SPA Modeler

So here we have my latest completion- Heller’s Etendard IV M in 1/48. Let’s just say that this kit was challenging. The front of the fuselage was warped around the intake areas, the plastic quite brittle, and the fit in some other areas less than ideal. She fought me more and more as I neared the finish line, but in the end I did complete this bird. Using the kit decals, and some scavenged from an Etendard IV P in my stash I was able to finish this in the scheme worn in the mid 80’s, using some Xtracolor enamel on the topside and Tamiya acrylics on the undersides. It has lots of little flaws due to various things that happened along the way, but I am quite happy to get this one finished and onto my display shelf.

















Thanks for looking, comments and critiques are welcomed

She may have put up a fight, but you tamed the beast! That's a beauty Carlos and my only critique is that I don't have it on my shelf!

Thank you Gary. Yeah I’d say that your assessment is on target. Now you need to get yourself one

Very nice Carlos! One Heller of a job I must say! Now tell me one thing.. What is the difference between and Etendard and a Super Etendard? Very cool looking craft!

Very, very nice Carlos!

As I said in the build Thread Carlos, that is a superb build of a not often seen subject. Those French do know how to make some pretty jets.

CB, Tom, and Stuart, thank you all.

cbaltrin wrote: ↑Mon Jan 30, 2023 7:40 pm Very nice Carlos! One Heller of a job I must say! Now tell me one thing.. What is the difference between and Etendard and a Super Etendard? Very cool looking craft!

Good job on the Heller pun… As far as the difference between the Etendard and the Super Etendard, to my knowledge, the main difference is avionics in the nose. The Etendard IV M had just a basic radar and was akin to an early model Skyhawk with the short ranged guided weapons limitations. The Super Etendard had an all weather search and attack radar in the nose, and the capability to use it with newer longer range weapons like the Exocet.

Stuart wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 6:50 am As I said in the build Thread Carlos, that is a superb build of a not often seen subject. Those French do know how to make some pretty jets.

Stuart, I quite agree about the looks. Dassault has a visual flair in their designs.

Great job Stik! Really turned out great!

Thank you Mike. It may not have turned out as well as envisioned, but I do like how it turned out.

Stikpusher wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:04 am

Stuart, I quite agree about the looks. Dassault has a visual flair in their designs.

That's because Marcel Dassault was (is) doing penance for those mid war years when he designed all those monstrosities under the name Marcel Bloch, which he changed to Dassault after the war.

Bloch 200