New Merit 1/350 USS Hornet (CV-8) Pre-built model at iHobby

[Jim@Merit]

For those who lives in the Chicago area, Merit will be at the iHobby Show at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL on this Saturday and Sunday (Oct 22 and Oct 23).

http://www.ihobbyexpo.com/PublicInfo.htm

Be at the show and be the first to learn of the surprise announcement of a all NEW 1/350 series of pre-built models. We will be show casing the 1/350 USS Hornet (CV-8), Dolittle Raid version as well as some 1/350 pre-built aircraft.

We will also show off the Witty Wings in 1/72 as well as Witty Wings, all new series in 1/144 scale.

We will also be showing other larger scale pre-built models as well.

Please check us out at booth 2620. Sorry for the short notice and we hope to see you there.

Jim

[aferguson]

wow, prebuilt 1/350 ships. wow.

i wonder how much they'll be?

[Panzer_M]

I'd be up for a Hipper-class

[aferguson]

a Hipper class? Do you know what's going to be released?

[Panzer_M]

IF they make one I'd buy it is what I meant..and some Ar 196s

[456THBG]

Question...How long would the 1:350 scale USS Hornet be?

[aferguson]

Answer..About 28 inches.

[tmanthegreat]

28 inches... Nice scale for ships.

[456THBG]

Answer..About 28 inches.

Thanks, Aferg...I've got the perfect spot for it! (or maybe just a picture of it if I can't afford the model)!

[ram04]

Looks like we won't get a update here either , why tell us about new models, then don't follow up with some pictures and details

[Panzer_M]

well here is the only pre-made 1/350 ship I found an japanese dreadnaught

1/350 Japanese Battleship "Mikasa" - Ready Make.$450.00

http://www.dragonusaonline.com/item_det ... =AOS093467

[tmanthegreat]

While technically a "boat" and not a "ship" MRC makes three very nice plastic 1:350 scale submarine models:

USS Virginia:


HMS Astute:


Russian Kilo class:


Depending on the retailer, you can usually find these for anywhere between $22 and $30.

I've seen the Astute and Kilo in person at my local Hobbytown store. They are essentially larger, more detailed versions of the MRC 1:700 subs and look fantastic. I would get all three, save that I've got really nowhere to put them and they won't really fit in with the rest of my 1:700 scale navy. Now if MRC decided to do a U-Boat and Gato class sub in 1:350, I'd change my mind

[snake]

1/350 is a great scale for ships, IMO.

Makes them large enough to have good detail and presence. I personally find the standard 1/700 too small, but it does allow for more room to display more types.

Looking forward to seeing the Hornet "Doolittle Raid". It would have to have some B-25's on deck though.

[toyktdlgh]

Dug around a bit and found this.

http://www.freetimehobbies.com/mil-89001.aspx

http://www.merit-intl.com/month/mil-89001.htm

[tmanthegreat]

That Hornet model looks really fantastic! I like the size and the detail, but thought of the potential price makes me shiver. It makes my 1:700 scale USS Hornet by Gearbox Toys look like crap, but then that's what you get for $20





I'm really anxious to see what the final price will be... If its reasonable, I may consider the Hornet with a flight of 16 B-25s to go on the deck. It would make a heck of a display piece

[snake]

Absolutely agree Tman.

Looks better than what I was expecting, and even the 1/350 B-25's look pretty good.

Would be interested in seeing what this retails for?

[gouchy]

I had no idea the Hornet looked like that in color, looks more like a cruise ship

Its really cool but from Merit's site, it looks like the B-25s are sold seperately in lots. But you can also purchase Devastators, Wildcats and Dauntlesses for a different setup other then during the Doolittle raid

[aferguson]

it's probably that the b-25's are ALSO sold seperately as kits. In other words, you get a bunch if you buy the Hornet (otherwise there'd be little point in calling it a doolittle raid hornet) and if you want to put more b-25's on the deck, there is a kit available so you can.

I don't think the blue is the correct shade. Should be darker and more greenish.

I also didn't think the Americans were painting their decks grey blue this early in the war...i thought that started in '43. Deck should be wood colour, no?

[gouchy]

Of course the Hornet will come with some B-25s as a starter, what was I thinking?

Otherwise it'll be accurate for depicting the Hornet after all the B-25s have taken off for Japan

[aferguson]

ok, so it looks like the deck colour is correct. The blue should be darker and greyer, not more greenish. Still, it's quite a handsome model. If a good price is put on it i would find it hard to pass up.

[aferguson]

The list price has been announced for the Hornet.

And the answer is....

Drumroll
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
$133.00 probably less (and less still for pre-order). BUT the planes appear to all be sold seperately and are prebuilt too i think, not kits.

Somewhat reasonable. I'll let one of you guys guinea pig-it and buy one and review it for us before buying one myself.

http://legendshobbies.com/catalog/produ ... ts_id/3466

[snake]

At $133, not cheap, but not expensive either.

But I AM disappointed that it does look like the B-25's don't come standard with the model.

Don't have any ship models, and not about to start. If I was to get into ships, would go for Bismarck first off.

But hats off to Merit for getting this 1/350 Fleet carrier done, and with Doolittle B-25's as well. Hope it does well for them.

[tmanthegreat]

Good prebuilt 1:700 models typically retail at $50 or more and this is several times as large and detailed. I mean, if I wanted to buy 3 of FOV's 1:700 scale ships at once, it would cost me more than this, so $133 is not too bad... Honestly, when you look at all the little bits and parts, I was expecting somewhere around the $200 range... I agree its disappointing that at least some aircraft don't come with it.

[456THBG]

Good job digging that one up, Aferg...

[tmanthegreat]

Badcat has their preorder up for the Hornet: http://www.badcattoys.com/shipsandsubs.html

They've listed it for $129.99 with free shipping, so a little cheaper than the shop above. Aparently, there are two versions of the ship: A Doolittle Raid version and a Midway version. The planes are sold seperate and the set of 16 B-25s costs $34.99.

I think I'm going to dive for the Doolittle version, particularly as Badcat is offering free shipping