The Douglas A-26 was in essence the company's successor to the A-20, first flying in prototype form on 10 July 1942 at Mines Field, El Segundo, with test pilot Benny Howard at the controls.
Featuring an innovative NACA laminar-flow airfoil wing, the prototype exhibited excellent performance and handling, with not too many follow-on changes, mainly at the cowlings (to deal with engine overheating) and the nose landing gear area (to make it stronger, as the nose gear was found prone to collapse).
Early versions were built either as the gun-nose A-26B, featuring a combination of armament, or the glass-nose A-26C, utilizing a Norden bombsight for medium altitude precision bombing and two fixed nose mounted M-2 guns (the latter were soon eliminated).
The two nose sections were interchangeable, with the operation needing only a few hours, thus physically (and officially) changing the designation and operational role.
The dorsal and ventral turrets were remotely operated via a novel but complex dual-ended periscope sight, which not only delayed production, taking some time to be developed, but also proved a challenge during field maintenance.
After about 1,570 production aircraft, three guns were installed in each wing, coinciding with the introduction of the "eight-gun nose" for A-26Bs, giving some configurations with as many as 14 machine guns in fixed forward mounts.
The flat-topped canopy was also changed to a clamshell style in late 1944 after about 820 production aircraft, with greatly improved visibility.
During WWII, the Invader served at both the Pacific and European Theaters, whereas after the war it saw service during several major Cold War conflicts.
A limited number of highly modified USAF aircraft also served in Southeast Asia until 1969.
Apart from the US, the versatile Invader was used post WWII to various degrees by numerous Air Forces. With appropriate modifications, the type also found its way to civil operations as executive personnel transport, air tanker and fire fighter.
This is the Revell reboxing of the mid-90s Monogram mold, a by all means good, solid kit, that can produce a fine result.
It has been positively superseded by the recent ICM offering, which made the former's tad fatter fuselage more noticeable when put side by side with the correct in proportions ICM.
Should you wish to read the full build review, you may do so by visiting my beloved site Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/allies/us/usaaf/attack/pen26.htm
Happy Modelling!
Great looking build, Spiros
Thanks my friend @gwskat!
Nice story, my friend Spiros, and a splendid looking model. The NMF with just a little weathering is very convincing.
Thanks my friend @chinesegeorge!
A cool looking Invader, which I think has modern looking lines.
Thanks my friend @roofrat! There's indeed something "modern" in the Invader lines.
Very nice Spiros
Thanks my friend @tolgaul!
Nice work, Spiros. You don’t see that solid nose Promodeller kit built very often.
Thanks my friend @j-healy!
Another fine Spiros Production! @fiveten. Very nice build, of what is a really good looking aircraft. Douglas aviation produced some excellent planes and most always looked good too. You made this Monogram kit shine.
Thanks so much my friend @luftwaffe-birdman!
Looks great! I really like the invader. I remember in high school listening to my dad's insurance salesman talking about his exploits in the Invader during the Korean war. Lot of firepower when the trigger was pulled!
Thanks my friend @gkittinger! I bet your fathers's friend had very interesting stories to tell!
Great job on this venerable kit!
hanks my friend @guitarhack5!
You did a bang up job on the Invader.
Was given enough Monogram parts to build an Invader. Instead bought two ICM B-26Ks and built one. Have dreams of building second one as an RB-26K but need the correct bombardier glass.
Thanks my friend @kahu! The ICM offering looks amazing, the fact that Revell itself reboxed the ICM mold says a lot.
Very nice build with beautiful weathering, Spiros!
Thanks my friend @fxrob!
Excellent job on that Invader. I've done a couple of those old Monograms (B & C), in spite of their age and minor inaccuracies, they still look like Invaders!
Thanks my friend @chasbunch! I totally agree: Monogram quarter scale Invaders are fine kits!
Very nice work on this, @fiveten. An excellent result!
Thanks my friend @tcinla!
This build is a nice one Spiros @fiveten, great job! It's also an eye catching build.
Thasnks my friend @v1pro!
Excellent build Spiros!
Thanks so much, my friend @blackmopane!
Two bombers in a row @fiveten and two of my favorites. Nice looking Invader Spiros.
Thanks my friend @beauslx!
Cool build and story!
Thanks my friend @lis!
Very impressive result, Spiros @fiveten
This build combined all your modelling skills and clearly shows that.
Especially the weathering does give it a very dynamic look.
Thanks so much my friend @johnb!
@fiveten - Fantastic build Spiros! The information regarding the real aircraft as well the kit comparison is quite in depth. Plus... your paint, detailing and weathering are all superb!
Thanks my friend @brithebuilder!
Nice build. With all the thrashing of this kit especially over on the "other" website, I had just about decided to give up and never build on the one I have, you have changed my mind!
Thanks my friend @robertandy! This is a by all means a fine kit, promising to offer you a great modeling time and come up with a super result. Looking forward to see yours built!
Excellent finish all the way around. The NMF is spot on.
Thanks my friend @coondog!
Such a good looking plane...and a fine model too!
Thanks my friend @marcellorosa1!
Lovely work on the Invader, Spiros (@fiveten) - the weathering is particularly impressive.
Thanks my friend @christopher!
Great job Spiros !
Thanks my friend @ramair67!
Glad to see another one from you Spiros.How about a cabinet picture?To see them all together?
Thanks my friend @,mvtb! On vacation at the moment, but will make a cabinet pic once I get back home!
Excellent as always, Spiros @fiveteen. I have built two Monogram versions and have a couple of ICM kits waiting in the wings. Yours is beyond beautiful!
Thanks so much my friend @eb801! Looking forward to see yours!
Well done Spiros, that old dog will still hunt if given a chance. I've built the glass nose version and really can't say anything negative about it. Fun build.
Thanks my friend @tom-bebout! A fine kit indeed!
Outstanding result Spiros! You did a bang up job on the Invader Kit that gets way to much
hating, but in some ways it’s better than than the new ICM kits. Looking forward to your next project.
Thanks my friend @fuzzman!
Hi Spiros,
It shows clearly, that you do not need to much pocket money, to get value for your money. Revell is still very modest prized, and I hope they keep it that way.
As mentioned above, outstanding result. Modest weathering. .👍
Regards from The Netherlands.
Thanks so much, my friend @orion!
Love your work on this @fiveten
This is one of your best! Impressive weathering and nmf. Great job!
Thank you so much, my friend @dbutlr!
That is an awesome article, Spiros @fiveten, and a fantastic model too! 👍 I think it's one of your best builds yet and again demonstrates the wonderful canvas that Monogram/Revell provides upon which the "artist" leaves his mark. 🙂 You, sir, have certainly left your mark here! 🏆
Thanks so much for all kind words, my friend @garybrantley!
Great model, Spiros! The surface design and especially the wonderful dirt/ wear and tear are a joy to behold!
Thak you so much, my friend @rosachsenhofer!
Very nice work. Weathering looks great.
Awesome.
Thanks my friend @glenn73!
this is a pretty cool looking build, and you inspire me to want to build one for myself. Nice job Spiros!
Thanks so much, my friend @anvil6! Looking forward to yours!
Oh, very nice build. Enjoyed the background info. Remember building one in my teens, hairy stick and Humbrol enamel aluminium. Loved all the machine guns.
Thanks my friend @snowman! Ah, those were the days!