Heller 1/72 E-3B AWACS kit review

[@johnwoodall3791]

I built one Nigel, Not so long ago, Few issues but fortunately nothing to bad just a little patience along the Flight Deck Area and the Canopy but just a little filler needed, A good kit overall thanks for that....

[@philjones6054]

This is a fantastic channel. Thank you for all you do Nigel!!

[@NigelsModellingBench]

You are very welcome

[@NeilMicklethwaite1812]

Mine arrived last night - just taken Label off box ( not damaged ) - no damage to the loose sprues neither - happy days - thanks for the heads up Nigel!

[@NigelsModellingBench]

My second one arrived in a box!!

[@NeilMicklethwaite1812]

@@NigelsModellingBench obviously the way to go at no extra cost - win - win!

[@Yves95128]

Hi Nigel, Here is the thing with Heller, they have great subjects for models but the quality is often not there, specially the cars, a lot of frustrating warping, but they made the Ferrari 512s, the 330P4, the Porsche 917k (these cars by Fujimi are actually the same Heller molds☹) so it requires some extra work to get there but it worth it. It's a bit like AMT cars, great subjects, old school, hard to assemble properly. On the other hand, Heller's old ships are great🤔. The new plastic feels weird because it's recycled and the paper is to save the world also (I was on the Heller website this morning to try to order decals)... About the p.e. for the radar, it's going to be a nightmare to adjust these big rectangles on a compound curve, even annealed.👋🏻

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I didnt know the Fujimi moulds were Heller???

[@Yves95128]

@@NigelsModellingBench For the Porsche 917k and the Ferrari 512s yes, they even let the Heller brand molded in the body. The Ferrari 330p4 appears to be genuine Fujimi, "made in Japan" on the sprues, no Heller marking (I just checked them from my stash).

[@markoldreive]

Looks a nice model Nigel, with a little work. Great video.

[@monsieurchevrebois9811]

Looks amazing, I will do something similar when I work through the stash. That may be 2027 at my current rate.

[@charliegrech4477]

I’ve only got one Heller kit and that’s the CL215 water bomber . Great review Nige

[@Jaysmodelbench]

Hi Nigel. I noticed no mention of nose weight, surely that would be needed to compensate for radar disc ! Keep up the good work . Jay from Derby.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Yes, absolutely

[@ianhay8938]

Can't wait to see that beauty built 😁😁👍👍👍

[@lesgl]

Interesting finish on the parts...i think a process called ''Spark erosion'' is used to cut the metal dies to mold the parts which is cheaper than the usual way of doing it and results in the rough finish... could be wrong tho'..

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I think this is just OLD??

[@justynmason4225]

Very much enjoying this series of reviews Nigel and the history described. So much so I've just bought the Airfix BAe Nimrod. I believe there are issues with engines etc but aftermarket is still available should I choose to not build out the box.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Glad you like them!

[@JC57515]

I dont think thats a sink line Nige its intended. I built one when it came out its very impressive. The grey colour is Boeing Grey. It needs a lot of weight to sit properly. Best wishes from merv!

[@mauricemoeneclaey2979]

Nice looking bird Nigel but if i was you i filled up the panellines and rescribed them because they are way to big, the same for the vortex generators they need to be thinned down or replaced by photoetched ones.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

The engines also need to be updated.. watch this space...

[@RCUKScaleModels]

nice one Nigel I have the NATO version of that kit

[@grahamcoxon1071]

Just had a look at my older Heller AWACS, the wings fuselage and tail all loose in the box everything else bagged. Funny thing thoe the instructions show the German anniversary aircraft but no decals to finish it off.

[@anniepoulton8501]

Evening Nige 😊

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Hi Annie

[@alecralph6667]

On Amazon at 21:30 3/9/24 the Heller - 1/72 Starter Kit Boeing E-3b Awacshel56308 is £58.99

[@NigelsModellingBench]

It'll soon come back down...

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

I saw that too. P&P was £16 too lol. I did see one that Creative Models were selling on Amazon for £47. Those were the only 2 I could find on Amazon.

[@carlwhitfield5463]

Hi just had a look on amazon can find the 30quid ish one is there a link to it cheers

[@NigelsModellingBench]

All gone now mate.

[@daveonbass79]

I was just going to mention that in the U.S. its going for 114 dollars. (I think that's around 87 pounds.) So...I guess we either didn't get it for that price or they are all gone for that price. Lol

[@tronmcconnell4465]

Nigel, I suspect the "NAEW & CF" notation on the side of the carton might stand for "NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control (or maybe Command) (and I have NO idea what the "F" might stand for)".

[@andrewbolton8611]

The ‘F’ is for ‘Force’. This NATO Airborne Early Warning, Command and Control Force

[@sergefernandez3395]

Bonjour de France nigel😊. En France la marque heller n'a pas une bonne réputation chez les maquettistes français 😢.

[@george_364]

It doesn't look they have a 75 year anniversary paint scheme this year.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Maybe???

[@hacheyp]

I remember Polk-Heller?

[@Blowinshiddup]

I wish Heller would re-release the 1/72 Bristol Britannia, that "Mach2" kit is beyond garbage, even as a donor to do my Canadair CP-107 Argus project... I haven't seen Heller's since the mid 1980s, and it wasn't in my wheelhouse at the time. If only I had known...

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Don't talk to me about Mach 2 lol

[@Blowinshiddup]

@@NigelsModellingBench first and last, for sure. Paid $$$ for it too, it's the only way to do this crazy conversion...

[@TheEdmond30]

Hello Nige

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Hello mate.

[@muppdog390]

I thought I would give a civilian subject a go and chose a Heller Citroen van, you know the one with the corrugated panels. Fighting me all the way. Not bad details but the plastic is so soft. Extra thin disolves it so much it takes days to set hard-ish again. Sink marks all over the place, pin marks in the worst places and, worst of all, every panel warped. Nothing is straight. Chassis twisted. Thankfull, the soft plastic is easily enough to bend when dipped in hot water. Should not have to. Once straight the fit is fairly good. And a wheelhub is missing. Contacted them weeks ago. Nothing yet but an acknowledgment. Afraid, last Heller kit for me.

[@dennisbisconti4583]

I wonder if they have a 747 in 1/72 scale could put my monogram space shuttle on top of it

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Yes there is, vac form though.

[@anthonydavies9535]

I'm pretty much certain that those engines aren't correct for an E-3, at least for a USAF E-3.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

They are..

[@anthonydavies9535]

@@NigelsModellingBench Nigel, look closely at photographs of the civil JT3D on a 707/KC-135E and the TF-33-P7 on an E-3. The engine case is different and it looks like the fan cowling is larger. 17,000lb thrust verses 21,000lb. Also, the pylons are different.

[@anthonydavies9535]

Just had a good look at pictures of USAF and NATO E-3s, engines and pylons are definitely different to the JT3D engines on the 707/KC-135E etc.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Ah, OK, I thought were saying they should be CFM's? Doh!! So there could be an accuracy issue? I wonder how the AMT TF-33's compare as they never made a civilian aircraft? Thank you for the heads up, I shall shout you out if the AMT ones are better.

[@anthonydavies9535]

@@NigelsModellingBench AMT TF-33s are OK for the C-135 family as these came in the main off retired 707s. It's only the E-3s that are different, they are more powerful and I think they may have a larger bypass fan. There's a lot of inaccurate information on the Internet as everyone assumes the engines are the same.

[@mortiuk]

NATO 50 yeas Luxembourg registion number