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MAFVA Forum
The official forum for the Miniature AFV Association.
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Heller Bankrupt?
Jimmie
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 28, 2005
KitMaker: 230 posts
Armorama: 230 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 09, 2016 - 01:42 PM UTC
News via Hannants is that Heller have gone bust. A crying shame given their recent work especially in small scale Shermans.
Word up is to scarf up any kits you want now before there is a shortage, although one would hope that 'someone' would take the opportunity to buy the company. trouble is, everyone is short of funds for such chances.

Excrement occurs, and I pity the workforce.

Anyone heard anymore on this subject?

Paul Middleton
President MAFVA
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 09, 2016 - 02:18 PM UTC
Unfortunately, you're right. Someone is supposedly buying the company but with no links with the modeling industry.
The new owner is more likely interested in the injection press devices as it already makes plastic tools for pupils (punchs, rulers, etc.).

For me it's time to buy another VBCI.
deltatim
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England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: July 19, 2008
KitMaker: 7 posts
Armorama: 7 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 09, 2016 - 02:34 PM UTC
I think if you check Bloomberg news that the company who now own heller still want to produce kits according to there statement made to the press lets just hope they do..
HermannB
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Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 14, 2008
KitMaker: 4,099 posts
Armorama: 4,067 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 09, 2016 - 08:17 PM UTC
Lets hope they improve the quality! And re-tool the VAB kit!
SgtRam
Staff MemberContributing Writer
AEROSCALE
#197
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 06, 2011
KitMaker: 3,971 posts
Armorama: 2,859 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 09, 2016 - 09:46 PM UTC
I thought at one time Hornby(Airfix) was going to buy Heller? Or maybe it was just a licensing deal?
terminators
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France
Joined: February 20, 2012
KitMaker: 1,932 posts
Armorama: 1,907 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 09, 2016 - 10:26 PM UTC
According different news on the net, Mapped has acquired Heller.

I wonder what they will manufacture from now on. Will it be always models kits or something else ?



C_JACQUEMONT
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Loire-Atlantique, France
Joined: October 09, 2004
KitMaker: 2,433 posts
Armorama: 2,325 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - 05:15 PM UTC
The moulds are quite valuable, so the new company won't throw them away, maybe sell them to someone else?

Cheers,

Christophe
Scribe
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United Kingdom
Joined: July 04, 2008
KitMaker: 68 posts
Armorama: 65 posts
Posted: Friday, April 22, 2016 - 07:21 PM UTC
Heller produced some interesting kits, however their AMX-13 kits have now been surpassed by recent releases. However the VAB series was worth getting. So will ebay be flooded with Heller kits at astronomical prices?
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
Armorama: 2,447 posts
Posted: Friday, April 22, 2016 - 08:30 PM UTC
Hate to read that another legacy model company has passed. Aside from their old figure kits:,
Groupe Tabor
Méhariste: Saharan Camel Corps
French Colonial Senegalese
French Mountain Light Infantry

I haven't bought any Heller models in decades, so I do not know what they have produced lately.

Perhaps it is time to echo the Matchbox campaigns with a "Hurray for Heller" campaign?
EHAM0624
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Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: January 27, 2014
KitMaker: 200 posts
Armorama: 95 posts
Posted: Friday, April 22, 2016 - 08:37 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Perhaps it is time to echo the Matchbox campaigns with a "Hurray for Heller" campaign?



Hear, hear,.. i'm in
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
Armorama: 2,447 posts
Posted: Friday, April 22, 2016 - 11:24 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Perhaps it is time to echo the Matchbox campaigns with a "Hurray for Heller" campaign?



Hear, hear,.. i'm in



I better duck out while the duckin's good - I do not have the time to administer it, although I might be able to contribute.
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