Monogram 1/48 B-26

[stikpusher]

Ok, this has got to be my grandest aircraft project/build yet. It started out as a standard build, but then I got the hare brained idea to totally detail the interior. It started out with some minor work, but eventually led to a nearly complete revamp of the interior. I used some quick boost barrels to improve the kit guns, and some Eduard PE for the feed tray chutes for the waist and tail guns. Pretty much everything else was improvised with strip & sheet styrene, wire, parts from my spares bins, or whatever else I had on hand. Kit decals were modified to represent Flak Bait as she would have looked on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Here is the interior of the fuselage before I closed it up. A LOT of hours of research went into this one to make sure that I got the colors correct.













and the final build... most of the added detail was visible from one angle or another, some barely so...









Thanks for looking.

[TJ]

To do this with the old Monogram kit is nothing short of WOW

[Leon]

WOW is right! Interior looks great.

[stikpusher]

TJ and Leon, many thanks!

[406 Silverado]

I'm trying to figure out why in the world I didn't see this thing!! What you have done here with this old Monogram kit is nothing short of amazing. The scratchwork and attention to detail are just mind boggling!! A true testament to the fact that it's the builder ......and not the kit....that makes all the difference in great turn outs like this one. You really shot one over the moon with this one brother. Fantastic work Carlos.

[stikpusher]

Thanks Joe. But I did finish it back in ‘14, so it’s been a few years since it’s been posted. You’ve probably forgotten about it. 😉

[jeaton01]

I don't recall this one either Carlos. A great build! And it even sits on its nosewheel.

[Medicman71]

Love it!! Very nice Stik!

[stikpusher]

John & Mike, thank you.

John, this build is full of old school lead #8 Birdshot wherever I could put it forward of the main wheels, particularly in the engine nacelles. I actually need to repair it now, as one of the main gear wheel axles bent, then broke under the weight after several years.

[jeaton01]

Yeah, the gear tends to splay out some on the Monogram B-26. I noticed that when I built the model using the Lone Star resin short wing conversion, which needed even more weight due to the resin tail surfaces and wing outer panels. I made a mold and cast a weight that fit right behind the cockpit bulkhead. So far all is well but I do check it from time to time. Here's a link to a picture of the mold and weight.

www.yolo.net/%7Ejeaton/mymodels/b26/1b26/0341b26.html

[buddho]

What an impressive build throughout, and one you must be very proud of...beautiful paintjob and weathering.

[moparmadness]

Such a fantastic classic Monogram kit! You can see the many many hours you must have invested here. I mean, even the paint looks looks you gave it many bench sessions. You seriously deserve many kudos for this one! 👏👏👏👏

[moparmadness]

That sixth picture looks like it could be from a magazine spread.

[stikpusher]

John, in hindsight, I should have bought some metal landing gear struts, I had no idea that time would take such a toll.

Buddho, many thanks for your kind words. Yes, even after nearly a decade, I am most proud of this build. I pushed my abilities here big time.

Chad, yes, this one took most of my bench time in late '13 and the first half of '14. I could not begin to estimate the hours of work put in now. As far as picture 6 goes, that was done under Bruce/Speedgraflex's guidance a couple of years after the fact. He coached me on how to get the most out of my phone camera, then cleaned up what I sent him. It's his finished results. He's a true professional.