The Most Ambitious B-17 Replica Ever Created!
At Merlin Models we make museum quality collectibles for the private collector. We believe in going big, and in this case, we mean that literally. Introducing our 1/8th and 1/16th Scale B-17F Flying Fortress! This project is so large that we will be releasing it in five sections, beginning with the Ball Turret Section. These sections are designed to slide together to create the entire bomber! We've developed it with all collectors in mind! Get it as a model kit or as a finished replica.
We're also aware the being big isn't enough on it's own. Accuracy and Detail are everything in the WWII collectibles industry. So we partnered with Restoration Museum Hanger Thirteen to source blueprints and 3D scans of a real B-17F. We can confidently say that our B-17F project will be the most accurate representation of a Flying Fortress to ever hit the market!
Kickstarter Campaign
We are launching our project by releasing the Ball Turret as our first section. It will be available through Kickstarter starting on May 28th 2024. We chose to use Kickstarter as our Pre-Order partner for a few reasons:
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Their tools are easy for you to use and make the ordering process simple!
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Kickstarter's reach enables us to serve a broader audience and reduces the cost of launching our products
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Campaigns with gifts and stretch goals are fun!
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Kickstarter is a trusted Pre-Order system
EVERY PLEDGE HELPS TO BUILD A REAL B-17F!!!
By supporting this campaign, you get to participate in the rebuilding of the real "Lucky Thirteen", a B-17F that flew combat missions in 1943. Restoration Museum Hanger Thirteen has been instrumental in providing the research that makes this project as accurate as possible. Through this campaign, we are excited to donate 25% of the profits from this project to their museum. Your purchase directly supports their efforts to rebuild one of these iconic bombers! Let's blow them away and provide all of the funding that they need to finish their project!
How Does It Work?
Our Kickstarter Campaign is Easy!
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Join our Launch List!
As we finish the final steps in preparation for our launch, you will want to be ready to make your pledge as soon as we launch the campaign! Join our Launch List and be among the first in line to reserve your kit or collectible. Those that sign up will also be the first to learn about our exclusive extras!
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Share our Campaign!
It's important for us to reach as many modelers and collectors as possible so we can reach all of our stretch goals and donate a huge amount to Hangar Thirteen! Share the campaign on your social media pages and groups and tell your friends!
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Choose your Pledge!
When the campaign launches, everyone that signed up will receive an email with a link to make their pledge through Kickstarter. Each pledge counts as a deposit towards your preferred kit or collectible.
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1/16 Kit
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1/8 Kit
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1/8 Finished Collectible
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1/8 Finished Statue
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Finish Pledge on our Website
We know that collecting is an expensive hobby. You’ll receive a sizeable discount through our campaign, but we want to make it even easier! You’ll only be required to put down a deposit when you make your pledge. Your pledge is collected at the end of the campaign, and then you’ll receive an email allowing you to pay for the remainder in full or through an easy payment plan.
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1/16 Kit
Our 1/16 Kit is perfect for smaller spaces or smaller budgets! It is half the size of the 1/8 kit at 9.5”H x 6”W x 6” L. When you purchase the remaining sections, the total kit will be approximately 40 +/-“ long and fit on a 12” deep shelf!
The 1/16th version of our kit has been specifically engineered for this scale. It will retain as many details as possible from the full size 1/8th version, but please note that some parts may be combined or made thicker to allow for production at this smaller scale. Some stretch goals may not apply due to engineering constraints. If applicable, this will be noted in the stretch goal details.
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1/8 Kit
Standing at 18.75" tall and 12x12" footprint; the ball turret section is absolutely impressive with incredible detail and accuracy! This is our primary offering and will qualify for all of the stretch goals during the campaign. Instructions both in video and in text/image form will be available to help you assemble and paint!
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1/8 Finished Collectible
If you are not a model maker but instead are a collector, we have the perfect pledge for you! The 1/8th scale finished collectible is assembled and painted in house by master artisans and includes all stretch goals automatically! This is the version that will be seen in museums around the country. And you can own this museum quality masterpiece for your own personal collection!
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1/8 Statue
We have something very special for those who either don't have the space for the entire fuselage or don't have the model making skills or the funds for the museum collectible. This 1/8 scale statue is fully painted and assembled featuring the ball turret and gunner in a memorial pose. Most stretch goals won't apply to this pledge but there will be a few and they will be noted in the stretch goal descriptions.
STRETCH GOALS
The more pledges we receive, the more we give to you! As soon as the Kickstarter page launches you will see a section where we will list pledge goals. As each goal is reached, it is added as a free gift to your pledge! It's our way of rewarding our supporters for sharing our campaign with their friends and audiences.
Second Figure Sculpt
The inside of the Turret is tight! If you want to see the hyper details of the interior mechanisms more easily, you might consider not using the gunner sculpt and instead, place the gunner in the fuselage, reloading ammunition! (1/8 & 1/16)
Crystal Clear Side
Seeing inside the Ball Turret can be difficult using just the windows or the back hatch. With our magnetic bell housings system you can easily swap out the side of the ball turret with a clear one so you can easily see all of the hyper details! (1/8) (1/16 will have a fully clear ball turret exterior as default in the kit)
Plated Hangar Assembly
Everyone loves metal parts, and while our cast ammunition and flexible bandolier is completely functional and detailed; having brass ammunition and metal bandolier will make assembly and posing even easier! You will receive 200 rounds of ammunition! (1/8) (1/16 will receive the upgrade ammunition but due to size the bandolier will be a different design tbd)
Metal gun Barrels
More metal parts! Get upgraded to fully metal gun barrels (including the inner barrel and outer sleeve (1/8 & 1/16 & statue).
Metal Ammo
There's nothing like the feel of real metal in your hands! For this stretch goal you will receive 200 rounds of brassed metal ammo and metal-hybrid nylon clips so they will easily string together into lengths that can be used for the ammo cans or in the fuselage!
Custom Lithograph
Piotr Forkasiewicz is a celebrity artist that is donating his incredible skills to our project! He has an international repuation for wartime artworks. Piotr is providing the box art for our project as well as a bonus exclusive print that will only be available during the Kickstarter campaign! (1/8 and 1/16 and statue).
8th Air Force Patch
This upgrade adds an embroidered 8th Air Force patch to your pledge.
384th Bomb Group Patch
This upgrade adds an embroidered 384th Bomb Group Patch to your pledge. (1/8 & 1/16 & statue)
546th Squadron Patch
This upgrade adds an embroidered 546th Bomb Group Patch to your pledge. (1/8 & 1/16 & statue)
Packaging Upgrade
Our default packaging consists of a full color standard box with inserts on the inside for all of your parts or a foam insert for your collectible. With this stretch goal we will upgrade to a linen wrapped, full color, clamshell, magnetized box with artwork on the inside and outside! (1/8 & 1/16 & statue)
Electroplated Skin
Adding to the realism of the interior skin, we will electroplate the fuselage skin in an aluminum-like material so that you only have to add your Alclad decals and weather it to achieve a realistic result! (1/8 & 1/16)
PRICING
Below you will find the pricing for our pledges! Remember that each pledge during the Kickstarter Campaign is a deposit towards the total amount due. We will deduct that deposit amount and send you a payment link for the remainder. You'll be able to pay your remainder as a full-payment or you can start one of our no-credit-check payment plans. This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we don't want finances to get between you and the collection of your dreams! Your pledge will also secure a loyalty discount on your future pledges for the other sections of this multi-campaign B-17F project.
TIMELINE (subject to changes based on outside influences)
May 2024
Campaign Launch
June 2024
Campaign Completion
July 2024
Pledge Manager Open
Payment Plans Start
August 2024
Production Begins
April 2025
Distribution Begins