Hi guys,

Just wondering are these decent enough builds out of the box?

I have not seen them on the shelves of any hobby shops for quite some time, are they still available?

If I did manage to find one of each, do they need aftermarket such as an etch set as a minimum?

Thanks for your help.
Glen

Hello Glen

For the moment I'm still busy building a Heller VAB. To be honest with you the kit is a piece of sh*t. I'm actually using the main body as a start. the full front compartment and outside detailling will be scratch and AM sets because of the poor kit quality and detailling.
I don't know about the amx-30 or the auf-1 but I guess they are the same quality and that is very very poor.
Here is a link to a guy who made an AUF-1 from a heller kit.

Good luck with it

Cheers Roel

Hi Glen,
as the Heller kit is the only one available - you have no choice. Of course you can build it OOB and you can get a nice result with a good paintjob.

A lot of scratchbuilding will wait if you want to build a detailed model of the real thing.The kit is wrong in some details because Heller used their normal AMX30/105 hull and did not include the AUF1 modifications.

Aftermarket:
Resin tracks are from Phoebus available and there is a PE Set from Eduard for the AMX 30/105 which also can be used for the AUF1 in some parts.

All these things are on my workbench .... but I had not the courage to face this build yet.

Good luck with this.
Cheers
Walter

Roel,
thanks for the link - the scratchbuilding skills of this guy are excellent. But I think he got stuck with advanced modeller syndrome ... did he ever finish his model?

cheers
Walter

If I remember correctly Richard didn't paint his AUF1.

To the AM parts mentioned above, you can add the Bronco Ariete tracks that can be used for the newest type of tracks. They are not exactly the same but will do the trick for a recent SPG. The only additional work will be to modify the sprocket teeth.

Beware of the Eduard set, some parts are correct only for an initial tank (for instance the engine grill).

Olivier

The Heller armor kist were mostly released in 1975-76 (except for the more recent subjects, like the VAB). Even for the seventies, the kits were basic, though they pioneered the use of clear plastic for lights and optics. The wading panels and sponson storage compartment doors are molded in place, and look terrible, so much sanding and cursing will be required so they can be replaced with sheet plastic. Eduard has a photoetch set, but as Olivier said, the central engine grill depicts the transverse slat type, whereas later vehicles had a radial, "bull's eye" pattern grill. Some French makers like Azimut, have resin and brass update kits, and Heller themselves have released a limited-edition AMX-30B2 for the first Gulf War, with the resin and brass parts included.

Hi Roel,

Ouch, the VAB is not so good eh? I have this kit too, only bought it recently. I hope to use the Eduard interior and Exterior sets with it?
I really like the look of the VAB, it's a shame Heller has made it such a chore to build?
Thanks for your input mate!
Have a good weekend.
Glen

Hi Walter,

Much appreciate your input mate!
A good build OOB with a decent paintjob sounds ok to me.
If the AU F1 is incorrect in terms of having 105 gun tank details, can I assume the standard 105 gun tank version is relatively accurate?
Glad to hear there is an Etch set out there for the AMX30, will try track one of these down asap!
Thanks mate,
Have a good weekend!
Glen

Hi Olivier,

How are you mate? As always your help is much appreciated.
I have a couple of sets of Ariete tracks so that's cool to know they are useable with the AU F1 version?
Thanks mate and have a good weekend,
Glen

To my mind the greatest problem with these kits is the tracks, which are just dreadful. Phebus have marketed both early and later ones but at present offer only the later ones. I've heard some bad things about these too, but they can't be as bad as the kit's.

Phebus also do a number of conversions, including the AMX-30B2, which is extensive but is still one of the least ambitious. I don't know how it stacks up against Heller's own. I believe Barrel Depot, or someone, may also do quite a decent replacement gun. Apart from that, as I plan to make an original tank before all the bells and whistles, I'm a little stuck myself.

However, I don't think the kits are all that bad. Surface detailing is a little soft but not really very different from Italeri kits of the same period, and even some Tamiya kits. The AUF1 has some slightly odd features around the turret, especially the ammunition stowage, that you might want to improve. That link further up is a very good place to start (and also to lose heart completely). I can't vouch for the accuracy of either kit, but on pigsty's scale of accuracy, they don't look like anything else, and that'll do me. I mean, if they're that rare, who's to know if you take one to a show and it's way off? I'd love to see one on display!

The hull assembles out of five flat pieces. This is usually no problem but the AMX-30's hull sides cant outwards quite a lot. I plan to insert a brace to which the mid-points of the two panels can be attached, so that it has more chance of setting without warping or sagging.