Merit International will release an U.S. Navy bomber SBD-3 Dauntless in 1:18 scale.

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Thanks!

That would be an awesome build. The wingspan alone would be enough to serve as a shelf for smaller builds.

That's insane !! a 1/18 scale Dauntless. My 10x10 modeling/computer room isn't big enough to house the completed model.
Joel

That engine - will there be aftermarket 1/18 oil and petrol to run it!? What an awesome kit, might be able to see the parts!

I'd love to have one of these...where to put it?

Insane, now if had been a Spitfire I would have bought one, to really show off what masks are like on my trade stand As nice as this kit looks I just don't have a need for the subject in this massive scale However I bet that there are many that do and I really hope that sales encourage Merit to produce other kits in this scale and maybe a Spitfire down the line One thought is that if these kits (looking to the future) are of good enough quality they could be perfect for the smaller museums?

On the serious side, I'm really looking forward to reading some build reviews. A 1/18 scale kit should be so detailed that there just isn't any need for AM. I'm guessing, but the over all model should be larger then the 1/32 scale B-17 that just came out. And it's huge.

Joel

This kit is essentially the Trumpeter 1/32 kit, scaled up to 1/18. Still impressive none the less.

Scott, I checked out the LSP forum as my brother hangs out there, and the talk is that the kit is scaled up from the 1/48 scale Accurate Miniatures kit. Either way, it should be a really nice kit. Just way too big for me to even contemplate building it.
Joel

Hi Joel

The bigger the scale, the more scope there is to pile in detail, so the aftermarket producers could have a field day.

Actually, the shots of the completed engine that I've seen on-line look very basic - so that's an immediate target for improvement...

All the best

Rowan

just thought that I would pass this on. Here's a photo of the Merit Dauntless fuselage on a sprue tree. The mini fuselage right under it is the 1/32 scale Trumpeter kit. According to the thread author, the sprues are identical to the old Accurate Miniature kit. The build article is located on the LSP forum site.

Joel

Hi again

Just a thought... In the good old days (pre-CAD), patterns were carved large and reduced to the final kit release scale. Perhaps this is the original Accurate Miniatures pattern reproduced 1:1?...

All the best

Rowan

Rowan, I'm pretty sure you hit it on the head. I'm sure all those molds still exist.
Joel