Small Scale Military Headquarters

We are starting this thread because we would like to have more direct feed back on our 1/16 line of tanks. Any comment(s) on the Tiger I and the T-34/85 will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

1/16 scale T34/85

http://www.merit-intl.com/month/mil-86002.htm

1/16 scale Tiger I

http://www.merit-intl.com/month/mil-86001.htm

Appreciate your asking for our opinion Jim. I dont (or didnt) collect 1/16 tanks but decided to buy your T34 because I didnt have one in 1:18. The e-tailer accidentally sent me the Tiger instead. After seeing how great it looked, and the much better packaging than the old 1:18 tanks, i decided to keep it and have them send me a T-34 too! The paint application looks great. Only things I would like to see are maybe opening hatches and maybe a few figs (sold seperatly is OK) to go along with them.

Thanks again for taking the time to ask our opinion!

I'm cool with the 1/16 tanks, I would just say that in the 1/16 market you're competing more directly with things like Heng Long... That's the real comparison though as I see it, and Merit's finished looks are great but if prices are vastly different it can make a decision much easier to go with the cheaper model and work on it yourself.

I'd echo the sentiment that figures (The "1:18" figures work great with 1:16 tanks so I'd be fine with a continuation of them) are important. In particular, action figures... not statues. I prefer action figures in general since I'm a toy collector and like to vary my displays over time.

Also I'd echo the thought on opening hatches, etc. Those details are nice. If you're charging a true premium compared to the RC tanks out there in 1:16 scale though I really think you have to think about full interiors and whatnot, accessible via a removable turret. Again it's that competition with the RC realm that's already established and pretty heavily customizable.

I don't own a Merit tank (yet), but that T-34's very tempting. I may have to look into that one.

Is this a move way from 1:18? With ample 1:16 RC product I'm wondering where this product fits in? I'm just shrugging at the entire prospect. I think a lot of us have piles of 1:18 stuff that we could really add to, especially a product like the T-34, but with it being out of scale, it doesn't really draw up any interest for me, personally.

Will there be more 1:16 scale product? Is this a competing scale with static 1:18 now? Figures?

I'd like to see a variety in the finishes you can choose from. I always liked the winter white T34 but you can hardly find it now.

Sure I could paint one, but probably not as nice as the factory finish.

Just a thought. I'd buy a white T34 now if it was available. Maybe the same for the Tiger.













~ Jeff

Jim thank you for taking the time to ask for feedback…it has been a long time since we have seen sincere interest from a manufacturer as to what the Small Scale Military members think.

I purchased both the T34/85 and the Tiger and feel they are both great bargains for the money. For the Tiger I, compared to the Forces of Valor 1/16 Extreme Metal series, it holds its own with surface detail. Though it should have Zimmerite, I understand using existing molds (WSN/Trumpeter) keeps the price within reach. So I can add my own Zimmerite and any details…which is why I prefer 1/16 scale…the availability of add on is enormous. For the T34/85, the only things I needed to do was add an antenna mast, more weathering…and change the “sewing thread” tow cable…that could have been a thicker braided wire and is my only complaint with the T34 out of the box.

Please keep producing more 1/16 armor (maybe a Trumpeter Tiger II or what Henglong offers in the RC world) as well as repaints of the current two like a winter scheme as Panther F stated above .

Here is the upgraded T/34 tow cable and the Tiger 1 with Zimmerite started, command coupla in saw off mode, and metal opening hatch in standby....


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They look pretty good, They look like former WSN/Trumpeter Rc tanks with the RC parts removed. There were people here asking why Heng Long or other brands don't make static versions of their RC tanks. Here they are.

Do they have working suspension, or are the swingarms glued into position?

I have two merit 1/16 Tiger 1's,they are Great display tanks,have working suspension,are far superior to heng long 1/16 r/c and 1/18 ultimate soldier,do wish the hatches opened and it had zimmerit applied,I plan on buying the T-34/85,if you want a great mid production Tiger 1 in 1/16 scale this is it.


the figure in middle is 1/16,others are 1/18

1958Zelda wrote:do wish the hatches opened and it had zimmerit applied

Don't know how far you want to go but there is zimm available http://www.artistichobbies.com/proddeta ... od=ATA1603 for Tiger I tanks. It says it's for the Tamiya tank so there may be some adjustments to be made but far better than having to do the whole tank.













~ Jeff

Also Jim great research on the Tiger 1 livery...spot on!


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Just wondering does anyone have a heng Long tiger and a Merit Tiger that they could put next to each other?, I keep looking at the Heng Long I have and the pictures of the Merit Tiger and can see only a few small differences, mostly the cupola, machine gun mount and intake plumbing on the rear deck.

I always thought that these were all built off one tooling and sold by different names, of course I'm usually wrong

Merit used the WSN/Trumpeter mold for the Tiger 1...very different from the Henglong mold

I've been tempted to get the T34 since there's not one available in 1/18. So far I have not, partly due to the scale difference but mostly due to lack of opening hatches.

Tinman wrote:I've been tempted to get the T34 since there's not one available in 1/18. So far I have not, partly due to the scale difference but mostly due to lack of opening hatches.

Oh yes it is .

And the hatches open as well.

T-34/76

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... =1&t=21766

I also made the T-34/85

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... =1&t=23946

Then I stand corrected on that count, Pickel!

pickelhaube wrote:

Tinman wrote:I've been tempted to get the T34 since there's not one available in 1/18. So far I have not, partly due to the scale difference but mostly due to lack of opening hatches.

Oh yes it is .

And the hatches open as well.

T-34/76

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... =1&t=21766

I also made the T-34/85

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... =1&t=23946

Is it still available?

better now...hatch opens... just a little work and a new metal coupla...
now Fritz can see the field of battle


No need for the T34/85 to have opening hatches as Ivan went to war all buttoned up…only opened when abandoned or burning.

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Jim, any possibility of a future release 1/16 Panther or jagdpanther?

* Would like to see a winter white/washed T-34 and different models to choose from. An RSO/1 would be awesome.



* Edit : ->>>-----> Good Point ! ! !

Yoxford wrote:No need for the T34/85 to have opening hatches as Ivan went to war all buttoned up…only opened when abandoned or burning.

...... Had Yoxford not pointed this out , I was apprehensive in buying one. I've just changed my mind. Thanks Yoxford.



- MG

MG-42, you will be glad you picked the T34/85 up. Nice addition to any collection.

Oh yes it is .

And the hatches open as well.

T-34/76

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... =1&t=21766

I also made the T-34/85

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... =1&t=23946[/quote]

Is it still available?[/quote]


I make them as needed.

MG-42 wrote:...... Had Yoxford not pointed this out , I was apprehensive in buying one. I've just changed my mind. Thanks Yoxford.



- MG

Good gawd!!! I'd rather have a T34 with inoperative hatches than go without one.

Back in the day when the WSN was plentiful I bought a few and put Tamiya RC gear in mine.












~ Jeff

* Here's some pics of the WSN winter white one :









- MG

We need it in 1/18 scale!

MG42...I had forgot about that WSN winter scheme...looks very nice...hope Merit does that version in a S2...back to working on the Merit Tiger 1...will post pics in the customs area when done. zimmerit is taking a bit of time (FYI Humbrol matt 93 is a perfect match for the base color)