Monogram 1/48 B-26 Invader WIP

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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This is the Monogram 1/48 B-26 Invader with the Eduard interior set, True Details wheels, OzMod nose conversion, and Quickboost engines and cowlings. This model has become a bit of a shelf queen, as I originally started this for the Korean War GB a few years ago but lack of interest along with a killer work schedule has caused this build to drag on.

I am building this as Pasadena Pistol Packer II from the 729th BS based in Japan piloted by Lt. Guy Brown. The Monogram kit is pretty nicely detailed, but the Eduard cockpit set is very nice. I re-scribed the entire airframe which was not difficult but time consuming. The quickboost engines are very nice as well.

Here are some photos

Somehow I broke/lost the button part of my camera to take a photo, so I have to use something small and pointed to actually take the photo. I didn’t take any photos of the WIP until these:

I plan on doing some decals this weekend. I’ve had to make the Pasadena Pistol Packer II decal for the nose, and I will cobble together the remaining decals from various decal sheets.

I have mixed feelings about the exhaust staining. In all the images that I’ve seen, the Invader had very heavy exhaust staining. At first I thought I over did it, but as I keep seeing it, I’m beginning to like it. I think the remaining weathering will help make it look better. All comments are welcome!

Steve

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Very nice! I have one on the shelf that I am very excited about building - made a post about it a while back actually. Going to be doing mine up as the water bomber from the movie Always.

Would you recommend the engines and cockpit sets? I’m not sure how much of an improvement they are and how much of that improvement can actually be seen…

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I would recommend the cockpit set. I’ll try to take a better photo, but I cut both left and right sides open so he cockipit will be quite visible. The Quickboost engines are really nice too - I thought I had photos of them but think I accidentally deleted them. The cowlings are not attached yet so I will get some photos of them as well.

Steve

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That would be great Steve! I would appreciate that.

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That looks great! Your exhaust staining does not look overdone for an Invader at all. Perhaps even a tad on the light side for many photos that I have seen. That aircraft has a special place in my heart as my dad crewed on those after Korea with the 452nd Bomb Wing.

As the Korean War GB was run by me, and I put out there at the end for anyone who had started a build there to please post the completed build photos there even though the GB is over, please do so with this once it is finished. (I have an F-86 sidelined in the same boat)

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Nice build. I have two of these in the stash