**** DONE: GB-41 1/48 A-26B Invader - PTO from 1937

[Donivanp]

Thank you all for looking in and commiting on the progress of the build.

I seem to have missed a step in adding the nose gear doors, was part of the first couple of steps (building the cockpit, OOps), but they went in with little effort. Had wo angle them in and plastic bent to my will and did not break. I cut the 14 5" HVAR rockets from the tree and the 14 tails for them and glued them together (what a pain), and did the tires. I thought about using a set of resin tires I have (from 1996) because the kit tires need about 100 psi pressure added to them, but the resin ones need about the same. so I went with the kit tire, for now anyway.

Like I mentioned earlier the kit called for Insignia blue for the tail and the rockets are to bee steel tubes and olive warheads. want sure so here is what I've found. Steel tube or grey tubes seems to be the norm for the era. The blue, I'm happy with the "True blue" I've used. Not any color photos I can find from the original and so I'm going off color drawings from my Osprey "A-26 Invader units of WWII" book and reproductions.

 

[fubar57]

Blue looks good to me.

 

[Wurger]

Same here.

 

[Gnomey]

Looks good so far!

 

[Wayne Little]

Like it.

 

[Crimea_River]

Shaping up nicely Don.

 

[le_steph40]

Shaping up nicely Don.

Agreed !!!

 

[Donivanp]

Thanks again guys for the input and commits.

I got the exterior paint pretty much done. Got the tail masked and done. The noses of the rockets painted olive drab and starting to mask it off to paint the steel tubes. Then I test fitted the engines on, they aren't glued on yet but just pushed on.

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice!

 

[Wurger]

 

[T Bolt]

Coming along real nice Don. What did you use for the silver pait? It looks like it worked much better than what you used on the B-29

 

[Donivanp]

Coming along real nice Don. What did you use for the silver pait? It looks like it worked much better than what you used on the B-29

Thanks Glenn, I ended up using the Testors Model Masters Metalizers aluminum non buffing. Also using the same, stainless steel and burnt metal and exhaust.

 

[fubar57]

Looking good

 

[Wayne Little]

That's looking real good.

 

[Donivanp]

Thanks all, setting up the paint for the rocket tubes and the anti glare panels.

 

[Wurger]

Nice.

 

[Crimea_River]

Rockets are a pain in the arse but you've done well.

 

[Donivanp]

Rockets are a pain in the arse but you've done well.

Yes Andy they are, but thank you.

 

[Donivanp]

So tonight I've repainted the exhaust cowl as It seems that many of the aircraft it was darker then plane steel. So I mixed about 50/50 Testors Metalizer Stainless steel with gun metal. this darkened the steel and helped get the shade I wanted. then I ran Metalizer "burnt Metal" through the exhaust shrouds. Then I tried to run Metalizer "Exhaust" out the shrouds and down the engine mount. I ran the air at about 12 to 15 psi and used the fine needle for my Paasche H single action brush. I may need a little clean up but overall I'm not displeased.

I'm taking commits on how I might get it a little better.


Some great Youtube video of A-26's in action Europe front.



Here is an A-26C at Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison Texas (outside Dallas)

Here is my work.

 

[Wurger]