Mr Stock Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Ive noticed recently that the Heller re-issues of the Jaguar E type kits are available again, Im interested in the coupe version.Has anyone purchased one of these kits yet, or past experiences of the kit, accuracy parts count etc.Many thanks
Matt Bacon Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 It's the best 1/24 E-Type coupe that there is. But since the competition is the dreadful Monogram version (ex-Aurora) there isn't a lot of choice...It's typical Heller: reasonably well detailed, slightly hard to get to fit together. The parts breakdown is pretty much exactly the same as the Revell 1/25 XK-E, so although it will benefit from detailing, there's a fair amount to work with already.The accuracy is pretty good. There's been much discussion of the shape in another thread. My view, after comparing it with accurate 1/24 plans, is the the shape of the "glass-house" is very slightly off. The windscreen, contrary to what you may read elsewhere, is correct, but... the line of the roof edge at the top of the drivers door isn't quite right. On the kit, it rises steadily to the front at the A-pillar, almost flattening out by that point. On the real car, the roofline curves gently down again from a "peak" about half way along the door. That changes the look surprisingly significantly. IMHO, a bit of gentle paring away and sanding on the top edge of the door, and reinstating the gutter, will work wonders...Enjoy it -- it is the most beautiful car ever made, after all, and absent the long-awaited Tamiya new-tool, it's your best chance to put one in your cabinet...bestest,M.
Mr Stock Posted February 2, 2016 Author Posted February 2, 2016 It's the best 1/24 E-Type coupe that there is. But since the competition is the dreadful Monogram version (ex-Aurora) there isn't a lot of choice...It's typical Heller: reasonably well detailed, slightly hard to get to fit together. The parts breakdown is pretty much exactly the same as the Revell 1/25 XK-E, so although it will benefit from detailing, there's a fair amount to work with already.The accuracy is pretty good. There's been much discussion of the shape in another thread. My view, after comparing it with accurate 1/24 plans, is the the shape of the "glass-house" is very slightly off. The windscreen, contrary to what you may read elsewhere, is correct, but... the line of the roof edge at the top of the drivers door isn't quite right. On the kit, it rises steadily to the front at the A-pillar, almost flattening out by that point. On the real car, the roofline curves gently down again from a "peak" about half way along the door. That changes the look surprisingly significantly. IMHO, a bit of gentle paring away and sanding on the top edge of the door, and reinstating the gutter, will work wonders...Enjoy it -- it is the most beautiful car ever made, after all, and absent the long-awaited Tamiya new-tool, it's your best chance to put one in your cabinet...bestest,M.Thanks Matt I couldnt ask for a better write up, thankyou, looks like Ill be ordering one in
Deathgoblin Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Please forgive my ignorance on this topic, but what exactly are the flaws on the Revell kit? The only really big issue I've spotted on mine was the nose, and that was corrected by reshaping the headlight openings. Everything else I can tell is relatively close.
Matt Bacon Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Please forgive my ignorance on this topic, but what exactly are the flaws on the Revell kit? The only really big issue I've spotted on mine was the nose, and that was corrected by reshaping the headlight openings. Everything else I can tell is relatively close.OK, we need to be clear here:The Revell 1/25 XK-E convertible is basically fine. A little bit hard to get together so that the bonnet closes, and the soft-top cover is way too tall, but there's plenty of detail around the engine.The Aurora then Monogram 1/24 Coupe is a bit of a caricature of the real thing, in terms of body shape. The waistline is too curved, the "hips" are exaggerated, the nose curves down too much, the "mouth" is too "pursed", the bonnet bulge is too big and the wrong shape, the roofline is too high and squished front to back, and the headlights are too upright. This coupe kit was never, as far as I know, released as a Revell kit.The Monogram, then Revell 1/8th Coupe is the best and most accurately shaped E-type kit out there. There still a lot of detail work that it will benefit from hugely, but what you get in the box is a great starting point.bestest,M.
sjordan2 Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Does the Heller kit have the same issue of a seam along the rocker panels as all the other E-Type kits?
Matt Bacon Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) Sure does...On the cabrios, it's easy enough to leave off the firewall until you've assembled the upper and lower body halves and dealt with the seam, and then slide the interior in from the front, followed by the firewall, adding the seats, dashboard etc from the top.Obviously, that's not an option with the coupe. I've seen people assemble the body, reinforce and finish the seams, cut out the floor pan from behind the rocker panels to build the inside, then flex the painted body (hence the reinforcement) to pop the glass, floor and interior back in, just like any regular kit. I might do that, but I also can't really see the issue with just assembling the interior and body normally and masking the windows with BMF or frisket film...Still I have several kits, including a parts car or two, to practice on!bestest,M. Edited February 2, 2016 by Matt Bacon
The Creative Explorer Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Does the Heller kit have the same issue of a seam along the rocker panels as all the other E-Type kits?Yes, you can't make a modelkit without that seam. They couldn't even make the real thing without that seam, each E-type had to be finished.
Deathgoblin Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Okay, I was just curious. Thanks for the answer.
keyser Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Matt, I agree with the issues completely. Heller really did nice job on coupe and roadster both. The Gunze roadster is nice, rear edge of wheelwell needs tweaking, but minor. Heller's are quite underated, and always reasonable to buy at shows. eBay is ridiculous on them usually. Still have a 67 S1 roadster in family since new, Opalescent Blue. Had a flat-floor 61 coupe in white/red a very long time ago. Dumdum sold it.
jeffs396 Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 ^^^ OK, I'm confused, Jaguar kit experts please clarify! These two,1/25 same tooling yes? ^^^ And this Monogram, different tooling (1/24), or mis-labelled scale???
Exotics_Builder Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 ^^^ OK, I'm confused, Jaguar kit experts please clarify! These two,1/25 same tooling yes? ^^^ And this Monogram, different tooling (1/24), or mis-labelled scale??? Same as far as I know.
unclescott58 Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 A review comparing the different Jag E type kits would be cool. I like many others, love the looks of these cars. But, none of the model kits I've seen quite grab me. Either they don't look quite right. Or I hear they are tough to build to get to look right. I'd love to someday build a roadster. But, I've been scared off over the years by what I've seen or heard.Which version does one buy and build? Someone with average building skills.
unclescott58 Posted February 3, 2016 Posted February 3, 2016 Never mind my above posting. I went back and re-read using the link afx posted above, about the "Best E-type kit." How quickly one forgets discussions, even when they were involved in them.For me, it looks like I should be hunting down a Revell roadster.
Junkman Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 Why is everyone parroting that those dreadful heaps are the most beautiful cars ever built?
Matt Bacon Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) Why is everyone parroting that those dreadful heaps are the most beautiful cars ever built?Because they are? (though I'd be prepared to include the words "mass produced" in that sentence). YMMV, clearly, looking at the dreadful heap in your avatar ;-Pbestest,M. Edited February 4, 2016 by Matt Bacon
keyser Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 Why is everyone parroting that those dreadful heaps are the most beautiful cars ever built?They're pretty, I've had 1 and been around many others. Not great to drive, pain to work on, rust prone, quirky, and XKD and XKSS more brutal and better race cars. But compared to everything else available then, there is no comparison. That they were incredibly reasonably priced and available, with Dunlop discs, full independent suspension, and a great motor was just added value.
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 Thanks for the heads-up on the availability of the Heller kits of this iconic car. I've got a couple of the early Revell Roadster, which looks quite good in proportion / line.I also bought several of the Aurora / Revell / Monogram kits, based on the beautiful box-art renderings...and having no idea how horribly distorted the actual kit-bodies would be.I'd assumed that the Revell / Monogram boxing implied that the contents were derived from the first Revell offering...the good one...and was very disappointed when I saw how poorly the Aurora kit designers had "interpreted" the beautiful E-type lines (yes, I do think it's very beautiful, and the engine is a wonderful piece of classic mechanical design...but heavy).The Aurora / Revell / Monogram kits I have left will only ever be donors for other projects, and I've been hesitant to build the virgin first-issue Revell versions up til now.The Heller offering will at least get me a nice E-type in the to-build-someday lineup.
Foxer Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 Yeah, I've been searching ebay for a few years for a Heller kit of the Coupe so I'm really happy to see they have put it out again! A Revell coupe will be a parts kit maybe ..no other use for it.
Exotics_Builder Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 Revell (Aurora) coupes are parts kits to me, particularly for an unusual engine or use the rear suspension for a hot rod or custom. Interested in seeing how the Heller convertible compares to the Revell.
Matt Bacon Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 Interested in seeing how the Heller convertible compares to the Revell.It's bigger. That's almost literally the only difference, in that the parts breakdown, and what they offer, are pretty much the same...bestest,M.
Matt Bacon Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) the engine is a wonderful piece of classic mechanical design...but heavy Aint this a beaut...? http://www.eaglegb.com/pages/aluminium-47-litre-engine#.VrOhFsc5yi8 bestest, M. [who wishes we hadn't lost the option to "preview" a post to see whether the hit-or-miss picture embedding function is playing nice this time or not...] Edited February 4, 2016 by Matt Bacon
aurfalien Posted February 4, 2016 Posted February 4, 2016 Man what beauty!!!The lightweight E-Type engine looked very similar yes?
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