New Book on Heller Kits

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Fri May 20, 2005 10:30 am

The following book was just released, and is available from Amazon.fr, as well as appearing in the Tuttostoria catalog:

Heller: La Maquette A La Francais, by Jean-Christophe Carbonel, Histoire & Collections, ISBN 2915239665

From the description, it looks to be a well-illustrated, French language paperback, covering 50 years of Heller kits, from both the modeler's and the collector's perspective.

I've ordered a copy, it should make a nice companion for the similar titles covering Airfix and Revell model kits.

http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/2 ... 01-4734537

Ted

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:03 pm

Hi Ted as a collector who has all the Heller 1/400 WW2 kits I'd be very interested to know what this book contains on them
Cheers
Laurence

Nansung · Post by **Nansung** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:32 am

I'd like to see some sample pictures

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:32 pm

I'll let you guys know how the book is as soon as I get it from Amazon.fr. I don't think it has shipped out yet, so it could be awhile, unfortunately.
Best,
Ted

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 9:28 pm

Hello all,
I just received the book Heller: La Maquette A La Francais, by Jean-Christophe Carbonel, Histoire & Collections, ISBN 2915239665 yesterday.

First of all, it's actually a hardcover book, and very large, 12.5 inches x 9.5 inches. The paper used is glossy, and very high quality. It's 100% French text, 160 pages in length. The entire book is well illustrated, with hundreds of color photos of box art (much of it very good), built and unbuilt kits, advertisements, store displays, even the molds and factory equipment.

Chapter 1, "Fondation" covers 1954-1964, Chapter 2 "Le Musee de l'aviation Francais" covers 1965-1971. Chapter 3, "L'epopee du jouet Francais" covers 1972-1980, and includes a full page sidebar on Le Soleil Royal, with several color photographs. Chapter 4, "La grande ecole du maquettisme" covers 1981-1988. Chapter 5, "La valse des moules" deals with 1989-1998, and chapter 6, "Seconde fondation" covers 1999 to the present. Page 123 is a sidebar on the CVN Charles de Gaule.

Chapter 7 "De A a Z, de 1954 a 2001" is what it sounds like, an alphabetical listing of all Heller kits, including the name, scale, stock#, year, # of pieces, and whether or not the model was a joint project of shared mould with another company. Then there are ten brief appendixes on various subjects, such as limited-run kits, Humbrol paints, etc.

Overall, this is an excellent reference work, and deserves a place in your library alongside the similar Airfix, Revell and Aurora volumes. In my opinion, after comparing them side by side, I'd say this Heller book is the best of the lot. If you can read just a little French, this book is a must!

Best regards,
Ted

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 6:17 am

Cheers Ted

Unfortunately my French is non existent, so how well does in cover Heller's warship range in pictures and does it have full build ups?

Laurence

TTTTTTTTTT · Post by **TTTTTTTTTT** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 8:43 pm

Well, it does have the full-page descriptions of Soleil Royale, and Charles de Gaule, with photos of finished and unfinished models. It does cover the Graf Spee, Redoubtable, Strasbourg, and Jean Bart, but most of the good pictures are of the box art. I'd say it covers warship kits in proportion to the number produced, compared to aircraft, military vehicles, figures, and automobiles. As usual, mostly aircraft... oh well!

Best,
Ted