Merit International's 1:18 SBD Dauntless is being heartily supported by the WWII 1:18 community.  We'd like to thank all of our customers for supporting this project.  Here's some product notes and industry updates:

1.  After just a week of Preorders, we have sold a little over half of the total number of planes we requested from the manufacturer.  For an aircraft that is not due until April, this is excellent progress.  The new tooling has created a buzz and excitement we have not seen since about 2006.  Collectors calling-in are absolutely giddy, as are we!  The Bad Cat crew is more excited about this project as anything released in several years.  Since only 1000 units are planned in this first release, a sell-out on this piece is a certainty, probably long before the Preorder period ends.  If you decide to pass on this one, an S2 version should be available before the year's end.

2.  If sales are successful of the S1 and future S2 SBD, there WILL be additional toolings in the series.  Which one's I don't know at this point, but support of the SBD project as a whole will be crucial to the development of additional toolings from this producer.  So far I rate the "pop" as outstanding and time will tell if the tooling has "legs."  The 1:32 SBD release several years ago had excellent legs, much better than the companion F4F, so this bodes well for this larger version.

3.  The pictures shown are of the "paint master".  Full scale production always attempts to replicate the paint master.  The paint master is always made by a master modeler and is never exceeded on the production line.  The skill of the factory, the effectiveness of the factory's worker hiring and training program, and the talent of the individual line personnel will have a major impact on the quality of the finished product.   Hopefully the finished product will have a high degree of fidelity to the paint master . . . and no spots.

4.  The SBD will feature working perforated dive brakes which are highly desired by collectors.  Also, flaps, ailerons, rudder, and elevator all move.  The center bomb and trapeze also move from inflight to dropping position. The rear gun traverses, elevates, and retracts back into the cockpit.  The main landing gear is fully retractable, the prop spins, and the tail hook deploys for carrier landings.

5.  The aircraft comes with NO pilot or gunner.  We still have a few 21st Century new surplus Corsair pilots.  These will work well as an SBD pilot with the only modification needed being the painting over or erasing of "VF-17" on the Mae West.  The gunner is more problematic as the rear cockpit is going to be a really tight fit for a 1:18 figure.  To make a gunner, figure on breaking out the old belt sander, hacksaw, and brushing up on your Civil War surgeon skills.