phat trev Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Anyone here attempted the 1/72 Merlin Hansa Brandenburg G1 bomber kit? Expecting a bit of a mess (going by a few of their other kits) but it’s a rare and interesting type so it caught my interest for a build- was not aware it was released my Merlin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear Paw Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 I have made a few Merlin kits and I use the term ‘kit’ loosely. They are more like a collection of bits based loosely on the subject. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 I've built the Pfalz Dr1 and it was ok. I've also seen a photo of the Merlin AEG GIV twin engined bomber. Matching parts such as the fuselage and nacelles just did not. I'm sure one side was shorter than the other. The other Merlin I have is the Junkers JI armoured recce type with the huge top wing. In the box it looks ok but I think I'll tackle the Eduard version first. I believe it will be a case of pot luck regarding the quality. Regards, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Thompson Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 41 minutes ago, stevehed said: I've built the Pfalz Dr1 and it was ok. I've also seen a photo of the Merlin AEG GIV twin engined bomber. Matching parts such as the fuselage and nacelles just did not. I'm sure one side was shorter than the other. The other Merlin I have is the Junkers JI armoured recce type with the huge top wing. In the box it looks ok but I think I'll tackle the Eduard version first. I believe it will be a case of pot luck regarding the quality. Regards, Steve If the kit was one of the first 14 or so then it will be an okay but limited run kit, quite acceptable for it's day. Any higher and you're in a very strange land indeed. Paul. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e8n2 Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 7 hours ago, stevehed said: I've built the Pfalz Dr1 and it was ok. I've also seen a photo of the Merlin AEG GIV twin engined bomber. Matching parts such as the fuselage and nacelles just did not. I'm sure one side was shorter than the other. The other Merlin I have is the Junkers JI armoured recce type with the huge top wing. In the box it looks ok but I think I'll tackle the Eduard version first. I believe it will be a case of pot luck regarding the quality. Regards, Steve The Eduard kit is a beast. There are no locating holes in the fuselage as to where to install the struts, more like mear suggestions. Even with using a razor saw to cut out a lot of the smaller parts, things kept breaking on me. Here is a shot of when I started joining the top wing to the bottom: Note that I did the inner struts first and then after the glue had set, I then installed the outer struts. The WNW kit of the J1 looks like it will be simpler to add the wing and other struts. It is nothing like the newer Eduard 72nd scale kits, but is better than their earlier offerings. Later, Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phat trev Posted November 28, 2018 Author Share Posted November 28, 2018 (edited) Looking forward to seeing what can be done then. Edited December 23, 2018 by phat trev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat Posted November 30, 2018 Share Posted November 30, 2018 The one on a certain web auction site a few days ago? I noted the absence of any clear images of the parts and steered clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phat trev Posted December 23, 2018 Author Share Posted December 23, 2018 Yes it is that one, parts are actually surprisingly good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 This'll be fun! My Thomas-Morse Scout came out alright with a bit of finagling, cursing, imagination and perseverence. Plenty of room for scratch work I am sure. Good luck! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 (edited) Merlin kits can be fun if all the following are true: You really really want the subject There's no other kit of the subject nor anything remotely like it You really don't feel up to scratch building You really like scratching and scraping. I feel that every modeller should own a Merlin kit, in order to place other companies' kits' shortcomings into perspective. Edited December 23, 2018 by Graham Boak 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 21 minutes ago, Graham Boak said: I feel that every modeller should own a Merlin kit to place other companies' kits' shortcomings into perspective. I did my duty in this respect and have their Beech B17 Banana. As the fuselage halves are in clear, I guess getting them anywhere near straight and matching would require rather hot water. The white metal parts look like Mr Espensen chew some chocolate Alu foil and spewed it in the moulds... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 Merlin kits vary a lot. I built the Thomas Morse (not too bad), and the Fokker D.I & D.II (horrific!). I also have few more in the stash. Some are pretty good, some are close to trash, like the Fokkers. If there is no other option and you don't mind a lot of work reshaping and hollowing out fuselages (you may have to scratchbuilt the wings), go for it! The Fokkers, with a LOT of work (scratchbuilt wings, interiors, undercarriage, tailsurfaces, plus a LOT of cutting, realigning, and sanding of the fuselages), came out pretty nicely. But there wasn't much left of the kits! Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vildebeest Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 I have a Merlin Westland Wapiti. I cannot really think of anything that would induce me to try to build it. Before you even start to think about fit, you have the problem that the fuselage is flaking away and sanding just produces more flakes. After some consideration, I did work out a way of building it which involved substituting the fuselage, wings and various other parts with modified parts from an old Frog Wallace, but that rather seemed to miss the pint. Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 I keep watching wapitie (if that’s the plural) as I need one to do my 11 squadron collection. I swear it’s the same one that keeps getting reposted as each new buyer opens the box and thinks....”better flip it”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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