Has anyone else purchased this kit? The instructions show part M2, the canvas cover for the cab, being used but there wasn't one in the box and it's not even listed on the parts tree page. Just wondering if I just got a bad box or what. Thanks.

Yesterday SprueBrothers posted this:
"The missing part (missing from the entire first run) finally arrived so we can finally release this kit for purchase"

I'm not sure if that was the cab canvas though but could be likely based on what you've seen with yours.

I saw that...has to be the canvas top. THe thing that made me mad is when I contacted Merit the other day, they said it's not supposed to be in there. I emailed them back showing them the instructions and the box top build and they never replied. The seller I bought it off of says he doesn't handle parts, which leaves me stuck

You don't really need the cab soft top. They were not usually installed due to the stifling heat in Vietnam. You can also see more details w/out it.

Here are two period pics of King Cobra without the canvas top :





H.P.

Thanks- that makes things easier.

Bottom pic looks like the canvas is there but rolled up on top of the windshield

Indeed ! Easier to scratchbuild if needed

H.P.

Good luck with trying to get parts for AFV Club kits. I've tried for two years to get all the missing resin radio parts for my Rommel Mammoth by contacting Hobbyeasy where I bought it, Merit and directly with Hobby Fan/AFV Club via their website email and Facebook. I've given up and just purchased radio equipment from Eduard and Plus Model. Definitely frustrating and poor customer service on everyone's part.

Yeah, I'm seeing that. Only other time I tried to get a missing part, they ignored all my emails but the part did show up...14 months later.

Merit actually called me today. They said the missing parts were actually the polycaps for the wheels, not the cab cover. They did say they would help me out but it would take a while.

Did you ever end up getting the cover for the kit?

I ended up with two- one from AFV Clun direct and one from their US importer.

Here’s the thing about replacement parts—many of the importers take a while before they’re able to provide such parts. Merit International is one. Dragon USA is another. Replacement parts come from scavenged unsold kits at the importer, or alternatively from kits at the manufacturer, and are not manufactured “to fill orders”. Most manufacturers also like to work through vendors (i.e.; the LHS or Mail Order business), that way, they ensure the appropriate vendor gets the credit for a refund or a replacement. I worked with Merit, Dragon and Revell-Monogram as an employee of a LHS many years ago. I also had experiences with Eduard. It takes the importers a bit of time to build a stock of replacement parts, as they “rob” their existing stock for replacement parts. But when a kit goes OOP, or is limited in nature, the “parts pool” also dries up. The same goes for the manufacturer, who doesn’t make kits just for replacement parts, but most keep a few kits of a production run on hand.

The best replacement policy I ever worked with was Revell-Monogram USA, they replaced parts direct to the customer without question, as long as they had parts on hand. Eduard is also excellent in working directly with the customer, and I think Merit is pretty good as an importer too in working with customers, although they’d rather work through their vendors, as long as the parts are available. If they’ve sold out of a particular run, you’re going to have to wait for the next run. Dragon USA was terrible, but that’s because Dragon moves 99% of their stock out to the vendors, and seldom has enough kits to “rob” for parts. Dragon also has a tendency to discontinue kits, and bring them back under different kit numbers, complicating the replacement process. Just wanted to mention how replacement parts are handled in the business world.
VR, Russ

I have had 2 issues with Merit over the years- with canvas for King Cobra, it took me about a week to get the right person to talk to me and about 4 days to get the part- and a week later, another of the same. The other was a part for AFV Club's M109A2. That took me less than 3 minutes to get the part ordered and a year to get the part in the mail