Airfix 1/72 B-26 Marauder
I made this kit last year for a FB group build, the theme was "Airfix B-26." Mostly made out of the box build except for the following: added some extra details in the cockpit and bombardier area and the use of Monogram's Curtiss Electric propellers from its own B-26 snap together kit. The kit came out okay, I wish I spent time on working on the canopy fit better. The model was an okay kit, it had some fit issues, warped wings and tail surfaces. I felt the Frog B-25 that I build a few moths earlier (even though it was a lot more work) was a more pleasant and solid kit to build. Still it is done and happy sitting on my shelf next to the Frog B-25.
The decals are from XtraDecals and used "Yo-Yo Champ" of the 497th BS. Shot down by an Me-262 just days away from the end of the war after surviving over 100 missions.
Looks good sitting on your shelf, definitely liked.
George, thank you.
That's a beautiful Marauder, my friend @v1pro!
I have a soft spot on classic Airfix kit like this one, just love them!
Spiros, thank you. There are few I am eyeing to build in the future.
Very nice build, Bob.
Love the comparison picture.
John, thank you. I should do more comparison shots.
Nicely done Bob, my Boston in a similar scheme !
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Thank you Allen, I was thinking of the same plane on your picture while I was painting the leading and trailing edges.
Top build.
Thank you Haslam.
Great looking Marauder, Bob.
Gotta love the older kits, fun to build and nice looking results.
Thank you George, totally agree on these old kits.
Two fine-looking WW-2 medium bombers dressing up your showcase. Nice work, Bob.
Thank you Bob.
Looks good! I have a few Marauders in the stash - going to have to build one soon!
Thank you Greg. It is a neat airplane to have next to the others.
Wow , Bob @v1pro ! That B-26 is beautiful ... you did a great job on that old Airfix , made in England, kit.
I have the same kit sitting on a book shelf as a decoration... maybe I should build mine ?
Keep up the good work !
Jay thank you. This is not a bad kit but I found it a little bit frustrating. Still it worked out and it is not a bad looking airplane. For its time, I think Airfix did a nice job on this kit.
They do take some patience , working with those moveable control surfaces. I wonder if that old 1/72 Revell B-26 kit would be easier? It had a lot of raised rivets on it, as I recall.
Jay, good question on the Revell B-26. My old 1/72 Revell P-40, B-24, Ju-88 and A-20 all had their rivets sanded off. Some rescribing and scratch building. They all took a while but I enjoyed them all. But I felt their shapes and looks were accurate enough in my eyes. I never had Revell's B-26 so I can't say. The only moveable flight control surface on the Airfix kit was the elevators, the rudder and ailerons were molded on. One of my FB friends built the Revell B-26 a couple of years ago. I think he did a nice job on his build.
3 attached images. Click to enlarge.
That’s a pretty good looking B-26, @v1pro. The rivets don’t seem too distracting after it’s painted. I’ve volunteered working on the “ “Flagship Detroit”, a restored American Airlines DC-3. It’s covered in rivets too, not like the Italeri Dc-3/C-47 kit, which is as smooth as a real world F-16.
The B-26 does have its rivets, some are round heads but most of them are flush. Nothing like a DC-3 which is loaded with round head rivets. If I build the Revell kit, I would sand them off but as you saw on the photos, they do not bad.