Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3222 B-26 Invader #844, 34 Sqn., ROCAF, 1958 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 RoCAF 34th Squadron “Black Cats” was activated and equipped with B-26 Invaders whose prime purpose was low-altitude night reconnaissance over mainland China. These missions not only included photography but included dropping spies into China to collect sensitive data about China’s military. There 838 of these missions and the operation was considered a success despite the loss of 15 aircraft and 148 aircrew. B-26 # 844 originally was USAF A-26C 44-35444 and was one of the aircraft involved in these missions. The RoCAF 34th Squadron was disbanded in 1974.

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