[PH-LKK]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

I would research it before I did that. There were a few different styles of tail stingers in the B-26, and some of them were heavily modified by the crews. This might be an attempt at an accurate style. Remember that the one in the NMUSAF in these markings has a different stinger because it is a later model. THe FOV model is made to represent a B model while the one in the museum is a G model.

I know. It's just that, compared to the degree of detail found on the rest of the model, the tail gunner canopy looks strikingly out of place. I know of at least three distinct configurations of tail "stingers" on B-26s:

I'm not even sure which of these is supposed to be modelled here.

[hworth18]

With the canopy reinforcement, most likely, it is a B-26B-55 which is the same model of A/C I am building, and they look almost identical.. The only real differences I can see are that FOV doesn't have all the little windows that are present on the real A/C, with most of the places where windows are supposed to be are just painted metal..

[1948]

just put mine on display and it looks great. Its one of the few aircraft I display in flight. on a 1-10 scale I would say a 81/2 or 9. by mistake I paid for two and after the FM offered a credit or refund (great customer service) I decided to keep #2 maybe for a gift or to repaint. anyway I like it.

[ZS-VAN]

Great insights and great pics guys. I think the model looks even better than on the earlier pics. Nice.

[mustangdriver]

Originally Posted by swoop

Md, great take on the B-26. If only I could see what you observe. I'm not a FOV fan, so do you think this model has possibilties.?

Hey Swoop, I am not always a FOV fan either, but with some of their recent efforts they are doing(B-26, B-25, P-40), I think that they are pretty good.

[djjeffhall]

I just noticed on the pictures that the bird comes with the lower waist poistion guns included. I had not noticed that before and would have bet money they would be left off. A very nice touch.

[FROGGY]

I'm not a fan of FOV, but for the price is a good model.

[stalag8611]

My B-26B arrived this morning via Buster Brown. So far I like what I see, but haven't compared it to some other twin engine fighters/bombers I own. However, the quality looks good, similar to FOV's P-40 and Zero, both of which show that the QC guys were on the ball. Now, I'm tempted to go for the FOV B-25, but space has reached a premium.

[jim]

Thanks for the review JP, from the photos you have posted its seems FOV have captured the essence of the B26. The streamlined if slighty plump fuselage looks exactly right. The inside on the nose and turret seem to look well detailed from the picture.

One has already appeared on ebay over here, early days yet so the price was a little high but I shall get one these for certain.
The B26 worked real hard over here during and after D Day so its a definate must have .
I read that it was a tricky bird to fly but once mastered the pilots said it was great aircraft.

JP I have a question if you wouldnt mind, its a little off topic but would you tell me what P40 is in the center of the trio of Matchbox models in you cabinet is please.
I just want to make sure that I havn't missed one out of my collection.


Edit,

Panic over JP I figured it out and I have it sitting smugly in my cabinet. Phew I thought for one moment there was a P40 out there I had missed.
Btw those Matchbox P40s are very good.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

I would research it before I did that. There were a few different styles of tail stingers in the B-26, and some of them were heavily modified by the crews. This might be an attempt at an accurate style. Remember that the one in the NMUSAF in these markings has a different stinger because it is a later model. THe FOV model is made to represent a B model while the one in the museum is a G model.

From what I can recall, the original "Shootin-In" was a B.26-B , with a rear turret area, same as the 'G' variant


There are some interesting Wartime shots of FW*K "Shootin-In" floating around, in books & magazines.

One of the photo's shows FW*K actually releasing her "stick of 500lb G.P. bombs", in action (Flypast magazine 1994)

Interesting to note, that the "Bomb Group" represented by this model, is the 387th, who were My Local (Wartime) unit (12 miles from where I was born !)

I used to go over the (derelict) airfield regularly, & sit where "Shootin-In" & her sister-ships had sat 45 - 50 years earlier, on the (still intact) dispersals.... (though the runway has sadly, since been torn up, much of the Taxi-Way, & dispersals still exist !)

Sadly, (& Shamefully) there is no memorial at the base to the 387th B.G. (as there is at the next-nearest B.26 base, down the road, at Matching-Green, 391st B.G. airfield)

Nice to see (now) that the 387th's B.26's are represented in Die-Cast, Wooden, & Plastic (kit) forms !