Sud Aviation II
My second Alouette III from Heller, this time with PE parts from Brengun.
This will be fun..
I guess that's it...
...for the cockpit. The PE fret included a sheet of film with the instruments printed on. I did not use it because it would not be visible anyway (and I don't know how to apply it without totally messing things up).
That's it for the engine.
I may or may not have overdone it a bit with the primer.
Time for decals
And finished.
The decals for the tail rotor were missing on the decal sheet (there was just a blank space) so I had to paint them by hand.
Compare and contrast
Painted with Revell and Humbrol enamel paints...
...and almost exculsively with the Heller acrylics that came with it.
Комментарии
39 16 July 2022, 18:11
Michael KohlOh, I am considering this combination too. Following with great interest. I would appreciate your judgement on kit and PE.
21 July 2022, 21:02
Rando DudeHi Micheal,
this is only my second time I am working with PE parts so I don't feel qualified to give a proper judgement on them. However, so far they are quite easy to work with, although everything is a bit fiddly, due to the small scale. The instructions are reasonably well understandable with a bit room for interpretation in some places, there is no painting guide however.
For the kit itself, well, it is basically a more than forty years old Heller kit. It is easy enough to build, but the level of detail is not up to modern standards obviously. The packaging claims it has been fully revised in 2021, but who knows what that really means. (They also claim it's from a 1989 mold, but I guess back then they only added the parts for the Securite Civil versions, the parts of the older version are still on the sprue). I have built another version of it previously here: Sud Aviation | Album by Randodude682 (1:72)
The parts are clean and there is practically no flash and the small parts go together well. The fuselage has some minor fit issues but nothing outragious. The big question mark for now is the canopy. Going by my previous experience there might, no, will be some fitting issues. I will try a different approach assembling it this time, so maybe it won't be as bad.
Overall it is not a bad kit, but not a great one either. And at that scale without alternative. A talented and skilled builder can certainly turn this into a very nice model, with some extra work.
A can not say anything about the accuracy of representation of a real Alouette III.
22 July 2022, 16:55
Gary KitchenHi Rando. Great PE work I love the rotor detail. On the transparent sheet, I saw a youtube video that suggested painting it with transparent colour (I used orange) and once dry secure it too the back of the PE fret (once that is painted) to try and get the instrument glow. I did it but the scale is so small its hard to see, See Pic 5 here Bell 47G | Album by Erebus Nyx (1:72)
3 August 2022, 10:39
Łukasz GlińskiGreat to see you back with another Alouette! 👍 The PE job looks grand 👍
3 August 2022, 11:22
Rando Dude@Gary: Thanks for that video, I will try that method next time for sure.
@all: Thanks guys 🙂
3 August 2022, 13:45
Живко ДжаковI'm really jealous. Very good model. I ruined two sets. No. I can't handle booths.
13 August 2022, 19:15
Michael KohlThanx Rando for your opinion on kit and PE. I received my kit today. If there were any fit issues with the canopy it does not show on the model.
13 August 2022, 21:56
Łukasz GlińskiGrand finale! I think that's the first Securite Civile Alouette III I have ever seen in 1/72 👍
21 August 2022, 10:35
Rando DudeThanks everyone.
Some final remarks:
- The decals in this kit are not very good. They are quite brittle and ripped easily and also did not want to stick to the surface without copious amounts of Mr Mark Setter Neo. The printing quality is also not great, especially in the multicoloured roundels. And some were just missing.
- The PE should include the basket and the long step on the starboard side.
- Note to self: Look for reference pics before assembly and painting :-P I've noticed a few mistakes: i.e. the grille on the engine intakes should be flush, not raised, and the big white antenna blade should be on the port side, not starboard, the instructions were inconsisted there.
With that I consider this project finished and thank you all for watching, and have a nice day.
22 August 2022, 09:35
