Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3203 B-26B Invader 44-34552 “Brown Nose” 731st Bomb Sqn., 3rd Bomb Sqn., Iwakuni Air Base, Japan, Korean Conflict, early 1951

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. Dorsal turret 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.

When the 452nd BG (709th BS, 729th BS, 730th BS, 731st BS) left the US they flew to Iwakuni AB in Japan arriving November 1950. The 731st BS was immediately re- assigned to the 3rd BG who conducted missions from Iwakuni. On June 25, 1951 the 731st was re- designated 90th Bombardment Squadron (Light Night Intruder). Between November 1950 and June 25, 1951 the 731st BS flew 2,000 sorties requiring over 9,000 flying hours. “Brown Nose” flew in Vietnam as a B-26K.

Specifications Douglas A-26B Invader First flight - July 10, 1942 Crew - 3 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 each producing 2,000 hp Maximum speed @ 15,000 ft - 355 mph Ceiling - 22,100 ft Range - 1,400 miles Armament 6 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in nose 2 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in ventral turret 2 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns in dorsal turret 6,000 lbs of bombs 8 x 127 mm (5-inch) rockets