Korean War GB: MONOGRAM 1/48 DOUGLAS B-26B INVADER USAF, 1950
My second contribution is actually my first subject to start with for the GB. The Monogram/Pro Modeler Douglas B-26B gun nose variant. I was also building the ICM glass nose variant along side this project. The known issue of the Monogram kit is the fuselage being a bit too wide and unrepairable which some builders decided it was not worth the effort to build it. Comparing the 2 fuselages it does become apparent the slimmer sleeker ICM. But in the end it still looks like an Invader too me despite that error.
The B-26B's were one of the first aircraft type to start operating in the Korean Theatre as hostilities started. First flying out of Japan. As of June 1950, 37 airframes were available to start operating over the peninsula flying from Japanese bases. The 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG}, consisting of the 8th, 13th and 90th Bomb Squadrons grew to 90 aircraft by then end of 1950. Daytime operations were very successful until the MiG-15 appeared. In which then all operations took place at night, 232 flight hours, thousands of vehicles destroyed while operating low over treacherous mountainous terrain. Delivering rockets, bombs includin Naphalm over air fields and disrupting supply lines, The system proved very effective, resilient and daring in it's taskings.
This B-26B represents an aircraft that flew out of Iwakuni AB, Japan, 731st BS, 3rd BG, in overall OD, this would become the Brown Nose later in the conflict, here it appears before it gets the nickname with not as many mission marks. I configured this with a load of bombs in the bomb bay and rockets.
Markings are from the Aeromaster Oscar's Invaders decal sheet #48-101, I had intended to do The Brown Nose, but Tolga built the ICM B-26B with those markings, very early in the GB, which by the way is excellent. The Monogram kit also builds with both upper and lower turrets molded into the fuselage halves, unlike the ICM kit which have insert plugs to delete the lower rear turret. I used Eduard's Zoom set for the cockpit. I replaced the engines with Quickboost resin. Much better than the moulded ones in the kit. Resin wheels from True details are used.
For a Monogram/Pro Modeler it was relatively a straight forward build. Only real issue was the engine nacelles otherwise not a typical labor intensive model. Fine raised panel lines are accurate. I used a resin 8 gun nose as the one in the kit is a WWII type with the .50's mounted horizontally. It took about 2 years to build it. Which is about my pace on a 48th scale twin engine bomber. Merry Christmas
Chuck
Fly Navy
Well wide or not there is not mistaking it for anything else but an A/B-26. Nicely done Chuck, @uscusn. It looks good, I have the ICM and Monogram kits, and look forward to building both of them. I like the gun nose version like yours, very menacing.
Thanks Walt, you will enjoy them both. It does and packed a punch. Merry Christmas!
Fantastic result, Chuck! Wide or not, it stull looks an awesome B-26! Merry Christmas!
Thanks Spiro's you just built one yourself a couple of months ago. Well done, Merry Christmas to you and the family.
Wonderful build Chuck, and she looks just fine!
Thanks Rob, sitll love those Monogram kits, A very Navy Christmas!
To me this looks like a perfect Invader, Chuck @uscusn
Nicely detailed and great paintwork.
Merry Christmas
Thanks John, like Spiros, you both were both encouraging as you followed the WIP from start to finish.
I can’t comment on the width but it looks good from where I’m sitting, Chuck, a good two year’s work.
Thanks George, as well as many others won't even notice. Merry Christmas
Great job, Chuck. It's been nice seeing this one come through the build process and now completion.
Thanks Gary, it was a process not the kit, just me. My pace can be methodical at times with the larger multi engine bombers no matter the service and era. Merry Christmas
Well done Chuck great work as usual. I've build the Monogram glass nose version dressed in her black coat. Really not a bad kit even if she's a little wide. Merry Christmas to you and yours and of course I can't help mentioning the great outcome of the Army/Navy football game this year. Go Army.
Hello Tom, I originally built the glass nose kit when it first released in 1993, but used the Paragon B-26K conversion set to build it as a Counter Invader. I found that the kit was not a typical Monogram labor intensive kit, the conversion was not difficult to use. yea yea Fly Navy! Merry Christmas
Chuck:
You have done a great job on this old, classic Monogram kit...Congratulations!
Merry Christmas!
Hi Marvin, thank you,, awesome cold war builds, Merry Christmas!
I love to see these old Monogram kits done up as beautifully as your Invader. You are proving that there is a lot of life left in these old molds. Thank you for sharing it. Merry Christmas!
Thanks Matt, as long as they are available, the next generation of modelers will still enjoy the challenge of building them.
Looks great!
Thanks Lee appreciate that, Merry Christmas
Nice work, Chuck! Merry Christmas.
Thanks John, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.
A fine rendition of the Invader Chuck (@uscusn). Monogram kits are generally accurately shaped given the information and resources available at the time. A bit wide is not really a problem.
And the Army Navy game was a fluke, as pronounced by this former squid. Go Navy!
Thanks Carl, true, in the accuracy of most Monogram kits which some still holding that fact with newer molded kits and their supposedly better research, and still fall short of a Monogram compatible kit. Will get them next year, Fly Navy
Great job Chuck @uscusn Wide body or not it still looks like an Invader
Thanks Robert, having completed the ICM kit and having them side by side, you can see the difference. But in the end they both look great.
Looks like a B-26B to me! 🙂
That's the thing about Monogram - most of them are "right enough" to end up with something worthwhile when the project's completed.
Thanks Tom
Nice job. It definitely looks like an A-26 from any angle. I have the glass nose version to build someday, but I really like the gun nose variant much better. I might pick up a conversion nose for it.
Thanks Clint, Happy New Year, one thing the Invader had was a nice stance and profile. There are several resin noses available for the Monogram kit. Whats nice is that the glass nose version does not have the rear lower turret. And a few decal sheets available as well to build either a WWII or Korean War bird.
Nicely presented and photographed. Bravo! @uscusn
Thanks John, Happy New Year
Chuck A. Villanueva (@uscusn)
Merry Christmas Chuck !
Your Korean War Group build entry looks magnificent. Thank you for finishing it up. Things like this will help us all to remember what these brave men and women endured, so that what they went through will not ever be forgotten.
I'll be composing the group recap very soon, and I'll make sure that your entries are included in it.
I sincerely appreciate your continued efforts with supporting our various group builds here on Imodeler.
The photos of your completed plane look very nicely done.
Here's wishing all of us a happy, healthy, safe, and productive New Year.
I definitely clicked on several of the various "like" buttons. Well done, and thanks again.
Freedom isn't free. Never forget !
Thanks Louis, I appreciate the effort and the opportunity to participate. It brings great pleasure in contributing on the various GB's in progress and get into the stash a bit. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and Sandy
Beautiful work on this lovable and venerable Monogram Invader, Chuck @uscusn. Totally spot on as your excellent photos attest. When are you going to finish your ICM Counter Invader?
Thanks Eric, always a fun challenge to build Monogram, and for some a 2nd go round. The ICM B-26K has been painted and will update the progress sometime this week.
Great build Chuck! Love those markings - I may need to do one like that in 1/72.
Greg- Italeri used to make a very decent B Invader in your favorite scale.
Thanks Greg, I have the Italeri kit of the Counter Invader. That and the B-26B as well. Hope to see that in flight, either one. Happy New Year.
Love this- great work on a classic kit. As a Monogram fanboy I am a huge fan of what you did with this. Well done and thanks for sharing!
Thanks Dave, also a big fan of Monogram with a few in the stash. Happy New Year!
Excellent work on that old kit. I built both the B and C back in the day before ICM came along, they still look like Invaders despite their minor inaccuracies.
Thanks Chas, I now can say I have built the 2 Monogram Invaders as well. And have 1 ICM completed with one in progress. I agree with that as well but can overcome those issues and still build a very nice model.
@uscusn absolutely stunning, Chuck!
First time I’ve looked at the forum for a while - great to see this one done to such an exemplary standard! Outstanding!
Hi Paul, thanks, always good to get a note in any form. Happy New Year