Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3206 Douglas A/B-26C Invader FAR-917, Cuban Air Force, 1961 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.

The Cuban Air Force owned 18 Douglas B-26B/C Invaders from 1956 until 1961. They were assigned to Escuadron de Bombarderos Ligeros located at Campo Brihuegas/La Habana. During the “Bay of Pigs” invasion in April 1961 the B-26C FAR 917 c/n 29011 was flying its last sortie against the invading Cuban exiles when it was hit by friendly fire. The aircraft was flown by Chilean instructor Legas who managed to make a forced landing while still carrying four 250kg bombs. FAR 917 was ex-USAF 44-35732 and arrived in Cuba in November 1956.

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