1/72 Merlin Model Westland Wapiti

Gallery Article by Tom Thounaojam on Aug 15 2018

India Independence Day

 

      

The Wapiti is named for the wapiti, also known as elk, one of the largest species of the deer family and one of the largest land mammals in North America and eastern Asia.

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Merlin Model Westland Wapiti, The kit was really hard to get as it was a short run, only a few were made and getting a one a challenge, let alone getting a Wapiti. It took me about 4 years to find a kit. I tried many sources and the Czech CMR kit was out of budget as it was really expensive and when I had money to spend it was out of stock. So, one fine day in some group someone was talking about Wapiti and luck was that I was part of the conversion and someone was willing to part the kit. The kit and shipping price was just too good for me to ignore it. 

After two weeks got the kit, however, when I look at the kit I was really shocked it was notoriously crude and has a strange way to make struts, that you need to cut a piece of plastic to make it.

It was quite challenging for me as I also wanted to rig the aircraft If I didn't it would look too simple and all those chasing for Wapiti is pointless, so every weekend I would sit down and spend a couple of hours trying to make a small portion of the aircraft. The Biggest Challenge was to join the two wings, I glued and left for the night and when I checked in the Morning it was perfect, even the metal engine that comes with kit need some trimming and polishing.

Painting I applied a grey to check any error there were some but it was no point fixing it as If I do the details will go away. To make the metallic fabric type I always mixed Tamiya white and pinch of Mr color silver to give that Fabric feeling. Surprisingly the decals were really good and registered very well.  And next comes the one of the hardest yet fun one rigging the aircraft. One of my friend from Malaysia Enghui gave me a thread that he got from a tailor shop in Australia, it was just perfect and the strength was right. Rigging was done 6-8 hours of bit of trial and error, I thought I just might break the wing as it was too fragile. Either way if anyone want for challenge and want to build this esoteric subject then I wish them all the best cause In life there comes a time when you need to check that are you mentally sound and how cool can you keep, and while making this Merlin Models Westland Wapiti I began to know I have some sanity and hair left. Took more time on rigging tho and it was fun. I am sure it is not 100% but heh anyone who could transform some pieces of plastic and have to cut a long thin plastic to make struts and landing gear deserved a Mug of beer.

This is my second entry for ISM 15th August build.

The depiction of my aircraft is Wapiti IIA No 60 Bomber Squadron, North West Frontier, India..

Tom Thounaojam

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Photos and text © by Tom Thounaojam