Heller 1/75 La Reale De France

Strange.  I've contacted Heller on 3 different occasions regarding lost or broken parts (twice for the Soleil Royal, once for the Victory)...each time they were quick to reply, and sent me replacement parts, lickety-split.  I have also had to request parts from Revell before, which took some time in shipping, but they were cool about it.  

The thing to remember about Heller is they are French, but apparently speak/read/write at least a little in English...it helps to use clear sentences, and stay to the point (i.e., I need parts # ___, ___, ___) and give your address.

I actually wrote my requests in English, then copied them into a French Translator in Google, then pasted the French translation below it in my message to them.  Maybe it helped, maybe it came off as an insult....but I got the parts I needed.

Anyway, your La Reale is looking good!  Hope you find the wherewithal to see her finished!  :)

To answer your earlier question, I have not had that problem with Heller. But I have that problem all the time with kits I buy on eBay. Guy says "All the parts are there". Which translates to "All the parts that I can see are there".

Hi all I've just emailed heller explaining to the person who dealt with the parts problem last time that I am a member of several forums that this build is posted on, and that it doesn't look good on Heller's part when I can't say when the build will restart.

But I've had a great idea, I love the sleek lines of the hull, what if I put some rockets on the side and turned her into a space galleon.

Well I'm not sure what's going to happen with the La Reale I've contacted heller several times but no reply, the 32 oars I do have couldn't go all on one side said some are different so I can't put them all on one side and display it that way. Not sure I can be bothered with displaying it in dry dock being refitted (lot of work involved and I will always know she's not complete) too big to keep hanging round, maybe time to bite the bullet and stick her in the spares drawer. All I know is she's taking up valuable room, not sure the missus will let me scrap her but, I am rapidly losing interest in her.

Hi all was looking at this today and noticed the mast was bent.

Hi all here is as far as i can go its the side arms for her

well this is on the back burner again

Hi all thought I would have a break from the rigging so decided to do the steps, they are supposed to have hand rails but they were so fine one was snapped on the sprue and one broke cutting it off the sprue so will have to make a couple out of copper wire

Hi all here is tonights episode

Hi all well I'm back on it and here is todays offering

I know the feeling. That's a big project; if you're a little burned out, that's certainly understandable. But think what a beautiful thing the finished project will be - and you're so close to being done with it!

One point you might want to consider: the human brain and fingers are such that rigging the second mast probably won't be as difficult, or as time-consuming, as rigging the first one was.

Might be burned out.You may have to pump the brakes and get back to it in a few days,it came out great so no bad feelings should ensue.

I've sat down at the table 3 times tonight and done nothing, is this what it feels like to lose your *** not felt like this before I love modeling but don't seem to have any interest when I sit down.

Stick with it! You're well past the halfway point, and it's going to be a spectacular model.

But they look really great. Keep it up.

I just spent six hours putting together 588 parts into a set of tank treads. They came out looking...like tank treads.

Hi all I've just realised there are 24 more tassles to make for this kit, its becoming an epic build not sure I'm not sure it will be finished in my lifetime.

Hi all yippee one mast and sail done.

Hi all the flags on the main mast and the fore mast all have tassles on them, the instructions tell you to wind the gold thread round a rod or tube tie them then cut at the furthest point for the tie. well this is my best attempt out of ten

so, after hours of slaving at making a specialist tool for the job I came up with this.

yes I know it looks futuristic and exotic, and I know everyone will want one (especially at the special introductory offer of £50.00) I am expecting huge order numbers so please be patient, anyway here's how it works

Hi all as promised here are some pics

I couldnt find any gold thread to make the fringe round the canopy or the tassles at the end of the flags, so this will have to do

what swmbo dont know cant hurt her Te Hee Hee.
Now I just have to duplicate this on the other side do the rest of the rigging on the main sail then do exactly the same on the front mast and sail.

Hi all here is where I am now.

Hi all well I know some of you more used to rigging would probably have this much work don in ten mins but this represents several hours and lots of hair pulling and certain words of a not particularily pleasant nature.

http://i.imgur.com/X40fL7j.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ZZaUnEG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/2xtP1fr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/OIZnj0V.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/L1z36tj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fAWl9LX.jpg

Well I've done a bit on the rigging no pics as you wouldn't even notice what I've done, the instructions are so complex (even though I have English versions (I think that may even make it worse)) I have an idea I've gone as far as I want with this one. 

Hi all I feel I'm getting there now (although this is the point at which it may get shelved (really not looking forward to the rigging) ) I'm sure you must all be getting bored of this by now.

Hi all here is tonights little bit

Hi all back on this one too.

jtilley

I'm afraid the best thing to do with the thread that came with the kit is to throw it in the waste basket.

I like the thought put into the flag direction. I've seen too many ship models with the ship under sail and the flags snapping happily astern.

I always look at the cost of supplies amortized over the time it takes to build the model. The armor and wing guys often complain about adding $ 50 in parts to a $ 40 model, which they build in 30 hours. I get it there. But a ship as you know takes hundreds and hundreds of hours, and upgrading the rigging supplies adds up to pennies per hour. Well worth it.

A really beautiful model.

The rigging of a sailing ship is divided into two parts. Standing rigging holds up the masts. Running rigging controls the yards and sails. Standing rigging generally was coated with tar - usually Stockholm tar, which is a dark, rich brown. Running rigging, because it had to run through various blocks and other fittings, generally was left untreated.

I'm afraid the best thing to do with the thread that came with the kit is to throw it in the waste basket. Line in plastic ship kits is notoriously cheap. For such a beautiful model as the one you're working on, I'd recommend that you consider buying some line from Syren Ship Model Company, which is generally thought to have the best in the business. A Reale doesn't really have much rigging; the necessary line wouldn't be too expensive. Here's the link: www.syrenshipmodelcompany.com/miniature-rope.php .

There's been quite a bit of argument over the years about the right colors for rigging on ship models.

If I were you, I'd pick the dark brown for the standing rigging and light brown for the running rigging. The dark brown looks to my eye like rope soaked in Stockholm tar, and the light brown looks like well-used untreated rope.

Good luck. This is going to be a superb model. As a matter of fact, it already is.

Hi all well here it is last build post on this before we are on hols

just one question, the rigging thread which\that(dont know the correct word) comes with the kit is off white, is that right, as the only rigging colour I've seen is black ( or at least it looks black) I thought they used tarred rope so that would make it black

Hi all here is where I am at on this now, wont get much more done as on hols soon, Yippee

Hi all another update.