Notes on improving the kit, and how to modify the kit to the other Ariane 5 versions.

Notes on the Heller Ariane 5

The Heller kit (nr. 60441) is for an Ariane 5G.

The kit dimensions are accurate. There are a few differences between the kit and photos I've seen of the Ariane 5. These are mostly a matter of paint colors.

• Step 1: the engine must be aluminium, Humbrol 11, including part 4.
• Step 2: part 2, 3, 4 must be aluminium, Humbrol 11.
• Step 4: the tank, part 6 must be aluminium, Humbrol 11.
• Step 5: the tank, part 7 must be aluminium, Humbrol 11, or metal foil (it's wrapped in silver insulation blanket).
• Step 6: the tank base, part 9 must be white, Humbrol 22.
• Step 13: part 22 must be natural metal (Humbrol 11), and you must install 2x part 22 on each solid booster. There are 2 locating notches on the nozzle.
• Step 9: On the EPS stage integrated in part 13, the covers on the reaction control system are incomplete: to make sure the part can be released from the mould, these covers have been cut off. The covers should be symmetrical.

The fairing in the kit seems to contain a SPELTRA. For most launches, the SYLDA was used instead. I haven't found any external differences between the two.

The Heller Ariane 5 'Mission Jules Verne'

Heller also produced the 'Mission Jules Verne' kit (52909), which contains an Ariane 5 ES ATV. This has a new (more detailed) EPS upper stage, and a payload fairing with interior detail. These parts allow you to build an Ariane with its payload on display.

Unfortunately, there are differences between the 5G and the ES ATV that have not been included in the model. The ES ATV uses the first stage and boosters of the Ariane 5 ECA. You can convert the kit.

Converting the Heller Ariane 5 to other versions

Modifications for the ECA

ECA first stage: EPC H173

• The size of the stage remains the same.
• For most missions, the insulation tiles on the first stage (EPC) and second stage (ESC-A) are light blue instead of beige.
• The stage has a new engine, the Vulcain II. The main visible difference is the turbopump exhausts (part 2 and 3): on the Vulcain 2 the exhausts are connected to a ring on the nozzle, the exhaust is vented through the nozzle to provide film cooling of the nozzle walls.
  
• On the first stage engine, step 5 of the instructions indicates 2 copies of part 7+8 (high-pressure helium tanks). This is correct for the 5G, but the ECA only has 1 tank here.
  
• On the first stage, there is one electrical conduit instead of 2. Delete parts 14 (2x) and 22 (2x). Create a new conduit, 3 mm wide and 1 mm thick, and place it between parts 15 and 16.
  
• Part 13 of the kit contains the EPC, VEB and part of the fairing. You have to remove the VEB and insert the ESC-A stage here. The image on the right shows where they are and where you have to cut these parts. You can cut on the panel lines.

Solid boosters

• The EAP-238 and 241 boosters each consist of 7 segments. The joints (visible as thicker bands on the model) are bronze (I think this is a metal hoop around the joint). On the EAP-241A, these joints were changed: most of the booster segments are welded together in the factory, and the boosters are shipped in 3 parts, so 3 field joints remain. The welds are still visible as slightly thicker bands around the segment. They are painted white.
• The EAP-238 boosters have 2 hydraulic tanks (part 20) at the base of each booster (these provide power for the thrust vectoring system). On the EAP-241, this is replaced by a single, larger tank.

ESC-A second stage

• On the Ariane 5G, the EPS second stage is not visible on the model: it is placed inside the VEB. The ESC-A stage is much larger, and is visible between the first stage and the VEB., see above.