 6. Build by Vickers-Armstrongs in 1954. Tons:21138. The kit is in  1/500 scale full hull.

The Heller La SEINE imo.nr. 6122653 and La SAONE imo.nr. 6122652, both where build in Dunkirk,France in 1948. Tons: 12206. The kit is in 1/400 scale and full hull.

Here is some question, have someone built all this 3 tankers, that could get some comment on them together.

Regards,

Hasse.