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Heller 1/48 Dassault Etendard IV M

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  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Heller 1/48 Dassault Etendard IV M
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, January 30, 2023 4:40 PM

So here we have my latest completion- Heller’s Etendard IV M in 1/48. Let’s just say that this kit was challenging. The front of the fuselage was warped around the intake areas, the plastic quite brittle, and the fit in some other areas less than ideal. She fought me more and more as I neared the finish line, but in the end I did complete this bird. Using the kit decals, and some scavenged from an Etendard IV P in my stash I was able to finish this in the scheme worn in the mid 80’s, using some Xtracolor enamel on the topside and Tamiya acrylics on the undersides. It has lots of little flaws due to various things that happened along the way, but I am quite happy to get this one finished and onto my display shelf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking, comments and critiques are welcomed ;)

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    May 2022
Posted by Eugene Rowe on Monday, January 30, 2023 5:04 PM

Looks really good ,if there are any flaws ,they are not readily apparent!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Monday, January 30, 2023 5:53 PM

That's a silk purse there Stik.  Well done.

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, January 30, 2023 7:29 PM

Eugene and John, thank you. 

Eugene, I see the flaws, plain as day. But I'm not gonna call them out... Wink

John, not quite silk.  It certainly a smooth high thread count fabric. Whistling

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    May 2022
Posted by Eugene Rowe on Monday, January 30, 2023 7:32 PM

Well you powered through and got it done !

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 9:12 AM

Eugene Rowe

Well you powered through and got it done !

 

Thanks. I've got too many shelf queens to finish up already. I'm not gonna add any more to that backlog if I can help it!

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 9:26 AM

Really fantastic,looks like a nice clean build.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 11:31 AM

Well done, CarlosYes

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 12:36 PM

Tony and John, thank you.

Tony, all the photos that I could find of the type in service showed them to be fairly well maintained. So I went with a used, but not abused look.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 12:45 PM

That turned out rather well Stik!

It makes me reconsider tossing my kit and actually building it OOTB.  Mine has awful sink marks on both lower wings that distort all that lovely recessed panel detail.  The Etendard is a neat looking airplane, especially the early version with the antenna fairing under the pointy nose.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 2:14 PM

Thanks G. This sure is no Tamigawa shake and bake just add glue kit. Modeling skills required... Indifferent But with some extra effort and persistance, a nice model can be completed. I don't recall having many sink marks on this one, but there were a few. Thankfully not too easily seen. The recessed detail did look a bit weak until the primer went on. Then things looked much better. I do hope that you have not tossed your Etendard yet, and that you will be building it here sometime. It is quite rare to see one built, not just here, but on any forum!

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 2:34 PM

double post 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    March 2013
Posted by patrick206 on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 3:18 PM

Hi, Carlos - That's a dandy model of a sleek fighter, very nicely done, your treatment of the panel lines really makes it stand out. Glad you stayed with it to the finish, persistence pays off.

Thanks for the post and photos, I quit enamels a long time ago, but seeing your info on Xtracolor makes me want to see how to get it ordered.

Patrick

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 4:44 PM

Thanks Patrick. Xtracolor enamels are getting harder and harder to find here in the USA, although there is a store on eBay that looks to have most of the line in stock.... and for reasonable prices. He also stocks the Xtracrylic line, if you want to give those a shot since you've stopped using enamels. I can't say much about those, as I only have one in all my paints, and have only hand brushed that stuff.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • From: Maryland
Posted by wpwar11 on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 5:46 PM

Is the canopy a little crooked?  Looks like it's a little off.  Could be the pictures.  Nice job getting it done.  I always like your builds.  You clearly have a high level of skill.  

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 6:21 PM

wpwar11

Is the canopy a little crooked?  Looks like it's a little off.  Could be the pictures.  Nice job getting it done.  I always like your builds.  You clearly have a high level of skill.  

 

I think so... just a tad bit to the right. I thought it was straight in person, but photos show what looks to be some misalignment. And it's super glued in place, so it's not going anywhere easily. There are a few other alignment issues with this one, and it's not going to any contests, so I'm not gonna worry at this point. 
Thank you for the kind words regarding my builds. 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 7:23 PM

Very nice work Stik!

Stay Safe.

Jim Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    July 2015
Posted by MR TOM SCHRY on Thursday, February 2, 2023 8:16 AM

WOW!  What an excellent build stikpusher especially considering that it's a HELLER kit!!  I always felt that the Etendard was a very attractive plane, probably one of France's best designs.  I have a recon version by HELLER up in the stash somewhere?

tjs

TJS

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, February 2, 2023 10:47 AM

Jim and Tom, thank you.

Tom I've got that Heller Etendard IV P in my stash as well to build one day. Those saw combat over Lebanon in the 80's and the Balkans in the 90's. I'm not sure when I'll tackle it, but hopefully sooner than later. Just not too soon as my plate is already full for the next six months at least...

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Thursday, February 2, 2023 6:15 PM

In addition to the Etendard, I also have a 1:48 Mirage IV with the ASMP missile in the stash.  I built the bomber version many years ago, but those devious folks at Modelsvit have announced new tool kits of both.  Tongue Tied

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, February 2, 2023 9:18 PM

I've got the Heller Mirage IV in the stash as well. I'm curious/cautious about building it one day. I've seen how nicely it can be built.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Friday, February 3, 2023 6:37 AM

Hey Stik!

       How about you do a tutorial? Your panel lining is awesome. Just enough to keep interest but, not overdone. That is a Pretty Boidy my friend!

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Land of Lakes
Posted by cbaltrin on Friday, February 3, 2023 7:35 AM

Your xtra effort turned out an xtra nice model Carlos. Nice job. I might have to dig around or a 1/72 version of this bird.

On the Bench: Too Much

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Friday, February 3, 2023 1:39 PM

stikpusher

I've got the Heller Mirage IV in the stash as well. I'm curious/cautious about building it one day. I've seen how nicely it can be built.

 

When I built mine in high school, I thought it looked the part.  I remember having trouble neatly painting the round belly radome.  The lack of cockpit detail didn't bother me, as I set the canopies closed.  Others with more talent, stamina, and references have built this kit to eye-watering standards.  I think it is a really beautiful aircraft.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, February 3, 2023 9:54 PM

I hear ya G. One of the guys in my old AMPS chapter built one with all sorts of AM and other goodies and it was just gorgeous. I'm planning for mine to be nice, but I don't have the wallet to afford all the dress up parts like his had. But man, the basic design is pure early space age high speed Mach plus sexy. And that just begs for a serious effort.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Saturday, February 4, 2023 9:22 AM

Hey Stik!

 YUP!!

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, February 4, 2023 4:29 PM

TB, no real need for a tutorial on my wash here. I used a pre made enamel wash product. I sealed the base colors with Tamiya acrylic clear, applied the wash, let it dry, then cleaned it up the next day using Mona Lisa thinner and some cotton balls. So easy, even an ex grunt like me could do it right the first time.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Saturday, February 4, 2023 7:46 PM

Woah Stik, you've seriously stepped up your game with this one. Very subtle weathering is definitely the way to go here.  Very cool man!

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, February 4, 2023 11:38 PM

Thank you Chad! You are far too kind!

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: South of france
Posted by Vit13 on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 1:23 PM

hello ,

very nice . I like it.

Etendard , escadrille 59S .

Toast

 

 

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