In Box Review of Heller 1/35th Scale
Chasseurs Alpins
Kit no. 136
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production.
HISTORY:
France created its own mountain corps in the late 19th century in order to oppose any Italian invasion through the Alps. In 1859–70 Italy became unified, forming a powerful state. The French army saw this geopolitical change as a potential threat to their Alpine border, especially as the Italian army was already creating troops specialized in mountain warfare (the Alpini).
On December 24, 1888, the first troupes de montagne ("mountain troops") corps were created from 12 of the 31 existing Chasseurs à pied ("Hunters on Foot'"/"Foot Rifles'") battalions.
Initially these units were named bataillons alpins de chasseurs à pied ("Alpine Battalions of Hunters on Foot"/"Alpine Foot Rifle Battalions"). Later this was shortened to bataillons de chasseurs alpins ("Alpine Hunter Battalions"/"Alpine Rifle Battalions"). From their establishment the chasseurs Alpins wore a plain and practical uniform designed to be suitable for mountain service.
The 47e BCA was reformed at Bourg-Saint-Maurice in 1979, and dissolved on 1 July 1985.
Modern unit
Since 1999 they have been (with other units) part of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne), and are currently organised into three battalions:
7th Battalion, Varces (Grenoble)
13th Battalion, Chambéry
27th Battalion, Cran-Gevrier (Annecy)
All three battalions are based in cities in the French Alps, thus the name of the units.
Training includes climbing, Ski mountaineering, plus winter and summer mountain leadership and mountain guiding skills completed at the High Mountain Military School. Traditional training included mountain survival skills such as to build an igloo shelter and to sleep in temperatures around 0 °C. Modern troops may be transported in all-terrain VMBs, VACs, (Bandvagn 206) or untracked VAB personnel carriers.
Personal weaponry includes the FAMAS assault rifle, Minimi machine gun, FRF-2 sniper rifle, PGM Hécate II heavy sniper rifle, and LGI light mortar, while group weapons included the M2 machine gun, LLR 81mm mortar, and vehicle-mounted 20 mm autocannon, plus AT4, Eryx and MILAN anti-tank missiles.
The chasseurs are easily recognized by their wide beret (when not in battle uniform), named the tarte des Alpes (after a type traditional alpine tart). Note though that this is also worn by other mountain troops, such as the Alpine infantry, cavalry, artillery, and signals except for the 2ème REG engineers who wear the green-beret.
The 16th battalion of chasseurs are not mountain troops and wear the standard French Army blue beret with the chasseur cap badge. All three battalions are based in cities in the French Alps, thus the name of the units.
French Tundra Camouflage:
Current winter uniform consists of 'Tundra' camouflage made in 50/50 ripstop. It was specifically created for the Chasseurs & has later been adopted by other French units such as the GCM for winter exercises
France created its own mountain corps in the late 19th century in order to oppose any Italian invasion through the Alps. In 1859–70 Italy became unified, forming a powerful state. The French army saw this geopolitical change as a potential threat to their Alpine border, especially as the Italian army was already creating troops specialized in mountain warfare (the Alpini).
On December 24, 1888, the first troupes de montagne ("mountain troops") corps were created from 12 of the 31 existing Chasseurs à pied ("Hunters on Foot'"/"Foot Rifles'") battalions.
Initially these units were named bataillons alpins de chasseurs à pied ("Alpine Battalions of Hunters on Foot"/"Alpine Foot Rifle Battalions"). Later this was shortened to bataillons de chasseurs alpins ("Alpine Hunter Battalions"/"Alpine Rifle Battalions"). From their establishment the chasseurs Alpins wore a plain and practical uniform designed to be suitable for mountain service.
The 47e BCA was reformed at Bourg-Saint-Maurice in 1979, and dissolved on 1 July 1985.
Modern unit
Since 1999 they have been (with other units) part of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne), and are currently organised into three battalions:
7th Battalion, Varces (Grenoble)
13th Battalion, Chambéry
27th Battalion, Cran-Gevrier (Annecy)
All three battalions are based in cities in the French Alps, thus the name of the units.
Training includes climbing, Ski mountaineering, plus winter and summer mountain leadership and mountain guiding skills completed at the High Mountain Military School. Traditional training included mountain survival skills such as to build an igloo shelter and to sleep in temperatures around 0 °C. Modern troops may be transported in all-terrain VMBs, VACs, (Bandvagn 206) or untracked VAB personnel carriers.
Personal weaponry includes the FAMAS assault rifle, Minimi machine gun, FRF-2 sniper rifle, PGM Hécate II heavy sniper rifle, and LGI light mortar, while group weapons included the M2 machine gun, LLR 81mm mortar, and vehicle-mounted 20 mm autocannon, plus AT4, Eryx and MILAN anti-tank missiles.
The chasseurs are easily recognized by their wide beret (when not in battle uniform), named the tarte des Alpes (after a type traditional alpine tart). Note though that this is also worn by other mountain troops, such as the Alpine infantry, cavalry, artillery, and signals except for the 2ème REG engineers who wear the green-beret.
The 16th battalion of chasseurs are not mountain troops and wear the standard French Army blue beret with the chasseur cap badge. All three battalions are based in cities in the French Alps, thus the name of the units.
French Tundra Camouflage:
Current winter uniform consists of 'Tundra' camouflage made in 50/50 ripstop. It was specifically created for the Chasseurs & has later been adopted by other French units such as the GCM for winter exercises
THE KIT:
Heller is an old prolific model company based in Paris, France.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.This is a departure from Heller’s usual packing of figure kits. Most are packaged in end –opening type boxes.
The cover art is a color illustration of 3 Chasseurs. They are all wearing a loose-fitting dark blue jacket and blue-grey breeches, together with a large dark blue beret carrying the yellow (daffodil) hunting horn insignia of the Chasseur branch.
They all wear black jack boots
The first man on the left is standing. He has a tan satchel on his belt along with a tan pistol holster. He is talking to a second man, who is seated in the middle on a wood crate and is reading a large map. He has a pouch on his belt.
The third (and last man) on the right is standing and holding his rifle by the barrow with its stock resting on the ground. He is facing the other two men. He wears a lot of field equipment.
One side panel has a description of the kit contents in 3 languages: French, English and German
Heller is an old prolific model company based in Paris, France.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.This is a departure from Heller’s usual packing of figure kits. Most are packaged in end –opening type boxes.
The cover art is a color illustration of 3 Chasseurs. They are all wearing a loose-fitting dark blue jacket and blue-grey breeches, together with a large dark blue beret carrying the yellow (daffodil) hunting horn insignia of the Chasseur branch.
They all wear black jack boots
The first man on the left is standing. He has a tan satchel on his belt along with a tan pistol holster. He is talking to a second man, who is seated in the middle on a wood crate and is reading a large map. He has a pouch on his belt.
The third (and last man) on the right is standing and holding his rifle by the barrow with its stock resting on the ground. He is facing the other two men. He wears a lot of field equipment.
One side panel has a description of the kit contents in 3 languages: French, English and German
The other side panel has kits Heller released of several small (3-4 figures or people with animals) sets of 1/35 Second World War French soldiers in the 1970s. This kit is of a trio of Chasseurs-Alpins, the elite of the French army.
Armée Francaise “39-45” was Heller’s 1/35 series of Second World War French subjects.
Kits that have been done by Heller are: 25mm Anti-Tank Cannon Model 1934, 2éme D.B., 81mm Mortar crew, Assault troops, Colonial Senegalese Infantry, Frogmen in a rubber raft (WW II?), Gnome-Rhone Motorcycle, Hotchkiss machine gun crew, Moto Gnome-Rhone ET Sidecar Military Cycle, Sahara Camel Corps,11. Stretcher bearers, Groupe Tabor.
Armée Francaise “39-45” was Heller’s 1/35 series of Second World War French subjects.
Kits that have been done by Heller are: 25mm Anti-Tank Cannon Model 1934, 2éme D.B., 81mm Mortar crew, Assault troops, Colonial Senegalese Infantry, Frogmen in a rubber raft (WW II?), Gnome-Rhone Motorcycle, Hotchkiss machine gun crew, Moto Gnome-Rhone ET Sidecar Military Cycle, Sahara Camel Corps,11. Stretcher bearers, Groupe Tabor.
Heller also combined some sets to make diorama sets, including the diorama set "Koufra."
Several 1/35 WWII French tanks and Wehrmacht figure sets were also created. These models now belong to Italeri and SK Models.
This kit contains three pale-grey trees with a total of 39 parts in a plastic bag,. Each figure is divided into separate heads, two-piece torsos, arms and legs. All headcover are also separate. These models are proportioned, posed and detailed at least as well, if not better, than contemporary Tamiya figures. They feature clean molding and good detail.
Uniform details such as belts, harnesses, rank and unit insignias of Bataillons de Chasseurs Alpins are molded on. While no detail for the yellow bugle horn insignia of the Chasseur branch is molded, ranks include a Capitaine, Caporal or Sergent, and a Chasseur.
Individual ammo boxes are provided, as are two gas mask pouches, a musette bag, backpack, blanket roll, mess tin, shepherds crook/cane, P A 35 pistol holster, and carbine. While the packs have a natural "soft" appearance, unfortunately the carbine molding is rough. Heller includes a big crate for the NCO to sit upon while he studies the map which Heller printed on the instruction sheet. Flat ground bases support the standing figures. I wonder where the NCO’s weapon is; this is the only real drawback to the set; by this era, other model companies were including more than just the weapons for a kit’s figures.
Several 1/35 WWII French tanks and Wehrmacht figure sets were also created. These models now belong to Italeri and SK Models.
This kit contains three pale-grey trees with a total of 39 parts in a plastic bag,. Each figure is divided into separate heads, two-piece torsos, arms and legs. All headcover are also separate. These models are proportioned, posed and detailed at least as well, if not better, than contemporary Tamiya figures. They feature clean molding and good detail.
Uniform details such as belts, harnesses, rank and unit insignias of Bataillons de Chasseurs Alpins are molded on. While no detail for the yellow bugle horn insignia of the Chasseur branch is molded, ranks include a Capitaine, Caporal or Sergent, and a Chasseur.
Individual ammo boxes are provided, as are two gas mask pouches, a musette bag, backpack, blanket roll, mess tin, shepherds crook/cane, P A 35 pistol holster, and carbine. While the packs have a natural "soft" appearance, unfortunately the carbine molding is rough. Heller includes a big crate for the NCO to sit upon while he studies the map which Heller printed on the instruction sheet. Flat ground bases support the standing figures. I wonder where the NCO’s weapon is; this is the only real drawback to the set; by this era, other model companies were including more than just the weapons for a kit’s figures.
Instructions and painting:
Instructions consist of a single-sheet, printed on both sides in 8 ¼” x 12” format and folded twice to fit the box. It shows a single exploded diagram for the assembly of each figure. It is printed in French, English, and German.
Ten Heller paints are referenced. However, unlike Italeri and Tamiya models of the era, no attempt was made to guide modelers in creating insignias.
While Tamiya was the leading 1/35 figure maker in the 1970s, Heller and other model companies filled the void of overlooked subjects that are not American, British, German or Russian. Molding and detail is very good.
Only problems are the lack of weapons for the NCO, and lack of any insignia information for model painters.
Recommended.
Instructions consist of a single-sheet, printed on both sides in 8 ¼” x 12” format and folded twice to fit the box. It shows a single exploded diagram for the assembly of each figure. It is printed in French, English, and German.
Ten Heller paints are referenced. However, unlike Italeri and Tamiya models of the era, no attempt was made to guide modelers in creating insignias.
While Tamiya was the leading 1/35 figure maker in the 1970s, Heller and other model companies filled the void of overlooked subjects that are not American, British, German or Russian. Molding and detail is very good.
Only problems are the lack of weapons for the NCO, and lack of any insignia information for model painters.
Recommended.