CrazyCrank Posted September 9, 2022 Posted September 9, 2022 This model has been finished this year, end April. It took me 2 years, give or take 4 days, with many interruptions along the way, to assemble this very difficult Heller kit. Everyone here and elsewhere who assembled it has experienced mishaps, disappointments, and probably some anger too, and has solved or tried to solve, each in his own way, the major problems of body parts adjustment, especially the bonnet. 2 kits were needed to make one, because of broken or damaged parts during assembly, as usual. This kit includes 160 parts, I replaced some of them, and added probably as many, both scratchbuilt from various metals, plastics, fabrics, UV resin, and modelled with Fusion 360 and 3D printed with an Elegoo Mars Pro. The windows were shown open, the bonnet was articulated in 4 parts with 3 functional hinges, the bonnet retainers when open, as well as the bonnet latches to close it were added, and the engine compartment was highly detailed. The spoked wheels themselves are 3D printed. I tried to take the utmost care in making the smallest exterior details, the ones that make the model look bad when they are roughly made or not added, but that bring the model to life when they are right (I'm thinking in particular of the front and rear lights, the side indicators, the bonnet clips, the exhaust line that has been redone in aluminium tube). I was greatly helped by the abundance of documentation that can be found on the Internet, sometimes by searching a bit for precise details... And now, a flurry of photos, some outside in day light and others in my spray booth with additional lights: You can see more following my thread in Britmodeller.com WIP section: Delahaye 135 1938, coachwork Henri Chapron 1:24 Heller - WIP Hope you enjoyed the journey 4 Quote
Kah puts Posted September 9, 2022 Posted September 9, 2022 We don't often see these kits but Woo... these are lookers ,nice build. 1 Quote
bbowser Posted September 9, 2022 Posted September 9, 2022 Glad you preserved, those Heller kits are not easy! Thanks for sharing. 1 Quote
Chuckyg1 Posted September 9, 2022 Posted September 9, 2022 I never had any luck with the few Heller kits I've attempted. Yours, on the other hand, is superb. The dedication you displayed in completing this kit, and the amount of detail is inspiring. Maybe I'll try another sometime. The two tone paint is perfect. Quote
CrazyCrank Posted September 10, 2022 Author Posted September 10, 2022 12 hours ago, Danno said: Nice. Thanks so much 12 hours ago, sjordan2 said: Wow. Really ? Thank you very much 11 hours ago, Kah puts said: We don't often see these kits but Woo... these are lookers ,nice build. Don't worry! We French don't often see kits of beautiful American cars on our model making sites either ! 8 hours ago, bbowser said: Glad you preserved, those Heller kits are not easy! Thanks for sharing. You're welcome ! Those kits are appallingly difficult to build, if you expect a good result ! As you can see, mine is far to be perfect ! the hood don't close correctly, which explain that all photographs have been taken hood open ! 8 hours ago, Hoffman said: Outstanding!!! Thanks you very much, most appreciated 8 hours ago, PappyD340 said: Beautifully done! I did my best, thank you 6 hours ago, Chuckyg1 said: I never had any luck with the few Heller kits I've attempted. Yours, on the other hand, is superb. The dedication you displayed in completing this kit, and the amount of detail is inspiring. Maybe I'll try another sometime. The two tone paint is perfect. Wow !!! thank you so much for this huge praise, I'm moved ! Quote
1959scudetto Posted September 10, 2022 Posted September 10, 2022 Superbe, Thierry ! Marvellous model of one of the "Grandes routières" - looks perfect. 1 Quote
CrazyCrank Posted September 10, 2022 Author Posted September 10, 2022 1 hour ago, ChrisR said: NICE! Thank you so much Chris 18 minutes ago, 1959scudetto said: Superbe, Thierry ! Marvellous model of one of the "Grandes routières" - looks perfect. What a praise ? thank you so much ? I imagine you're a connoisseur of iconic cars ! So have a look at my WIP of Elvis Presley's BMW 507 Convertible Quote
David G. Posted September 10, 2022 Posted September 10, 2022 A beautifully rendered version of a beautiful automobile! Well Done! David G. 1 Quote
Tonioseven Posted October 8, 2022 Posted October 8, 2022 Absolutley STUNNING in MY book! I purchased this kit recently and I will use your photos for reference if I may? Thank you for sharing these terrific pictures! 1 Quote
Bugatti Fan Posted October 11, 2022 Posted October 11, 2022 If you want a challenging classic car kit, look no further than Heller! However they do make a number of more unusual classic car kits that other manufacturers would not consider. Thierry has done a superb job on this kit. 1 Quote
happy grumpy Posted October 11, 2022 Posted October 11, 2022 Having built that kit , I can attest to the level of difficulty one has to put this together. Of all the Revell kit I built, this one is in the top 3 most difficult to build. Yours turned out way better than mine. The chassis and body were wrapped so bad I couldn't fix it entirely so it is still apparent, I may post it someday. Your hard work paid of, this a beautiful classic car and you did justice. Recent Heller kit are way better though, the Renault 4 gl comes to mind. 1 Quote
CrazyCrank Posted October 12, 2022 Author Posted October 12, 2022 On 10/8/2022 at 5:30 PM, Tonioseven said: Absolutley STUNNING in MY book! I purchased this kit recently and I will use your photos for reference if I may? Thank you for sharing these terrific pictures! Thanks a lot Of course you can use my photos as ref. ones You do me too much honor ! 1 Quote
CrazyCrank Posted October 12, 2022 Author Posted October 12, 2022 On 10/11/2022 at 9:56 AM, Bugatti Fan said: If you want a challenging classic car kit, look no further than Heller! However they do make a number of more unusual classic car kits that other manufacturers would not consider. Thierry has done a superb job on this kit. Wow ! hat a huge praise ! Much appreciated ! Thank you so much Quote
CrazyCrank Posted October 12, 2022 Author Posted October 12, 2022 16 hours ago, happy grumpy said: Having built that kit , I can attest to the level of difficulty one has to put this together. Of all the Revell kit I built, this one is in the top 3 most difficult to build. Yours turned out way better than mine. The chassis and body were wrapped so bad I couldn't fix it entirely so it is still apparent, I may post it someday. Your hard work paid of, this a beautiful classic car and you did justice. Recent Heller kit are way better though, the Renault 4 gl comes to mind. Thanks you so much for those kind words Quote
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