Scale model kit FROG F418 Heinkel He115

FROG F418 Heinkel He115

Rovex 1974

Rovex F418 Heinkel He115, Rovex Models&Hobbies Ltd, 1974

Heinkel He115C-1
†† F418 (1974-1976) -(O) -50 (2xLW)

Never released. Mould completed May 1977 and some test mouldings later sold. Finnish AF markings were also considered at one point. It is believed that neither decals nor boxes were ever printed for the He 115. Alternative parts were provided for an early or late C-l version.

†† Project only; this is used for the late Frog projects for which moulds were completed and test mouldings produced, but which were never issued as Frog kits

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom
Revell logo

Revell (GB) H-241 Heinkel He 115C, Revell (Great Britain) Ltd.,1977

Revell (Great Britain) Ltd., Cranborne Road, Potters Bar. Hertfordshire, England EN6 3JX
Period; 1977-1981?

Once the most important Revell branch outside the USA, the Potters Bar factory was closed down at the end of 1980. However, the company still exists as a distributor of German-made kits.

In the final years, Revell (GB) produced - among other things - the former Frog kits listed below. The British and German Revell branches co-operated closely and it is therefore not surprising that most of their issues are very similar to each other. The Bf 110, Do 335 and Me410 did, however, have boxes and decals more like the US than the German issues.

It should also be noted that the Rufe (and possibly also one or two others) were sold in two different size boxes.

H-241 Heinkel He 115C

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom
Revell
Ex Frog kits reissued. 1/72nd scale. Prices vary.

ALTHOUGH the Russian manufacturer Novo has re-issued many of the Frog kits, it has refused to touch models of anything connected with Germany, Italy or Japan. Happily this state of affairs has improved of late as Revell has released eleven of the old Frog kits under their banner. These include two kits that Frog never generally released to our knowledge, the Nakajima Zero RUFE floatplane and the Heinkel He115C-1 both quite good kits and to form the subject of larger reviews in a forthcoming issue.

The other kits will be more familiar to our readers and they are the Heinkel He162A-2, Focke Wulf Ta152H, Fiat G55, Messerschmitt Me Bf110G-4, Messerschmitt Me410 A-1/U-4, Arado Ar234 "Blitz", Heinkel He111 H-1 and Dornier Do17Z.

No attempt has been made at cleaning up the models as far as we can gather; decals - remain the same and the poor box art is also retained, which could have been improved upon. Gone too, lamentably, is the familiar Frog full colour painting guide but these are well laid out on the detailed instruction leaflets which are indeed an improvement on the originals.

Reviews of most of the reissued kits have already appeared in post issues of SM so we resist the temptation to reiterate. These modellers to whom the kits will be new may care to look up the following references. We reviewed the Ta152 in the February 1971 issue, the Do17Z in the October 1971 issue, the Me110 in the September 1971 issue, the Heinkel He111 in the September 1972 issue and the Do335 in the July 1975 issue. Current prices range from 40p for the He162, Ta152, Rufe and Fiat G55, 80p for the Me110G-4, Me410, and Do335 to £1.15 for the Ar234, He111, He115and Do17Z. Interesting to reflect that the He111 was 81p six years ago, so the enthusiast has little to grumble about.

Someday, someone will sit down and write the history of the Frog kit right from its inception, via Penguins and up to the seventies- and it will make fascinating reading ...
ED

Scale Models Vol. 9 No. 101 February 1978
Revell logo

Revell (Germany) H-241, 0241 Heinkel He 115C, Revell Plastics GmbH., 1977

Revell Plastics GmbH. Postfach 2609, D-4980 Bunde 1, West Germany
Period: 1977 to date

Since the closure of the British and Spanish branches, this is the only Revell production plant left in Europe. It is also handling all sales to Africa and the Middle East.

Together with Revell (GB), the German branch was the first to use the former Frog moulds. It is also the only one to have issued the kits in different box styles and under different kit numbers.

The first issues - except for the Fiat and Ar234, which used retouched photos of the actual models - all had the old Frog artwork and also decals similar to the Frog ones. The He 115 was an exception since no artwork or decals had been prepared for Frog. All kit numbers had an H-prefix.

In 1982, all kit numbers became computerized and the prefix was deleted; H-80 thus becoming 0080 etc. By this time, the Fiat and Rufe had already been dropped. Also, the Me 410 never went through this stage.

Beginning in 1983, the current system was introduced. In this, all aircraft kits get a number starting with 4. The Me 410 was first, followed by the Ta 152, Bf 110 and He 111 in 1984, the Do 335 in 1985 and the Ar234 and Do 17 in 1986. Remaining kits have been dropped, and the Me410 was also discontinued by 1986. In 1987, only the Ar234, He 111 and Bf 110 remained in production. The kits reissued 1983-1985 got completely new boxes while the 1986 ones remained more-or-less unchanged. The 1984—1985 reissues also sported the new Ceji-Revell logo.

Further changes will no doubt be carried out in the future.

1st no. 2nd no. 3rd no.
H-241 0241 — Heinkel He 115C

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom
Congost logo

Congost/Revell 241 Heinkel He115, Luis Congost, S.A., 1980

Luis Congost, S.A., Travesia Industrial 247. L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Period: 1980?-1983?

One of several Revell subsidiaries to use the former Frog moulds, Congost is unusual in that they are believed to have used two of the moulds not used by Revell elsewhere, namely the FW 190A and Bf 109F. The kit numbers for these two were presumably allocated locally. All other numbers were the same as used by Revell in other countries but lacked the usual H-prefix.

Artwork etc. was similar to that used in Germany but Congost in some cases provided new decal sheets; e.g. the He 115 came with a selection of Luftwaffe, RAF and Norwegian markings.

Congost is no longer involved with Revell, the Spanish market now coming under the German factory.

241Heinkel He 115C

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom
Kikoler SA logo

Kikoler/Revell H-241 Heinkel He115C, A. Kikoler Com. e Ind. de Plasticos S.A., 1979

A. Kikoler Com. e Ind. de Plasticos S.A., Rua Francisco Portela 175. Rio de Janeiro. RJ. Brazil
Period: 1979? to date?

Kikoler is one of the major Revell branches in the world and has, at one time or another, produced a high percentage of the Revell kits released over the last thirty years. This includes the normal assortment of ex-Frog kits. Recent economical problems have caused Kikoler to reduce their kit range and it is possible that the ex-Frogs are not presently in production. However, chances are that they will be reintroduced later on.

Packaging is similar to that used by Revell (GB), except for the Bf 110, Do 335 and Me410, which have boxes similar to those used in the USA (albeit larger).

H-241 Heinkel He115C

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom
Lodela logo

Lodela/Revell H-241 Heinkel He 115C, Plasticos Lodela S.A., 1979

Plasticos Lodela S.A., Berlin 34, Col. del Carmen, Coyoacan, Mexico 21, D.F., Mexico
Period: 1979? to date

Lodela was started in the 1950s to manufacture Revcll kits for the local market. In 1986 a number of Heller kits were added to the range, but until then the company handled only Revell kits. Like all other Revell companies, Lodela have also handled the ex-Frog kits. Even if only a few have been positively identified to date, it is probably safe to assume that the normal eleven-kit assortment has been produced at one time or another.

Packaging does seem to follow US practice for some kits, European practice for others and a unique Mexican standard for the rest. It is not impossible that certain kits have been issued with more than one style of box. Numbering follows usual Revell standard. However, in 1985 an R was added to the kit numbers on all lists and catalogues. So far, only the Ta 152H has actually appeared with this on the box, but others may follow in due course.

Incidentally, Lodela took its name from the founder and present manager, Sr. Apolo Lopez de Lara.

* H-241 Heinkel He 115C


+ Project only, never released
* Existence probable but as yet unconfirmed
** Existence possible, information uncertain
*** Existence unlikely but not totally impossible

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Tsukuda

  • 09.11.Z0ZZ
    •

    Matchbox 70 logo

    Matchbox PK-401, Heinkel He115, Lesney Productd & Co Ltd., 1975

    MODEL ENTHUSIAST
    A pair of Heinkels...

    Over the two-and-a-half years or so in which Lesney has been issuing 1/72nd scale aircraft kits in its 'Matchbox' range, this company has filled out a remarkably good catalogue, but has, hitherto, restricted itself primarily to single-engined types with the occasional foray into the 'smaller twin' category. Now, however, Lesney has expanded its activities with a Red Range of larger twin-engined aircraft, which are priced reasonably enough in the UK at 85p, and has simultaneously released an initial batch of no fewer than four kits, the first two of which are wartime progeny of the Ernst Heinkel AG.

    The most eye-catching of these is the He 115B-1 torpedo-bombing float seaplane, a type never before offered as an injection-moulded kit. Impressive in size and intriguing in configuration, this kit makes up into an attractive model which we cannot fault either as to accuracy or ease of assembly, although, in so far as the latter is concerned, it should be realised that a little extra care is necessary in lining up the float assemblies, an operation fortunately aided by the rigid main N-struts and the generally good fit of the component parts. The engines are moulded in half-relief on flat backings, but the close cowlings of the BMW 132 nine-cylinder radials and the relatively large propeller spinners strictly limit the amount of power plant that can be seen and, in consequence, the engines look effective when appropriately painted. At this point, it should perhaps be mentioned that the air intakes moulded into the tops of the forward float struts will look more effective when hollowed out.

    The transparencies are a noteworthy feature of this kit, the principal one being the longest single canopy moulding for a 1/72nd scale model that we can recall seeing. There are four separate nose transparency sections which call for very careful assembly. The provision of additional detail inside the cockpits would certainly repay the effort that it demands. Surface detailing is not extensive but what there is is effective and the surface of the plastic — as is the case with 'Matchbox' kits in general — is extremely smooth and the components are not marred by any vestige of flash.

    With 59 component parts moulded in olive drab, sky, light blue and clear plastic, this is a fine kit and the accompanying decal sheet offers markings for three examples, these being aircraft operated by 1.Staff el of Ku's-tenfliegergruppe 406 which operated from S0rreisa, near Tromso, Norway, l./Ku.Fl.Gr.706 which operated from Aal-borg, Denmark, with a mixed complement of He 115Bsand Ar 196As in 1940-41, and the one and only He 115A-2 taken into the inventory of Finland's Ilmavoimien, this being ex Norway's Marinens Flyvevdben and serving in turn with LeLv 15 and LeLv 46 during 1941-43.
    F J HENDERSON

    Air Enthusiast 1975-12 vol.09 no.06