Small Scale Military Headquarters

So, what do we think the next realistic option for merit is? Something that will sell well.

I guess a new dauntless scheme is on the way.

Honestly, I could see an A10 (Or other large military jet like an F4) coming. I personally don't like them though. I'm a ww2 bird fan. Now, do you think they will give up ground vehicles for good?

Merit has made the 1/16 T34-85, why dont they make a classic M4A4 Sherman in 1/16? the only one I know of is Tamiya's which is very pricey... There are conversion kits made to go on Mato's Sherman but they are not cheap either plus you need the Mato Sherman.... Since it is one of the most popular tanks of all time I dont get why someone has not made it??? Am I missing something???

They should release something modern and WWII. Like you said a Phantom or A-10. I personally wouldn't buy them as I'm a WWII fan also, but it would please a lot of people, and it seems to be their plan already with repainted jet releases along with the SBD. Most would like a new tooling though.

Make an aircraft in WWII that hasn't been made in 1:18. Even the least knowledgeable people who don't know much about aircraft would recognize them.

I will say iconic variations of fighter aircraft already done, with a proven selling record and enough paint schemes to make a number of them.

Picklehaube, Skyworks, and others (?) have done this by modifying existing aircraft into earlier or later models of them because they weren't available and people wanted them, so they bought the kits or had them modified for them. Some didn't have the modeling skills or in the case of Skyworks, could afford these modified 21stC planes. Why not make them now?

What are they?...

harrier jump jet may i say more right size

Something everyone knows... not another P51.

Every company making a run for A-10 went out of business. I guess it's the lost Ark.
A-4,F-5E and MiG-21 haven't been attempted. They are simple,small with great schemes and should cost way less than F-16 and Black Hawk. Who's with me?
After MiG-21 is done, the Phantom won't be far.

The problem isn't making the A-10, it's not making it. If you build it they will come....

flyboy_fx wrote:Something everyone knows... not another P51.

Right agreed, not another P-51D pleeze, got enough of those myself, but a P-51B/C.
That and a FW-190A, Stuka G Tankbuster , and P-40E are all mods I've seen PH or Skyworks do parts for or completed planes. I've wanted all of those but don't have the time to do the mods, or couldn't afford completed aircraft. What, they were $500 to $700 for a "Shangri La" or Aleutian Tiger at Military Toy Shop at one time?

We don't have any of those in 1:18, they are commonly known and "realistic".

Just thinking out loud here, so humor me…Merit released their 1:24 scale pre built P-51 and BF 109, based on a pre-existing model kit, The 1:16 Tiger I and T-34 are based on previously released RC tanks from Trumpeter, The 1:350 Hornet is based on the Trumpeter model kit, and the fantastic SBD Dauntless is based on a model kit from all the recon We can gather…so if Merit is to release more pre-built military aircraft and vehicles…I would only assume they will target existing molds: built on already produced kits…subjects that come to mind: The Trumpeter 1:16 King Tiger, the HK models 1:32 B-24, some of the other 1:16 RC molds out there like the KV1. BUT MAYBE just MAYBE…if sales are strong enough Merit could get with the mold makers and really set this hobby on it’s ear…hope they do…just thinking out loud

A-1 Skyraider, the A-4 Skyhawk and the Mig-21.

I actually have a preference and it's one of my favorite aircraft. I'd buy it immediately and I don't care the version however it's way too big and not that popular. What's the name? That would be the A-6 Intruder.

Stearman PT-17...tons and tons of paint possibilities...could even do the Red Barron Pizza paint for more retail appeal. or even an AT-6

but I will settle for an F4 Phantom PLEASE!

Yoxford wrote:Just thinking out loud here, so humor me…Merit released their 1:24 scale pre built P-51 and BF 109, based on a pre-existing model kit, The 1:16 Tiger I and T-34 are based on previously released RC tanks from Trumpeter, The 1:350 Hornet is based on the Trumpeter model kit, and the fantastic SBD Dauntless is based on a model kit from all the recon We can gather…so if Merit is to release more pre-built military aircraft and vehicles…I would only assume they will target existing molds: built on already produced kits…subjects that come to mind: The Trumpeter 1:16 King Tiger, the HK models 1:32 B-24, some of the other 1:16 RC molds out there like the KV1. BUT MAYBE just MAYBE…if sales are strong enough Merit could get with the mold makers and really set this hobby on it’s ear…hope they do…just thinking out loud

OK, now you've piqued my interest! A 1/32 scale B-24? That would be so awesome, I cannot imagine!
I've got a couple of FM 1/48 B-24s with a wingspan of 27 1/2"...What would that be in 1/32 scale?
Prebuilds, made from existing kits, I'm all over that!

the next most likely thing from Merit will be either a p-51b/c or a wildcat....probably the wildcat.

not what i'd prefer to see but that's what we're likely to see.

Out of left field----a Mosquito since Admiral's 1/18 version never took off.

aferguson wrote:the next most likely thing from Merit will be either a p-51b/c or a wildcat....probably the wildcat.

not what i'd prefer to see but that's what we're likely to see.

It is hard to find a Butch OHare F4F Wildcat in any scale.


I'm surprised we never got the F6F Hellcat ace of aces David McCampbell's "Minsi III" in a Merit / BBI release.

The F4F would be cool but a catastrophe when it came to landing gear unless it was correctly

just my 2 cents

1 24 harrier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVSQhTuqDs8

Lots of options they could pursue, but I would like to see a FW 190A.

A popular model in 1/32, and other scales, and the 21 Century 1/18 Dora's leave something to be desired.

Lots of Luftwaffe aces, and schemes that could be done as well.

FW-190A or an F4F Wildcat for me. They seem like logical choices. An FW-190A is strangely missing from the 1:18 aircraft inventory and an F4F logically goes with the Dauntless and is another historically-important aircraft strangely missing.

The F4F's gear would be a problem, but if they could be done (and accepted by collectors) as a plug in place assembly, they would work fine. BBI did this with their 1:32 scale F4F and it works quite nicely.

I still think if we are talking about a "realistic option" then you need to look at existing molds that Merit could take advantage of, and Merit seems to lean toward Trumpeter kits/molds, even the Dauntless if based on the Hobby Boss kit, produced mold work for Trumpeter...now if we are in the "I wish they would upon a star" mode then yes a Wildcat would fit well with the Dauntless, or a Val...woudn't that go well with the BBI Zero?
and I would always welcome a FW-190A

The Merit Dauntless does need some company of early Pacific WWII carrier based warplanes.
I would say a F4F Wildcat would be the best choice for that. Start off with a Coral Sea version.
There's many USN aces that started in the Wildcat. Certainly would look good next to that SBD and the BBI Zeroes.
Then again, why not complete the 1941-1942 trilogy of carrier aircraft with one of these?


Delving into probably totally unrealistic territory here, but they did accompany the Dauntless on it's most famous early battles.
Less known than the little F4F too, and just about as awkward looking.

But, will it sell?

flyboy_fx wrote:But, will it sell?

Probably not. An obscurity, though the 1/72 Skymax Devastators do well and the Midway version is sold out.

Even the F4F could be iffy. The BBI 1/32 Wildcat hung around for quite a while after the Dauntless had long sold out. It's pretty much gone now, but face it the little tubby F4F is about as ugly as you can get, though somewhat famous.

"A realistic option for Merit" narrows the field if you think about the risk of making something that maybe an outstanding model, but doesn't sell. We all want our pet planes, but it's a business and would have to be a practical choice.

There's such a shortage of new planes that would anything new in 1:18 be in demand?

While still partial to the skyraider, I'd like to see another Dauntless. Why? Then there'd be more of 'em and (hopefully) with that they'd be more easy to buy. Still shaking my head as I type this that I can't buy one of my favorite airplanes (the Dauntless) because they're simply too damn expensive.