Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3202 Douglas B-26C Invader 37th BS, 17th BG, USAF Pusan, Korea 1952 Douglas Invader A-26 was re-designated B-26 in June 1948

True 1/72 scale. Professionally painted. Great attention to detail. All markings are Tampoed (pad applied). Option to display the model on a stand that is provided. Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions. Loads of optional armament provided. Canopy can be removed to place figures inside. 3 figures included. Turrets can turn. Bomb bay can be opened with 6 bombs included. Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic. Highly collectable.

In 1941 Douglas Aircraft Company began work on their twin-engine medium-bomber A-26 Invader. By the end of production there were 2,452 aircraft produced for all variants. The A- 26/B-26 was the only U.S. bomber to take part in three wars, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The confusion with the use of the designation B-26 began when the Martin B-26 Marauder was retired and in 1948 the USAF dropped the “A” (Attack) designator so the Douglas A-26 Invader became the B-26 Invader. The A-26 made its first European appearance in late 1944.

During the Korean War the 3rd BG and the 17th BG were formed. The 17th BG numbered its squadrons 34th, 37th and 95th BS. In the beginning the 3rd and 17th BG flew both day and night missions but as the war progressed they only flew night missions. By the end of the Korean War the two BG’s had 55,000 interdiction sorties and credited with the destruction of 38,500 enemy vehicles, 3,700 railway cars, 406 locomotives and seven aircraft. A total of 226 B-26’s were lost from all squadrons of which only 56 were accredited to enemy action.

Specifications Douglas A-26C Invader Production for the USAAF - 1,091 Role - bomber/pathfinder observation with Plexiglas nose and Norden bomb sight Crew - 3 X Pilot, Bombardier/Navigator/Pilot, Gunner Dimensions Length - 50 ft 9 in Wingspan - 70 ft 0 in Height - 18 ft 6 in Weight Empty - 22,370 lbs Maximum take-off - 35,000 lbs Performance Engines - 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 radial piston with water injection each producing 2,000 hp Maximum Speed - 373 mph Cruising Speed - 284 mph Range - 1,400 mi Service Ceiling - 28,000 ft Armament 2 X 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in nose firing forward 2 X 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in dorsal turret 2 X 0.5 in. Browning M.G. in ventral turret 6 X 0.5 in. guns could be added to the wings in the field Bombs Maximum Internal - 4,000 lbs and Maximum Under-Wing - 2,000 lbs or 14 X 5 inch rockets

This is taken from an email I received concerning this model I purchased this Hobby Master Invader model and it is fantastic, very detailed. This exact aircraft was with the squadron that I was assigned to 37th Bomb Sq ( L ) N/I and the nose art is great. I flew in this specific aircraft in Korea as a gunner. The model is great. Antonio Fucci These comments were unsolicited.