Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Predatorpt on June 22, 2013, 01:25:00 AM
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I can't take any credit for this, I found it somewhere (it was on a AT-43 ONI thread, on another forum) but I need to share it with you guys.
Heller relaunched these simple toy scale models called Kit Clac:
(http://kitbox.free.fr/ouvreboite/OB1205_P/index_fichiers/image292.jpg)
(http://kitbox.free.fr/ouvreboite/OB1205_P/index_fichiers/image294.jpg)
(http://kitbox.free.fr/ouvreboite/OB1205_P/index_fichiers/image286.jpg)
(http://kitbox.free.fr/ouvreboite/OB1205_P/index_fichiers/image2881.jpg)
Original Source: http://kitbox.free.fr/ouvreboite/OB1205_P/
They are cheap and easy to build (with some real nice details - like the back hatch opening and latching) and convert. According to some sites, they are 1/43 and size up great with most 28mm figures (and with my ONI vehicles).
The current Heller catalogue only has these 2 versions (missile launcher and AA) but many years ago, Airfix sold them under a different name and had a tank version:
(http://www.vintage-airfix.com/images/04910gladiator.jpg)
Original source: http://www.vintage-airfix.com/airfix/battle-zoneairfix-junior/commando-force-gladiator-p-1167.html
They also sold the missile launcher version:
(http://www.vintage-airfix.com/images/04903.jpg)
http://www.vintage-airfix.com/airfix/battle-zoneairfix-junior/shadow-fighters-eclipse-p-1166.html
My main problem is buying them, because my Ebay sources seem to have dried up. But I guess our members in the UK or France should be more lucky in finding some. I'll try and take some pictures of them with some miniatures during this week.
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And another pic of the tank version from Heller (this version seems to be out of production):
(http://i44.servimg.com/u/f44/16/34/51/12/vbc11.jpg)
(http://i44.servimg.com/u/f44/16/34/51/12/vbc_211.jpg)
http://dinky-toys-forum.fr-bb.com/t5208-heller-143
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Nice to see them back . These were popular in the Nineties as you could get 5 or 6 for the price of a Rhino .. lol They do fit 28mm's rather well too .
You can still find the Airfix version on ebay from time to time for next to nothing .
It's supposed to be this , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VBC-90 . Its not a good likeness though .
Although the AA gun and Exocet launcher never left the drawing board.
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Looking on Evilbay i've found much more versions of those! Mainly civilian vehicles:
(http://www.creativemodels.co.uk/images/Products/HEL52011Gl.jpg)
If they really scale well with 28mm, that could be a cheap and interesting option!
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Looking on Evilbay i've found much more versions of those! Mainly civilian vehicles:
(http://www.creativemodels.co.uk/images/Products/HEL52011Gl.jpg)
If they really scale well with 28mm, that could be a cheap and interesting option!
I can't say for sure if the civilian vehicles fit, I only bought the VBC-90s :?
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Anyone know of a UK stockist for the Heller VBC 90's?
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Anyone know of a UK stockist for the Heller VBC 90's?
I'm working on finding one - but he usually sells the Airfix versions. ;)
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If I remember correctly The Airfix junior Gladiator (tank) and Eclipse (Missile launcher) had helicopter, missile boat and light aircraft companions in roughly the same scale (1/48ish).
The Vans , Landrovers, and motorbikes are way too big .
They are meant for young kids really , so what they lack in finesse , the gain in robustness ..
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I'm working on finding one - but he usually sells the Airfix versions. ;)
Either sounds useful to my purposes, so if you find a supplier, do tell! :D
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I bought quite a few of these in their Airfix Junior guise as The Dungeon in Belfast seemed to carry them quite often though that was few years ago now. I had guessed they originally came from Heller as there seemed to be of French prototypes and the figures that came with them had FA-MAS rifles so it is nice to see I was correct.
The plastic they are moulded from is a bit odd and is resistant to some types of glue, any suggestions on what to use would be very welcome.
A very slow project is to make some as futuristic APCs to accompany some Pig Iron militia armed with remote weapon mounts from Old Crow. At one point I did a list of possibly variants which was surprisingly long but shows that a good and useful chassis can serve a lot of different roles. One version I did want to make was one with a large remote gun on top like the LAV-25 based M1128 Mobile Gun System but this faltered as I could never get the gun right.
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If I remember correctly The Airfix junior Gladiator (tank) and Eclipse (Missile launcher) had helicopter, missile boat and light aircraft companions in roughly the same scale (1/48ish).
The Vans , Landrovers, and motorbikes are way too big .
They are meant for young kids really , so what they lack in finesse , the gain in robustness ..
Hmmm...I'll have to investigate that. The other Airfix Junior kits usually pop-up on Ebay...
Either sounds useful to my purposes, so if you find a supplier, do tell! :D
Will do ;)
I bought quite a few of these in their Airfix Junior guise as The Dungeon in Belfast seemed to carry them quite often though that was few years ago now. I had guessed they originally came from Heller as there seemed to be of French prototypes and the figures that came with them had FA-MAS rifles so it is nice to see I was correct.
The plastic they are moulded from is a bit odd and is resistant to some types of glue, any suggestions on what to use would be very welcome.
A very slow project is to make some as futuristic APCs to accompany some Pig Iron militia armed with remote weapon mounts from Old Crow. At one point I did a list of possibly variants which was surprisingly long but shows that a good and useful chassis can serve a lot of different roles. One version I did want to make was one with a large remote gun on top like the LAV-25 based M1128 Mobile Gun System but this faltered as I could never get the gun right.
I never had to glue anything on them, but I'll let you know when I do it - I'll try and use some Revell glue. That idea of yours - the variants with Old Crow turrets sounds good. What ones did you have in mind? I've got a couple of turrets that I want to try ;)
As for the Mobile Gun System, but I'll try a Oni tank turret o_o I'll try and take some pictures tomorrow ;)
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Just had a quick look on ebay, no sign of the armoured stuff when I searched, but there was a seaplane that looks like it might be good for pulp games, also a helicopter with floats
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I'd be tempted to get a couple and stick Old Crow turrets on them to sci fi them up.
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I'd be tempted to get a couple and stick Old Crow turrets on them to sci fi them up.
I've just tried that and the turrets look damm good on the vehicles. Unfortunately I can't take pictures just now, maybe later today.
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The VBC90 one looks fine, just thinking about the other two which look a bit dated or toyish compared to that one. Especially the first which looks like a WW2 Sherman turret.
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Oh excellent I remember those kits being available long ago here in Australia too. I did up one for my Arbites and always meant to do up 2 of the tank ones I'd gotten and shortened the barrels on.
http://robjedi.blogspot.com.au/2009/07/aegis-defence-line-arbite-thin-blue.html
My APC from the missile version is in the back here. I'd forgotten who made the kit.
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The Old Crow website is not open for business so I cannot link to them. It is a great set, two mounts with a choice of three weapons for each, a gun, with metal barrel, missile launcher and something else. I magnetised them easily enough so I can swap them around. They are perfect for an APC, the gun is big enough to be a canon, somewhere around 20 or 30mm, but as it is SF can be whatever you want. I think it is quite possibly their most useful set but I might be biased.
It is a few years since I last messed about with these kits but I know there are a couple partially converted ones lying around and a pile of bits for others. I took a dislike to some of the moulded on detail on the hulls and removed it. Ordinary filler, Squadron I think, seemed to like the plastic well enough but Humbrol liquid cement seemed to have a problem with it. I did not use superglue as I dislike using it and think plastic cement a better glue for plastics – if you can fin done that bites.
The hole in the top for the turret was enlarged on one to take a GW sized turret, the Rhino one as it looks nice and I had a couple of extra ones. It was also a useful standard size to work to for turret swapping. The other was to be a 4 × 4 APC so was to get the Old Crow small remote mount.
They should end up on the table with some Pig Iron militia figures, eventually!
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Rob_Jedi - that idea of gluing the top panel on the APC is great, I'll have to copy that.
Klingsor - the turrets that I'm using are these ones:
(http://www.oldcrowmodels.co.uk/25mm/slingsht/sliwl.jpg)
If liquid cement doesn't do the trick, I'll go for the superglue ;)
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Nice idea, Rob. Looks great as a riot control vehicle-- I can see it working well with the Copplestone cops.
Now I suppose if I find one of these on Ebay, I'll be bidding against half the people on this forum. ::)
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Ok, the seller I had seen some time ago is back and selling lots of Airfix Junior stuff on Ebay.co.uk. Just search for "Airfix Junior "Gladiator" light tank" or "Airfix Junior "Eclipse" light missile tank". :D
Just a warning - UK only auctions :-X
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No no; back off; I'm watching those... :D ;D
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You are safe from me, I have a drawer full of them. Good luck chaps but there might be enough to go round.
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I was of course kidding good sir, but I must admit they have piqued my interest... ;)
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I already have sufficiant to my needs but the £3.00 starting price is about what I'd normally spend on one . What else can you get for that price ?
Scotia Grendel do some nice tank equipment , turret hatches and machine gun ball mounts , if you want to dress them up a bit .
It still works out far cheaper and more believable than a Rhino :D
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Well, I hope it wasn't my cheeky comment up there chasing people off, but I just won all three of those Gladiators for GBP 3,- a piece! :D
I suppose now I actually have to find a use for them too... ;D
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Finally took the photos with the Old Crow turrets:
With the Slingshot turret (without the additional add-ons):
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/Forums/06072013_004_zps348e29fa.jpg)
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/Forums/06072013_005_zps3f2b2bc8.jpg)
And with a Crossfire turret. This one has to be raised or else there's no way the turret can clear the rear deck and sides - I didn't use the bottom part of the turret, that should do the trick, but I'll check it another day:
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/Forums/06072013_006_zps47fc89d0.jpg)
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/Forums/06072013_007_zps9bbdc82e.jpg)
I also tried a Predator turret, adding the top plate of a Rhino/Predator so it can be raised a bit:
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/Forums/06072013_001_zps8dddcba5.jpg)
The figures you (barely) see on the "badly taken with a mobile" photo :P are (from L to R): a Void Marine, a Infinity figure and a Pig Iron Kolony trooper
I've also took a photo with the rear hatch open:
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/predatorpt/Forums/06072013_002_zpscce4ae2d.jpg)
Another option to consider is this turret, but I don't know its name, so I can't email Old Crow to buy it, lol.
(http://www.oldcrowmodels.co.uk/25mm/turret/lsupprtl.gif)
All in all, I really prefer the first turret - it does look the proper size. If I can buy some more, I'll definitely use them in my APCs.
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You can indeed buy some more, just email him using the email on the current old crow site.
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looking good :) The Turret you're looking for is the support Turret to fit with the Lancer and the Claymore APC Vehicles ;)
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Oh excellent I remember those kits being available long ago here in Australia too. I did up one for my Arbites and always meant to do up 2 of the tank ones I'd gotten and shortened the barrels on.
http://robjedi.blogspot.com.au/2009/07/aegis-defence-line-arbite-thin-blue.html
My APC from the missile version is in the back here. I'd forgotten who made the kit.
Indeed they were. I had a mate get me 4 or 5 back in the late 90s. I was using them for my IG chimeras for a while.
I only have one of them left (somewhere). But if I can find them again, I'll definitely pass on the info to my local gaming mates.
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Indeed they were. I had a mate get me 4 or 5 back in the late 90s. I was using them for my IG chimeras for a while.
I only have one of them left (somewhere). But if I can find them again, I'll definitely pass on the info to my local gaming mates.
Ok, so a wee little bit of threadomancy. Anyone have an ointment for it?
Thanks to the ODB posting this on another forum i found a new source and i wanted to pass it along.
This, the ODB doesn't tell me about directly. Made me work for it.
Anyway....
http://www.hlj.com/product/HEL52041/Mil
http://www.hlj.com/product/HEL52040/Mil
Under $7 a pop and decent shipping and In Stock to boot thought someone might be interested.
Grimm
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Ok, so a wee little bit of threadomancy. Anyone have an ointment for it?
Thanks to the ODB posting this on another forum i found a new source and i wanted to pass it along.
This, the ODB doesn't tell me about directly. Made me work for it.
Anyway....
http://www.hlj.com/product/HEL52041/Mil
http://www.hlj.com/product/HEL52040/Mil
Under $7 a pop and decent shipping and In Stock to boot thought someone might be interested.
Grimm
Nice find! Thanks for the links! ;)
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Ok, so a wee little bit of threadomancy. Anyone have an ointment for it?
Thanks to the ODB posting this on another forum i found a new source and i wanted to pass it along.
This, the ODB doesn't tell me about directly. Made me work for it.
Anyway....
http://www.hlj.com/product/HEL52041/Mil
http://www.hlj.com/product/HEL52040/Mil
Under $7 a pop and decent shipping and In Stock to boot thought someone might be interested.
Grimm
Yeah, I made you work for it, you lazy pup! How else will you ever learn how to be an internet toy sleuth? lol
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Yeah, I made you work for it, you lazy pup! How else will you ever learn how to be an internet toy sleuth? lol
Get back to work ODB and find me some VOTOMS I can use in appropiate scales.
Grimm
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Get back to work ODB and find me some VOTOMS I can use in appropiate scales.
Grimm
Fattys are $12.69 at the current exchange rate:
http://www.hlj.com/product/TAK14139/Act
If you'd had any sense YDB you'd have bought 'em up when they were less, but I suspect that at $12.69 they're still a good bargain.... 8)
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Fattys are $12.69 at the current exchange rate:
http://www.hlj.com/product/TAK14139/Act
If you'd had any sense YDB you'd have bought 'em up when they were less, but I suspect that at $12.69 they're still a good bargain.... 8)
Yep, been watching that every few days.
It wasn't that i didn't haves ens when they was on sale, i just didn't know if they would work and didn't want to waste monies.
Even at $12.69 i got one from eBay for cheaper, even comparing shipping from HLJ and eBay seller.
But i think i like their size and would get a few more.
But needs more than just Fatty's. Find me more than just Fatty's. AT-09's would be a nice change.
But i am glad the Heller Junior kits were located and for a good reasonable price. Gonna have to make a HLJ order here soon and snag a few. Think a half dozen is good for now? :-)
Now to find a source for the earlier kits. Gladiator and Eclipse.
Grimm