Hi,
Anyone out there familiar with this kit??
I want to buy it but wanted to know about the fit, detail and accuracy of it before I do.
I wanted to buid it as a HC-130H that flies the Coast Guard’s mission with the International Ice Patrol off Newfoundland.
The markings are really colouful.
I’ve never built a Heller kit before, what’s the quality like??
Comments appreciated.
Jim…
Heller kits are of generally average quality. Most of them date to the eighties and have good shape but are a little soft on detail and mostly raised panel lines. The decals are usually marginal at best and are best thrown out and replaced with AM items. Heller and Airfix share kits back and forth and I suspect this one is a rebox of the Airfix Hercules. I haven’t built this one so I can’t offer an opinion on it’s accuracy or detail.
The last Heller kit I bought was the KC-135A Stratotanker which is a rebox of the AMT/Ertl kit of years ago. The declas are usable but they’re not great.
I’ve built a few other Heller kits such as the SAAB Viggen, Mirage IVP, Mirage 2000N, YF-22, Gloster Javelin and Canadair CL-215. All were pleasing models but it’ll take some work to bring them up to the detail level I know you’re after.
Personally, I think the Italeri C-130 would be the one to get along with some Superscale decals for the USCG.
-edit-
Found this at 72scale.com. http://www.72scale.com/aircraft/lockheed/c-130.htm
Thanks for the reply…anyone out there know where I can have a look at the Superscale markings in 1:72 scale for the US Coast Guard???
Thanks.
It’s the Airfix kit in a Heller box.
It even comes with the C1 flight refuelling probe .
The decals are good too.
Mine was nearly finished when it was knocked off of the table and the seam split after the walkway decal had been applied.
This kit is as good as if not better than both the Italeri and Esci kits , just don’t drop it !