Martin B-26C Marauder B.II

Trade Notes

Frog Dart Herald kit makes up neatly In Jersey Airlines insignia, provided with transfers. No—we haven't lost the ailerons—they've drooped under heat of photofloods!

The Martin Marauder Mark II has been introduced to the Frog 1/72nd scale plastic kit range "orange series" at 6s. Moulded in fawn, which is a good grounding for desert camouflage, the kit has over 80 parts, including three crew and moveable controls. Last month we were mislead by a news announcement from Lines Brothers and mis-quoted the prices for the "blue" and "red" series, which are 2s. and 3s. respectively, not 2/11d. and 3/11d. as quoted.

AeroModeller JUNE 1963 Vol.XXVIII No.329

Over the counter
FROG

Plastic kit of the month from FROG is the Martin Marauder. This is yet another excellent kit of a previously unjustly neglected prototype. It is, of course, to 1/72nd scale and the detailing and surface finish generally is of a very high standard.

There are some novel innovations in this kit and the retractable undercarriage is one of the neatest and most positive acting, that we have seen. The undercarriage mouldings are so accurately scaled, that they do tend to be a little delicate and great care is needed when assembling them. It may be neccessary to ease the pins by a little judicious paring down before assembly, because any stiffness here will certanly result in broken leg when retraction is attemted - it will then to be late! This 11 7/8 in. span model, in the Orange Series, costs 6s.

The box, with its rather dubious colour scheme top, provides a glimpse of forthcoming additions to the range including a Martin Baltimore and a Miles Master II.

Model Aircraft june 1963

MODEL TALK
ATTACK AIRCRAFT:

Long awaited by fhe modelling fraternity, Frog's 1/72 scale Martin Marauder II in RAF colours jis now in the shops, price 6s. It is a smap model and the only real fault I found was that the engine nacelles were not up to tne usual high Frog standards and needed some care in fitting.

One big grouse I have about Frog models is that they go and provide a fully retractable undercarriage as with the Marauder but do not supply movable undercarriage doors. To many modellers this is infuriating.

Having got that off my chest I think Frog should be congratulated on their excellent detail and also for their continued high standard of plastic cockpit canopies, windows, and other perspex reproductions.
Philip Burden

RAF Flying Review June, 1963, Vol. XVIII, No. 10

MODEL TALK BY PHILIP BURDEN
ATTACK AIRCRAFT:

Long awaited by the modelling fraternity, Frog's 1 /72 scale Martin Marauder II in RAF colours is now in the shops, price 6s. It is a smajjrt model and the only real fault I found was that the engine nacelles were not up to tne usual high Frog standards and needed some care in fitting.

One big grouse I have about Frog models is that they go and provide a fully retractable undercarriage as with the Marauder but do not supply movable undercarriage doors. To many modellers this is infuriating.

Having got that off my chest I think Frog should be congratulated on their excellent detail and also for their continued high standard of plastic cockpit canopies, windows, and other perspex reproductions.

The Royal Air Force Flying Review, Vol.XVIII, No.10, may 1963

MODEL TALK
DAVID R. WISEMAN
"WIDOW MAKER" VARIANTS

Last month, Flying Review told the story of Martin's B-26 Marauder bomber, and the modellers among our readers may like some tips on ways to produce some colourful variations on the "Widow Maker" theme. Two kits are currently available, the quarter-inch scale Aurora and the 1/72nd scale Frog, and I have selected the latter as the basis for the following suggestions which can be used in conjunction with Richard Ward's colour illustrations on the facing page. The Frog Marauder kit makes a neat and accurate B-26G with the exception of the carburettor intakes on top of the engine cowlings which are incorrectly contoured, too large for the B-26A and too small for later variants of the Marauder.

To produce the following variations from the Frog Marauder kit these tools and materials are required:
Razor saw
Small file
Exacto knife and No. 28 curved blade
Tube of Evostik 528
Polyfiller
Filler
Sand paper (fine and medium)
Flour paper
(for nose weight)
Balsa wood (fine grain but soft):
1 ft. x 1 in. x 1 in. and
1 ft. 6in. x 3 in. x | in.
Thin Bristol Board or postcard

(Marauder 1A of No. 14 Sqdn. R.A.F.) Stick the fuselage halves together with windows in place but not the top turret. Bind with cellotape and then, with the razor saw, remove the end of the fuselage to front edge of cut-out for tail turret side windows. Make a round peg from balsa wood to fit tightly into the end of the fuselage after smearing both fuselage interior and peg with Evostik. Then sand down the end of the peg until it is flush with the fuselage. The next step is the addition of the rear fuselage and tail cone for which a one inch-square balsa plank should be trimmed until it is a fraction larger than the aft end of the fuselage. Apply Evostik to the balsa and to the plastic fuselage end, the two components being held in place while drying by means of an elastic band stretched around the nose or stub wings. Once stuck firmly in place, the excess balsa should be removed a sliver at a time, with a finger or thumb pressed firmly on the end of the wood to counteract the pressure on the joint resulting from the cutting. Once the rudimentary shape has been attained a good thick filler should be applied to the balsa which is then sanded down until the grain is filled The transparent tail cone may be easily shaped from perspex or similar material. The recesses for the package guns should be filled in with pieces of |-in. balsa plank cut to fill the spaces tightly and then trimmed and sanded with flour paper to conform with the curve of the fuselage. A half-inch should be removed from each wingtip, first sticking both halves together with aileron in place, scoring in new aileron line and filling old hinge recess to tip with Polyfiller. Incidentally, the model should be painted as illustrated, with blue undersurfaces. and not with the sand colour shown on the box lid, this being incorrect for all R.A.F. Marauders. The spinners may be produced from dowel or acquired from other kits.
(Marauder III of No. 24 Sqdn. S.A.A.F.) For this model merely delete the port and starboard upper package guns.
(U.S. Marine Corps JM-1 and U.S. Navy JM-2 Marauder) Alterations as for Marauder IA plus the removal of the top turret. The aperture left by the turret may be covered with a disc prepared from thin, smooth paper cut 3732nd. larger than the hole. Care should be taken to ensure that the adhesive is applied to the exact area the paper covers. This should be painted and, after drying, sanded down with flour paper until a smooth finish is achieved. All guns should, of course, be deleted.
(B-26G Marauder of GR.I/22 of the Armee de I'Air) Only one small modification is required for this model, this being the addition of the sheet of armour plate on each side of the nose. Thick, smooth paper or thin card may be used for this.
(B-26B Marauder of U.S.A.A.F. S.W.Pacific) Modifications as for Marauder I A. Note the different tail cone shape and twin 0.5-in. guns. The torpedo and attachment points may be made from dowel and card.

RAF Flying Review September, 1963, Vol. XIX, No. 1

Modelling world
S. W. Stevens-Stratten
Toy Fair report

THE annual pilgrimage to the Toy A Fairs held in London (January 22-31) and Brighton (January 27-31) has been completed and one is left to reflect upon the developments in the model aircraft trade. It would appear that there is no decrease in the number of new models being introduced, in fact several completely new ranges will appear in the model shops during the next few months. Trade buying appeared to be brisk and most manufacturers reported orders equalling if not surpassing previous years—and this in spite of the freezes of income, credits and the general hardening of money markets.

I have not included the large scale kits or flying models in this report, but have concentrated on the die-cast models and plastic kits, with particular reference to the forthcoming new items.

Frog

Rovex Limited had an impressive display of its Frog range of aircraft kits and new releases for 1973 in the 1/72 scale series include a Gloster Gladiator at a price of 19p (including VAT). This is in the Black Label series while the Blue Label range will have a Sea Venom in October (price 23p). The Red Label series has a Grumman Avenger due for release in June and a Fairey Swordfish for October, both costing 28p each. Two new additions in the Green Label series (36p each) are a Martin Maryland for August and a BAC Jaguar for November. At 50p each the Orange Label series will be adding new items, including an English Electric Canberra in May, a Black Widow and a Martin Marauder in September and finally a NA Mitchell scheduled for November.

The 1/72 size de luxe series of large prototype aircraft will have an additional model in the shape of a Lockheed Neptune which will cost £1.95 when it is released about July.

A new "Combat" series is to be released immediately, and each box will contain two 1/72 scale kits together with a picture frame display stand. The price, which will include the "Spin-A-Prop motorising kit", is 99p. It is thought that the kits may also be available without the motorising gear at a lower cost. The first three pairs are a Messerschmitt Bf 109F/Bristol Beaufort; Spitfire 1 A/Junkers Ju88; and Focke-Wulf Fw-190A/Beaufighter.

A new range of 1/32 plastic kits should be on the market by the time this report appears. The latest catalogue gives the range as a Messerschmitt BflO9, a Mitsubishi Zero, and a Messerschmitt Me262A. New additions announced at the Toy Fair are a Grumman F6F-3/5 Hellcat and a Focke-Wulf Fwl90A. Each kit will be fully detailed with cockpit and engine details visible. The transfer sheets contain a wealth of small markings and two different liveries are given on each box so that authentic replicas can be finished.

AIRCRAFT ILLUSTRATED 1973-04

Modelling world
James Goulding
North American B-25 Mitchells

The North American B-25 Mitchell in all its many forms was one of the most successful army support bombers of WW2. Born out of the American attack bomber requirement the Mitchell also suited the RAF's need for a tactical strike bomber in Europe, where it .served with 2 Group, Bomber Command and later 2nd TAF. Unlike its contemporary, the Marauder, the Mitchell earned a reputation as a rugged tractable aircraft and was very popular with its crews.

Naturally, there have been B-25 kits from most of the major manufacturers. Frog produces a 1/72-scale kit of the B-25C or D, as an RAF Mitchell II. It is an old kit now but still satisfactory, apart from fin shape discrepancies, and is the only available kit of this Mitchell version in 1/72 scale.

AIRCRAFT ILLUSTRATED 1976-10

NEW AND IN VIEW
Aircraft Section
REVELL B-26 Martin Marauder, 8/6d. l/72nd scale.

Last month we received and reviewed the He219 from this Company with some enthusiasm, and when first opening the box of the Marauder kit it looked as if this also was going to be one of their better kits. We were, however, genuinely sorry to see that despite the excellent quality of moulding, with good panel and rivet detail,the model was spoiled by many inaccuracies.

The most noticeable error is in the shape and length of the engine cowlings and the far too pointed nose transparency and 'flattened' appearance of the cockpit canopy. In addition to this, the rear gun waist hatches were too low and too small, the observation windows above these also being incorrectly positioned, the wing section is far too sharp at the leading edge and the wings themselves are slightly too far forward. The undercarriage oleos need internal supports to prevent then buckling when the model is weighted to stand on its nose-wheel when at rest, and the propeller hubs are too thin.

This really is a great waste of excellent tool work, and although one can spend a considerable time attempting to correct the most glaring faults the whole model lacks the 'right' appearance of the original.

Decals are those of the famed 'Flak Bait' with 202 missions to her credit (not 200); the mission markers, however, should be in yellow tipped with white, the codes are light grey not white, and the aircraft letter and fuselage insignia should be much nearer the tailplane than shown in the instruction sheet. This is a great disappointment; there was most certainly a demand for an accurate B-26 kit, and this current Revell release does little to fill that need.

The IPMS magazine, Vol.3 No.11, NOVEMBER 1966

MODELLING
W R MATTHEWS
WIDOW MAKER AND THUNDERBOLT

Some very well-known aircraft have been poorly represented in plastic kit form hitherto, and although in general we are against duplication of types already represented in manufacturers' lists and readily available on the market, we welcome a new kit of such a machine if those already available do not do the subject justice. Martin's B-26 Marauder is one such, and at last a really good kit is available of the "Widow Maker", a 1/72nd scale offering of the B-26B from Revell. Acceptably accurate, cleanly pressed, and assembling well, Revell's B-26B features highly-detailed engines which may be exposed by detachable cowlings, and a considerable amount of cockpit detail may be seen through the exceptionally clear transparencies. The transfer sheet, which provides the markings of the well-known "Flak Bait" now preserved in the Smithsonian Institute, is beautifully printed; the instructions are clear and easily followed, and the box-lid painting, as is so often the case with Revell kits, is truly a work of art. The ultra particular modeller may feel that the rivet detail is a trifle on the heavy side, and the code letters on the transfer sheet should be light grey and not white, but these are minor faults indeed in a kit which, at eight shillings and sixpence in the UK; is first class value for money. Revell's P-47D Thunderbolt is, by contrast, rather disappointing. Again to 1/72nd scale, accurate and finely detailed, its peculiar method of wing assembly results in wing sections that do not fit the fuselage correctly, and a great deal of work with files and filling material is necessary to obtain an acceptable result. This spoils the entire model which, otherwise, has some virtues, and we cannot recommend this kit even at the low price of two shillings and threepence in the UK in preference to some of the other Thunderbolt models already available.

RAF Flying Review March, 1967, Vol. 22, No. 7

KIT COMMENT
MASTERLY MARAUDER
New models shown at Nuremburg

OCCASIONALLY a new kit is released whose subject, while duplicating the efforts of other manufacturers, is a vast improvement on those hitherto available. Such a kit is the B-26 Marauder by Airfix, which is the best plastic model of this aircraft to date. While that fact may be bad news for all those who have persevered with the Frog kit, perhaps combining the best parts of the Revell offering to make a decent Marauder, the 1:72nd scale newcomer means that many replicas of this famous WW2 medium bomber can be built, virtually straight from the box for 55p.

The kit comes as 146 well moulded parts and the detail included in areas such as the bomb bay and doors, cockpit, bulkheads and so forth is extremely good, the whole making up into a very accurate model. However, Airfix seem to have got a touch of 'Frog-itis* in regard to the wing trailing edges, which are of over scale thickness. Construction also takes considerably more time than some kits in this range, as the need for filling and rubbing down is considerable.

Filling is especially needed around the nacelle-to-wing junctions, there being large gaps where the tops of the nacelles fair into the underside of the mainplanes. Of course, the nacelles themselves can be "fitted" and pared down a little prior to cementing, although any amount of dummy runs and checking of fit can go awry when actual glueing takes place and this certainly happened on our review kit. A further point also concerns the wings; the instructions indicate complete wing, nacelle and gear assembly before attaching the wings to the fuselage, but the approach to the oleos is such that the writer preferred to fit the wings and obtain the correct dihedral angle first, as the recommended method can result in a lop-sided undercarriage if the wings do not align correctly.

The foregoing is not intended to indicate that the parts themselves are at fault, far from it, as the shape of all components is good and with a convincing look when assembly is complete.

The fully detailed bomb bay, with a roof, three bulkheads and eight 500 lb bombs on vertical racks, is excellent and the hard-to-fabricate folding forward bomb doors are a neat inclusion. The observation windows in the rear doors are also there. The engines are particularly good, Airfix having sensibly moulded the characteristic twin intakes on top of each cowling as separate parts, unlike other Marauder kits. Humbrol have now added 'Gunmetal' to their ever-increasing range of tinlet enamels and this is useful for cylinders and crankcase parts.

The Marauder cockpit includes a central console with three throttle levers, which are obviously over-scale, but it, is the thought that counts! With all the cockpit parts in place, however, there is little room for weights, which are certainly needed for the model to three-point. The only place where any weight can be crammed is under the instrument panel sill and in the nose, unfortunately forward of the bulkhead, although a disc of lead, such as that included with old Frog kits, is not over-obtrusive here when the nose cone is attached.

Criticism can be levelled at the guns of this B-26, which Airfix have seen fit to detail with 'cooling slots'. These are raised and as they come, are of at least 20-mm cannon dimensions and need attention with the wet and dry. Compare these guns with those of an Airfix B-17 or B-24 and you'll see what we mean. Only nine of the 12 machine guns carried by some В-26s are included and modellers can add the extra weapon firing through the nose transparency and the two lower waist guns, if desired, these positions being moulded closed on the kit. Still pertaining to armament, the instructions indicate assembly of the rear turret and its transparency before sticking the fuselage together, in the usual Airfix way. However the turret framing looks much better if it does not end where the curvature of the fuselage comes up to meet it, so leave this until last and slot it over the guns after painting. Correct positioning is not difficult using this method, the turret sitting squarely when gentle pressure is applied.

A good decal sheet provides markings for two 9th Air Force aircraft, a B-26B-55 of the 597th BS, 397th BG, 42-96124, X2-A "Dee-feater" and a B-26B-25 of the 450th BS, 322nd BG, in camouflage finish, 41-31819, DR-X "Mild and Bitter". A small error in the decals for the former, natural finish aircraft, is that the name decal appears as "Deeifeater", with the hyphen (as it should be) replaced by an "i". So many photographs have appeared of this particular aircraft that this small oversight seems odd. In fact, both machines depicted by Airfix are very well documented, as is the Marauder in general, so any model using the kit decals should look like the real thing as far as possible. It cannot be said of all kits that good photographs of the actual subject abound, but they do especially in the case of the 597th BS aircraft, so have a go at matching the scruffy finish.

A feature of 9th AF Marauders was the bulged observation window on the starboard side forward of the wing, which is only moulded as a flat transparency in the kit and should be added by the connoisseur. Optional parts extend to either a transparent dorsal observation dome or flat cover and closed bomb doors and undercarriage door parts.

As for B-26 references, some of the best are: Wings April '73, Airpower May '73, Scale Models May '73, Profile No 112, Camouflage & Markings No 14 and US Bombers of WW2 Vol I from Hylton Lacy.

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 20 1-14 March 1973

AIRFIX PRODUCTS LTD. Martin B-26B-25 "Marauder" 1/72 scale.

Series 4 If proof were needed to illustrate the sometimes lengthy gestation period of plastic model kits then this offering from AIRFIX illustrates the point admirably as in fact the original research and basic design of the kit for the Marauder was carried out by the late John Edwards who, during the war came to know many of the crews of B-26 who were flying from farmland on which John was living and his tremendous enthusiasm for the type originated in those days, and if any one kit may be regarded as a tribute to John's enthusiasm and thoroughness then this must be it.

Moulded in medium grey plastic the surface detailing is probably the best we have yet seen on kits of this scale produced by AIRFIX, raised lines represent panels, hatches, etc. , BUT these are very fine indeed and after the model is painted give an excellent representation of the real thing. Such items as fuel filler cap covers and control surface linings etc. , are engraved INTO the plastic and fine detail such as the louvres on the upper rear of the engine nacelles etc. , are sharply defined and require no additional trimming, in fact dare we hope that this 'new standard' will now become a regular feature of future AIRFIX releases?.

The kit parts are all highly detailed, the bomb bay/fuselage having the longeron airframe structure engraved therein and a very complete interior is given which includes various crew jompartment bulkheads all of which have considerable detail thereon plus a magnificent bomb-bay with vertical stowage fittings and bomb loads above which the main crew area is similarly highly detailed so that when one looks into the bomb-bay area one sees all the paraphanalia and ' clutter' of the full size aircraft'..

The pilot/co-pilot seats are neatly represented as are the flying controls, instrument/throttle quadrant and instrument panel, while on the bulkhead at the rear of the bomb aimers nose position appears a correctly shaped seat unit plus locations for the bomb-sight which is also provided.

The tricycle undercarriage is also faithfully reproduced and full wheel well detail is also given as is an interior for the nose-wheel undercarriage compartment. The model MUST be weighted in order to ensure that it sits correctly on its wheels but although the undercarriage oleo structures etc. , ARE to scale they are also sufficiently strong as to enable weight to be included in the model without fear of the undercarriage giving way.

The accuracy of this kit can only be described as superb - John Edwards spent hours in the USA working from a wartime B-26 over there and also had the full co-operation of the original manufacturers of the aircraft together with close liaison/co-operation with many ex B-26 air/ground crew and others associated with the type including many well known B-26 historians, the nett result being a credit to ALL those involved in this kit.

The fit of parts is superb and the excellent transparencies, including wing leading edge lights and wing tip navigation lights all combine to suggest that this must be THE BEST kit in the Series 4 range yet produced by this Company.

Decals are also to a high standard being flat matt and in correct colouring printed very thinly BUT NOT OPAQUE to lay smoothly on the finished model.

The markings given are for the very famous "MILD AND BITTER" of the 450th Bomb Squadron 332nd Bomb Group when at Great Sealing, Essex, this being the first Marauder B-26B-25 to complete 100 missions from the U.K. and the other is the equally well known "DEE FEATER" from the 597th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group at Rivenhall also in Essex. These markings provide the modeller with a choice of camouflage finishes, "MILD AND BITTER" being Olive Drab/Neutral Grey camouflage while "DEE FEATER" was in bare metal with D-Day markings etc.

For those seeking full detail of finishes and further detail on the B-26 the DUCIMUS BOOKS "CAMOUFLAGE AND MARKINGS" series by ROGER A. FREEMAN (WHO PROVIDED MUCH OF THE DATA FOR THIS KIT AND ITS DECOR) is strongly recommended as this not only gives 'official1 patterns for camouflage and insignia together with Interior finishes it also provides some excellent AUTHENTICATED colour and black and white artwork showing many of the very colourful schemes which the Marauder wore when in combat.
R. C. J

The IPMS magazine, SEPTEMBER 1973

MODEL ENTHUSIAST
The "Widow Maker"

The Martin B-26 Marauder entered USAAF service with the rather colourful unofficial appellation of "Flying Torpedo", a nickname prompted by its perfectly streamlined circular fuselage, but this promptly gave place to such epithets as "Flying Prostitute" and "Widow Maker" when pilots discovered what they believed to be its lethal propensities. Indeed, on four occasions the continued development and production of the Marauder hung in the balance, but once its more individualistic handling characteristics had been mastered it went on to achieve the lowest operational loss rate of any US combat aircraft in the European Theatre of Operations and, even if non-operational losses continued to leave something to be desired, it was to be adjudged an extremely successful bomber offering a level of operational immunity unapproached by any other aircraft of its class.

This rather exotic-looking WW II bomber has certainly not been neglected by the model kit manufacturers, and there have been two good kits to 1/72nd scale available for some time, one each from Frog and Revell, but Airfix has now come up with a Marauder kit to the same scale which easily puts all previous kits of the "Widow Maker" in the shade and is, indeed, virtually beyond criticism. Absolutely accurate in outline and sections, and with extremely neat surface detailing, the notorious Airfix "phantom rivetter" having apparently been kept at a distance from the moulds of this kit, it assembles readily and neatly.

Particularly praiseworthy is the bomb bay which has a mass of internal detail, including the bomb racks and eight 500-lb (227-kg) bombs, and forms quite a complex assembly on its own. The three undercarriage units are also very complete and, again, much internal detail is provided in the wheel bays. The landing gear, incidentally, is well able to support the model even if sufficient weight is incorporated to balance the tail. All the doors of the bomb bays and wheel wells can be assembled either open or closed, but with so much interior detail we feel that few modellers will wish to screen this from view. The decal sheet is of excellent quality, matt finished and offers the markings of two well-known aircraft. One set is for B-26B-55 "DeeFeater", a natural metal-finished aircraft of the 597th Squadron, 397th Bomb Group, based at Rivenhall, Essex, while the other is for a B-26B-25 "Mild and Bitter" of the 450th Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group, based at Great Saling, Essex, and the first Marauder to complete 100 bombing sorties from a UK base. In our view, Airfix has a sure winner with this kit which, at its UK price of 52p in Series 4, is excellent value for money.
F J Henderson

Air Enthusiast 1974-03 vol.06 no.03

KIT COMMENT
MONOGRAM'S MiG-15

NEW KITS FROM MATCHBOX

Matchbox have not forgotten the 1:72nd scale enthusiasts however, and had six new models on display for production next year. The first of these will be a B-26 Marauder in February followed by a SAAB Viggen, A-20G Havoc and Fairchild A-10A. In the smaller and cheaper variety, now retailing for 36p, two kits are promised of a P-40N Kittyhawk and an F-86A Sabre.

Matchbox seem to be catching up fast on their rivals and apart from the aircraft models have several more AFVs for next year and a new line of 1:700th scale waterline warship models. They have over 100 kits in production which in the space of four years is an admirable record.

Aviation News Vol 5 Num 14 10 December - 23 December 1976