wafu_vasco Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 (edited) Hello Chaps, This is my attempt at converting the Revell 1/72 Merlin Mk.1 kit into a Merlin Mk.2. If you've got this far, thanks for looking - I know helicopters aren't as popular as Spitfires and the like, but I'm not very experienced at this and it took me ages, so thank you for having a gander! The main little tweaks to convert include positioning a third pitot tube on the LHS of the nose, another circular aerial on the top of the tail rotor drive shaft, the two homing aerials on each side of the nose wheel bay, the little black protrusion just behind the RHS of the cockpit and a couple of other things on the aircraft's underside. Some of the original instructions were incorrect for a Mk.1 or Mk.2 (such as the window for the cargo door) and some of the decals. The main rotor head folding mechanism was truly, truly awful and resulted in me having to drizzle superglue carefully into the rotor head. The folding tail boom is very loose, so needed magnets fitting to secure it. If anybody has any queries, please do shout out. If you've ever been subjected to a kit which requires over 200 decals within millimetres of each other, please give me a sympathy thumbs up vote! Thanks again for browsing! Here's the build thread: Edited September 1, 2017 by wafu_vasco 50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Not my subject, but it looks good. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thud4444 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Nothing beats a rough looking helicopter. Great work on a giant chopper! I think I might need one of these. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 I like it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 I like helicopters generally and yours looks excellent, must say. You should have deleted that last, blurry photo, though. It compromises the others. Good modelling. Helicopters rule! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Never apologise for rotary wing. Jets are for kids. Lovely job on what doesn't look to be the greatest of kits. Why the third pitot head? Wasn't two enough? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 No Expert on the Merlin, but looks like a good job to me! 13 minutes ago, Ex-FAAWAFU said: Why the third pitot head? Wasn't two enough? Majority vote? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Nice wobblycopter👍🏻 Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Very nice build, paint job is really good 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAG058 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Nice work! Wurlybirds need some love too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1ks Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Looks great to me, of course helicopters are better, after blue thunder and airworlf who could dispute that? As far as jets go, I don't get the fascination, they're like nytol to me, like people say about modern cars, well, they all look the same don't they? Pointy bit at one end, thrusty bit at t'other and a few rockets, add some silvery grey for that unique dazzle and hey, it's another jet! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wafu_vasco Posted August 31, 2017 Author Share Posted August 31, 2017 (edited) Thanks very much for the responses, it's much appreciated! I guess everybody always looks at their finished products and the errors leap out, and for me it's airbrushing which I'm still naff at. The kit was by and large ok, let down by a bad rotor head and a ludicrous amount of decals which could have been lumped together, most of which were slightly too large. Still, I've never seen a model Merlin Mk2 done before so hopefully it'll be of some help to somebody. Especially with the Spinal Tap number of pitot tubes. Edit - I've just noticed that I've painted the handle to the lower personnel door in emergency release yellow and black stripes. I'm off to fix that error right now before somebody makes an embarrassing mistake on a pre flight walk around. Edited August 31, 2017 by wafu_vasco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1ks Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 11! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Commendable build. And I do like the Merlin too. I have a lot of helicopters in my collection so don't worry if you feel alone out there! I have a few more planned in my head and will be featured here. May take a while but.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Lovely looking Merlin there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolphin38 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Nice looking Merlin, well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 👍 very nice indeed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Very nicely done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 That looks well tidy 5 hours ago, Ex-FAAWAFU said: ... Why the third pitot head? Wasn't two enough? one is for the 'elf & safety bloke in the back; to stop them flying too fast 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 No need to apologise - your Merlin looks mighty fine to me and you can take close-up shots that make me envious , as I am strictly a 'one metre rule' modeller, ie. my models are best viewed from one metre away! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 It looks like a Merlin to me. I don't tend to get that close to them and generally only see them from the office window or on the back end. BZ. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 Looks great and always good to see another rotor build around these parts. Dermot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 I looked, I saw, I liked. Love the wing mirrors; does it have one of those annoying reversing beepers too? (Runs away bravely and dives bravelier for very deep cover.) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuCrew Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 Looks great. I grew up in Cornwall with these buzzing around. Kinda miss them now I've moved to Aus. Looks like a great representation to me 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wafu_vasco Posted September 1, 2017 Author Share Posted September 1, 2017 36 minutes ago, stever219 said: I looked, I saw, I liked. Love the wing mirrors; does it have one of those annoying reversing beepers too? (Runs away bravely and dives bravelier for very deep cover.) It's a lot like KITT from Knight rider. It talks to the crew. A lot. So more likely it will be a series of shrill beeps and whistles followed by "Warning! You are about to do damage which won't T Cut out!" or something similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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