Art Scale Kit 1:48 B-26 Marauder

[Fran]

 

1:48

Art Scale Kit

B-26 Marauder

Several Sheets

 

 

 

Art Scale Kit (also known as ASK) is a model hobby shop and now it knonwed in the modelling world all around for their decals, tools and 3D productions.

Today, I´m going to review two decal sheet from ASK with four strikings schmes for the ICM 1:48 B-26 Marauder.

 

All sets came in a ziplog bag, small A5 size sheet with profiles colors instructions steps how to apply ASK decals.

        

So let’s looks to the option schemes that are offered.

 

But first, one detail that I loved about in all ASK decals sheets. In the applying instructions, in all sheets, theres`a real photo of one of the airplanes that are represented on the decal sheets. I really love that "bonus"

 

B-26 Marauder – Part 1 – Over Europe: Wine, Women and Song and Hard To Get

Catalogue number200-D48058

Price: 11,90€

To order, click here.

This sheet have 2 schemes options quite famous.

My set has a typo error with the “Miss Arkansas” when that belongs to part II.

 

So, the first on is the B-26B-50, s/n 42-95903, 495th BS, 344th BG, 9th AF, Stansted, United Kingdom, July 1944, best known by the sexy pin-up and the lettering “Hard to Get”.

The history of this particularly B-26 is well-know but ASK give the modeler a small  context and history even so.

“The 344th Bombardment Group was established in September, 1942 at MacDill in Florida, and was equipped with the B-26 Marauder. After being relocated to the base at Stansted in United  Kingdom as a component unit of the 9th Air Force, missions were conducted against military targets and the transportation network in German occupied France, the Netherlands and Belgium from February 1944. One of the aircraft of the component 597th Bombardment Squadron was this aircraft, once again, one that was decorated with noseart of a scantily clad woman, courtesy of Jack Havener. This Marauder, originally delivered in natural metal, was subsequently camouflaged in Olive Drab on the upper and side surfaces, and photographs indicated peeling of the paint. At this time, the codes were applied in grey.”

 

The second is probably one of my favourite…

 

The B-26B-45, s/n 42-95752, 442nd BS, 320th BG, 12th AF, Decimomannu, Sardinia, August 1944,

 

 Well known for the nose art “Wine, Women & Song”

 

         ASK gives the modeler also a small history context of this aircraft.

 

“The 320th BG was formed on June 19th, 1942 at MacDill, in Florida, equipped with the B-26 Marauder. At the end of 1942, the entire 320th Bombardment Group was transferred to Algeria, ground personnel arriving by sea while flight personnel flew their aircraft in over the south Atlantic to Africa. After the occupation of the territory, operations were switched over to Sicily and Italy.The units gradually left their Algerian bases, and from November 1943, they flew just shy of a full year from the former Italian base at Decimomannu in Sardinia. This aircraft, named Wine, Women & Song', was adorned with noseart depicting a nude woman in a glass, and the unit marking consisting of Donald Duck holding a bomb in his hand. A standard USAAF camouflage scheme of Olive Drab on the upper surfaces with supplemental fields of medium green on the wings and tail surfaces was carried. The bottom surfaces were painted Neutral Grey. The yellow band forward of the rear gun position was the 320th BG, 42nd BW identifier.

 

 

B-26 Marauder

Part 2 – Miss Arkansas over Europe

Catalogue number200-D48059

Price: 11,90€

To order, click here.

 

 

The second sheet also have quite famous and attractive schemes.

 

 

So the first one:

B-26C-45, s/n 42-107752, 444th BS, 320th BG, 12th AF, Decimomannu, Sardinia, August 1944.

“Miss Arkansas”

 

 

 

It’s a fantastic delivery so you can get a very attractive B-26. Love it!

Here ASK also give us a brief history

“The beginnings of the 397th Bombardment Group hails back to April 20th, 1943, at MacDill in Florida, where the unit began to train on the B-26 Marauder. After relocating to Great Britain, the first combat mission was an attack on a V-1 base in the vicinity of Pas de Calais, exactly a year after the formation of the unit. Natural metal aircraft of the 397th BG carried markings that included a yellow diagonal band across the vertical tail surfaces. At the time of the invasion, the so-called D-Day stripes were added to the fuselage and wings. Unit members added a silhouette of the United States on the nose of this aircraft, along with a well endowed lady with the inscription THE MILK RUN SPECIAL. Bomb silhouettes symbolized the number of bombing missions.

 

 

The second scheme, is the

 

B-26B-55, s/n 42-96071, 584nd BS, 394th BG, 9th AF, Cambrai/Niergnies, May 1945.

 

 

The “Ish-Tak-Ha-Ba”

 

 

“Ish-Tak Ha Ba (Dakota language meaning ‚Sleepy Eye') was named by the aircraft's captain, Joseph E. Farrell, and he also had the head of an Indian Chief painted on the airplane's nose. Joseph Farrell hailed from the small town of Sleepy Eye, and he joined the USAAC after the beginning of the war.

He underwent pilot training, after which he was assigned to the 584th BS, a unit equipped with the Marauder. After being relocated to Europe, Joseph Farrell flew a total of 67 combat missions before the end of the war. In September 1945, he joined Northwest Airlines, where he flew until he was sixty, and even after retirement, he never left flying.

 

Checking the decal sheets, as usual the color registration e density is great and a very good definition of the details. The decals have a thin film, in fact looking very thin and delicate.

Once again, there is no indication where are they printed so I assume that will be in ASK house. The printing quality is quite good, as they are sharp, with outline very well defined.

The instructions are the general ones that are applicable to all decals, it is always important to remember the general principles of decal application. In this case, there is no specific rule for applying these decals.

 

The profiles draws contains lots of information, with side view (both side) and top view with precise decal indication.

 

***

            Conclusion:

So, theses sheet is quite sparkle with very striking and attractive schemes.

I will need another B-26 to build at least two of these.

Thanks to ASK to keep releasing these decals in the modelling world.

The location indication of the decals is quite good and very perceptible.

The decals as already said, have a very good colour registration, very thin, with minimum decal film, and they work quite nice!

My thanks to Art Scale for producing these fantastic decals.

 

Francisco Guedes

 

 

 

 

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[CANicoll]

Flak Bait is still at Udvar Hazy, a 20 min drive from my place.  SOOO tempting to get one of the new B-26 kits and have a go, using photographs from the museum here.  I have a ton of photos of the plane in sections, and the patching and weathering is incredible.  Few people know that when the plane sat after the war, people came up and autographed the bottom of the airframe.  It is covered in signatures...  Don't think there is a decal for those!

[PanzerWomble]

5 minutes ago, CANicoll said:

Flak Bait is still at Udvar Hazy, a 20 min drive from my place.  SOOO tempting to get one of the new B-26 kits and have a go, using photographs from the museum here.  I have a ton of photos of the plane in sections, and the patching and weathering is incredible.  Few people know that when the plane sat after the war, people came up and autographed the bottom of the airframe.  It is covered in signatures...  Don't think there is a decal for those!

Flak Bait ....202 missions and not one of the aircrews were lost....and everyone says daylight bombing and Marauders were death traps ...

 

Greg did a good piece on them a while back if you're in the mood 

 

 

[CANicoll]

Thanks!!!  Definitely will be taking a look.

[BlrwestSiR]

7 hours ago, CANicoll said:

Flak Bait is still at Udvar Hazy, a 20 min drive from my place.  SOOO tempting to get one of the new B-26 kits and have a go, using photographs from the museum here.  I have a ton of photos of the plane in sections, and the patching and weathering is incredible.  Few people know that when the plane sat after the war, people came up and autographed the bottom of the airframe.  It is covered in signatures...  Don't think there is a decal for those!

ICM is going to release a Flak Bait boxing of the kit shortly. Might be worth waiting a bit for it to come out.