AMT 1/48 A-20B Boston/Havoc

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Starting at the beginning of this design, well, except for the R-1830 DB-7 that has not been done in 1/48, though there is a recent kit of it in 1/72. AMT did all but the Turbinelite version and I picked up all these kits when they were available from AMT. I used the Vector interior which added a lot of work as usual, and is hard to see without a pen light. It does include the life raft, which AMT failed to provide and which is very visible with the cockpit hatch open. I redid the propeller shafts in music wire with copper tubing bearings in the engines. The fit of the AMT parts has been very nice. The landing gear is a trapeze like affair that looks flimsy but once all in seems quite secure. Small size shot under the nose floor and under the cockpit on one side secured with canopy glue provided nose weight.

A few more shades of green and some markings painted on today. Trying to get some fading and modulation going.

After some back and forth the decals are on. The decals on the kit worked about half right. Some worked and the others were removed with masking tape after going all the way up to Walthers Solvaset and in some cases Tamiya Extra Thin. A combination of ALPS printed replacements and part of the decals from a second kit resolved the problems. Using the decals from the second kit won’t cause a problem because I will build a British A-20C from it. I see some clean up needed around the canopy and nose transparency but it is getting close to a flat coat and some weathering with oils, maybe not in that order.

This seems to be one of those kits we always intend to build but finds it hard to get to the top of the pile. So now this one has, but the C, G, J, and P-70 still rumble from bowels of the stash.
Here’s some pictures. At the end is a couple with an Accurate Miniatures B-25C and P-51A, along with a Special Hobby Martin Maryland and Tamiya fuel truck. And then a spinning prop photo with the bonus of the left engine on the Maryland also running up. Sometimes the stars align, or at least the propellers. After I took them I saw that I had left the masks on the little windows below the gunner’s station. Off now, Embarrassed but there is always something!

6 Likes
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Oustanding, John, as always! And that’s a great collection, too.

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Thanks, Baron Munch, much appreciated.

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You…are a building MACHINE John!!! nunchakku_zpsxhlixjd0
A great build and it’s always a special treat to see the spinning props in your photos bud.

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@jeaton01 John, that was one of the first kits I built when I got back into the hobby in the 90s. I’d never built one previously as a youngster, but I always liked the look of the Havoc. As I didn’t have much display space in those days living in an apartment, I built it wheels up and hung it from a ceiling. I still have it all these years later, hanging from the ceiling of my workshop.

I’ve long considered getting another copy of the kit, but never could pull the trigger. Then I saw the HK 1/32 kit and thought they might scale that one down to 48. I’ve seen that there will be a new mold from HK in 48th coming later this year, so I’m waiting for that one.

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Love it! I have the gun nose version in the stash that I’ll get to one of these days. I hope mine turns out half as well.

Cheers!
-O

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Great job on your Havoc. At one time I had all of these AMT A-20s but sadly I sold them off. I really regret that decision because these were some “gems” for AMT.

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Turned out really nice, seen the AMT kit off and on for sale at my LHS but have not pulled the trigger on one. May have to reconsider if I see one again.