ICM 1:48 Marauder Mk. III

[Fran]

 

1:48

Marauder Mk. III

ICM

Catalogue number 48326

Price: around 71€

 

“The Glenn L. Martin Company's Model 179 answered a January 1939 Army Air Corps specification for a high-speed bomber. The Army ordered the streamline twin-engine, all-metal monoplane, designated the B-26 Marauder, in September and the first production example flew in November 1940. The design incorporated several new innovations. The high wing loading of the design and the resultant increased landing and take-off speeds caused many accidents in training. Intimidating epithets such as the "Widow Maker" and "One-a-Day-in-Tampa-Bay" added to the B-26's initial reputation as it underwent Congressional scrutiny.

 

As those problems were being resolved, Marauders immediately went into combat after American entry into World War II. On June 4, 1942, Army Air Forces (AAF) Marauders defending Midway Island attacked Japanese aircraft carriers with torpedoes, but failed to score hits. The AAF sent Marauders to North Africa after the Allied invasion in November 1942 for service with the Twelfth Air Force. Eighth Air Force B-26s flew the first bombing mission against German forces in Europe on May 14, 1943. In preparation for the invasion of France, the Eighth's Marauders were transferred to the Ninth Air Force, the primary American tactical air force in Europe, in October 1943.

 

Like the M1 Garand combat rifle, the Sherman tank, and the LST, the Marauder was an important weapon in the war against the Axis powers. B-26 crews flew over 100,000 sorties and dropped approximately 150,000 tons of bombs, primarily against Nazi Germany. The AAF lost fewer Marauders than any Allied bomber it flew—less than one-half of one percent. Besides the United States, the air forces of Great Britain and France operated Marauders in combat. Few Marauders survive today out of the 5,266 produced by Martin.

*History from National Air and Space Museum.

The RAF used the Marauder primarily in the Mediterranean Theater, with limited squadrons due to the type's focus on tactical operations in North Africa, Italy, and the Balkans. Earlier marks (Mk.I/IA) equipped No. 14 Squadron starting in 1942 for anti-shipping, torpedo attacks, reconnaissance, and bombing in Egypt and North Africa.

The Mk.III arrived in 1944 and mainly equipped:

• No. 14 Squadron: Continued operations into anti-submarine patrols from Algeria and Sardinia until September 1944.
• No. 39 Squadron: Re-equipped in 1944 as part of the Balkan Air Force, conducting shipping strikes, night intruders, and support missions over Italy, the Balkans, and Adriatic coasts until late 1945.

 

The South African Air Force (SAAF) made more extensive use of the Marauder, receiving both Mk.II (B-26C/F) and Mk.III variants. By 1944-1945, five SAAF squadrons formed a significant part of the Desert Air Force (later in Italy) and Balkan Air Force:

• No. 12 Squadron
• No. 21 Squadron
• No. 24 Squadron (first to convert in late 1943, initially on Mk.II)
• No. 25 Squadron (converted in 1944, focused on Balkan support for Yugoslav partisans)
• No. 30 Squadron

These formed an all-Marauder wing in Italy (based around Foggia and Pescara), targeting road/rail infrastructure, bridges, marshalling yards, and supply lines during the Italian Campaign.

 

The ICM 1:48 scale Marauder Mk.III (kit number 48326) is a recent addition, unexpected, to the ICM catalogue, specifically representing the RAF-operated variant of the Martin B-26 Marauder. Historically, the Marauder Mk.III was the British designation for the B-26F and B-26G models supplied under Lend-Lease, featuring modifications like an increased wing incidence angle for better takeoff performance, a taller vertical stabilizer, and British-specific equipment such as bomb fusing and radio gear.

 

We already review the B-26F version here.

 

 

 

This release is just a rebox of the B-26F with new decals versions and new steps of the instructions (with some parts used on this version and not on the F version).

 

 

 

The decal sheet has a very good color registration and supply 3 finishing options, all wearing British RAF roundels. 

 

1 - HD545, Martin Field, Baltimore, Spring 1944

2 - HD561.B ‘Bilksem’, 21 Sqn. (SAAF), Italy, 1944-45

3 - HD505/V ‘Vindictive Viking’, 12 Sqn. (SAAF), Italy, Winter 1945

The decals are design by ICM and made for the third party but I have no idea who.

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

Well, a Marauder Mk. III is a very welcome addiction to the ICM B-26 Family. The B-26 is a very iconic model and well worth all this new molds from ICM and all the variants shows. The next will be the B-26C in its own box.

The detail out of the box is very good and it will make a very good replica. For the expert and keen modeler some AM (now Essential Models have some looking fabulous detail on their website, just need to see it in real “flesh”) will make some extra detail to make this beauty into a total masterpiece.

VERY Highly recommend this to intermediate/expert modeler

 

My thanks to ICM for making this fantastic model.