Hey Tom,
Have you seen how big the Merlin is? The box would be enormous!
http://www.airfix.com/airfix-products/aircraft/helicopters/a14101-agustawestland-merlin-hc3-148-a14101/?searchguid=&resultspage=&sortorder=
Massive great thing, no wonder the postage is so much.
As far as I am concerned...more updates tomorrow!
C

Your right.I really didn't know how big was until I looked it up.But the cost is still beyond the worth.$52 Canadian and $40 for shipping ????

Tom

I wouldn't moan at that...CA$92 is about £60 the kit retails at £53! Seven quid is very good postage for a box that big to get across the pond! Having said that it is rather expensive for just a helicopter...
Quick update on progress. The Land Rover Chassis (es?) are together and after some deliberation I decided to take some pics of them after a quick black 'n' drybrush. Some of the Snatch internals have been started but not finished and I decided not to bore you with 3 sets of tires!

No updates for a bit, I am in Paris next week and then in the middle of next month I start a work placement, so very little or no modelling being done I am afraid!

That should have been my first step in painting,live and learn.I had to go back and paint the wheel wells.

Tom

Finished the Jackal exept for more weathering.Some stowage again with tissue,wheel skirts done with styrene strips.Added the side armour to the Land Rover,minus the doors.

Tom

Wow Tom those look really good! Where did you get the stowage? If I may quickly point out? (sorry if this seems a bit harsh) A quick spot of paint under the Landie bonnet...thing; I can see a wee bit of plastic poking through. Having said that, I love those; they look mint mate, great stuff!

Hey Chris,

Good call.You have great eyesight.Unfortunately I've lost the vision in my lower left eye.No excuse!The stowage is simply facial tissue cut to approx.size with water spray and white glue,folded over on each side and rolled.Then shaped while wet.I always add paint while they are wet to let it soak into the tissue.Once dry,I use thin strips of masking tape or thread for the strap downs.Always works on any scale.
Time in Paris?I feel so sorry for you.

Tom

Hey Tom, Aw man I'm sorry!
Thanks for that, I may have a go at making some if you don't mind me stealing your idea!
Yeah Paris...it was interesting and I thought it was a lovely city, just different to what I am used to!

Just a quick update.
Got another set of figures to try and modify,also to use the weapons and backpacks.Also got the Tamiya barrel and jerry cans.There's some stowage in the set good to use.
The gunner was a pretty easy make.Just moved one arm higher and the other alot lower.Just starting the Coyote today.

Tom

Looks great Tom. Nice job on the figures...

Yeah Tom, excellent work mate! especially with the camo on the figures. I am liking the crewmen and extra stowage as well, it works very well in my opinion1
Sorry about the hold up recently chaps, I have been up to my eyeballs in coursework for university and I will be starting a work placement on tuesday as well (ah the joys). However normal service should resume (camera pending) at the beginning of May!
C

Nice

Hi guys,

Small update on the Coyote.Nothing new from the Jackal exept the extended rear.Put the tires on unpainted,on the Jackal I left them till later and had a hard time putting them on one side,breaking the axle.Using more of the Tamiya set.All the stowage is pretty much generic and I used 2 backpacks on the front racks.WWll,yes,but I'll live with it.

Tom

so when is someone going to make plastic kits of the jackal
and the coyote in 1 35 scale?

Exellent question Nick.

I don't know why Trumpeter or Bronco haven't picked up on these.Not to mention Hobby Boss.These really are exellent kits,but I myself prefer 1/35.1/48 is a whole new territory for me.It would be great if Airfix would do them in that scale.Helicopters and all.

Tom

I agree with you Tom 1 48 scale I great for aircraft but not for armor , Tamiya could them as well , if italeri did them they would just screw them up
Nick

First Nick, Tamiya would have to make something new and not just some added sprues.Update On Coyote.Went better than the Jackal.you learn from a first build for the second.Skirts are again styrene strips and stowage from the Tamiya set.A couple of more modified figures.The Arfix crew will need much longer arms and legs to reach the steering wheel and pedals.My driver is more relaxed,pointing and a map in hand.I plan to use all in a dio eventually so I began an Afgan house,just copying one of the Airfix resin ones.My Afgans are from Hauler lots of trimming.

Tom

Hey guys sorry for the delays in this build, but I am waiting upon Airfix to release their crewmen sets! until then there is not much I can do. Other than say, Tom those are looking good mate!

Thanks Chris,
Nice to see your back.I hope they release the crew soon and the quads.Elm St.Hobbies here in Canada is supposed to have the Merlin soon.I was told mid May,but still haven't heard anything.Much more reasonable at $47 and $15 shipping.Finished the building and may start work on a dio today.I'll probably save a couple of the vehicles for a dio with the Merlin.

Tom

received an important email today! Airfix are now stocking those vehicle crews!
http://www.airfix.com/shop//figures/a03702-british-vehicle-crew-148?utm_source=stocknotification&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=A03702
However (obviously) you only get 1 vehicles worth of crew in each box (two seated soldiers and gunner) but you get some other troops as well. I have two WMIKs, the Coyote and a Snatch to build, so really I need four sets. However I am fairly sure I can get 2 WMIKs from one box, so who knows?

I just received that email too.
Have to admit I'm a little disappointed. I was actually hoping for more seated figures,maybe some for the back seats.Like you,I would need more than one set.I'll try one to check it out.This is the part that concerns me that email .

Please Note: The Driver, Passenger and 'Top Gunner' figures supplied in this set have been designed to fit the Airfix Jackal and Coyote. They can be made to fit into the Airfix Snatch Land Rover and WMIK, but they will require some modification in order to do so, therefore only modellers with some experience should attempt this.

Important: It is not possible to fully assemble the Driver, Passenger and 'Top Gunner' figures from this set and then fit them into a fully assembled Jackal or Coyote (or any other vehicle). The figures must be built up together, as indicated in the figure assembly instructions. Please read both the figure and vehicle instructions carefully before you start.

It's far too late for my vehicles.After this wait I hope it wasn't a waste of time.
On a side note.I ordered the Merlin.Lucky Models anniversary sale.Still costing me $80.I hope they'll adjust the shipping cost.The pilots I've found at Micheals here that are part of a Heuy Monogram kit in 1/48.It will cost me about $15 for the whole kit,cheaper than resin kits with shipping.

Tom

They have arrived! 3 boxes of the crew sets, it is a good day!

The set provides pieces for a vehicle recovery scene, which I shall be trying to achieve. on my final diorama.
The instructions are 12 pages long, giving you a full set of instruction on how to build and install the figures, they also give painting instructions for desert dpm, temperate dpm and the new temperate mtp camos, in case you want to do something other than OP Herrick. These figures are also more detailed than their squadmates in the fireteam. airifx have made something very good here

Yes,it's been a good week.
Just recieved my Merlin.Yes Chris,the box is huge.I've bought 1/35 choppers in smallar boxes.How's the crew going?Will the driver reach the steering wheel and pedals?I'm still not happy with the set.Not every British vehicle needs recovery and most of the set is useless for anything else.Again ,they should have added more seated figures for the the rear seats.

Tom

Ok so I have built a selection of the figures from one of the sets and I will now provide a critique based on my opinions, I am not the worlds best at hacking models about so other people my be better at utilising the models than me.
Firstly, the figures need to be built with the kit, it becomes very awkward to fit them into places when you have already built the thing. My coyote passenger and driver are far too cramped but i think that may be a fault with the figures themselves and their poses.

The gunner will fit in the Landrover turret ring but has to be inserted from below because his legs etc wont fit. However he does look good.

I have tried to use the two kneeling figures for the gunners on the lynx, but they are ever so slightly too large and may be removed.


Here are my soldiers, the prone figure is one from the set.

Hey Chris you giving the wingy things a miss for a while? Although the Lynx comes under aero lol. Nice work though my friend, and Tom yours look good too buddy. I bought the Coyote myself last week, just to try 1/48 military.

Good work guys.

Pete