Reviewed February 2017
by Timothy Dike
| Tetra Model Works has a new set specifically designed for the Merit 1/350 HMS Ark Royal. The Tetra upgrade set contains 10 brass photo etch frets with relief etching, and three bags of CNC metal barrels, chain and wood decks. Let's take a closer look at the details. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| PHOTOETCH | |||||||||||||||||||||
| FRET A | |||||||||||||||||||||
| New platforms, bridge walls, funnel platforms and catwalks are provided to detail the island. Relief etching gives the parts a 3D look. The bridge and superstructure parts will build into more accurate representations of the real ship. |  |
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| FRET B | |||||||||||||||||||||
| More platforms, splinter shields, gussets, and braces are among the detailed parts on this fret. |  |
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| FRET C | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The boat cranes with their rigging are nicely etched and appear to be smartly engineered for easy assembly.For example; the entire frame is a one piece fold up assembly. |  |
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| FRET D | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Floater net baskets are nicely etched as are the other safety nets. Also included are new wall sections, railings with realistic drooped chain, and a really cool crash barrier assembly. |  |
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| FRET E | |||||||||||||||||||||
| More floater net baskets, safety netting, railings braces and brackets. |  |
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| FRET F | |||||||||||||||||||||
| This fret contains more boat crane assemblies, as well as parts for the Vickers machine gun assemblies. |  |
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| FRET G | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gun platforms for the quad pom pom gun mounts include some really nice tread plate detail. One nice feature is the tab and slot style construction of the gun assembly. Mounting holes for the pins on the gun barrels should make assembly easier. |  |
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| FRET H | |||||||||||||||||||||
| This fret features boat detail parts with everything from new decks and cabins to rudders, oars, and even propellers. Compare that finished photographs to see how dramatically these details improve the appearance over the plastic parts. |  |
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| FRET I | |||||||||||||||||||||
| This Fret includes the degaussing cable's and various locker assemblies. |  |
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| FRET J | |||||||||||||||||||||
| On this fret we have new catwalk and railing assembly to attach under the flight deck. This is smartly designed as a single piece that just needs to be folded together. Another nice touch is the etched ship's name. |  |
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| WOOD DECK | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Peel and stick Laser etched simulated wood deck adds even more realism to the kit. |  |
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| METAL BARRELS AND DETAILS | |||||||||||||||||||||
In addition to the photo etch, this set includes Brass
CNC turned barrels. These are nicely machined with mounting pins to help
locate him and nicely tapered barrels with drilled out ends. A length
of the anchor chain is also included.
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| INSTRUCTIONS | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The instructions are nine double size (A3) pages, many with captioned color photos. There are lots of subassembly views showing the various stages of assembly. |  |
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| BUILDUP PHOTOS FROM THE MANUFACTURER | |||||||||||||||||||||
The following photos from Tetra show the finished kit and
some subassemblies in their natural brass color showing what your kit can
look like. A dramatic different from the soft plastic details on the stock
kit.
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| CONCLUSIONS | |||||||||||||||||||||
This new set from Tetra is well designed and includes virtually everything to upgrade your Merit Ark Royal into a stunning museum piece. There are many more parts included that had not made mention of, so please take time to study the photos to see all the little extras. This is set #SE-35009 1/350 HMS ArkRoyal Detail up set for the Merit kit. Highly recommended. Thanks to Tetra Model Works for the review sample. |
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