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Paul Mahoney
21 articles

Hobbycraft 1/48 P-26

August 28, 2014 · in Aviation · · 12 · 2.6K

Well, after a small absence due to family things (and a trip to the IPMS Nats), I thought it was time to contribute something. This is 's built many years ago using Aeromaster decals. I have since learned that the fuselage of this a/c was probably olive drab, not blue, but too late now...

I do recall using Xtracolor PRU blue for the fuselage, and Model Master Yellow with a touch of red for the wings. I also remember being pleasantly surprised at how nicely the decals conformed to the wheel spats - those Aeromaster decals may have some factual errors, but the quality is first-rate.

I used stainless steel wire for the main rigging, and stretched sprue for the antennae. This kit is one of Hobbycraft's better efforts - I only used a cockpit detail set from Tom's Modelworks to spruce it up. Everything else is OOB. The gloss finish is Future. Lots and lots of it. Hand brushed before and after decaling.

Reader reactions:
4  Awesome

3 additional images. Click to enlarge.


12 responses

  1. Nice work on what is probably Hobbycraft's best kit. There's no "probably" about the OD fuselage. All P-26s came out of the factory in OD, the AC Blue was done "in the field", and definitely after the 17th Pursuit Group traded theirs in and became the 17th Attack Group. But hey, Planes of Fame has it wrong too on the only one that flies.

  2. Brilliantly finished and presented, Paul...a stunning build.

  3. Very nicely finished and photographed, Paul.

  4. Beautiful Peashooter Paul, super looking build

  5. Hi Paul. She is a thing of beauty! I always had a fondness for the P 26. Your paint scheme is spot on. AWESOME!

  6. Really like seeing aircraft from the "between the wars" timeframe.
    Excellent work on this one.

  7. Paul:
    Great job on this.

    I built the Aurora a looong time ago. It was 1/40ish, but I didn't know or care. Long gone, to the great landfill someplace, probably when I was in the Army.

      I always thought these looked like something you'd see as a ride in an amusement park, whirling around a central column.
    
      Good to see one built, love the blue fuselage ones.
  8. thanks for all the nice comments guys - it was a few years ago, but I do remember enjoying this build a lot. Everything fit well, it measures up right, and came together easily. I liked it so much I added 3 more to the stash - at some point I'd like to do the one sent to Spain for a 'test drive' just before hostilities broke out there. As well as a Philippine one, and perhaps one in Chinese service. Loads of interesting schemes for them!

  9. Nice work! I like it in blue.

  10. Hi Paul, what a nice and colorful bird, great job on the rigging !

    Bernd

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