Popular Post Toryu Posted December 15, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted December 15, 2018 A-72 Péronne Airfield on December 23, 1944 - 0715h - Checks completed ... starting engines It was in 2000 when I stumbled over this Monogram kit in my stash which I had long put off because I had no idea of how to make the rather big model more exciting. And to be exciting it deserved. I have liked the Marauder since my early days because it looks very smart, probably the smartest of all US medium and heavy bombers. Somehow I had the inspiration that this model would lend itself to electrification. The spacious bomb bay, the large engine nacelles and the easy access to the various points of illumination made it an ideal object for such an experiment. 0740h - Awaiting take-off clearance ... Target: Rail bridge at Eller, Germany I installed two electric circuits (1.5V for the engines - 3V for the lights) which are fed by two batteries in the bomb bay. The navigation lights, landing lights and both engines can be activated separately or in unison by the dorsal turret turning a switch in the rear fuselage. The model was built with a few accessories like landing flaps, wheels, machine gun barrels, canopies and metal Pratt & Whitneys from Hi-Tech. These with the electric motors behind them - their shafts reaching through the engines - are heavy enough to hold the nose firmly down on the ground. In the end I was delighted that everything matched so well. 0850h - Passing over the Ardennes ... trying to avoid trouble Missouri Mule II was a B-26B-55-MA of the 9th Air Force's 596th BS, 397th BG ('Bridge Busters'), assigned to 1/Lt George W. Parker and crew. After relocating from Rivenhall to the continent X2-M completed at least 93 missions before it was lost in a take-off accident with a different crew on April 6, 1945. 1/Lt Parker is second from right I hope my pictures live up to the perfect shape of this plane. Michael 1105h - Mission accomplished - we were lucky ... 10 group aircraft lost (3 to AA - 7 to fighters) REFERENCES MARTIN B-26B & C MARAUDER, PROFILE PUBLICATIONS NO.112, RAY WAGNER, LEATHERHEAD THE 9TH AIR FORCE IN WORLD WAR II, KENN C. RUST, FALLBROOK, 1970 B-26 MARAUDER AT WAR, ROGER A. FREEMAN, NEW YORK, 1977 B-26 MARAUDER, AIRCRAFT IN ACTION NO.50, STEVE BIRDSALL, CARROLLTON, 1981 B-26 MARAUDER UNITS OF THE EIGHTH AND NINTH AIR FORCES, OSPREY COMBAT AIRCRAFT 2, JERRY SCUTTS, LONDON, 1997 THE MARTIN B-26 MARAUDER, J.K. HAVENER, ST. PETERSBURG, 1998 82 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Absolutely awesome model of one of my favourite types. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Superb job on what`s a fiddly build in the first place, looks amazing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Effing lovely! Truly superb, a joy to look upon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 That's stunning, Michael. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Now that is quite special. Agree about the lines of the Marauder. Great photo's too, those shots with the lights on capture the atmosphere superbly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Beautiful, Impressive, and a great piece of history. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djos Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Fantastic work, very realistic Best regards Djordje 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_RAFBC Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Amazing, I love the pics with the props running. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Absolutely superb! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jet-mech Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Great build, but those first photos are just super. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 This would be a great job even without all the electrics, with them it's outstanding! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 Brilliant! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJJunis Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 Wow that is great....one of my favorite subjects done extremely well. Thanks for sharing. ALl the Best! Don 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 Looks really good with the lights on and the props turning. I wonder if they could produce enough thrust to taxi? Maybe not such a good idea though. Your pride and joy might taxi off the table in one short fatal flight.🛩️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted December 16, 2018 Author Share Posted December 16, 2018 (edited) On 16/12/2018 at 14:04, noelh said: Looks really good with the lights on and the props turning. I wonder if they could produce enough thrust to taxi? Maybe not such a good idea though. Your pride and joy might taxi off the table in one short fatal flight.🛩️ Haha, yes, funny idea. I actually thought about it, too. The motors should have enough power because they are meant for small balsa wood flying models. There are a few obstacles, however: First of all, the flat tyres 😕, and then the high turns of the motors which at 6V run with 18,000 rpm (I reduced the voltage to 1.5V - so maybe 5,000 rpm) compared to the Pratt's 2,600 rpm plus reduction gear for which the props would be optimized. On the plus side they produce a considerable shake - so much that initially I was afraid that they might throw pieces off the model - and a nice prop wash that can blow away papers behind the airplane. A pity that this is not visible in the photos, would be even more realistic. I'm happy about the many kind comments here. It's very nice to have knowledgable fellow-modellers appreciate the effort. Happy holidays, Michael Edited December 21, 2018 by Toryu 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 Simply superb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael51 Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 Brilliant work, not just on the electrics, but the finish as well. I do not know how you got that nose transparency to fit so neatly to the fuselage. That is particularly impressive. It is indeed a fine looking machine and a deserved favourite of many, save perhaps (for me), the B-25. Michael 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted December 16, 2018 Author Share Posted December 16, 2018 (edited) On 16/12/2018 at 18:38, Michael51 said: Brilliant work, not just on the electrics, but the finish as well. I do not know how you got that nose transparency to fit so neatly to the fuselage. That is particularly impressive. It is indeed a fine looking machine and a deserved favourite of many, save perhaps (for me), the B-25. Michael Thanks for the flowers Michael. The nose cone is from Squadron. Their canopies matched the Monogram kit quite well as far as I remember. I don't know anymore if I had to make adjustments. If any, I prefer slight oversize issues because you can sand down the front while it gets wider. Agree on the B-25 which I also like much (the one with the rear dorsal turret). It is more a 'muscle' plane while the B-26 is more elegant. I feel the same differentiation for the F4U / P-51, my two favourite US fighters. Cheers, Michael Edited December 21, 2018 by Toryu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habu12 Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 Hehe, my comment was gonna be about your schematic too 😆 Other than not using any standard schematic symbols, great build! But it’s certaibly not OOB in any way! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 WOW, just stunning! Now you just need to add the engine sound effects when the motors are running! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 10 hours ago, Toryu said: Haha, yes, funny idea. I actually thought about it, too. The motors should have enough power because they are meant for small balsa wood flying models. There are a few obstacles, however: First of all, the flat tyres 😕, and then the high turns of the motors which at 6V run with 18,000 rpm (I reduced the voltage to 1.5V - so maybe 5,000 rpm) compared to the Pratt's 2,600 rpm for which the props are optimized. The model props are molded with a low incidence and wouldn't grip Yes basically flat tyres = brakes, just like when I did my power checks. Brakes on, power up, it wouldn't move. Of course yes the model props aren't exactly efficient. But you know with enough power anything will fly. 😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Very cool indeed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Joyce Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 The completed model looks great, Michael, and the motors and lights are a novel way of bringing it to life! Cheers, Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted December 17, 2018 Author Share Posted December 17, 2018 (edited) On 16/12/2018 at 22:48, Dragon said: WOW, just stunning! Now you just need to add the engine sound effects when the motors are running! Mike Don't tell anybody: I make the sound with my mouth - vrooomgroaaaar... On 16/12/2018 at 22:37, Habu12 said: Hehe, my comment was gonna be about your schematic too 😆 Other than not using any standard schematic symbols, great build! But it’s certainly not OOB in any way! Yeah, you're right, I'm not a certified electrician. Edited December 21, 2018 by Toryu 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now