{"product_id":"heller-60370-56370-canadair-cl-415-firefighting-aircraft-starter-kit-1-72-scale-plastic-model-kit","title":"Heller 60370\/56370 Canadair CL-415 Firefighting Aircraft Starter Kit — 1\/72 Scale Plastic model starter kit","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitle\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHeller 60370\/56370 Canadair CL-415 Firefighting Aircraft Starter Kit — 1\/72 Scale\n\u003cbr\u003eManufacturer and kit history\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHeller is the long-established French plastic-model manufacturer, particularly well known for its extensive range of French and European aircraft subjects. The CL-415 is one of its more distinctive modern civil\/emergency-service aircraft kits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe standard aircraft tooling is Heller 80370, while the starter-set version has appeared under 56370 and the older 60370 designation. The current Heller website identifies the starter kit as 56370, while the standard kit is 80370.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit represents the Canadair CL-415, the famous amphibious aerial firefighting aircraft commonly known as the \"Super Scooper.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Heller tooling was originally issued around 1998, and the kit has subsequently appeared in other manufacturer's catalogues, including Revell, Italeri and Airfix-related distributions. The underlying Heller kit contains 108 parts.\n\u003cbr\u003eKit contents\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1\/72 starter kit contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Canadair CL-415 plastic model\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    108 plastic parts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Clear parts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Decals\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Assembly instructions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Heller acrylic paints\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Heller paintbrush\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Heller polystyrene cement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2018 Heller catalogue gives the completed model dimensions as approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Length: 27.6 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Wingspan: 39.7 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Parts: 108\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Scale: 1\/72\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe starter set has the larger 37 × 25 × 7 cm packaging used for Heller's substantial starter kits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe current Heller starter-set page confirms that the box includes the aircraft together with cement, brush and main paints.\n\u003cbr\u003eThe full-size aircraft\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Canadair CL-415 was developed as the successor to the earlier Canadair CL-215, an aircraft specifically designed for aerial firefighting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe CL-215 first flew in 1967 and established the concept of a dedicated amphibious water bomber that could land on a suitable lake, scoop up water while skimming across the surface and immediately return to the fire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe CL-415 took that concept considerably further.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRather than the CL-215's piston engines, the CL-415 uses two Pratt \u0026amp; Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprops, each producing approximately 2,380 shp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe prototype CL-415 flew in 1993, with deliveries beginning in 1994. Approximately 95 aircraft were produced before production by Canadair\/Bombardier ended.\n\u003cbr\u003eWhat makes the CL-415 special\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft's most important feature is its ability to scoop water without landing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe pilot approaches a suitable body of water at low altitude and skims the hull across the surface. Special water probes scoop water into the aircraft's tanks while the aircraft continues flying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHeller states that the aircraft can scoop water at approximately 110 km\/h.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis gives the CL-415 an enormous operational advantage over conventional firefighting aircraft that have to return to an airport to land, refill and take off again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA suitable lake or reservoir can effectively become a temporary airborne-firefighting refuelling station.\n\u003cbr\u003eWater capacity\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe CL-415 carries approximately 6,140 litres of water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft can release that water rapidly over a fire, then return to a nearby lake for another scoop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis allows repeated drops during a single sortie and is particularly valuable in areas where fires are close to suitable bodies of water.\n\u003cbr\u003eDesign changes from the CL-215\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the CL-415 looks remarkably similar to the CL-215, it incorporates substantial changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe most obvious are:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Turboprop engines instead of piston engines\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Revised engine nacelles\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Improved aerodynamics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Revised wingtip fins\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Additional tail fins\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Strengthened structure\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Improved avionics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Improved navigation equipment\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Increased firefighting capability\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHeller specifically notes the distinctive fins and the replacement of the CL-215's piston engines with the two turboprops.\n\u003cbr\u003eService history\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe CL-415 became one of the world's most recognisable specialist firefighting aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt has operated with civil protection and firefighting organisations in numerous countries, particularly those exposed to severe seasonal wildfires.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNotable operators have included:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Canada\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    France\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Italy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Greece\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Croatia\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Spain\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    United States\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Turkey\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    other Mediterranean countries\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrance's Sécurité Civile became an especially important operator.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHeller specifically notes that the French service received its first CL-415 on 9 February 1995.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe French aircraft are particularly recognisable in their distinctive yellow and red Sécurité Civile markings, which are represented by the Heller kit.\n\u003cbr\u003eProduction and later ownership\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe CL-415 was initially a Canadair product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCanadair became part of Bombardier Aerospace, and production subsequently continued under Bombardier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter production ended, the type certificate and associated rights passed to Viking Air in 2016.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft has consequently had a remarkably long operational life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMore recently, the design has been revived in the form of the DHC-515 Firefighter, developed by De Havilland Canada as a successor to the CL-415.\n\u003cbr\u003eFull-size aircraft price\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe CL-415 is unusual because there is no straightforward current \"new aircraft price\" for an original Canadair CL-415.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA historical estimate gives approximately C$37 million per aircraft in 2014 money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThat figure should not be treated as a current 2026 transaction price for a CL-415. The aircraft is out of original production, and individual used aircraft can vary enormously in value depending upon:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    airframe hours;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    engine hours;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    maintenance status;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    corrosion;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    firefighting equipment;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    remaining structural life;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    avionics;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    regulatory certification;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    and operator history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor your catalogue I would record:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHistorical new-build price: approximately C$37 million (2014 estimate)\n\u003cbr\u003eCurrent original CL-415 market: specialist used aircraft; no reliable standard current selling price.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Heller","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57512972419452,"sku":"Heller-60370","price":28.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0432\/8584\/0033\/files\/017D1948-4927-4E70-AABA-DB961B639BA5.jpg?v=1790662388","url":"https:\/\/sussex-model-centre.co.uk\/products\/heller-60370-56370-canadair-cl-415-firefighting-aircraft-starter-kit-1-72-scale-plastic-model-kit","provider":"Sussex Model Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}