In Box Review of Heller 1/35th Scale
Compagnie Saharienne
Groupe de Combat France
Kit no. 144
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production
I paid a mere $3.50 for this kit back in the 70’s.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production
I paid a mere $3.50 for this kit back in the 70’s.
HISTORY:
The Saharan Mounted Companies of the Foreign Legion consisted of legionnaires of various nationalities and races transferred from the existing Foreign Legion infantry and cavalry regiments. These units were different from the Saharan Méharistes Companies (a separate camel corps with Arab/Berbers personnel recruited from Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, with French officers).
The Saharan Mounted Companies of the Foreign Legion consisted of legionnaires of various nationalities and races transferred from the existing Foreign Legion infantry and cavalry regiments. These units were different from the Saharan Méharistes Companies (a separate camel corps with Arab/Berbers personnel recruited from Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, with French officers).
THE KIT:
Heller is an old prolific plastic model company based in France. They manufacture all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a blousy shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. It is 1 ½” too long. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color illustration of 2 Saharienne troops and a camel in the desert.
The camel is overall tan with black ears and black area under its neck, and a few small black areas here and there on it.
The man riding the camel wears a white turban with a neck scarf, it is over a tan short-sleeved jacket over a white shirt and dark blue trousers. He has a bayonet in scabbard on his belt and is holding a rifle.
The second man is standing in front of the camel. He wears a blue hat with a bill, that has gold trim around the trop. A white overcoat, tan scarf around his neck, black belt with holster on it. Blousy dark blue trousers that are cuffed at the bottom, over sandals. He is holding a pair of binoculars.
One side panel of the box shows 3 box arts of other figure kits that Heller manufactures: Kit no. 116 Groupe Tabor, Kit no. 112U Mission de Assault and Kit no. 130 2. eme D.B. (ii).
Heller is an old prolific plastic model company based in France. They manufacture all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a blousy shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. It is 1 ½” too long. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color illustration of 2 Saharienne troops and a camel in the desert.
The camel is overall tan with black ears and black area under its neck, and a few small black areas here and there on it.
The man riding the camel wears a white turban with a neck scarf, it is over a tan short-sleeved jacket over a white shirt and dark blue trousers. He has a bayonet in scabbard on his belt and is holding a rifle.
The second man is standing in front of the camel. He wears a blue hat with a bill, that has gold trim around the trop. A white overcoat, tan scarf around his neck, black belt with holster on it. Blousy dark blue trousers that are cuffed at the bottom, over sandals. He is holding a pair of binoculars.
One side panel of the box shows 3 box arts of other figure kits that Heller manufactures: Kit no. 116 Groupe Tabor, Kit no. 112U Mission de Assault and Kit no. 130 2. eme D.B. (ii).
The other side panel of the box shows 3 more box arts of other figure kits that Heller manufactures: Kit no. 119 2. Eme D.B (I), Kit no. 111 Chasseur de Chars and Kit no. 115 Group Mortier.
Heller did not include the kit numbers to the descriptions of these kits. I got the kit numbers off the Scale Mates web site and added them. Bad move Heller!
Heller did not include the kit numbers to the descriptions of these kits. I got the kit numbers off the Scale Mates web site and added them. Bad move Heller!
The bottom of the box says: French Battle Group, Saharan Company. This box contains about 50 parts to assemble 3 figurines with many accessories.
In French, English and German, with each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag that speaks the language. Kit made in France.
I counted the parts in this kit and there are only 35, and not 50 like the box says.
In French, English and German, with each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag that speaks the language. Kit made in France.
I counted the parts in this kit and there are only 35, and not 50 like the box says.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 4 chalk-white parts trees.
The trees are not alphabetized. Instead, they are numbered 1 to 4.
The 1st chalk-white parts tree holds the halves of the camel (2 parts)
This kit contains 4 chalk-white parts trees.
The trees are not alphabetized. Instead, they are numbered 1 to 4.
The 1st chalk-white parts tree holds the halves of the camel (2 parts)
The 2nd chalk-white parts tree holds the camel’s head etc. (8 parts)
The 3rd chalk-white parts tree holds: the parts of the standing man (divided into separate head, front and back of torso, arms and legs), binoculars, pistol in holster and saddle (11 parts)
The 4th (and last) chalk-white parts tree holds: the parts of the man riding the camel (divided into separate head, torso halves, arms and legs), rifle, bayonet in scabbard, ammo pouches, base plate etc. (14 parts)
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, printed on both sides in 8 ¼” x 12” format, folded twice to fit the box.
The face side is all in French. It gives the history of the group, color listing, IMPORTANT info and a customer assistance coupon, down the left side of the page. On the right there are assembly drawings for the 2 figures and the camel, plus a black and white repeat of the cover art. There is also a sheet on orange paper, written in French, English and German, giving warnings about the glue capsule that is supplied in the kit.
The face side is all in French. It gives the history of the group, color listing, IMPORTANT info and a customer assistance coupon, down the left side of the page. On the right there are assembly drawings for the 2 figures and the camel, plus a black and white repeat of the cover art. There is also a sheet on orange paper, written in French, English and German, giving warnings about the glue capsule that is supplied in the kit.
The other side of the instructions gives the information in English and German.
This is a neat diorama waiting to happen.
Recommended.
This is a neat diorama waiting to happen.
Recommended.