1:32 A-26B Invader

The Douglas A-26B Invader in 1:32 scale

A kit of the American twin-engine attack aircraft in the large 1:32 scale, which on a twin-engine machine means a model with a span of around sixty centimeters. That is a size to reckon with in advance, both because of the room in the display case and because at such a size every detail and every imperfection shows. The B version differs from the reconnaissance and night variants above all in what it has in the nose: instead of glazing it carries fixed gun armament.

The real subject

The A-26 Invader was an American twin-engine attack aircraft powered by a pair of air-cooled twin-row eighteen-cylinder radials. It was designed as the successor to the older attack machines and stood out for its speed, its load and its good flying qualities. It served at the close of the Second World War and then in Korea and in Southeast Asia as well, so its career lasted longer than that of most types of its generation.

Building and painting tips

Finish and varnish the cockpit, the bomb bay and the landing gear bays before you close the fuselage up. Try the engine nacelles dry on the wing and watch the alignment; on a twin-engine machine a deviation shows at once. A bare metal surface calls for a perfectly smooth base, because under a metallic paint every scratch stands out. Divide the panels up with masking and alternate the shades of metal; a uniform surface looks artificial. Spray the large wing surfaces in thin coats and in one direction.

Who the model is for

• For modelers of the US Army Air Forces of the Second World War and of the postwar period.
• For collectors of twin-engine machines in a large scale.
• For those who have the room for a sizeable model.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.