1/72 B-26B-50MA, "Victory Read", 394th Bomb Grp, 584th Bomb Sqd

[kgambit]

Great choice and background info Dwight. And no probs, I can see all the pics - fascinating stuff! That place really took a pounding, with the craters still easily visible 66 years later!
I'll get together what I have, or links, for the B26, and note you'll need a lot of weight up front! On my (48th scale) Marauder, I had to put a lot of weight in the radio room, and in the engine cowlings!

Thanks Jan, Greg, Terry and DB.


Youre right about the weights Terry. According to one build review I read, it's going to take about 50 grams of weight to keep the nose of this bird down. Nuts, washers, and bird shot are the order of the day.


Here's what I have on the interior along with one shot at the bottom of how one modeller handled the weight issue:

 

[Airframes]

They're more or less similar to the shots I have, although I think I've still got some pics of the interior of the rear section, and another, good colour shot of the cockpit, plus some at different angles of other areas. The colours, basically were Interior Green in the nose and cockpit, 'silver' in the radio room, Green Zinc Chromate in the main bomb bay, 'silver' in the rear bomb bay, and Interior Green aft of this.
Even in 1/48th scale, with the bulkhead curtain open, very little (virtually sod all!) can be seen of the radio room. But, as small areas could be seen on my model, I added the two 'desks' and seats, and stuck the weight up in the front top of the roof. I used strips of roofing lead (!), held in place with 'Plasticine' (kiddies 'plastic' modelling clay), and did the same in the free space of the engine cowlings. In 1/72nd scale, either fishing sinkers or air gun pellets will be easier to handle and place, again using Plasticine, or whatever it's called in the 'States!
The front wheel well and main entrance was painted silver, with the entrance hatch folding downwards, and the ladder hinged at the rear, folding up and forward for stowage. The insides of the doors were Green Zinc Chromate, as were the main gear wells and door insides.
I lost some of the research info I'd collected for my model, when I had a problem on the PC last year, but if there is anything specific you want, let me know and, if I've got it, it's yours mate.

 

[kgambit]

Any color interior shots of the cockpit are ALWAYS appreciated.

 

[Airframes]

No probs mate. I'll find 'em all and e-mail them with Preddy's Mustang stuff, either later tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Crimea_River]

Just tuned in and looks like a fantastic project Dwight. Will need to go back and read the whole thing. Great research and nice choice for the GB.

 

[B-17engineer]

Really looking forward to this build dwight!!

 

[imalko]

Wow Dwight you have sure researched your subject thoroughly. Looking forward to your build mate.

 

[dirkpitt289]

I look forward to this build.

 

[Wurger]

As we talked Dwight. I can't wait to see the final effect.

 

[Wayne Little]

Looks like a good project Dwight, go for it!

 

[rochie]

great choice Dwight

 

[vikingBerserker]

Outstanding Dwight, really looking forward to this!

 

[109ROAMING]

Sweet choice mate 8)

Definately went to town I see

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Wow Dwight, great research material and great choice.

 

[kgambit]

Thanks Andy, Harrison, Igor, Dirk, Wojtek, Wayne, Karl, David, Daniel and Vic.

@Daniel, Yeah I did throw the kitchen sink at this one. I've always been fond of the Marauder and I just didn't want to give it less than 100%. It's also probably the only build I will do for the D_DAY GB and it won't get started until the end of the Heavy Hitters build. Well MAYBE some interior painting but that's going to be about it.

 

[kgambit]

A little bit about the exterior colors:

Here's a color chip for the options:

Upper row from left to right: Olive Drab weathered: Olive Drab: Tan-Olive drab weathered
Second row from left to right: FS36270 Dark grey; FS36173 Neutral grey 43-battle grey; ANA 603 FS36118 Dark grey

The upper side is easy - Olive drab was the standard and given the harsh English weather, either of the two weathered options would work.

The underside is a bit tougher. Research on the underside color is a bit conflicting - one source indicates the original under color was FS36270, another says FS36173 Neutral grey 43-battle grey. And in 1943 it was replaced with ANA 603 - FS 36118. Given the weathering it would appear that either FS 36270 or 36173 would give you the proper shade for a weathered underside. Right now I am leaning to using the two colors on the far left: Olive Drab weathered over FS36270 Dark grey.

 

[Airframes]

You've got quite a bit of latitude here Dwight, as the B26 weathered fairly quickly, and heavily, in the British climate. When first in the UK, the Olive Drab was the 'dark' variety, and looks quite dark in most pics, colour and B&W, from the period. However, in a very short time, this faded, stained and also chipped and peeled extensively. The (not vey good) pics of my 1/48th Marauder may, at first, seem a bit over the top, but the model was based on pics of the actual aircraft, which was even worse than this!
These might help a bit, and if you have pics of your subject, hopefully taken in the UK after some operations, they should also give you some idea of the degree of weathering these kites exhibited.

 

[kgambit]

Thanks Terry.

I probably won't go for something as heavily weathered as that. In fact, I was thinking primarily about just doing a faded paint job. That sort of weathering is way beyond my skill level at this point.

 

[Crimea_River]

Beautiful model Terry.

 

[kgambit]

Here's a little tidbit for anyone else planning on doing a medium bomber build:

Victory Read: Invasion Markings:

All medium bombers were to have 24 inch b/w stripes. However, most B-26 units used 18 inch stripes on their wings to keep from having to rebalance the aerons.