Ariane IV
This model kit has few parts (only 30). They are all big parts. Finaly, it is
a 60 cm tall model (~ 23 inches). The assembly is very simple and can be done
without glue. The Heller mold has some defects that can be easily corrected.
The painting is very easy too. Only few colors are used : Silver (Humbrol-11),
satin white (Humbrol-22), matt red-brown (Humbrol-100) and a clear brown
(Humbrol-119 for example). This last color will be used to show the refractory
brick seam on the 2nd floor. It seems that the bricks kind has changed since
1988.
The assembly is done without any problem. Let's talk about the painting. The
painting map has a fault on the nozzle cowl of the main floor (part #8). The
map says to paint these pieces in silver but these nozzles are normally
painted in white. The most interesting part is the refractory bricks floor.
This floor must be paint in matt red-brown (Humbrol-100). In reality, Ariane
has 8 brick floors. On the model kit, this floor is 54 mm tall (~ 2 inches),
so it takes 6.75 mm (~ 1/10 ") to represent a single brick floor. I
did use a paper stripe where I have drawn 7 horizontal lines. At this point,
the perimeter is 67 mm (~ 2.6"). I decided to make 5 bricks per floor. So
each brick is 13.5 mm long (~ 0.5"). Always with paper stripes, I draw
the vertical limit of the bricks and placed it in staggered rows. Then I
painted the brick bound roughly in clear brown (Humbrol-119). On the real
Ariane this bound is made with refractory mortar so it is not important to
make them accurate (efficiency is not necessary nice).
Next
step is to apply the decals. But Heller didn't make it clear. The three
"ESA" logos are places at a 120° angle each from another, like the
three "CNES" logos. The "ARIANESPACE" logo is used only
twice at a 180° angle.
Here it is ! Ariane is raised on its base. A last thing, it seems that the small fins placed on each booster has disappeared in the 90's. If you want to represent a later flight, you will have to withdraw these fins and lighten the bricks color.
Have
a good luck....
Here is a Heller model kit
proposed as #80440 reference.
It represents the 31st flight
of Ariane IV at the 1/125 scale.