merit Announcment

[skorzeny]

[pickelhaube]

Black 1 would be sooo cool.
Or any 190 with the Butcher Bird on the side of it !!

[The_Helicopter_Pilot]

I like that yellow 7, I don't like my WWII birds with anything to fancy...

[scbvideoboy]

I agree that most 1/18 military toys companies seem to have a poor understanding of business.

Any new item should be welcomed with open arms and wallets. Regardless of your preference, think collector and save an unopened one for 20 years.

Repaints are another story.

[Beeavision]

The battle of the pics....lol

[normandy]

.....just cool aircraft.

[Jnewboy]

Love this one..

[CW4USARMY]

Love this one..

i just made this my computer wallpaper, Beautiful!

[B-29]

[supersonicfifi]

MAY 2 - 2013

Wasn't it supposed to be an April annoucement ?

This waiting is just killing us ! for one complete month i went to this page evrey day with a lot of people saying i know but i can't tell !

SO is it really a FW190 + AV8B ?

Both could be an isntant hit for me !

[Jim@Merit]

MAY 2 - 2013

Wasn't it supposed to be an April annoucement ?

This waiting is just killing us ! for one complete month i went to this page evrey day with a lot of people saying i know but i can't tell !

SO is it really a FW190 + AV8B ?

Both could be an isntant hit for me !

Please turn clock back, forgot to formalize the announcement in April.

There are 2 projects for all new tooling 1/18 Aircraft in 2013:

1/18 AV-8B - JSI project already in test shot stage 1 (T1), now making adjustment to the
molds for more pretty T2 parts.
1/18 FW190 A5 - Merit project now in tooling stage

We need your help to support the hobby. With your support, more 1/18 NEW TOOLING items will be made and increase hope that other manufacturers will get back into game!! soon.

[Jay]

Great news Jim, those two planes will be greatly received i'm sure

[CW4USARMY]

Hoooooooaahh! Thanks for the news Jim. You have my support. I will be buying multiples! Excellent choices!

[rschaap]

Looks like we finally got the thumbs up from Jim, it is the AV-8B Harrier. Now I have to start making room next to my Cobra helicopters. Thanks again Merit for restoring my faith.

http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fu ... C40E55BBBC

[skorzeny]

Great news Jim !!!!!!

[exether_mega]

WOW ! A Harrier ! ! !
Now that's a news ! ! ! Unexpected and more than welcome in this time for our hobby and our hunger for collecting where all faith vanished. Pickelhaube was our only light after 21st Century/Allgo and JSI spotcat fiasco.
New models like AV8 and FW190 is a more than pleasant surprise. But... any armored project on the way ? Nothing with wheels or tracks ? ? ?
I will be happy to add those in my collection but as I am mainly a ground guy, I was expecting to see some tanks like a M60A3, a recovery Sherman, a SDKFZ 7 to tow the 88mm flak gun. Things like that.

Anyway, I hope that Merit will develop trust and want to give other manufacturers to get into the 1/18 line.

BTW, Jim, any idea about new tanks and armor ?

phil

[The_Helicopter_Pilot]

It's official!
....that I only want the FW-190, I just hope it don't come out in an ugly green camo scheme....

[parrish333]

Kudos to JSI / Merit on two solid choices for brand new 1/18 items! Both planes are historic and legendary; something great for both WWII/Warbird fans and more modern enthusiasts. And both being all new, they can draw sales from both the 1:18 old-timers and newcomers.

As mentioned, hopefully the ground-pounders will also get some love in the near future! Though I think Merit is also relasing some 1/16 artillery this year? Jim: is that still a go?

[On a related note, the AV-8B is technically a "modern" plane since the F-35 VTOL variant is still marred by development probs, and so the current AV-8B squadrons may well be the face of "modern" USMC airpower for some time to come. "Modern" aircraft are hard to define in the US inventory - the vast majority of current US airpower was designed in the 70s (e.g. F-15, F-16, F-18), or even earlier (40s for the B-52, which is still the workhorse for US bombers!). Even the very small #s of our "advanced, cutting-edge" F-22s started development in the 80s! Some of the UAVs are some of the only truly "21st Century" technology flying today; and even those have antiquated "pusher"-style propellers that hearken back to the Wright Brothers ]

[tmanthegreat]

Thank you Jim for the official confirmation of the AV-88B and the FW-190A

The FW-190A is sorely needed in 1:18 (probably moreso than the Harrier) given its overall historical significance as a key WWII German fighter and the fact that in the 13 years 1:18 WWII military products have been around, no one has made this seminal fighter apart from custom jobs.

To me, the Harrier is a bold choice. I know that various members have clamored for them on occasion for years, but in my observations, it has not been a "wish list topper" like the F-4 Phantom or some other modern aircraft. Still, its a cool plane, with a lot of current relevance given their actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a little bit of pop-culture significance. I'm down for one for sure.

Also, if Merit has the capacity and authority, please make sure JSI doesn't cover the Harrier with spots and that they improve on their QC. I'm not looking forward to another Spotcat-type fiasco

[Snake Man]

I really hope they go light on the "weathering". I would prefer no weathering at all, rather than having it over done, like some previous attempts.

[supersonicfifi]

THANK YOU JIM i will buy one of each ! it's a May annoucement from Philippe International (I am from France) my paypal account is ready ...send them !
Super news ! great job

By the way is it a green RAF harrier II or a grey MARINES AV8B ? both will be perfect ! (one with radar and the other with the short nose)

Since the F14 its the super news i was waiting for !

Philippe

I can't wait to display my FW190D beside your new A5 !

[big_mike]

Thanks for the proper confirmation Jim. All to often with this hobby my skepticism and repeated disappointment gets the better of me. I'm down for one of each and remaining optimistic about things to come.

[Axis Nightmare]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE have accurate landing gear on the FW No struts molded into the gear doors please. Even if it means two position rather than retractable.

If it is anything close to the Dauntless in quality, count me in for more than one.

Thanks

[slogan]

Excited to receive official confirmation of the Harrier. Looking forward to this in different liveries. Hope it's a huge success so there will be more projects in the pipeline.

[rohirrimknight]

Excited for the information. Looking to see the accurate model, with pilot and multiple options of air to air/ air to ground weapons for Harrier.