Hi Folks

One of my favourite Civil aircraft of late has to be the enormous Airbus A380 after seeing it in action at the Farnborough Airshow about 4 years ago if my memory serves me right..

So having looked around I noticed that Revell did a 1/144 scale kit and although its big, I wanted bigger. So after looking on Ebay I got myself the Heller 1/125 beauty, paid my monies and awaited delivery.

A few days later a nice big box turns up and I quickly unpacked it to inspect the contents... So far so good and the lines and detail are good and minimal flash to worry about. Yoy will notice that the kit is made up of sub-sections due to the size of the fuselage and was to be expected but I did'nt expect some of the problems that awaited me in getting a good fit! Well in for a penny in for a pound as they say.

I started off with the nose section and worked my way to the tail and as you can see by the photo's I have my work cut out for me!

Just the Prototype ones in the box and even they are not accurate. There's not a lot floating about Steve due to it's unusual scale, I have got hold of the 1/144 British Airways set and will look at either making my own by resizing or attempt airbrushing the tail livery.

I didn't want to use the only ones available as wanted something different and as yet I've not seen any 1/125 A380's in BA guise.

Spencer

Looks a beast , but iv sussed out your devilish plan to use to to go on holiday later in the year

This latest update tackles more horrible joins of the fuselage sections as you can see by the first 2 photos. Once they where all put together using EMA MEK some slight tweeking of the sections was done to get the best possible fit and only then was putty filla added to the areas ready for sanding and blending the fuselage. Once this was complete it was given a coat of Halfords grey primer and allowed to dry for at least 24hrs before some more filla in areas that where highlighted by the primer.. more to come soon including the four mighty engines and the the wings and some re-scribing of the panel lines that where removed during the sanding process..

Hi Spence

That likes like a very nice model.

Tend not to see much of Heller these days. Seem to recall at one point they were tied in with humbrol.

I love to see civil aircraft builds because they appear so deceptively easy to finish but getting that smooth even white finish takes some real skill.

Following with great interest.

Regards

Tony

Hi Spence, are the windows small enough to use Krystal klear on? I think it can fill up to a 4mm gap.
Steve

Looks like your going to need some putty on that warthog (2 set of pics first picture) up the top it looks like a flat spot

Another day and another update.. more filling and sanding was required to the fuselage and after another coat of primer it was time to start rescibing the panel lines. Onto the wings and once again some major sanding and filling of joins etc as everything was either too high or to low at the joins. The four main engines where assembled and given a coat of white primer ready for more sanding and filling..

Totally agree with you Heli! I'm not sure what the rest of there kit range is like for gaps and misaligned parts but it's certainly a challenge building it

Regards

Spencer

Looking good

Have you changed the way you post as the last week or so I have had to hit quote to see what you have written as there was no text showing.

I have just noticed now that on the bottom left of your posts there is a 'show/hide post' button which when pressed reveals your post. If I refresh or go away then come back to the forum I have to press it again