Global Scale Modeller

Hello all,

I was going to start on the Merlin HC3 from Airfix but I was given this the other day and decided that this would make a better project to make a mess of for my first build in 20 years.
First off some photo's :

The box artwork:



The main sprue's:







The instruction sheet:



The colour painting guide:



First impressions are very good, no flash on the majority of parts and what flash there is is hardly worth mentioning. Detail for the scale seems pretty good but has been over simplified in some areas, notably the suspension leaf springs which contain no leaf detail at all but I'm not going to let that small detail (no pun intended) ruin what looks to be a half decent kit.

So, utilising a tip I've learnt already returning to the hobby the sprues have now been washed and are drying ready for construction to start. Hopefully should get some bench time (aka kitchen table time) a little later today.

More as soon as its available

OK I've done something wrong somewhere, how do I get photo up?

Help please?

Dave,
you need to use some type of image hosting site, photo bucket is the popular one here I think!
If you are struggling with this check the how-to here..

http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=22

Or check out Coen's how-to video here...

http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=2652

Hope this helps some way as I would love to see this build progress mate..
Good luck...

OK guys still can't get the photo's up. I can only assume that links from flickr don't work on here. I've tried copying the links in, I've tried typing the links in - basically at the moment I give up.

Modelcrazy wrote:OK guys still can't get the photo's up. I can only assume that links from flickr don't work on here. I've tried copying the links in, I've tried typing the links in - basically at the moment I give up.

Don't give up! I couldn't get Flickr links to work so I use photobucket instead. Although I think Flyingdutchman uses flickr, so he may be able to help?

I want to see how you get on with those TINY, old Airfix kits!

Hi Hollywood,

The links work everywhere else I've used them so don't see why they shouldn't work here?

SUCCESS! Finally got the photo's up but had to go via photobucket. Normal service will resume shortly.

Oh ... as I can see the upload was successful now !
Seems to be a very interesting set and I'm curious to see your progress on this project mate.
Will follow wit interest ...

Horray!!!!
So glad your sorted, sorry you had to move to a Photo bucket account , but hey pictures for the interested !!
Thanks for not giving up mate..

I have to admit I was getting rather frustrated. But alas, when in doubt give up and do what everybody else does

Hi guys,

Assembly has commenced so time to share the first part of the build :

Starting with the QLD variant (general service truck) work has started on the chassis, the frontal section went together with no problems at all and the photo below shows the chassis completed to this stage :



Following this the rear suspension, axle and driveshaft were assembled. This presented with the first fit issue as the rear driveshaft is a smidgin too long, soon rectified with a scalpel to shorten the locating peg into the transfer box. Also now assembled is the fuel tank support frame and fuel tank and the two photo's below show where construction has been completed to today. The eagle eyed among you may notice the mould seams around the wheel locating lugs, I know they are there and will be dealt with prior to painting and fitting of the wheels :





The fuel tank moulding itself is not brilliant and if I did another set of these would look at replacing it with a scratchbuilt item. That said there is some nice raised detail on the central transfer box and around the axles themselves.

Hi fellow mogellers,

Managed to get a little bench time this evening so time for an update.

With the chassis for the QLD complete attention turned to the cab. The interior seats, steering wheel and back panel have been assembled to the base. The front panel has had the dashboard fitted along with the radiator brush guard and radiator 'tarp' fitted to the front.



With the 'cockpit' completed as far as I can prior to painting the rear cargo body was up next.



Unfortunately I didn't get as much bench time as I would have liked today so not a great deal of progress.

So just to finish off a photo of the completed components so far dry fitted.



As can be seen there isn't a great deal of detail in the cab but like most models in this scale not much will be seen once it's all buttoned up.

As you can see there are a massive amount of ejector pin marks in various places. Now I'm not being idle in not filling them it's just that being my first 'scale' model for twenty years I'm more interested in actually getting these complete and are classing them as practice models only (that and the fact I don't have any filler!).

Evening guy's,

Well best laid plans and all that. Was due to finish work today at 1800 and eventually got home at 2245 due to some idiot in a BMW who decided it would be great fun to run a red light and plough straight into the front of my fully loaded bus. One more nice new 63 plate BMW on its way to the scrap yard!

Thankfully there were no serious injuries but police statements, accident form filling and everything else associated with it mean't I couldn't get the bench time I'd promised myself which would have seen the build of the QLT variant complete meaning both would be ready for paint.

Oh well, might get a little time in tomorrow morning before work (fingers crossed) !

Bummer! Glad you're ok though!