New Merit 1/18 DAUNTLESS DISCUSSION

[cjg476]

Think we will see a banshee version of the USAAF type...I would be about that one....it would be neat and something different.

[Yoxford]

S2 is going to be Midway, Yorktown. I thought for sure they'd do Enterprise.

The S2 is the plane flown by Navy Cross holder Lt. Harold Bottomley...

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Harold Sydney Bottomley, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron THREE (VB-3), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 - 6 June 1942. Lieutenant Bottomley participated in dive-bombing attacks against Japanese naval forces in the Battle of Midway. Disregarding the extreme danger from intense anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighter opposition, he, vigorously and with heroic determination, pressed home his attacks against the Japanese invasion fleet thereby contributing in great measure to the glorious and decisive victory of our forces. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[Dauntless]

dunno. They may make them in batches of 1000 for each scheme, perhaps. S3 could be a Midway Enterprise version...just a guess. I have no idea what they have planned but i would bet on an Enterprise one at some point and a later war scheme or two as well. Might be a good strategy to, rather than make 10, 000 of one schme make 10 different schemes of 1000 each. Probably only a modest increase in production cost offset by a higher price and greater demand as many people could buy multiple schemes.

That would almost want to make me cancel the Coral Sea and order the Midway. The $149 is already going to be a hit in the pocketbook.
I want both versions though, and with an S2 in greater numbers might give me a little longer window to purchase the second one before they sell out. I don't want to miss the Midway version for sure.

That would be a good strategy though because everyone would be scrambling with the limited amount available.

Badcat mentioned in their blog they are sold out of half their allotment. I'm guessing 250 with the shared number at Military Toy Shop? They did mention that if these SBD's do well there will be more "toolings". http://www.talesofthecat.com/

Guess will wait and see more details on the number issued. No pre-order word of the S2 at Badcat yet.

[aferguson]

Badcat tends to be very 'optiimistic' in sales projections....so having half sold already makes me pause, but it's possible, i guess.

I would think Midway scheme(s) would be made in greater numbers myself, since it will be far more popular than a Coral Sea scheme, so there wil either be a lot of the one scheme or a few different Midway schemes, in my view.

I think most people will be holding out for a Midway version, since these arent' cheap and like me, many will have limited space issues.

Still seems to be a surprisingly small number of etailers offering the Dauntless. Nothing from Aviatornut, Rez, Smalljoes, Bigbadtoystore, Monkey Depot...and interesting that there is no variaton in price at all, either up or down, from the etailers that are offering it. I wonder if Merit is insisting on a fixed price?

[BLACKSNAKES]

[quote="aferguson"]Badcat tends to be very 'optiimistic' in sales projections....so having half sold already makes me pause, but it's possible, i guess.

quote]

Makes me wonder if that is a way to get those on the fence off the fence.

I placed my pre-order with MTS on Monday via telephone. Isaiah at MTS remarked that mine was the first pre-order via phone that they had received.
He did not mention internet pre-orders or how many if any they had received.

[456THBG]

Ordered a couple of Corsair pilots from Badcat today for the new Dauntless...Planning on using one for the Coral Sea version (S1), and the other for whatever the S2 version turnes out to be (when & if)...Figure I'll use an Avenger crew member for the rear seat...Sounds like that figure may have to be altered to fit!

[Yoxford]

wow! ....nice new pic of dive flaps deployed on Merit site

[rohirrimknight]

One of the picture from Merit website that show the dive flap in open position. I can see the pilot and crew figure inside the SBD.
http://www.merit-intl.com/month/1-27-12 ... 002pts.JPG

[aferguson]

i think that's a scale model of a Dauntless, not the actual 1/18 dauntless Merit is producing. The pilots were probably put in by the model builder. There has been no mention of pilot figures coming with it.

[rohirrimknight]

I already pre-order this S1. When I first see the picture, I though Merit find the way to solve the problem at the back seat and can now provide the pilot and crew.

[Dauntless]

BBi solved the problem with the 1:32 Dauntless by providing a gunner with his lower half cut off. This gunner station might be a little more detailed, but something like that might be an option.

[Ara]

The dive flaps on Merit's site show the center dive brake having red paint on the inside. I've never seen photo evidence of the red on the center brake. I have seen a color photo with the outboard flaps' interior red but the center painted gray. Anyone know for sure?

[Tinman]

BBi solved the problem with the 1:32 Dauntless by providing a gunner with his lower half cut off. This gunner station might be a little more detailed, but something like that might be an option.

That's a good thought. I've used legless pilots in several of my planes (e.g., Stuka, F-104, and F-14) and they look fine and are easy to put in or take out.

[plasticboy]

I've pre-order one of SBD, even the price plus international shipping fee will cost my penny that there is no other option.

[Ara]

I've pre-ordered this version as well. I think it's the only shot at getting a version with the red dot in the center of the stars, which I like. Anything early 1942 USN is desireable in my book. Plus in the 1/18 world, there is no garauntee of future liveries.

[jlspec]

I have pre-order this also. I agree with Ara this is probably the only shot at an early paint scheme. Now if only they would make a "yellow wings" I would have the "yellow wing" Dauntless in 1/144, 1/72, 1/32, and 1/18

[CW4USARMY]

Went ahead an preordered mine today as well while the price is stable and shipping is free.

[Coreyeagle48]

Greetings

I ordered one as well. Must have......Dauntless

Corey

[Ara]

I have pre-order this also. I agree with Ara this is probably the only shot at an early paint scheme. Now if only they would make a "yellow wings" I would have the "yellow wing" Dauntless in 1/144, 1/72, 1/32, and 1/18

Franklin Mint has a very nice 1/48 yellow wing SBD.

I think the 1/18 Merit SBDs are going to be babied at the factory and will look really nice, this first batch!

[Coreyeagle48]

Greetings:

If you can find it the Hobby Master 1/32 Yellow Wing Dauntless is a much better model than what the Franklin Mint puts out. I think Flying Mule and some others still have it available. It is expensive, but well worth it, lots of very detailed features.

Regards,

Corey

[jlspec]

I have the HM 1/32 "Yellow Wings" Dauntless, great airplane. I wil have to check out the 1/48 Franklin mint.

Is the Coral Sea version close to what the pre war SBD would be? May have to buy 2.

[Yoxford]

Always enjoy watching this clip…and realize that the Merit SBD is as close as I will ever get to this… from master modeler and fellow Michigander, Rojas Bazan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO-_ffOqDFg

[456THBG]

Always enjoy watching this clip…and realize that the Merit SBD is as close as I will ever get to this… from master modeler and fellow Michigander, Rojas Bazan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO-_ffOqDFg

Speechless...

[gouchy]

That is one heck of a scratch build!

That little dent at minute 3:18 made it so much more realistic

[cjg476]

Big fan of this but I heard some cautionary info today. Is cautionary a word? lol. Anyways maybe some of you guys will know more or less of the facts.

I had a source tell me that the plane is being molded from a model they have and that the plastic is more like that of a model then 21st's molds. Some of you may be fine with that but a retailer told me that I may want to wait and see what others think or wait to buy after they are in hand.

By no means am I trying to offend this item. Surely I will pick one up eventually. I just thought it was going to be the same grade of plastic as our favorites but I was told the plastic is thinner and the plane will be more delicate. I just thought I would pass along the info.

Hopefully it turns out great.