In Box Review of Heller 1/35th Scale
De Combat France
1 re Armee Francaise 1944-1945
Groupe Mortier 81
Mortar Group
Kit no. 115
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production
I paid a mere $3.50 for my kit back in the 70’s.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production
I paid a mere $3.50 for my kit back in the 70’s.
HISTORY:
An 81 mm mortar is a medium-weight mortar. It is a smooth-bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for long-range indirect fire support to light infantry, air assault, and airborne units across the entire front of a battalion zone of influence.
THE KIT:
Heller is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer based in France. They make numerous plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a blousy shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. The box is 2 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 of the box shows a color illustration of a 3-man French mortar team, posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts.
The men all wear khaki uniforms, with steel helmets. Their trousers are bloused at the bottoms over cuffs above low brown shoes.
The man on the right is operating the mortar. He has a rifle slung on his back, a canteen and ammo pouches on his belt.
The mortar is bare-steel color.
The second man is standing and bent forward to load a round into the mortar. He also has a canteen and ammo pouches on his belt.
The third man is standing and holding out another mortar round to the second man with his right hand. He has his left hand over his ear. He also has a canteen, ammo pouches and a bayonet in scabbard on his belt.
There are two mortar round containers laying on the ground.
The bottom of the box says: French Infantry Battle Group: French mortar team. This box contains about 50 parts to assemble 3 figures with many accessories, arms, helmets and packs. This is said in English and German, with each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
An 81 mm mortar is a medium-weight mortar. It is a smooth-bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for long-range indirect fire support to light infantry, air assault, and airborne units across the entire front of a battalion zone of influence.
THE KIT:
Heller is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer based in France. They make numerous plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a blousy shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. The box is 2 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 of the box shows a color illustration of a 3-man French mortar team, posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts.
The men all wear khaki uniforms, with steel helmets. Their trousers are bloused at the bottoms over cuffs above low brown shoes.
The man on the right is operating the mortar. He has a rifle slung on his back, a canteen and ammo pouches on his belt.
The mortar is bare-steel color.
The second man is standing and bent forward to load a round into the mortar. He also has a canteen and ammo pouches on his belt.
The third man is standing and holding out another mortar round to the second man with his right hand. He has his left hand over his ear. He also has a canteen, ammo pouches and a bayonet in scabbard on his belt.
There are two mortar round containers laying on the ground.
The bottom of the box says: French Infantry Battle Group: French mortar team. This box contains about 50 parts to assemble 3 figures with many accessories, arms, helmets and packs. This is said in English and German, with each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
Both side panels say the same info in just French.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 3 dark-green parts trees.
Trees are not alphabetized. Instead, they are numbered 1 to 3.
The 1st dark-green tree holds the man, who is kneeling and loading the mortar. He is divided into separate head, torso halves, arms and legs. Also on the tree there are: a bipod, bayonet in scabbard, ammo pouches, helmet, 2 mortar rounds, canteen, rifle and a base plate (18 parts)
The kit holds 3 dark-green parts trees.
Trees are not alphabetized. Instead, they are numbered 1 to 3.
The 1st dark-green tree holds the man, who is kneeling and loading the mortar. He is divided into separate head, torso halves, arms and legs. Also on the tree there are: a bipod, bayonet in scabbard, ammo pouches, helmet, 2 mortar rounds, canteen, rifle and a base plate (18 parts)
The 2nd dark-green tree holds the man putting the round in the mortar. He is divided the same as the 1st man. He has a rifle slung on his back, ammo pouches, canteen on his belt, a base plate to mount him on (14 parts)
The 3rd dark-green tree holds the man handing a mortar round to the 2nd man. He is divided the same as the other two men, with the same equipment on him.
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 of the instructions is all in French. It includes the history of the group, paint colors and a customer assistance coupon on the left side.
On the right there are 4 assembly drawings. The 3 figures are shown illustrating their fronts and backs. The mortar is shown once and an illustration of the team all together is included.
The back of the instructions gives all the info again in English and German.
This is a diorama waiting to happen.
Recommended.
The face side of the instructions is all in French. It includes the history of the group, paint colors and a customer assistance coupon on the left side.
On the right there are 4 assembly drawings. The 3 figures are shown illustrating their fronts and backs. The mortar is shown once and an illustration of the team all together is included.
The back of the instructions gives all the info again in English and German.
This is a diorama waiting to happen.
Recommended.