International Scale Modeller

OK guy's.

As the title suggests I am preparing to attempt the Airfix 1:48 Merlin as my first model in a very long time. The eyesight is totally shot so something in a larger scale has to be a good start

Now then, I'll get some sprue photo's done over the next few days (as this seems to be the thing to do having seem some of the remarkable build threads on the forum) but first a question :

I'm not a great fan of Humbrol paints so would someone be kind enough to convert the following paint colour numbers to the closest Tamiya equivelant (sorry I don't have a Humbrol colour chart so do not know what colours each number is). This will enable me to order the paints ready to start the build early in the new year.

Also has anyone actually built the Merlin and are there any problem areas to watch out for.

So here are the paint colour numbers which Airfix call out :

33, 86, 85, 64, 127, 54, 56, 19, 74, 55, 79, 11, 196, 53, 130, 105, 163, 12, 116, 70, 18.

I appreciate that some conversions may be duplicated so will have to bear that minor problem.

I am also looking for photographs of the cockpit and cargo area interiors so if anyone can point me in the direction of a website with suitable material that would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanking you all in anticipation.

Regards Dave.

Hi Dave, enjoy your Merlin, I have just done the Army Lynx which was a nice build, hope yours is the same.

Here are Humbrol/ Tamiya colours....33/XF1..86/? light olive..85/?Coal Black..64/XF12..127/?US Ghost Grey..54/?Brass..56/XF56..
19/X7..74/?Linen..55/?Bronze..79/?Blue Grey..11/X11..196/Light Grey..53/? Gunmetal..130/?White satin...105/XF5...163/Dark Green...
12/XF6...116/XF65...70/?Brick Red...18/X6

The best way I have found for photo's is to use Google images, type in Merlin cockpit or interior and see what comes up.

Hope this helps
Geoff

Hi Dave, I've got the kit and it certainly looks nice, hope you enjoy making it.

Don't know if it would be of use to you but there is an Ap for the I Phone called IModelKit which is good for converting colours, or even working out what colours to mix to get a desired shade.

Hi Geoff and John.

Thanks for the info guys.
I've given up with the paint conversions and will stick with the dreaded Humbrol for this one (apart from the fact the two local model shops here only stock Humbrol - such is life).
I've found a few cockpit views of the Merlin which help a little but appear to be a different spec. from the Airfix kit so a little more searching around.

All being well I should be able to get started sometime this week but I'm not expecting progress to be swift so I apologise in advance if there are big gaps between updates.

Regards Dave.

I have had my eyes on that Merlin for some time and I look forward to seeing this baby get built!

How is this build going? Has the chopper landed in the stash again?