Something 1/72 scale, yellow and free from Heller

[stona]

I've been given a kit to build.



As you can see, it comes without a box and more pertinently, without instructions!

It does have a decal sheet, and I have figured out that this is Heller's 1/72 'Pompiers de Ciel', literally firemen of the sky, so a water bomber. If it had a box it would have looked like this.



That picture may be my instructions!

The bag is still sealed, so I'm confident that the kit is complete. I'm going to see if I can find the instructions anywhere, but if not I'll take a swing at it without any. I mean, how hard can it be? Fuselage, wings, engines etc!

This may take a while, because I will prioritise my subject for the BOB build next month, but with a bit of luck I'll get it done. I expect it will be a bit of a contrast with the Tamiya kit I just finished

[PaulTRose]

https://downloads.revell.de/Manuals-Modelkits/04998_%23BAU_CANADAIR_BOMBADIER_CL_415.PDF

i think revell repopped it at somepoint, hope that helps

good luck with the yellow

[stona]

Thanks Paul, yes, that helps a lot!

[stona]

Well, this has been 'interesting'!

I've built the cockpit and fuselage as per the instructions. I've painted them with approximations of what I've guessed the various mixtures given in said instructions might look like using existing paints in my stash. I don't really care as, apart from the cockpit, it will all be almost completely hidden.



The yellow plastic was primed with two coats of white primer, which did the trick. It's very hard and brittle, either because it was made that way or because it has aged that way.

I'm waiting for some shot to arrive, as the model requires substantial weight in the nose to stop it tail sitting.

Cheers

James Braidwood (I bet you have to google me!)

[yak face]

Like it steve , probably the only time yellow plastic has been a positive thing !!

[spanner570]

Something a bit different to.
Nice start Steve.

Doug Terff.
Head Grave Digger
Abney Park Cemetery

[Mini Me]

I give up Steve..........where does the tank go that holds the fire retardant material?:rolling: lol. Nice interior work so far mate. If you think its tail heavy now it will really be a** heavy with a tank and discharge chutes on board:smiling2:. I'm really enjoying this build it sort of hits home for me as I worked on U.S. Forest Service contracted Fire Bombers for eight years. Did a lot of "mods" and built several retardant tanks. Cheers, Rick H.

[stona]

Good question Rick. As far as I can tell those light green things might have something to do with it, they are not a million miles away from the CoG. There's nothing else to go in the fuselage.

You've got me all nervous now, knowing someone who actually knows about the real thing is watching

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

This is what the real thing looks like inside:

[ATTACH]390805[/ATTACH]
(Source)

[ATTACH]390806[/ATTACH]
(Source)

More to be found if you ask Google for Bombardier CL 415 pompiers interieur and switch to images.

[Mini Me]

Not much capacity it appears........our BAE 146s were well over 2000 gal. Capacity, if memory serves. No sweat Steve, Jakko has provided some excellent ref. photos for you to go with if you feel like enhancing the interior a little. Rick H.

[papa 695]

Something different Steve, but still up to your usual great standard. Great work so far.

[stona]

Not much capacity it appears........

I found a figure of 6,100 litres capacity, so 1,342 imperial gallons or 1,611 US gallons.

That's less than the 146s, but still, I wouldn't want it dropped on my head!

I've started sticking the thing together and can confirm that the fit is a bit 'approximate'. I'm also going to sand down the raised detail a bit. The thing has rivets the size of saucers and as thick as hockey pucks all over it.

Cheers

Steve

[rtfoe]

Thats a nice kit Steve, we have some live ones or the only one in West Malaysia fly by over the house near the airport. The engines are quite loud.

Cheers,
Richard

[Mini Me]

Hi Steve, here's a comparison pic. of a 146 tank in progress.......basically fills the fuselage from about 10 feet aft of the cockpit to about 15 or so feet from the rear pressure bulkhead of the cabin area. Seems rather large in comparison. Rick H.

[Guest]

I found a figure of 6,100 litres capacity

That looks like it would fit inside those two bulbous things inside the fuselage, yes. I had really expected a tank like in Rick’s photo above to fill the fuselage.