Heller SA
Encyclopedia
Heller SA is a French
company that produces plastic scale model
kits of aircraft, cars, and ships. As of July 21, 2006 the company is in the French equivalent of administration (Redressement Judiciaire).
in 1957. Its first model kit was a 1/100 scale Sud Aviation Caravelle
, produced the following year. In 1963, a production facility was established in Trun, Orne
.
Heller was acquired by the Hobby Products Group of Borden, owners of British
model company Humbrol
, in 1981. In 1986, rival kit maker Airfix
also joined the group. Production of Airfix kits, already in Calais, would subsequently move to the Heller factory in Trun. Heller, with the rest of the Group was sold to an Irish investment company, Allen & McGuire, in 1994. In 2005, Heller was the subject of a management buy-out. However, the following year, the company went into administration.
The effect of Heller's problems was to bring Airfix into financial problems and with them the rest of the Humbrol group.
, the WWII-era front wheel drive sedan, in 1/43, 1/24 and 1/8 scales. There was a series of 1/24 old cars and small trucks including golden age European types—Delahaye, Delage, certain Bugattis, the 4.5-liter "Blower" Bentley, and others that were not, and have not yet been, kitted by other manufacturers in that scale. These were sophisticated kits for their time.
The early Heller aircraft line—predominantly 1/72—contributed more in the way of selection than sophistication. There were pie-plate rivets, thick canopies, nonexistent cockpit and gear well detail, but nowhere else could a modeler find old Bloch
and Potez twins, Ouragans
and early Mysteres, certain Saabs, and the big French transports, the Noratlas and the Transall
. As the product line expanded over time, the quality improved. Notable later kits were the PZL-23
, the Morane-Saulnier 230
, and the SBC Helldiver (biplane).
Still later, Heller's Constellations, DC-4s and DC-6s were welcome additions to the 1/72 multi-engine flightline, along with the striking Canadair 215
, a purpose-built fire bomber.
The early 1/50 helicopters were crude and questionable as to scale fidelity, but here again, they were unique subjects: Frelon
, Puma
, Alouette
, Gazelle
, Llama
, etc. "It's like a French Aurora
kit," quipped a seasoned modeler in 1969, examining the Alouette for the first time.
Heller contributed to the vast universe of 1/35 armor: lend-lease jeeps and deuce-and-a-halves, a Panhard armored car, and a squad of Chasseurs Alpins. Heller produced a grand 1/35 Super Frelon
, one of the first aircraft kits scaled to support the armor culture.
And there were ships, again unique as to subject. A large, sophisticated kit of the HMS Victory is arguably the centerpiece of the ship line.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
company that produces plastic scale model
Scale model
A scale model is a physical model, a representation or copy of an object that is larger or smaller than the actual size of the object, which seeks to maintain the relative proportions of the physical size of the original object. Very often the scale model is used as a guide to making the object in...
kits of aircraft, cars, and ships. As of July 21, 2006 the company is in the French equivalent of administration (Redressement Judiciaire).
History
Heller was founded in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1957. Its first model kit was a 1/100 scale Sud Aviation Caravelle
Sud Aviation Caravelle
The Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 . The Caravelle was one of the more successful European first generation jetliners, selling throughout Europe and even penetrating the United States market, with...
, produced the following year. In 1963, a production facility was established in Trun, Orne
Trun, Orne
Trun is a commune in the Orne département and the region of Basse-Normandie in north-western France.-Administration:-Population:-Ruins and monuments:Aerial photography has revealed the trace of a Gallo-Roman habitat...
.
Heller was acquired by the Hobby Products Group of Borden, owners of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
model company Humbrol
Humbrol
Humbrol Limited was a British manufacturer of model kits, toys and paints, producing under its own brand and the Airfix, Sky Marks, Young Scientist, 1st Gear, High Speed and W. Britain brands...
, in 1981. In 1986, rival kit maker Airfix
Airfix
Airfix is a UK manufacturer of plastic scale model kits of aircraft and other subjects. In Britain, the name Airfix is synonymous with the hobby, a plastic model of this type is often simply referred to as "an airfix kit" even if made by another manufacturer....
also joined the group. Production of Airfix kits, already in Calais, would subsequently move to the Heller factory in Trun. Heller, with the rest of the Group was sold to an Irish investment company, Allen & McGuire, in 1994. In 2005, Heller was the subject of a management buy-out. However, the following year, the company went into administration.
The effect of Heller's problems was to bring Airfix into financial problems and with them the rest of the Humbrol group.
The Heller product line
Heller made kits of the Citroën 11CVCitroën Traction Avant
The Citroën Traction Avant is an automobile which was produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1934 to 1957. About 760,000 units were produced.-Impact on the world:...
, the WWII-era front wheel drive sedan, in 1/43, 1/24 and 1/8 scales. There was a series of 1/24 old cars and small trucks including golden age European types—Delahaye, Delage, certain Bugattis, the 4.5-liter "Blower" Bentley, and others that were not, and have not yet been, kitted by other manufacturers in that scale. These were sophisticated kits for their time.
The early Heller aircraft line—predominantly 1/72—contributed more in the way of selection than sophistication. There were pie-plate rivets, thick canopies, nonexistent cockpit and gear well detail, but nowhere else could a modeler find old Bloch
Bloch MB.150
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Belcarz, Bartłomiej. Morane MS 406C1, Caudron Cyclone CR 714C1, Bloch MB 151/152 , Sandomierz, Poland: Stratus, 2004. ISBN 83-89450-21-6. About the use of the MB.151/152 by Polish Pilots of the Armée de l'Air.* Breffort, Dominique and André Jouineau...
and Potez twins, Ouragans
Dassault Ouragan
The Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan was the first French-designed jet fighter-bomber to enter production, playing a key role in resurgence of the French aviation industry after World War II. The Ouragan was operated by France, Israel, India and El Salvador...
and early Mysteres, certain Saabs, and the big French transports, the Noratlas and the Transall
Transall C-160
|-See also:-References:* Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.-External links:*...
. As the product line expanded over time, the quality improved. Notable later kits were the PZL-23
PZL.23 Karas
|-Specifications :-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzo and Paolo Matricardi. World War II Airplanes . Chicago: Rand McNally, 1978. ISBN 0-52888-170-1....
, the Morane-Saulnier 230
Morane-Saulnier MS.230
-External links:* -Bibliography:* Donald, David. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft , p.664, "Morane-Saulnier MS.230 series"....
, and the SBC Helldiver (biplane).
Still later, Heller's Constellations, DC-4s and DC-6s were welcome additions to the 1/72 multi-engine flightline, along with the striking Canadair 215
Canadair CL-215
The Canadair CL-215 was the first model in a series of firefighting flying boat amphibious aircraft built by Canadair and later Bombardier. The CL-215 is a twin-engine, high-wing aircraft designed to operate well at low speed and in gust-loading circumstances, as are found over forest fires...
, a purpose-built fire bomber.
The early 1/50 helicopters were crude and questionable as to scale fidelity, but here again, they were unique subjects: Frelon
Aérospatiale Super Frelon
The Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by Aérospatiale of France. The helicopter is still in use in China where the locally produced version is known as the Z-8. "Frelon" is French for hornet....
, Puma
Aérospatiale Puma
The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
, Alouette
SNCASE Alouette
|-References:* *...
, Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
, Llama
Aérospatiale Lama
|-See also:-External links:...
, etc. "It's like a French Aurora
Aurora Plastics Corporation
The Aurora Plastics Corporation is a U.S. toy and hobby manufacturing and marketing company. It is known primarily for its production of plastic model kits in the 1960s.-History:Aurora Plastics Corporation was founded in March, 1950 by engineer Joseph E...
kit," quipped a seasoned modeler in 1969, examining the Alouette for the first time.
Heller contributed to the vast universe of 1/35 armor: lend-lease jeeps and deuce-and-a-halves, a Panhard armored car, and a squad of Chasseurs Alpins. Heller produced a grand 1/35 Super Frelon
Aérospatiale Super Frelon
The Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by Aérospatiale of France. The helicopter is still in use in China where the locally produced version is known as the Z-8. "Frelon" is French for hornet....
, one of the first aircraft kits scaled to support the armor culture.
And there were ships, again unique as to subject. A large, sophisticated kit of the HMS Victory is arguably the centerpiece of the ship line.