Martin Marauder B26B - Airfix 1/72

[The Spadgent]

Two!!!! At the same time!!!

steady on you might just start to have enjoyment overload. 🤪🤗

 

Great start on this one Mr B.

i know what you mean about stashes. I’m currently thinning mine out and getting rid of a few of my larger kits due to space. 
Not down to 25 but deffo getting there. 
This kit looks good for the age and you’re doing g a great job so far. 
Toilet roll man does look interesting. What is that big Cylinder? 
 

Tagging along of course. 🙌

 

Johnny

[CedB]

17 hours ago, Whofan said:

Goodness Ced,

 

If all your pension can run to is AK true metal paste I won't be going near it !! 

 

(I know, autocorrect on penchant)

 

I had a kit a while ago with a single large transfer. I found cutting it into strips made a big difference, as long as you can keep the edges together. If that helps?

 

Goodness Ced, I have seen some photos of Britmodeller's stashes and I thought mine was tiny, but 25?

 

I think that's how many are in small box D of mine!

 

No matter, they say size size doesn't matter .......................

 

SO here I am, hanging around by the bar, looking forward to another Ced display of modelling skills, double entendres, and all round general jollity !!

Thanks John  

"penchant", that's better…

Strip the transfer? Cheeky…

I may give that a go, thanks.

 

15 hours ago, stever219 said:

Do you mind!?!?!???  I resemble that remark!

 

12 hours ago, The Spadgent said:

Two!!!! At the same time!!!

steady on you might just start to have enjoyment overload. 🤪🤗

 

Great start on this one Mr B.

i know what you mean about stashes. I’m currently thinning mine out and getting rid of a few of my larger kits due to space. 
Not down to 25 but deffo getting there. 
This kit looks good for the age and you’re doing g a great job so far. 
Toilet roll man does look interesting. What is that big Cylinder? 
 

Tagging along of course. 🙌

 

Johnny

Thanks Johnny

Well, only one at a time but the Spit is almost finished and paint needs to dry…

The big cylinder is a mount for the machine guns.

Honest.

 

 

Note to self.

When cleaning the bench with the vacuum don't suck up your bombs (oooer missus):

 

 

First coat on the bombs and another coat on the Interior Green:

 

 

Last night I panicked that I'd run out of IG so I ordered some from Amazon.

Guilt ensued. Delivery of one bottle? What!

But then I thought "The nearest Humbrol supplier is further away than the distribution warehouse and they deliver more than one thing".

Guilt removed.

Almost.

 

Engines done:

 

 

The gearbox covers are grey, honest.

Just not easy to see in that pic.

[CedB]

Bit of time before lunch.

 

Soft, grey, flashy plastic:

 

 

Crew finished and gun position assembled:

 

 

@The Spadgent now you can see the big cylinder's purpose.

[giemme]

This feel like old times, to wit me needing to ask Ced to slow down, or at least me needing a lie down after catching up with his most recent progress....

 

 

 

Ciao

[CedB]

1 hour ago, giemme said:

This feel like old times, to wit me needing to ask Ced to slow down, or at least me needing a lie down after catching up with his most recent progress....

 

 

 

Ciao

Sorry G, in my retirement I need to keep myself occupied and modelling seems so much better than the local oldies get together  

 

Decanted Molotow Chrome:

 

 

As hendie and Giorgio stated the nib end unscrews, then:

 

 

Other bits and pieces done:

 

[hendie]

3 minutes ago, CedB said:

the nib end unscrews

I said it first though. Giorgio was just copying me.

Just saying

 

Fine work so far

 

1 hour ago, giemme said:

This feel like old times, to wit me needing to ask Ced to slow down, or at least me needing a lie down after catching up with his most recent progress....

 

 

 

Ciao

Giorgio said that first though.

[Trumpton_Orbital]

Hi Ced, I'm a bit late I'm afraid, but mind if I take a seat too please?

 

Ta,

 

Paul.

[Troy Smith]

On 30/08/2025 at 17:11, CedB said:

I marked up the parts for US Interior Green:

As per Airfix instructions?  I put this more for others,  as I presume a repaint would be a PITA.  I hope at least of interest and you can't see much when all buttoned up...

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/29389-martin-interior-colours/#elControls_1480749_menu

 

"Martin did NOT use zinc chromate, or its "tinted" form better known as "interior green." The insides of Marauders were mostly unpainted, with black anti-skid coating on the floors, and dark green padding in the crew compartments. Seats, intrument panel, and control console are black. Seat cushions are bright yellow. It seems the bomb bays, wheel wells, and landing gear were painted neutral gray on camoflaged aircraft, but were left bare metal once camo was deleted at the factory level."

 

the seat cushions really are yellow....

 

this looking forward shows the green padding, NMF walls, black flooring etc 

There are some great but photobuckted marked photos of the unrestored Flak Bait in the link, note if you right click them and open in new tab the watermark goes, though they save as webp. files, not jpg.

 

 

 

I think later F/G models were interior green though.

 

The kit is rated as one of Airfix peak early 70's moments,  I was very taken by it when I did it, a lot of interior detail as well.

I seem to recall reading  it was a pet project of someone who worked for Airfix, hence the detail,   @Richard Humm  may know if this correct.

 

And, this may be of more use

Period colour 

 

Ground personnel of the 387th Bomb Group work on the engines of a shark mouth B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96165) nicknamed "The Big Hairy Bird"....

Assigned to 599BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Transferred to 556BS, 387BG, 9AF USAAF.

Markings & paint scheme: KX-T, then  6B-T Shark mouth, added tiger tail stripe with 387BG.

 

 

 

with D-Day stripes and new tail band, and some scope for some interesting weathering,  I'd presume the paint instructions are off, and that there were full stripes, and the removed from the uppers

 

"Note that there is a 'Bull' or "Steer's" horn showing just behind the cockpit windows!

This DID NOT appear on the opposite, where there was only a round 'disc' such as what the horn is shown protruding from on this side!!

Note also that there is a Hair fringe above the cockpit, and an eyebrow line, both of which were Black. There was the normal Olive Drab coloured panel in front of the cockpit, which is shown as either being Black or Olive Drab on some aircraft models.

Brian Gibbons
397th BG historian"

 

 

Ground crew move a shark mouth B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96165) nicknamed "The Big Hairy Bird" of the 599th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 599BS.'

 

 

 

"A shark mouth B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96165) nicknamed "The Big Hairy Bird" of the 397th Bomb Group takes off from Péronne, January 1945."

 

 

 

[Richard Humm]

8 minutes ago, Troy Smith said:

The kit is rated as one of Airfix peak early 70's moments,  I was very taken by it when I did it, a lot of interior detail as well.

I seem to recall reading  it was a pet project of someone who worked for Airfix, hence the detail,  

 

Yes, the Scale Models review of the kit said that it was the last work of John Edwards, the chief Airfix designer of the 1960s, who died a couple of years before the kit was actually released, and had been a fan of the Marauder.

[CedB]

19 hours ago, hendie said:

I said it first though. Giorgio was just copying me.

Just saying

 

Fine work so far

 

Giorgio said that first though.

Thanks Alan.

 

17 hours ago, Trumpton_Orbital said:

Hi Ced, I'm a bit late I'm afraid, but mind if I take a seat too please?

 

Ta,

 

Paul.

Of course Paul, welcome  

 

15 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

As per Airfix instructions?  I put this more for others,  as I presume a repaint would be a PITA.  I hope at least of interest and you can't see much when all buttoned up...

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/29389-martin-interior-colours/#elControls_1480749_menu

 

"Martin did NOT use zinc chromate, or its "tinted" form better known as "interior green." The insides of Marauders were mostly unpainted, with black anti-skid coating on the floors, and dark green padding in the crew compartments. Seats, intrument panel, and control console are black. Seat cushions are bright yellow. It seems the bomb bays, wheel wells, and landing gear were painted neutral gray on camoflaged aircraft, but were left bare metal once camo was deleted at the factory level."

 

the seat cushions really are yellow....

 

this looking forward shows the green padding, NMF walls, black flooring etc 

There are some great but photobuckted marked photos of the unrestored Flak Bait in the link, note if you right click them and open in new tab the watermark goes, though they save as webp. files, not jpg.

 

 

 

I think later F/G models were interior green though.

 

The kit is rated as one of Airfix peak early 70's moments,  I was very taken by it when I did it, a lot of interior detail as well.

I seem to recall reading  it was a pet project of someone who worked for Airfix, hence the detail,   @Richard Humm  may know if this correct.

 

And, this may be of more use

Period colour 

 

Ground personnel of the 387th Bomb Group work on the engines of a shark mouth B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96165) nicknamed "The Big Hairy Bird"....

Assigned to 599BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Transferred to 556BS, 387BG, 9AF USAAF.

Markings & paint scheme: KX-T, then  6B-T Shark mouth, added tiger tail stripe with 387BG.

 

 

 

with D-Day stripes and new tail band, and some scope for some interesting weathering,  I'd presume the paint instructions are off, and that there were full stripes, and the removed from the uppers

 

"Note that there is a 'Bull' or "Steer's" horn showing just behind the cockpit windows!

This DID NOT appear on the opposite, where there was only a round 'disc' such as what the horn is shown protruding from on this side!!

Note also that there is a Hair fringe above the cockpit, and an eyebrow line, both of which were Black. There was the normal Olive Drab coloured panel in front of the cockpit, which is shown as either being Black or Olive Drab on some aircraft models.

Brian Gibbons
397th BG historian"

 

 

Ground crew move a shark mouth B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96165) nicknamed "The Big Hairy Bird" of the 599th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '397BG, 599BS.'

 

 

 

"A shark mouth B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96165) nicknamed "The Big Hairy Bird" of the 397th Bomb Group takes off from Péronne, January 1945."

 

 

 

Thanks Troy, excellent background, as always  

A repaint of the interior? Hmmm, I will ponder.

Probably too late for the bomb bay  

I'm also not sure about the shark mouth only being on one side - weird. I think I'll follow the kit instructions on that one as the description of the 'disc' is a bit vague.

Nice info about the Airfix designer though - explains a lot.

 

15 hours ago, Richard Humm said:

Yes, the Scale Models review of the kit said that it was the last work of John Edwards, the chief Airfix designer of the 1960s, who died a couple of years before the kit was actually released, and had been a fan of the Marauder.

Very sad  

Thanks Richard.

[CedB]

Onwards.

 

Crew installed:

 

 

Is it worth a repaint 

 

Turret dry fit:

 

 

Just as well as horizontal guns foul the fuselage. The clear part was blobby (technical term) too so I would advise a dry fit before glue.

Hindsight, that's what that is.

 

The u/c parts are very flashy.

I have a tool for that (of course).

Blissfully realised that the new DSPAIE grinder works with the moulding flash sanders so I won't need the heavier Dremel:

 

 

Bombs away installed:

 

 

Now the nightmare begins.

I didn't keep the u/c parts separate but they seem to be the same on both sides (apart from the legs, obvs):

 

 

I thought I'd assemble them in situ, remove them and paint.

Hah!

Time for a disco…

Dis goes here, dis goes der…

[Troy Smith]

15 minutes ago, CedB said:

I'm also not sure about the shark mouth only being on one side

AFAIK the shark mouth is both sides.  The bit not on the port side is. 

..

 

"Note that there is a 'Bull' or "Steer's" horn showing just behind the cockpit windows!

 

This DID NOT appear on the opposite, where there was only a round 'disc' such as what the horn is shown protruding from on this side"

I'd just gone info hunting, and photos of the real thing are interesting, I'd never looked this one up and period color is always a treat.. 

 

@fightersweep is a B-26 buff, are there any port side photos of The Big Hairy Bird? 

 

[giemme]

18 minutes ago, CedB said:

I have a tool for that (of course).

Who'd have thought of that?

 

 

Steady going there, Ced  

 

Ciao

[perdu]

A Barrauder, thingy oh no a Marauder thingy, well this is the kind of WW11 stuff I quite like so I am going to the bar to watch

 

Ah that's why I thought it was a barrauder, I is confused.

 

Ced I dont know why but there you go I've done it again with Cedgearenvy, I just bought an ultrasonic cleanser to clean my Ultras which are nastily clogged with paint residue.

 

Do you use plain water, a cocktail of complex poly-chemicals or simply IPA?

 

Mine is coming by the weekend then some model painting may ensue afterwards.

 

Am I mistaken or is this ANOTHER model in which you have not mutilated the driver's leg?

[81-er]

A nice bit of progress there, Ced, and trust you to have a flash-sanding tool! 

 

@perdu I use the same thinner that I use for cleaning the airbrush between sessions when it's time for an ultrasonic bath, works a treat with the extra agitation. So just go with whatever you clean them with usually.

 

James

[CedB]

3 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

AFAIK the shark mouth is both sides.  The bit not on the port side is. 

..

 

"Note that there is a 'Bull' or "Steer's" horn showing just behind the cockpit windows!

 

This DID NOT appear on the opposite, where there was only a round 'disc' such as what the horn is shown protruding from on this side"

I'd just gone info hunting, and photos of the real thing are interesting, I'd never looked this one up and period color is always a treat.. 

 

@fightersweep is a B-26 buff, are there any port side photos of The Big Hairy Bird? 

 

Thanks Troy. Here are the transfers:

 

 

Same on both sides. Hmmm.

 

@TempestV I won't be using the Flak Bait transfers so PM me your address and I'll pop them in the post for your Dad  

 

3 hours ago, giemme said:

Who'd have thought of that?

 

 

Steady going there, Ced  

 

Ciao

Thanks Giorgio  

Slowing down this afternoon. Flash, flash, flash.

 

3 hours ago, perdu said:

A Barrauder, thingy oh no a Marauder thingy, well this is the kind of WW11 stuff I quite like so I am going to the bar to watch

 

Ah that's why I thought it was a barrauder, I is confused.

 

Ced I dont know why but there you go I've done it again with Cedgearenvy, I just bought an ultrasonic cleanser to clean my Ultras which are nastily clogged with paint residue.

 

Do you use plain water, a cocktail of complex poly-chemicals or simply IPA?

 

Mine is coming by the weekend then some model painting may ensue afterwards.

 

Am I mistaken or is this ANOTHER model in which you have not mutilated the driver's leg?

Welcome Bill! 

I use the detergent stuff that came with the cleaner but…

 

1 hour ago, 81-er said:

A nice bit of progress there, Ced, and trust you to have a flash-sanding tool! 

 

@perdu I use the same thinner that I use for cleaning the airbrush between sessions when it's time for an ultrasonic bath, works a treat with the extra agitation. So just go with whatever you clean them with usually.

 

James

Ah, thanks James.

The flash sanders are great. Designed by Vincent at Hobby Elements (he's a modeller) they seem to know what's flash and what's model and knock the flash off. If he's still in business, recommended!

 

 

This is all over the place:

 

 

…and the soft grey plastic is bending all over the place.

I have the u/c in now and am just struggling with the cowlings.

Tomorrow.

[Troy Smith]

32 minutes ago, CedB said:

Same on both sides. Hmmm.

And as yet, no port side image.  Seems an oddity, but the comment was on Flickr, by "Brian Gibbons, 397th BG historian"

I'd wait and see what turns up before decalling happens, as in is the a port side image?  

Also makes me wonder if there was a mission tally,  as evidently had a fairly long service.

 

Ah, one other detail, the Martin upper turret is made of several pieces if Perspex glued together,  what look like panel lines are glue joints

 

At least saves on masking  

 

HTH

 

[Keeff]

Very good progress Ced .... neat and tidy work with that tool thingymawotsit! 

 

You'll soon be starting another kit at this rate! 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[fightersweep]

10 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

@fightersweep is a B-26 buff, are there any port side photos of The Big Hairy Bird? 

 

A general search does seem to produce only photos showing the starboard side, but I'll do some digging as I know there are photos out there showing the port side. Brian Gibbons, who knows his B-26 stuff, also states clearly that the bull horn was not present on the port side. The other thing he states is that 42-96165 was never known as "Big Hairy Bird" during WW2. This seems to be something that was somehow attached to the aircraft in the pictorial history of the 379th published in 1946. It seems that the aircraft was actually known as "Cuddles" which was named after the pilot's wife.

[CedB]

18 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

And as yet, no port side image.  Seems an oddity, but the comment was on Flickr, by "Brian Gibbons, 397th BG historian"

I'd wait and see what turns up before decalling happens, as in is the a port side image?  

Also makes me wonder if there was a mission tally,  as evidently had a fairly long service.

 

Ah, one other detail, the Martin upper turret is made of several pieces if Perspex glued together,  what look like panel lines are glue joints

 

At least saves on masking  

 

HTH

 

Excellent, thanks Troy, great picture. That'll save some masking, always a bonus  

 

15 hours ago, Keeff said:

Very good progress Ced .... neat and tidy work with that tool thingymawotsit! 

 

You'll soon be starting another kit at this rate! 

 

Keith ☺️ 

Won't be long Keith!  

 

12 hours ago, fightersweep said:

 

A general search does seem to produce only photos showing the starboard side, but I'll do some digging as I know there are photos out there showing the port side. Brian Gibbons, who knows his B-26 stuff, also states clearly that the bull horn was not present on the port side. The other thing he states is that 42-96165 was never known as "Big Hairy Bird" during WW2. This seems to be something that was somehow attached to the aircraft in the pictorial history of the 379th published in 1946. It seems that the aircraft was actually known as "Cuddles" which was named after the pilot's wife.

Thanks for this. I think matching the yellow for corrections might be tricky but, if you do find any pics please share them!  

 

 

See the square holes in the wing?

 

 

They need careful cleaning out so that the cowlings settle:

 

 

Even after that they required some clamping:

 

 

Getting there.

 

 

[Steve N]

On 9/1/2025 at 4:11 PM, Troy Smith said:

 

I think later F/G models were interior green though.

 

Nope, interiors were the same throughout production. There could be some confusion due to the fact that the B-26G at the USAF Museum has been incorrectly painted "interior green" from nose to tail.  It was originally restored back in the 60s, before there was much concern about correct interior finishes.

 

I'd have to say the Marauder was definitely the high water mark for classic Airfix.  I first built one in the late 70s, and was blown away by the interior detail (although those weird, lumpy gun barrels always looked terrible.) 😎  I picked up the most recent boxing, mainly so I could use the excellent "Flak Bait" decals on the Hasegawa kit.  I was just admiring the original "Flak Bait" in the restoration shop at the Smithsonian last month.  I can't wait to see her back in one piece (she looked about the same as when I'd last seen her in 2014, but they've been busy working on other aircraft as part of the refurbishing of the museum in downtown Washington, D.C.  I think she's finally back at the head of the restoration queue.)

 

Cheers!

 

Steve

[fightersweep]

@Steve N

 

I would certainly be using any interior shots of Flak Bait for colour reference of any B-26 I was building. At the museum I used to volunteer at, we had the tail section of a 323rd B-26C. From just forward of the waist guns to the tail gunners position. There wasn't a trace of paint anywhere in the interior except for the armour plate. Agreed on the Airfix B-26. It must have been mind blowing when released in 1973. Be fun to find some contemporary reviews.

 

Very jealous of you getting to see Flak Bait. It's one of my bucket list items. Our museum used to be based at Andrewsfield and was very 322nd Bomb Group centric. We hosted the 322nd veterans back in 1992 during the 8th Air Force 50th anniversary. Got to meet Rocky Eubank who flew a number of missions as pilot on Flak Bait which was an honour. Well, meeting all of those Marauder guys was an absolute honour.

 

@CedB Great work so far. I'm onboard for the rest of the mission. As much as a Marauder guy that I am, I can't believe I have never built an Airfix Marauder. Plenty of the Monogram 1/48 kits. Interesting to see that the 1/72 Airfix kit had more detail than the 1/48 Monogram model. Probably less of a bear to build as well.

 

Cheers!

Steve

[Chuck1945]

When I lived in Pittsburgh (1993-2001) our IPMS club was fortunate to host a former WWII B-26 pilot. He had been stationed in Italy and gone overseas with some Kodachrome 35mm film. We were able to see some of his pictures, I’m not sure if I still have notes from then, but I was able to make him a model of his aircraft using the Airfix kit.

 

And speaking of said kit, seeing the pictures here, I realize I was mistaken about the lack of retraction arms in the Airfix kit since they are quite obviously present. What has stuck with me for 50 some years was using a toothpick section to reinforce the gear on that first one I built back in the 70s.

[CedB]

2 hours ago, Steve N said:

Nope, interiors were the same throughout production. There could be some confusion due to the fact that the B-26G at the USAF Museum has been incorrectly painted "interior green" from nose to tail.  It was originally restored back in the 60s, before there was much concern about correct interior finishes.

 

I'd have to say the Marauder was definitely the high water mark for classic Airfix.  I first built one in the late 70s, and was blown away by the interior detail (although those weird, lumpy gun barrels always looked terrible.) 😎  I picked up the most recent boxing, mainly so I could use the excellent "Flak Bait" decals on the Hasegawa kit.  I was just admiring the original "Flak Bait" in the restoration shop at the Smithsonian last month.  I can't wait to see her back in one piece (she looked about the same as when I'd last seen her in 2014, but they've been busy working on other aircraft as part of the refurbishing of the museum in downtown Washington, D.C.  I think she's finally back at the head of the restoration queue.)

 

Cheers!

 

Steve

Thanks Steve  Reinforces the old adage 'never trust a restoration photo'!

 

2 hours ago, fightersweep said:

@Steve N

 

I would certainly be using any interior shots of Flak Bait for colour reference of any B-26 I was building. At the museum I used to volunteer at, we had the tail section of a 323rd B-26C. From just forward of the waist guns to the tail gunners position. There wasn't a trace of paint anywhere in the interior except for the armour plate. Agreed on the Airfix B-26. It must have been mind blowing when released in 1973. Be fun to find some contemporary reviews.

 

Very jealous of you getting to see Flak Bait. It's one of my bucket list items. Our museum used to be based at Andrewsfield and was very 322nd Bomb Group centric. We hosted the 322nd veterans back in 1992 during the 8th Air Force 50th anniversary. Got to meet Rocky Eubank who flew a number of missions as pilot on Flak Bait which was an honour. Well, meeting all of those Marauder guys was an absolute honour.

 

@CedB Great work so far. I'm onboard for the rest of the mission. As much as a Marauder guy that I am, I can't believe I have never built an Airfix Marauder. Plenty of the Monogram 1/48 kits. Interesting to see that the 1/72 Airfix kit had more detail than the 1/48 Monogram model. Probably less of a bear to build as well.

 

Cheers!

Steve

Thanks Steve. Oh, it's a bear!  

 

39 minutes ago, Chuck1945 said:

When I lived in Pittsburgh (1993-2001) our IPMS club was fortunate to host a former WWII B-26 pilot. He had been stationed in Italy and gone overseas with some Kodachrome 35mm film. We were able to see some of his pictures, I’m not sure if I still have notes from then, but I was able to make him a model of his aircraft using the Airfix kit.

 

And speaking of said kit, seeing the pictures here, I realize I was mistaken about the lack of retraction arms in the Airfix kit since they are quite obviously present. What has stuck with me for 50 some years was using a toothpick section to reinforce the gear on that first one I built back in the 70s.

Shared memories are one of the things I like most about BM. Thanks Chuck  

 

 

Wings:

 

 

Bit of wiggling to find the locator pins, clamps to overcome a bit of warpage and it looks like the LEs will need attention.

Not too bad though.

[Steve N]

3 hours ago, fightersweep said:

Very jealous of you getting to see Flak Bait. It's one of my bucket list items.

I first got to see "Flak Bait's" forward fuselage back when it was on display in the downtown National Air And Space Museum on a school trip back in 1982.  It was a real thrill..I'd first read about her in an issue of "Airpower" magazine a few years earlier, and had already built the Monogram 1/48 kit (as well at the Airfix kit and a truly awful 1960s-vintage 1/72 Marauder from Revell.)  When my wife and I visited the museum in 2008, she practically had to physically restrain me from pummeling the clueless tourists rubbing their grubby hands all over the original paint.  Thankfully, it was taken off display a couple years later and moved to the restoration shop at the Udvar-Hazy Center.  I understand the reason the reassembly is taking so long is because they're trying to preserve as much of her originality as possible, right down to some games of tic-tac-toe played by bored mechanics in the oil and grime on the inside of one of the landing gear doors.

 

The Marauder has always been a favorite of mine.  I've seen the B-26G at the USAF Museum countless times.  The museum is "only" a four-hour drive away (practically in the backyard for us Yanks.)  I was even lucky enough to see a Marauder fly once, back in 1998.  Kermit Weeks dropped into a local airshow unannounced with his early short-wing B-26 (no letter suffix.)  He later took off and headed to the big EAA Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (I was hoping he'd come around and give us a nice photo pass, but no such luck.)  I understand the plane developed engine trouble after arriving as Oshkosh.  It was eventually ferried back to Florida, where it's been parked ever since.  Sadly, I never got to see the CAF B-26C "Carolyn" before it was destroyed in a fatal crash in 1994.

 

I just picked up a new book on Flak Bait, which appears to be the definitive work on the subject.  I've always wanted to model her as she appeared on D-Day in full invasion stripes.  However I've run into a bit of a snag: according to this new book (backed up by photos) at that time the bomb mission tally on the fuselage was painted in yellow, and only later painted over in the more familiar red (she had "only" flown 106 missions by D-Day.)  I've got plenty of little yellow bomb decals on a Kitsworld sheet.  The problem is, I need a half-dozen little yellow ducks to represent the decoy missions.  Oh, the things we modelers obsess over! 

 

Airfix did make one minor boo-boo on the decals that gave me a chuckle: they included Hamilton Standard emblems for the propeller blades, when the Marauder used Curtiss Electric props! 😎

 

Cheers!

Steve