Good evening, gentlemen
It’s practically my holy grail (as I used to be an anti-aircraft gunner in the Swiss Army myself – a long time ago…): the good old AMX-13 DCA from Heller. Even though there are quite a few things that can or need to be added or changed, I think that, given the fact that the kit dates from the 1970s (?), we’re dealing with a perfectly acceptable model here…
First impressions:
Greetings from Switzerland !
Roger
Delighted to see this one; I have the same kit - keen to portray it as a French version - in due course.
Mine will be French as well. We’ve never used the anti-aircraft version. As far as I know, it was only used by the French army.
Nice work so far. That kit sure brings back memories. The AMX-13 used to be featured on the Army Vehicle ID deck of cards.
Do you have a scheme in mind?
Sold such a kit years ago. Shouldn’t have.
I am looking forward to your progress!
I have tried to build Heller kits for many years, and they have been awful, warped, lack of details, track don’t fit.! Both the AMX-30 and the DCA were the same crap.!!
First off, welcome to the forum.
I agree Heller kits do not fall together, but with work (or a little TLC as one of our members likes to say) they’ll come out fine. I’ve built their tracked 155 and a few other kits, and still have a few in the stash, including two Super Frelons. I won’t hesitate to build them.
Let me say; Not everything Heller makes is pure junk ! But you would think that as long as they have been in this Hobby that they would strive to Improve there products. Now if the other Company’s can offer Reboxed and improved than Heller can also. FYI I have been A member in this forum since 2011 and enjoyed it when there were two different forums; Russo/Soviet and then Allied. My Handle was
Grunt136mike
First let Me Appolagize for my Rant; I had No intention of trying to hijack this thread.
I have long awaited both the DCA and the AMX/DCA and have built both kits in my collection. Looking forward to seeing your progress in this build
I have an AMX 30 DCA, but attacked the turret with a saw to fit a Centurion turret 
So with me it was fine.
Your AMX13 looks very nice
Maybe you could start with the Frelon soon, I own one, I think my most expensive 2nd hand kit
Rabbits
According to Jane’s Armour and Artillery 1985–86, the French Army had sixty, and nobody else had any at all. The AMX-30 DCA was likewise used only by Saudi-Arabia.
I’ll - eventually - be aiming for something like this:
But in a firing position, or rather, that’s the plan - one day!
I did recognise the surname and was just about to check if my memory was correct.
Welcome back Mike!
I have also built some Heller armour kits (their GMC CCKW was problem free) and they
do have issues, the AMX-30 were worst. Very weak mounting of the road wheel suspension arms for instance.
With all the Takom AMX-13s out it would be great to have an aftermarket AA turret. Unless someone makes one that I’m not aware of. I’d definitely get one, but also the other versions of the vehicle.
I agree! I’m inclined to cut Heller a fair bit of slack; back in the day who else did the national tank of France? An early offering from Tamiya true, but it was the Heller kit that was the only one readily available.
And all the rest? No one else did them if one wanted representative models of French Army kit; granted the plastic was brittle, and the tracks a bit of a trial, but let’s not forget they did transparencies before just about anyone else – cupolas and lights - so were ahead of the game in a way. I didn’t even mind their figures too much, and – in my opinion – managed to get the best out of them I feel (I’ve shown this pic far too often but there we go!):
And this one:
Well, I’d agree that aftermarket tracks are a necessity, but they too are out there; the rest? Scratch and detailling - which we all know how to do(!)
That’ll hide a lot of sins. 
But scratching that turret wouldn’t be easy …,
If we’re talking about the DCA turret I don’t think the kit one is actually too bad. Cam nets are your friend here - or at least mine(!)
