I started this kit probably a decade or so ago, perhaps a bit longer. I had assembled the suspension and then tried fitting them to the bottom center pieces. And I think that I sidelined it over fit issues. Fast forward several residential moves and my wanting to eliminate my backlog of sidelined builds. Add to that my AMPS Chapter had a challenge of working on an old build and I had said I would join but never started a build for the “World At War, 1939-1940” GB over on FSM. Lastly I am nearing the finish line with my M46 build and I felt like gluing together more plastic on an armor project, without actually starting a new kit.
So first up last nite was a bit of filing, sanding, and trouble shooting to assemble the lower hull. Then quite a bit of coaxing and pressing to properly position the upper hull shell. Once I had that done, assembly started to move smoothly and quickly. The plastic itself reminds me of the styrene used by Airfix, being on the softer side. While drilling out the co axial machine gun barrel bore, i dinged that up and ended up replacing it with some Albion brass tubing- great stuff! I also drilled out the main gun tube bore and worked on the fishtail exhaust openings a bit. But I am planning to keep this as Out Of Box as possible to help it move quickly. After about four hours work last nite the main construction was done...
I still have lots of little bits to add, seam filling and clean up, and then I’m going to add some texturing to the armor, as the hull and turret was cast armor not rolled armor plates. I can’t wait to get to painting on this, as the French had some really good looking camo schemes on the early war armor.
Heller 1/35 Somua S35
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Heller 1/35 Somua S35
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
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- BlackSheep214
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Re: Heller 1/35 Somua S35
Nice! not much detailing on this kit. Definitely looks like an old kit. What year was the issue?
“Who controls the skies, controls the fate of this Earth”
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
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Re: Heller 1/35 Somua S35
There’s actually a lot of detail on the kit... but most of it is glued to locator marks on the surfaces. I still have lots of that to add. But first I’m gonna scribe a few hatch seams into place that are instead represented as raised lines. The kit was originally released in 1977, but I have a 1999 rebox.
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
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Re: Heller 1/35 Somua S35
Loking good, don't often see Heller kits these days.
'I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so'
On the bench: Revell 1/72nd Type VIIc U-Boat
On the bench: Revell 1/72nd Type VIIc U-Boat
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Re: Heller 1/35 Somua S35
Thanks Bish. This is only my second Heller armor kit that has reached this point. They are interesting, shall we say... Until recently, they were the only source for 1/35 WWII French armor.
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
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Re: Heller 1/35 Somua S35
So today I went back to work on this build. I scribed the turret side hatch outlines from what had been raised lines. Unfortunately on the right side, the template slipped a bit... I also added the lift horns onto the turret and cupola, and depend the vision slit on the cupola.
On the hull I added most of the small parts, lift horns, tie down rails, and other small greeblies.
Next up I’m gonna add some texturing to the cast armor section and do the last bits of seam clean up. After that I can add the last bits of add ones before painting can start.
On the hull I added most of the small parts, lift horns, tie down rails, and other small greeblies.
Next up I’m gonna add some texturing to the cast armor section and do the last bits of seam clean up. After that I can add the last bits of add ones before painting can start.
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
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- BlackSheep214
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Re: Heller 1/35 Somua S35
Looking good so far...
“Who controls the skies, controls the fate of this Earth”
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
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Re: Heller 1/35 Somua S35
Thanks Tom. This is a decent old kit.
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
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Re: Heller 1/35 Somua S35
This morning I did a bit of Putty work on the lower hull to address the last seam issues, then I began using Mr Surfacer 1000 to add cast texturing onto the upper rear hull and commander’s vision cupola
More to come soon...
More to come soon...
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
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Re: Heller 1/35 Somua S35
Texture applied to the turret, front upper hull, and front & real lower hull end plates
Now there just a few last bits to add then she’s all ready for painting...
Now there just a few last bits to add then she’s all ready for painting...
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
FLSM
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