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Posted (edited)

hey guys

im thinking of buying a ford focus wrc for my next project and ive come across a kit build by heller ?

does anyone know if this is any good ?

also, it seems to only have 56 pieces so am i looking at a sort of snaptite kit ?

Edited by diymirage
Posted (edited)

I don't know anything about that specific kit. I have worked on a few of their older 1/43rd scale kits and have one word of advise. Don't bake the paint... I used to use a light bulb to cure my paint and when I came back, the car looked like it was in a side impact collision. Looked like the car wrapped around an embankment or pillar. Live and learn.

The 1/43rds seemed to have lots of body and interior detail but were curbside style with minimal chassis details.

Hope this helps.

Edited by torinobradley
Posted

Eelco, They're not bad kits. They may not be a whole lotta parts to one, but they do make a nice kit when done. I have a few Hellar trucks,and even though they come with multi-peice bods they do build nice. Notice I said NICE,NOT EASY!. Give one a shot, they do make some off the wall stuff. :D

Posted

Stay away from the kit. Not worth the money. You can get the Hasegawa or Tamiya kits which are much better. The only time I ever build a Heller is if that's the only kit available. There's too much work that needs to be done to make them look decent. There's other options out there that are better quality. Too much work has to be done on the Heller kits to get to the quality of the Hasegawa or Tamiya kits, even with the price difference. It's still worth it to buy the more expensive kit.

Posted
Stay away from the kit. Not worth the money. You can get the Hasegawa or Tamiya kits which are much better. The only time I ever build a Heller is if that's the only kit available. There's too much work that needs to be done to make them look decent. There's other options out there that are better quality. Too much work has to be done on the Heller kits to get to the quality of the Hasegawa or Tamiya kits, even with the price difference. It's still worth it to buy the more expensive kit.

are you talking about the hellers in general or the specific kit im looking at ?

(ford focus wrc)

Posted

Heller kits are all over the map. There is no consistency to the quality and kit engineering. The older ones(pre 75 or so) are easier to build but are quite inaccurate in the details. Some are virtually unbuildable like the 917 and Mercedes 540 K. Some go together much better like the Bugatti. If there is a kit from the Japanese of the same car - get the Japanese kit! ALL Heller kits are for the brave and skilled builder.

Guest promodmerc
Posted
Heller kits are all over the map. There is no consistency to the quality and kit engineering. The older ones(pre 75 or so) are easier to build but are quite inaccurate in the details. Some are virtually unbuildable like the 917 and Mercedes 540 K. Some go together much better like the Bugatti. If there is a kit from the Japanese of the same car - get the Japanese kit! ALL Heller kits are for the brave and skilled builder.

I'm glad the Bugatti goes together good. I picked one up a little over a month ago at a swap meet for $7

Posted

I really like the Heller kits. I'm working on a Alpine A210 right now. This was the same model that was in a AMT double kit along with a Gordini Renault. Has vinyl seats! Nice detail, but you need to have patience and be able to re-engineer some things. I am looking for the Gordini to go with it.

Posted

Like the people said, they're all over the place in quality. That kit in particular is not very good. As for a non curbside kit, the only one I can think of is the one by Revell that is a street car. I have seen conversion kits for them but they're rather expensive.

Posted
Like the people said, they're all over the place in quality. That kit in particular is not very good. As for a non curbside kit, the only one I can think of is the one by Revell that is a street car. I have seen conversion kits for them but they're rather expensive.

i already have the revell tuner

572fordhemi1.jpg

but i got plans for another one and i would like the WRC for a project, it would save me the trouble of pulling out the backseat and junk

Posted

I once built Tamiya's WRC Ford Focus. I did mine in street-tuner style gloss black and used SMS's carbon-fiber decal almost everywhere. It was a very challanging model as I used the CF decal on the mirrors, roof scoop, dashboards, rear wing, front lip, made a window net out of pint-stripping, et'c. It was a nice kit, but no engine detail except for what you saw underneath.

However, the chassis was very detailed! I'd build one again but keep the WRC theme! I'd also love to do one with SMS's photo-etched peices they have available for it!

I'd like to challange my selfe for an extremely detailed kit. I guess that'll be coming soon with the Enthusiasts Model KS Countach!

Basically what I'm saying is, the Tamiya WRC Focus is the nicest Focus kit out there.

Posted

Heller/Airfix WRC kits are fine for quick 'shelfers'.

Here's the Impreza....(Seems to me I don't have a FINISHED pic of this car :lol: )

cyp03sub-vi.jpg

I have not built an Airfix/Heller Focus yet, but seems similar. Woefully incorrect interior/chassis, but an OK shelfer.

Airfix/Heller is the only game in town for the Citroen Xsara as well.

Use the Revell Focus for some parts with the Tamiya Focus for more correctness.

Posted

is that a curbside or does the hood open and show an actual engine ?

becuase i need an engine for this projec,t curbside will not do ;)

Posted

Sorry....I meant use the Revell Focus motor for your build.

The Revell Impreza motor is good for an .... Impreza build.

NEITHER will be WRC correct for either build

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