1/48 Monogram A-26C Invader

Gallery Article by Darius Aibara on Oct 11 2003

 

I saw this kit advertised in Fine Scale Modeller shortly before its release and it was a stunner in its gloss black finish.  Upon release I obtained the kit from the local model aerodrome and set to work.  The kit was built out of the box with the addition of some True Details resin wheels.  I also added throttle controls to the cockpit using spare plastic rod etc. and cut out and replaced the forward access hatch with one made from plastic card.  

 

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The model is a real tail sitter and with a glass nose the addition of compensatory weights could be difficult.  Fortunately the engines are sufficiently forward of the C of G to enable enough weight to be sandwiched between the engine back and the wing.

I chose to model an all-black Invader of the 34th BS/17th BW USAF which was based at Pusan Air Base, Korea in 1952 using the kit decals.  The model was primed using Halfords grey spray acrylic paint and then given a couple of coats of Halfords satin black spray paint.  Following decaling, a coat of satin varnish was applied to dull down the finish.  Photos of Korean War Invaders showed there to be heavy weathering around the engine nacelles and so I tried to replicate this by dry brushing various shades of grey and dark brown.  Fuse wire aerials were added to finish the job.

Darius Aibara

      

Photos and text © by Darius Aibara