daryl_five_zero Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I spent some time in Roskilde, Denmark last summer, and as well as discovering that all Danish women are supermodels, I was lucky enough to have the RDAF flying their Merlins overhead 2-3 times a day, all week. Obviously, I fell in love (with the helicopters... I swear!) and vowed that I would try to model one when I return. Well, it took some time, but here it is! My humble attempt at a Danish SAR Merlin Mk.512. It started life as the Skyfall boxing of Italeri's 1/72 Merlin (HC.3?) The kit itself isn't too bad. As much detail in a kit as you would expect from a 1/72 helo. There were a few fit issues that i found. The sides of the fuselage that come separate weren't great, as was the main canopy/windscreen. The tail was a nightmare. I don't know if it was a moulding error, but there were no tabs to insert to add stability to the join. I knocked it off about 3 times before I ended up fabricating supports internally for it myself. Other than that, the kit seems pretty well designed. I used the Eduard PE set for cockpit detail & seatbelts, and was very happy with the outcome. To turn it into a Mk. 512, I used Heritage's Danish Merlin conversion set. Being both my first experience with resin and with converting a model, I can't really compare it to anything... I was pleased with the conversion set... the moulding seemed decent and it had everything I needed (I think...) For decals, the only option I really had was the Model Alliance World Air Power set 1. The decals themselves were great. They went on perfectly, and were really crisp in detail. The problem with the set, however, was the actual decal set. I had heard before that they weren't great, but didn't really think they would be as disappointing as they were. As well as being very incomprehensive, there were also some pretty epic mess-ups. The danger stencil for the rear rotor, for example, read 'Fare - Avle Lys.' Now, my Danish isn't great (Kamelålså?) but I'm sure any Dane will tell you that that is a load of rubbish. I managed to find the correct 'Fare - Pas På' stencil from the HobbyBoss Danish Lynx, but unless you are desperate, I wouldn't recommend the Model Alliance set to anyone thinking of using it. Other than that, any extra detail was scratchbuilt. Well, attempted, anyway. My scratchbuilding skill leaves a lot to be desired. I used Revell & Tamiya Acrylics, and was my first attempt using my new Testors Aztek airbrush. Although I'm very far from mastering it, it makes a huge difference over my dodgy £15 Humbrol Airbrush. The end result is far from perfect - Maskol buggered up my clear parts in a few places, and I think I was a bit hasty to get it finished, but I'm pretty happy with the outcome. It's difficult to do such a pretty piece of kit justice, but hopefully I've not done too bad! I'm operating a don't ask, don't tell policy on all the mistakes and inaccuracies, but I'm sure some of you can pick them out. Maybe it's one I don't know about, so comments and criticism is more than welcomed. Sorry about the pic quality too. Maybe now I have a new airbrush, I can save for a new camera! Anyway, that's my essay done. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for looking! Daryl. 27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestFan Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Nice and different. Can't say I like the look of the nose though (on the real size subject!) FF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave A Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 That's looking pretty dam' good to me, especially for 1/72! And these days, alas, it's not a real helo unless it's had a really bad nose-job.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Sensational Merlin, Daryl. I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Thats very pretty. Not a Merlin fan but I like this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 nice work looks great, do like the scheme was temepted at it myself but didn't have the right variant ,but great job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Nice to see a different Merlin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders154 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Looks good used to see them when testing them at yeovil Rodders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 That looks a bit special! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Excellent and congratulations on your build. Thanks for posting your pics. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham T Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Great job, especially in 1/72! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raguk Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Fantastic build, I remember seeing these myself at RIAT one year you captured the look really well Thanks for posting Rick G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiff guy Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 loving your work well done Glenn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtecjack Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Good effort and I know what you mean about Danish women Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Very nicely done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark 64 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Great looking helo. One to be proud of. / Oliver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Very nice job! I'm glad you didn't use the horrible Model Alliance decals! Jens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daryl_five_zero Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 (edited) Very nice job! I'm glad you didn't use the horrible Model Alliance decals! Jens Takk for det, Jens! Yeah, to say I was disappointed at them would be an understatement. I do believe that it was several of your piccies that made up the foundation of my research on this project, so thanks for that! Out of curiosity, would I be right in thinking that any Merlins flying around the København/Roskilde area would be based out of Karup? Now to decide whether I'm brave enough to try and convert my 1/48 Merlin into a Mk. 512! Daryl. Edited January 11, 2014 by daryl_five_zero 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 My pleasure Daryl. I'm just glad if they can help fellow modellers getting their Danish models right. You're right about the Merlins being based at Karup AB. All our helicopters (Merlin, Lynx and Fennec) belong to Helicopter Wing Karup - 722, 723 and 724 Sqns respectively.If you're going to build a quarter scale Danish Merlin you really ought to build one of the new green ones (RAF green) - or one of those with mismatched panels. Jens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daryl_five_zero Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 My pleasure Daryl. I'm just glad if they can help fellow modellers getting their Danish models right. You're right about the Merlins being based at Karup AB. All our helicopters (Merlin, Lynx and Fennec) belong to Helicopter Wing Karup - 722, 723 and 724 Sqns respectively. If you're going to build a quarter scale Danish Merlin you really ought to build one of the new green ones (RAF green) - or one of those with mismatched panels. Jens Thanks again for the info. I'm planning a 1/48 Danish Lynx at some point, so I think I'll see how I feel after that before I plan another Danish Merlin. I've seen that Xtradecal are soon to release 1/48 decals for 'Rescue 08,' any word on if those are gonna be any good? I've not seen any pics of the replacement Merlins... and the mismatched panel ones are new to me too. Any pics? Daryl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomasweir Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Super build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Thanks again for the info. I'm planning a 1/48 Danish Lynx at some point, so I think I'll see how I feel after that before I plan another Danish Merlin. I've seen that Xtradecal are soon to release 1/48 decals for 'Rescue 08,' any word on if those are gonna be any good? I've not seen any pics of the replacement Merlins... and the mismatched panel ones are new to me too. Any pics? Daryl. I haven't seen the Xtradecal decals yet, and I'm not sure I will buy them. I will probably wait for Airfix to release a Danish/Portugese EH101 first. M-504 has had its yellow areas repainted in the RAF dark green instead of the golden green of the original paint scheme. I'll let you know if I find some pictures of it. Let me know when you start building the Danish Lynx. I have access to those on a daily basis. Jens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolphin38 Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Very Nice work, first one I,ve seen in Danish markings I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanderwi Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 (edited) Hello, Planning to build one myself. May i ask what paints you used (green, yellow)? Sander Edited January 14, 2022 by sanderwi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansReggelsen Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 As a dane I'm always glad to see a RDAF Merlin - they regularly fly over my house to and from Skejby Sygehus (Skejby Hospital) just to the north of Aarhus.. For others who would like to atempt this conversion I can recommend the walk around section: Not tooting my own horn - but still! Cheers Hans J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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