In Box Review of Heller 1/35th Scale
Moto-Gnome-Rhone Motorcycle With Sidecar
Kit no. 420
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
HISTORY:
The Gnome-Rhone AX3 was built by the old French aircraft company of the same name and first appeared in 1938. The model derived from the military 750 cc X type which met the various specifications of a program designed to establish a selection of cross-country motocycles for the motorized army.
It's main characteristic was it's frame of pressed and welded steel sheet. It's twin-cylinder engine was extremely robust and required little maintenance. It's great manoeuvrability and it's wide range enabled tit to accomplish many tasks.
This was a machine which, because of it's weightk, was designed for use with a side-car, and moreover a special remote controlled clutch system enabled the wheel on the side car to be made solid with that of the motorcycle. The possibility of having two drive-wheels was an almost essential condition for running on muddy or swampy roads or even roads covered with snow.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 2555 mm (8.38 ft)
Width: 1610 mm (5.38 ft)
Height: 1085 mm (3.65 ft)
Cylinders: 800 cc
Max speed: 95 km/h (59 mph)
Transmission: 4 speed
Fuel tank capacity: 17 litres (4 1/2 gal)
Consumption of fuel per 100 km: 7 litres (2 cal)
Heller was an older prolific model company based in Paris, France. They marketed all manner of model subjects in the popular scales until they went out of business on August 31, 2006.
The Gnome-Rhone AX3 was built by the old French aircraft company of the same name and first appeared in 1938. The model derived from the military 750 cc X type which met the various specifications of a program designed to establish a selection of cross-country motocycles for the motorized army.
It's main characteristic was it's frame of pressed and welded steel sheet. It's twin-cylinder engine was extremely robust and required little maintenance. It's great manoeuvrability and it's wide range enabled tit to accomplish many tasks.
This was a machine which, because of it's weightk, was designed for use with a side-car, and moreover a special remote controlled clutch system enabled the wheel on the side car to be made solid with that of the motorcycle. The possibility of having two drive-wheels was an almost essential condition for running on muddy or swampy roads or even roads covered with snow.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 2555 mm (8.38 ft)
Width: 1610 mm (5.38 ft)
Height: 1085 mm (3.65 ft)
Cylinders: 800 cc
Max speed: 95 km/h (59 mph)
Transmission: 4 speed
Fuel tank capacity: 17 litres (4 1/2 gal)
Consumption of fuel per 100 km: 7 litres (2 cal)
Heller was an older prolific model company based in Paris, France. They marketed all manner of model subjects in the popular scales until they went out of business on August 31, 2006.
THE KIT:
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows the motorcycle with 2 riders aboard. It is overall khakit with a black license plate atop the front fender that has a French tri-color followed by white 84075 on it. The side car has a machine gun mounted on it and a cloth satchel slung over the side. The riders wear black leather jackets and helmets. The driver has goggles over his helmet. An officer figure stands to the side with a map case under his right arm and a cane in his left hand. He wears a grey officer's kepi on his head, a white scarf, tan pants tucked into knee-high laced brown boots and a black leather jacket.
One side panel has 2 color box arts of other AFV kits that Heller marketed: a Willys Jeep and a tracked ambulance. No kit numbers are shown, nor any nomenclature for the ambulance. This is followed by the statement that the kit contains 77 parts and a list of suggested paint colors to use to complete the kit, in French, English and German and MADE IN FRANCE.
The other side panel has 3 more color box arts: a AMX30, the tracked vehicle not as an ambulance and a AMX13. Again, no kit numbers nor that tracked vehicle being named.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows the motorcycle with 2 riders aboard. It is overall khakit with a black license plate atop the front fender that has a French tri-color followed by white 84075 on it. The side car has a machine gun mounted on it and a cloth satchel slung over the side. The riders wear black leather jackets and helmets. The driver has goggles over his helmet. An officer figure stands to the side with a map case under his right arm and a cane in his left hand. He wears a grey officer's kepi on his head, a white scarf, tan pants tucked into knee-high laced brown boots and a black leather jacket.
One side panel has 2 color box arts of other AFV kits that Heller marketed: a Willys Jeep and a tracked ambulance. No kit numbers are shown, nor any nomenclature for the ambulance. This is followed by the statement that the kit contains 77 parts and a list of suggested paint colors to use to complete the kit, in French, English and German and MADE IN FRANCE.
The other side panel has 3 more color box arts: a AMX30, the tracked vehicle not as an ambulance and a AMX13. Again, no kit numbers nor that tracked vehicle being named.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit is 3" too long inside. However, it has a very sturdy tray.
This kit is 3" too long inside. However, it has a very sturdy tray.
It contains 4 dark-green trees of parts, the decal sheet, instructions and a gel glue capsule with it's instructions in a sealed cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides that is folded 3 times to fit the box. One side of it is all in French. It has the history of the motorcycle, a list of the kit parts names, 2 exploded drawings for assembly, 2 line-drawings showing each side of the motorcycle and a custormer service coupon.
The other side repeats all but the exploded drawings in English.
The trees are numbered (1,2,3 & 4) rather than the usual alphabetizing seen in most kits.
Dark-green no. 1 tree holds: the frame, handle-bars, fuel tank, exhaust, motor, seats, speedometer, luggage rack etc. (26 parts)
The other side repeats all but the exploded drawings in English.
The trees are numbered (1,2,3 & 4) rather than the usual alphabetizing seen in most kits.
Dark-green no. 1 tree holds: the frame, handle-bars, fuel tank, exhaust, motor, seats, speedometer, luggage rack etc. (26 parts)
Dark-green no. 2 tree holds: wheels, front fender, front axle assemblies, figure (separate head, torso, arms and legs), a helmet, cloth sack, pistol holster, rifle etc. (16 parts)
Dark-green no. 3 tree holds: the side-car floor and body shell, wheels, seat, fender, machine gun, axles, frame, officer's head and kepi, canvas pouches, a base support plate for the officer figure and a pistol holster (19 parts)
Dark-green no. 4 tree holds: the officer figure (separate torso front and back, arms and legs) map case, side car rider figure (separate head, torso front and back, arms and legs), helmet and cloth pouch (17 parts). The officer's head and Kepi are on tree no. 3.
The kit decals.
The copyright date of this kit is 1978. I bought my kit back about then from the Squadron shop when it was marked down from $5.95 to $4.69. Highly recommended.