EH101 Merlin 1/72

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cobrahistorian Speaking of the 101, does anyone know the name of the new VH-71?

Uhhh... I'm going to take a wild guess here and say "Marine One?"

Just kidding. I pulled the following from the LM press release back in July:
"A popular name for the VH-71A is still under consideration."

"Kestrel" is a rumored name I found online. I know, I know... that was the Harrier prototype's name. A British VTOL design adopted by the American military in a controversial move. History repeats itself huh?

edit: Hmmm... HH-71 "Pave Kestrel" does have a nice ring to it though.

Speaking of the 101, does anyone know the name of the new VH-71?

pics died

Helo53 Thanks.
The Seaking is the 1/48 scale Hasegawa SH3 kit with 2 photoetch conversions (1 to convert too westland Seaking and another for Mk6, sorry I can't remember the producer of the kits) plus various scratch built parts. This is the most expensive kit I've made to date, at approximately £90.00 and that was around 7 years ago, but as I said before I enjoyed making it.
Try following this link for the EH101 http://www.agustawestland.com/products.asp
I could try taking more photgraphs if they can help you in any way.

I was just wondering what scale and kit brand was your Seaking MK6 . I always like model naval helicopters that come with rotor and tail folds. Also excellent work on the Merlin rotors.

If anybody else is thinking of buying a model of the merlin, the best one (don't know about the mk3 version) if you can call it the best is the revell as extra required parts are included, such as weapons carriers, sonar chute (flattish disc), HF aerial, rear view mirrors (that wouldn't be out of place on a huge truck) better decals. In general the revell version has more to offer, but with still a hell of a lot of faults. If resin and photoetch parts were produced to do this model justice, then the company that made them would certainly make a killing.
If you want any pointers on these kits I'll try and help (not the best builder in the world, but I thoroughly enjoyed the build and looking at my end results. Here is a Seaking MK6 I built quite a few years ago

I have the Merlin from Italeri with me, thought havent started anything yet..~ THough nonetheless, thanks alot you guys for the infos..~ : )

Many thanks for your help, that worked a treat. I was using the URL in the address field.

macmac, go to the post you did in the "Community Assistance (aka forum help) section. I replied a few minutes ago. I will look there if you need more help.

Your correct about the folded rotor blade position in relation to the tail rotor ; I just realized this -stupid of me not to notice it before .I haven't started my Italeri kit , I'm finishing off a CH-53D "VIP" Sea Stallion and a MH-53J Pave Low III . The Merlin will be my next project . Sorry my information didn't help that much . As for posting photo's -perhaps you could Email the Editorial Staff for assistance . Maybe they could post a Thread on how to do it . [I also would like to know how] .Good luck with your Merlin . Kind Regards John ..

Checked the link, definity folded, but if you look at the instructions for both the Revell and the Italeri kits it shows the blade outside the folded tail pylon, also when you dry fit the parts, there is no way that you could fit the blade in its "proper" folded position( inboard of the tail and sitting higher), that's where surgery is required.
Here's photo of the tiger strip Merlin with just the main blades folded.

I was searching the internet for images of the EH-101 Merlin , I also recently purchased the 1/72 Italeri kit . Anyway I came across a photo of the U.K.Navy HAS 1 Merlin , check out this site www.naval-technology.com On it's main page , click on the sub title "Projects" then click on "Naval Aviation" , there are a series of different aircraft photo's and technical information you can read . One of the images shows a Navy Merlin with it's rotor's in the stowed position , which is appears to be similar to the way Italeri designed their kit rotor's to fold . Let me Know what you think - I would like to be as accurate as possible when I come to build mine .