1/16 US 155mm M198 Towed Howitzer Merit International #61602 Factory Sealed MISB

Description: I need to clear some space on my shelves, so I have to part with some of my collection and this one is going to leave a large hole. Merit International was rumored to have some connection to Trumpeter, probably using their design and engineering services, if not producing the materials, too. The Merit site now says that all products are sold out and directs you to a Trumpeter email account, saying that they were the manufacturer. I think the products are now selling under the I Love Kit brand. In any event, Merit seemed to focus on large scale subjects, like 1/200 carriers, 1/18 Dauntless, 1/35 X-Craft, 1/6 machine guns and 1/16 armor and artillery pieces. This was the first 1/16 scale M198 Howitzer in molded plastic and it really was groundbreaking (just as in real life). I found about a half-dozen listings for this kit on eBay (none from the US), but as a Top Rated Plus US Seller, I have this in stock and can reliably ship this to you very quickly. Here is some of what me research has uncovered from around the web: The Merit International site (merit-intl.com) has a small page for this kit that indicates it is Sold Out. They show the outstanding box art and a page from the painting guide, as well as the following information about the subject: The M198 howitzer is a medium-sized, towed artillery piece, developed for service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. It was commissioned to be a lightweight replacement for the WWII-era M114 155mm howitzer. It was designed and prototyped at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1969 with firing tests beginning in 1970 and went into full production there in 1978. It entered service in 1979 and since then 1,600 units have been produced and put into operation. Scalemates.com has a listing that shows this is the initial release of a brand new 2013 tooling. They also provide links to a review and some walkaround photos as references. Cookie Sewell has an excellent First Look Review on the missing-lynx.com site that lists all of the parts and highlights the many operable features of the kit. He points out some pleasant surprises and his final thoughts are: “Overall, this a very nice piece and should be popular with artillery fans. But now it begs for a crew and a prime mover in 1/16 scale!” This kit is in a large, sturdy, box about 19” x 12” x 3.5”. As you can see from the pictures, the package is pristine and still sealed with six tape strips, so it is factory sealed and absolutely gift-ready. This item contains one huge injection molded plastic model kit with over 900 tan and grey plastic parts, four rubber tires and two rubber boots, metal screws, a twisted brass wire, a large photo etched fret and a set of decals. It requires cement and paint to complete as shown. I use eBay Managed Payments, but I no longer ship internationally. Auction winner pays winning bid and for a limited time, this huge item is offered with $14 Flat Rate Shipping in the US! No reserve and a low starting bid. Check out my other great auctions and listings for combined shipping. Good luck! Those familiar with my listings can tell that I really enjoy these products and the modeling hobby. I like to provide more than just the bare facts about the items, trying to lead you into discovering more about the subjects and optimizing your builds (if that is your goal). I started out picking up models that I was interested in, with the eye toward building them when I had time. Always a bargain-hunter, I accumulated many more than I can build, so I found myself in a Collector status (sounds nicer than a hoarder). As I am sure you have noticed, my items are almost always sealed and in mint condition (I call them Gift-Ready), since I only open them when I am ready to build them. Now I enjoy making these products available to my fellow modelers; both Builders and Collectors. For the Builders, there are probably better (at least cheaper) ways to add to your project lists than buying from me, but you know you are getting top quality. For Collectors, my goal is to save you a few bucks over the competition for the same item in factory sealed and collectible (or resellable) condition.

Price: 93.99 USD

Location: Bradenton, Florida

End Time: 2024-07-27T19:35:58.000Z

Shipping Cost: 14 USD