Monogram 1/48 A-26C Invader

[oortiz10]

OK MSC, I am a new member, and I'm starting this thread to share my first WIP posted on this board. So...here we go!

This is Monogram's glass nose, Korean War boxing. I picked this kit up at a swap meet years ago, but I'm just getting around to building it. It'll be mostly OOB. I say mostly because I might get some resin wheels and SAC gear. I think the metal gear will hold up better under all the weight I'm learning I'll need to add to keep it on its wheels.

First, the requisite parts-pile shot:



I started with the wings and engines. You can see that I've done some preliminary clean up on the wings' seams. I think I will replace the lost raised detail with resin decals (i.e. Archer's). 





I added a bunch of BBs into the forward part of the nacelle. Hopefully, this added weight forward of the MLG will help with keeping the kit's nose on the ground.




I painted up and dirtied the engines. I didn't spend too much time on these because little will be seen under the cowling and behind the props. I still need a flat coat on 'em.






I've started on the cockpit components, and while the paint dried, I turned my attention to the upper turret. After looking at some pictures, I decided that I wasn't very happy with the detail of the assembly. The perforated jackets of the .50 caliber guns are very evident in the photos. The kit's barrels are molded smooth.




I had a couple of .50 cals in my spares that I decided were going to donate their barrels to this build. I just had to figure out how to attach the barrels to the assembly. I decided I'd use fine wire to attach the new barrels to the kit's pivot assembly. 






As it turns out, the finished effort looks pretty good! 




Anyway, I'm sure this isn't a very impressive first post, but I promise things will get more interesting. Well, I hope you'll think it's interesting. But for now, this is where I'm at. Of course, as I make progress, I'll post and share. I appreciate you lookin'! Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out. As usual comments, questions, and criticisms welcome.

Cheers!
-O

[stikpusher]

Great start on this O! I’m definitely gonna be tagging along on this project.

[handiabled]

Nice mods with the turret! Bookmarked!

[Leon]

Nice work replacing those .50 cals O!

[tcoat]

Another old Monogram kit!


Invaders, Marauders and Widows OH MY


Loving it as I really enjoy watching these things come together.

[lyle]

This is a great start. Good work on the guns.

[kyledehart5]

This is a most impressive start to this build. Nice work upgrading those barrels and everything is looking really nice so far.

[brandonk]

OH NICE!!! BOOKMARKED. I have the Pro-Modeler boxing of this kit. I am watching and learning from this one. Very cool subject. I do like the replacement .50's, those look much better.

[jmarc]

GGGGGGGGGGreat start ,i'll be around for sure , GO,GO,GOOOOOO

[oortiz10]

OK gang, I've spent the past few days finishing up the cockpit and bombardier sections of the interior. I kept this area OOB, but just used a little creative painting for details. I spent some time trying to find ways to hide weight within the very visible areas.



I started by dropping BBs and Liquid Gravity into the molded voids on the underside of the cockpit floor. I then used small bits of styrene to hide it all. I also used a few pine derby car weights, too. Under some paint, it's all hard to see.






I also glued some pine derby weights into areas that wouldn't be seen once everything was assembled, like behind the cockpit and bombardier bulkheads and behind the instrument panel.









I decided to close up the bomb bay, so the one behind the cockpit bulkhead won't be seen.



You can see that I was able to get the weights into a position where the airframe will cover them up.







Here are a couple of pictures of everything buttoned up.








There's still a little work to do on these parts before I'm done. After this, I'll be working on getting the bay doors attached to the fuselage halves and the rear gunner position. 


For now, that's all I got. I appreciate you stopping by. As usual, comments, questions and criticisms are welcome.

Cheers!
-O

[kyledehart5]

This is looking awesome!! Nice work getting the weights added in and hidden away everywhere.

[andreww]

That is a very nice job of that cockpit. I'm impressed by the gauge panel dry brushing! Nicely done.

[406 Silverado]

Dang it O! That is indeed a great looking interior and it looks like you’ve got all the weight you’re gonna need secretly placed very well. This one’s bookmarked!!!

[stikpusher]

Very sharp looking interior! Good idea to put nose weights wherever you can!

[TJ]

Impressive work on getting the weight wherever possible. Why didn't I ever think of painting the weights to make them less noticeable?

[kyledehart5]

Feb 20, 2024 4:33:03 GMT -5 TJ said:

Impressive work on getting the weight wherever possible. Why didn't I ever think of painting the weights to make them less noticeable?

Was just thinking this myself. Seems so obvious to me now.

[handiabled]

The way you stashed the weight in undetectably would make a cartel border crosser envious

[jmarc]

NNNNNNNNNNNEAT !

[oortiz10]

OK plastic mashers, it's time for a (small) Invader update!

I was able to get the fuselage closed up. It was a challenge because I chose to close the bomb bay doors. UGH! They did not fit well! I used some styrene strip along the interior seams to help reinforce the joints. I also got the gunner position assembled and closed up. (Sorry, but I forgot to shoot WIP photos of those steps.)

I also got the empennage assembled. That was another poor fitting area. The stabilizers are molded as one big, heavy piece. It took a lot of sanding and filling to get them faired in. I got the transparencies attached and smoothed in as good as I could, too.





You may notice that one of the wing spars is missing. I accidentally broke it off while I was cleaning up the seams. I'll have to figure out a way to repair that.

Before priming, I needed to install a light at the very tip of the tail. Unfortunately, when I went to clip it off the sprue, it wasn't there. I know it wasn't the Carpet Monster because I never removed the part from its runner. So, my guess is that it came loose and got lost in the multiple moves this kit has survived. Still, I needed to muster a fix. So, I figured I'd use some clear sprue.

I found a big ol' hunk of clear sprue living in my spares box. 




After flattening one side, I used copious amounts of thick CA to attach it to the airframe and work as a filler.




Using my motor tool, I roughed out the part's final shape.




Once I was happy with the way it looked, I used various grades of sanding sticks, pads, and cloths to polish out the finished product.




No, it's not exactly 100% accurate, but it's close enough.

After that, I used Archer's resin details to replace the raised detail I obliterated while cleaning up the seams, then I primed.




While the primer cured, I turned my attention to another problem that I needed to solve. Before I primed, I mocked up the airframe and found that despite all the weight I crammed into the airframe, it was still a tail sitter. (#@$%&!) At this point, the fuselage and wings were all closed up. I had to figure something out. So, after looking for places to stuff in some more weight, I noticed there was some space behind the engines. I realized I could stuff some weight there. 

So, after playing around with the parts, I used a disk of styrene, some metal washers, and Liquid Gravity as my solution.




I used the disks to keep the prop shaft from moving after I got "my solution" in place and to protect it from "my solution". I dropped the shafts in and glued down the disks.





Then I CAed in the washers, and down the center, I glued in some Liquid Gravity.




After a quick mock-up and test, it looks as if these last additions will keep all three gear on the ground. (We'll see.)

Anyway, that's it for now. Of course, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome.

Thanks for stopping by!
-O

[jeaton01]

I like the tail light mod, better than new! You'll have no useful load left for fuel and bombs by the time you get it to sit on the nose gear.

[stikpusher]

Great work on fashioning the tail light! Once again, you’re knocking it out od the park with this project!

[handiabled]

Great progress on this! Nice scratch work on the tail light!

[lyle]

I like. The tail light and your solution on the weights.

[406 Silverado]

Man that work on the tail light is just off the charts O. Looks like you're doing some fancy foot work with the rear stabs and working in other areas of this kit as well. All of these old Monogram builds are coming out of the woodwork and every single one of them are just splendid builds. Lets see:

You: Monogram A-26 Invader

Keyda: Monogram B-26 Marauder

jeaton and tcoat: Monogram P-61 Black Widow.

All of these are pure eye candy to follow.

[TJ]

I like the ingenuity on the tail light and more so on getting more weight in

[reserve]

I think I did this one also somewhere back in the dim, dark past and I don't recall it being over friendly. You're making a fine job of this one what with all the extra work you're putting into it

[brandonk]

I ran into the same issue with the bomb bay doors on my B-25 when I closed them as well. You nailed the fit here. And that replacement tail looks amazing, far better than the kit part I'm sure. Cool work!!

[kyledehart5]

Really great work on this. That is an awesome tail replacement.

[stuart]

Superb work!

[keavdog]

This should be fun O! Been tempted with all the ICM releases in the series