Heller 1/24 Citroën Méhari - Now with actual review!

[Junkman]

Got it!

[Atmobil]

Cool

[GeeBee]

Got mine this afternoon as well, they were out of stock of the Renault 4 without the paints, so they sent me that one for the same price ....

[Junkman]

That's good, now you can even paint the clear doors...

On a more serious note, after looking at the Mehari, I might do the "Azure":

I could leave the body unpainted, which is actually quite realistic.

Also note, how the front valance is canted inwards, whereas on the kit it's straight.

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2015 by Junkman

[Junkman]

Let's think inside the box...

 

There is air. A lot of air:

A small body:

Glass:

This is directly lifted from the 2CV kit, albeit not plated here:

Basically, only the wipers, the gearshift and the door handles are needed from above sprue.

 

Then there are two more complete sprues directly lifted from the 2CV kit.

A complete interior, bumpers and front disc brakes (which you could pimp your Mehari with):

And the oily bits:

Then there are the following two newly tooled sprues:

Note the open cast grille. However, this is slightly offset by having to use the 2CV's front seats, which are in fact "Charleston" seats.
To make them halfways correct, one will have to remove the pleating, either by sanding it flat, or filling it in with putty.
Also note the Mehari two spoke steering wheel. I will definitely use the incorrect single spoke 2CV item instead, because I can.

There is a decal sheet:

Sadly only with those newfangled French numberplates. I should have more period correct ones somewhere.

 

Real men don't read this:

Note how they expect you to cut and paste the 2CV exhaust:

A similar thing with the gear shift lever:

It's probably better to replace it with some bent wire right away and just use the knob.

Entirely btw, the taillights and front indicators of the Mehari were nicked from the H-Van.

 

The back of the box shows three of the available paint schemes:

 

Edited December 23, 2015 by Junkman

[GeeBee]

That's good, now you can even paint the clear doors...

On a more serious note, after looking at the Mehari, I might do the "Azure":

I could leave the body unpainted, which is actually quite realistic.

Also note, how the front valance is canted inwards, whereas on the kit it's straight.

 

 

 

thats a mehari 2, (1983) totally different front end, until 1969 the front valance was different, before '69 they didn't even had doors on them. 

Edited December 23, 2015 by GeeBee

[Junkman]

Doors always were available, although at extra cost. Especially in countries, where driving without them was/is illegal.

The Series 1 apparently only lasted two years, but it also had the front valance slanted, not straight:

[GeeBee]

An early 1970's Mehari ....What was that you were saying about the front valance ??

Edited December 23, 2015 by GeeBee

[Junkman]

These are the available colours, aside from Rouge Hopi and Beige Kalahari:

Only Vert Montana was available through the entire 18 year production run.

The Series 1 was only available in Rouge Hopi, Vert Montana, Orange Kirghiz and Beige Kalahari.
There goes my plan to leave it white...

BTW, no European built Meharis were made in France.
The majority was built in Citroen's factory at Forest, Belgium, others in Spain and Portugal.

[Junkman]

An early 1970's Mehari ....What was that you were saying about the front valance ??

That one is clearly bent forward by accident. Note how it is ripped at the ends.
Show me one single other photo where it is straight down.

[GeeBee]

That one is clearly bent forward by accident. Note how it is ripped at the ends.Show me one single other photo where it is straight down.

Strange it's the same as the one on the Heller box and the same as in the box ....so Heller made a model of a broken Mehari ?? don't think so, don't think you could bend ABS that far without it snapping off

Edited December 23, 2015 by GeeBee

[GeeBee]

Show me one single other photo where it is straight down.

How many do you want ??

 

[dublin boy]

Handbags at dawn Geoff!! LOL

[GeeBee]

Handbags at dawn Geoff!! LOL

You know I don't get up that early ! .....

[Junkman]

How many do you want ??

 

Well, I'm certainly going to correct it on mine, because it isn't straight down on the real ones.

 

Edited December 23, 2015 by Junkman

[GeeBee]

Well, I'm certainly going to correct it on mine, because it isn't straight down on the real ones.

 

Shouldn't be too hard to cut it and angle it, I'm just making a list of paints I need to order in, still haven't decided what colour to do mine, that's when i get round to building it ....

[Junkman]

Ironically, they had it right in their initial illustration:

Assumption: It would have been impossible to get it out of the mould this way, but they didn't want to tool it as a separate part.

[Dominik]

cool. Thank you Christian for the look into the box.

i ordered mine (including the HY) last week. exciting.

[Junkman]

You will be delighted.

[Rob Hall]

Looks like Heller does ship to the US, I may order one of these and the HY from them...

[unclescott58]

A great review, seeing what's in the box. Read the thread, even though I have no interest in this vehicle. The simular vehicle I do have interest in, and can not understand why there is none done like this Heller kit. Is still the VW Thing (I can't remember what they called it in other parts of the world). That's the one I want.

[Atmobil]

A great review, seeing what's in the box. Read the thread, even though I have no interest in this vehicle. The simular vehicle I do have interest in, and can not understand why there is none done like this Heller kit. Is still the VW Thing (I can't remember what they called it in other parts of the world). That's the one I want.

Yes, the Type 181 would be great to see as a kit. I have seen plastic toyversions that are about 1:24 scale but not sure who has made it.

[PatW]

An interesting addition to the Heller range!

I've just ordered from Heller the Citroen Van 'HY' (Corrugated Van), so I'm waiting to see how long it takes to come and possibly order the Mehari. Someone living near us had one imported in the day, it was odd to see it 'bouncing around everywhere'!

[Tom Geiger]

Interesting Pat!   I just was at the Heller website. I had looked earlier for the HY van and didn't realize there was a separate truck category.  So I found it.  The Renault 4 appears to be out of stock. The big Citroen isn't on the site, the one on the page is the 1/16 scale model.  Since I wanted both of those along with the available HY and Mehari, I will wait.  The site shows "free shipping" in my cart, but I hadn't entered my information and USA address yet.  Does anyone know if they are giving free shipping to USA?  If so, that will seal the deal and I'll order!

Also, anyone who has the Renault 4, it shows a couple of Light Commercial variations on box lid.  What are the three? Is one of those for the post office?  The photos are two small to see and there is no identifying text.

 

[Rob Hall]

Interesting Pat!   I just was at the Heller website. I had looked earlier for the HY van and didn't realize there was a separate truck category.  So I found it.  The Renault 4 appears to be out of stock. The big Citroen isn't on the site, the one on the page is the 1/16 scale model.  Since I wanted both of those along with the available HY and Mehari, I will wait.  The site shows "free shipping" in my cart, but I hadn't entered my information and USA address yet.  Does anyone know if they are giving free shipping to USA?  If so, that will seal the deal and I'll order! 

 

No free shipping to the US, when I ordered the HY and Mehari on the 26th, the shipping was 24.50 euros.