Faust Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) It seems we often hear criticisms of new models. The shape of the tail isn't quite right, or the seat isn't all that great, etc. However, I think we've forgotten just how bad things USED to be, or maybe some of us haven't really ever experienced it! Well, here for your viewing pleasure is my out of box review for the old Heller Bf-109. Enjoy, and let's all be glad they don't make them like they used to! Edited January 23, 2013 by Faust Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 You had me at Heller. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JasonW Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 I believe that is a re-boxing of the old Airfix kit being boxed during the Heller/Airfix marriage. Heller's own molds weren't all nearly as bad. That said, the old Heller (not Airfix re-boxed) Bf-109B/C kit isn't actually all that bad and builds up decent as does their Me-109K4. I've had fairly decent luck with a few of the original Heller molds over the years. The F-94B, Bf-109B/C, Su-27B, F-8E, and Ouragan were decent builds, they require a little work and have pretty basic interior detail and landing gear but on the whole aren't that bad considering the age of many of the molds. Heller's French aircraft are decent as well. Among these are the Mirage IVP, the Mirage III/V, Entendard IV, Mirage 2000, and Mirage F1 which are pretty nice little kits and can be had for little money compared to newer mold kits. Honestly, they aren't going to win many contests and they aren't the absolute most accurate, but they are pretty good little kits in many cases. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G.R.Morrison Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Jason, You are precisely right, that's the ancient Airfix hound, more than fifty years old. The strange thing is, Airfix actually have a newer Bf 109G-6 mold. GRM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
agboak Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Be careful with Heller Bf.109s. Producing that old Airfix horror was odd because Heller had a much better (if imperfect) Gustav themselves. Presumably that's one of the tools they sold. Avoid the Heller Bf109F - yellow box period. Apart from anything else it was actually a G. Their E from the same period wasn't too brilliant either. Then came their fairly decent G, which lasted into the black box period, and a K in a yellow box which was an abortion inflicted on their G. These were all tadpoles, having too-short rear fuselages. Then in the black box period they did a much better K, the best late model Bf109 for a long time, and also their Bf109B/D as mentioned above. Apart perhaps from the Jumo variant, the wings were slightly out in sweeps and the spinner slightly too large. And on the revised K, the prop goes the wrong way around! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
breadneck Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 I`ve always wondered what colour scheme this particular Heller Bf109 kit is supposed to resemble...some eastern front scheme from the looks of the Ratata though, but this sure is a rare 109 scheme!! http://www.shopping.com/heller-heller-1-72-scale-messerschmitt-bf-109e-model-kit-80234/info Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G.R.Morrison Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 That box art is meant to represent Günther Scholz's 109E-4 while he was Gruppenkommandeur of III/JG 5. The fuselage was very-densely mottled. The small emblem is supposed to be the III Gruppe badge, a white shield with light blue cross (Finnish colors) with a small Lapp boot in the center. This aircraft also a had a rather broad white spiral decoration on the spinner -- rather unusual on a 109E. GRM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Abakan Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 As other stated this is the Airfix kit, not the original Heller kit, which was actually pretty nice. The B/C(D), the G and the ( later ) K kit are also very good kits back then. The F was/is a joke an not worth a dime. The yellow box K actually is a tall tail G6/14 and not a K. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Abakan Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Jason, You are precisely right, that's the ancient Airfix hound, more than fifty years old. The strange thing is, Airfix actually have a newer Bf 109G-6 mold. GRM Which also is a piece of crap :/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
breadneck Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 (edited) Which also is a piece of crap :/ ..or to put it in e-bay terms, RARE & OOP (the old hound that is) Edited January 26, 2013 by breadneck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
breadneck Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 That box art is meant to represent Günther Scholz's 109E-4 while he was Gruppenkommandeur of III/JG 5. The fuselage was very-densely mottled. The small emblem is supposed to be the III Gruppe badge, a white shield with light blue cross (Finnish colors) with a small Lapp boot in the center. This aircraft also a had a rather broad white spiral decoration on the spinner -- rather unusual on a 109E. GRM Are you positive the fuselage was not a uniform blue/grey-ish? Looks like that from the box art. I take it this gruppen was stationed in Finland when looking at the gruppenbadge?! Sure, that spinner may well stand out, but i was thinking more in terms of the predominant white underside cowling. That sure sets this Bf109 apart from the rest. Well, i should consult my library, i have a book or two on this subject..shoot, i might well have a JG77/JG5 sheet somewhere as well. Wikipedia suggests that the IIIgruppen had F-models back then...and this box art depicts an E-model right?! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Abakan Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Be careful with Heller Bf.109s. Producing that old Airfix horror was odd because Heller had a much better (if imperfect) Gustav themselves. Presumably that's one of the tools they sold. Quite possible. I know that it also exists in ENCORE and SMER boxes ( I have the SMER one in stock ) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve190 Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Quite possible. I know that it also exists in ENCORE and SMER boxes ( I have the SMER one in stock ) I believe the ENCORE is a Frog Bf-109. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slayermk1 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I bought that model several years ago and it´s the worst Bf-109 I ever had. Some of Heller´s 109s like the E and K models were acceptable but this one... but not all is lost as Airfix released a new G model that´s quite attractive, and also a new E model wich is the same as their new 1/48 edition. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JasonW Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 (edited) I believe the ENCORE is a Frog Bf-109. Steve The 1/72 Encore 109G kits are the Heller molds. Encore reboxed several of the old Heller molds including the 109G, Heinkel He-112, PZL P.11c, Gloster Gladiator Mk. I/II, Arado Ar-196 and their Mitsubishi Zero kits. Encore did also rebox a couple of the Frog molds, I know the Bristol Beaufort for a fact is the Frog mold. Edited January 31, 2013 by JasonW Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Faust Posted October 5, 2013 Author Share Posted October 5, 2013 It never ceases to amaze me that there are some companies that still pop (or at least used to) some of these old chestnuts. I mean, the Revell Germany Gannet was the Frog one, too! What the... Some of the kits could be justified because there's no other, better alternative. However, for Bf-109's, I can't see that being the case! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlCZ Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 No, Revell Gannet are newly tooled. But haven´t a weaponry... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Faust Posted October 5, 2013 Author Share Posted October 5, 2013 No, Revell Gannet are newly tooled. But haven´t a weaponry... You're right, in that the new Gannet kit is newly tooled. The new T.5 is also newly tooled, but based on the AS.1/4 which was new before it. However, before that, Revell Germany sold the old Frog kit. I know, because a friend of mine gave me one. I have the instructions to prove it (somewhere, I think). I'll have to post it on my site sometime. It was anything BUT a new tool! Don't be fooled by it! Scalemates: Gannet Timeline Opening this kit is a very, very rude surprise. It's the AS.1, but the Frog. I was unaware of the newly-tooled Revell Germany Gannet until just recently! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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