Hobbyboss 1/32 A-26B Sprue review and errors list
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- Опубликовано: 24 ноя 2021
- You can skip to 9:00 if you just want to see the review.
A good look through the sprues of this fairly new kit from Hobbyboss. It has some schoolboy errors, but is apparently a beautiful model to build. If you would like to contribute to the channel.. please look here.. / nigelsmodellingbench 
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I’m SO glad that all I want out of a model kit is a few hours (or hours and hours) of fun and enjoyment as I put it together.
Opening the box, reading the instructions, checking out the spruces/runners and comparing to instructions, sometimes watching a RUclips review/build video(or three, maybe four, OK, five, but usually six😁…what can I say, I enjoy watching models come together), then make notes on the instruction sheet/booklet, check my stash of paints, ‘mise en place’ the glues, sanding stuff, knives and scrapers (and other assorted implements of destruction), putties etc etc.
I feel like a kid again, and THAT is why I build models, and I don’t care a ‘hoot or a holler’ about “accuracy”.
All that being said, I do admire a true craftsman (such as Nigel), and I marvel at their abilities in building and painting.
And I agree, the Martin B-26 ‘Marauder’ is a beautiful aircraft.
That would be Max Shaw from Metro Hobbies, a legend in the modelling & hobby shop community. I first met Max when I was a member of the IPMS in Victoria, he was very passionate about the hobby and still is. I remember when he worked at Hearnes Hobbies a hobby shop situated near the iconic Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, and famously accessed by descending a flight of stairs. And in the days before the internet, he was famous for informing us of all the new kits coming out, and even acquiring them before any other hobby shop across the country. Being a modeler himself, he knows what the modeler of any skill level and interest wants to see on the shelves, and thats what he does with his new kit news videos.
B-26B with a glass nose is designated as B-26C :)
Nevertheless, HB gives us an early B-26B-5 to B-26B-20 with a flat top canopy, no guns in the wings and early R-2800 engines.
You can build an early B-26C (B-26C-5 to B-26C-20) from this kit by just adding the glass nose. But be careful to fill excessive 50 cal port on the nose right half.
You cannot make B-26K or RB-26K (with glass nose and photo recon equipment suit in the bomb bay) by just cross-kitting with B-26C or B-26B late (B-26B-25 to B-26B-55) cause B-26K has different engines and props as well as reinforced wing and fuselage, accompanied with 20% wider tail fin and rudder.
You model to make yourself happy not anyone else. Do what you do best Nigel.
The A-26 was very manoevrable in combat. There is a (true!) story about how a formation of 18 A-26s were "Bounced" by about thirty Bf109Gs and Fw190s. To the German's astonishment, instead of turning away and exiting the scene, the A-26 formation turned into them to attack them... and shot 7 of the Germans down in about that many seconds. Wisely the Germans decided to look for easier prey. But the A-26s pursued them, downing another 4 or 5, before turning for home. This was over Eastern France in October of 1944.
One Big correction to Nigel's great review. The A-26C kit DOES NOT come with a different canopy. It is the same "flat top" sprue as in this kit. I got sucked in by the box art once again, and it cost me (again). The A-26C kit does have a separate clear sprue, but that is only the clear nose section, and a couple other small parts. Now a word of warning to those contemplating modelling the flaps down. The A-26 had double slotted flaps with a complicated looking mechanism. So I recommend either holding off, and hope someone will address this area, or build it flaps up.
Unfortunately the wing is not only mounted too low on the fuselage, the reason the faring between the nacelles and wing upper surface is too wide is because the wing sits too low in the nacelle (or the nacelles are too high - take your pick) to compensate. The wing angle of attack and airfoil section are also incorrect, and the engine cowlings have the wrong profile.
That said, knowing all of this (and the other errors) I still bought the kit and will spend time rectifying all the major shape issues (and engines etc) simply because it's the only offering in 1/32 and is still a beautifully produced kit. I bought the C, so I'll add correcting the glass nose profile to the list, and might as well make a new 'bubble top' canopy too. The finished aircraft won't be 'rivet counter' correct, but as someone with a collection of Invaders in 1/72 and 1/48 I do at least want the 1/32 kit to look correct overall.
This aircraft was ahead of it's time, the U.S. air force ,used it until the early 1970s ,and the coast guard until the mid 1980s, I've seen a couple in my life time .it's well made and a rugged craft ,and went through several renovations especially around the noose and wings tips ? Great kit
Fast as a fighter in WW2 as well!!
Nice looking aircraft.
Thanks for the upload 😉
Thanks for watching!
Makes me want to get back into mine and finish it
Do it.. and make a video.
Looks like an Invader to me. I would just build it, and forget about any inaccuracies. Maybe I would do the Eduard cockpit set if I had the kit.
I would love to see a 1/32nd B26 Marauder
The great advantage of buying kits on Amazon is that if there is a molding fault or parts missing you can just get a full refund or be sent a replacement.
Regarding the markings, it is a French A 26 indeed, they were extensively used in Indochina. However I believe that they wore the same very dark blue as the bearcat or late corsairs.
Amazon are amazing for their ease of returns. They also do some silly prices sometimes.
Wish I had known about this version before I started my ICM 1/48 version. Way it goes I suppose! LOL! No complaints about the ICM A/B-26... Still a great kit! Thank you so much for your work and efforts Nigel. It really is appreciated.
Personally, I think the ICM is gonna be a better kit.
Hi Nigel not long discovered your channel gives your own take on these models also thanks for the tips on BM Lancaster it’s preordered with the discount 👍🏼 I think hobby boss have done again. Their instruction guy don’t talk to the designers or illustrator. I think they drew 7 cylinders but modded 9 who knew. Keep up the good work. Regards Steve
There were a SAAF Squadrons flying these things in 1944 in Italy & I met a veteran who was a radio operator. He said that one of the less appealing part about the aircraft for pilots were its "unique" landing characteristics!
Please tell us more Steve..
I believe the 4 extra guns are blister mounted on the sides of the cockpit, ala B-25. If I remember correctly, Kermit has original blisters he was thinking about mounting along with the wing pods. I'm not sure, it's hard to keep track of all his projects! Great review, once again.
I havent seen side mounted guns on an A-26
You do realize that the instrument panel supplied with the Decals is for the A-26A Counter Invader and NOT the WW2 version. Why? Look at the right side and you see the "basic 6 pack" instruments. The WW2 and Korea versions were a single pilot plane, but the Vietnam version Counter Invader (B-26K/A-26A) was two pilot, and had dual controls instruments. The Basic Six Pack instrument layout was developed in the 1960's. Google Basic six pack instrument panel.
Oh how I wish that is all that is wrong with this POS. The Eduard set corrects the cockpit BTW.
@@NigelsModellingBench I know I know... I was just pointing out "another" error. lol.. And to add another.. the control yokes are also the Counter Invader versions (notice they gave two.. remember ww2 and Korea were single pilot single yoke aircraft). The yoke for the ww2 version had triangle handles, where these in this kit are the "horns" Not right. Anyway, i do like your channel quite a bit. I enjoy your videos. :)
Nigel , look up ....Resin 2 details , they have the corrective parts for this kit . Engines , exhaust, sets ,wing oil cooler vents ,and wheels and landing gear .
I have actually emailed them and asked if there is a UK supplier. I got no reply, so I won't be buying from them.
Me to Nigel , this is in 2024 now and o got no response from email or messenger.
I had the misfortune of seeing 1 of these pass overhead at about 150ft mid barrel roll before it was stopped rather suddenly by the ground in 1980 at Biggin Hill, sad day 😢
How very sad. Did the crew get out?
I like ICMs 1/48 kits.
….and “errors list” …love ya Nige!
Hi Jack. The kit has so many errors, mostly big ones, that I had to talk about them. Having said that, it is a lovely model eh.
Hobbyboss has convinced me that they are technically excellent at producing plastic models; they have also convinced me that their ability to consistently, accurately reproduce a given aircraft still lays ahead of them.
A 14 cylinder R-2800? Unforgivable!
God bless all those modelers who are so indifferent about such things as this that they say: I don't care about accuracy. Left to them, we would only have gems like Aurora FW-190s & Me-109s to build.
For lesser errors, Tamiya, GWH and Eduard retooled their offending kits (109E, P-61 & 109G respectively). Given the price of this fiasco (kit), Hobbyboss should retool to correct all the errors, and offer free correction sets! Such an approach would probably send shock waves through the factory, and create a lasting impression on the necessity of getting things right the first time.
Waiting for the A-26 K as used during the Vietnam war, nevertheless great review, thanks Nigel.
My mistake was that another spruce you showed mid review. Wait till the end is the motto here Steve Appologies mate. LOL😬
Some further research is needed to understand the aileron setup on these later variants . It maybe the case they used flaparons . This may explain the ailerons both drooping , this would help in the low ground attack roll as would explain the nose setup for this aircraft . As for center fuse section this could also be a later mod to the aircraft to help wing loading
As I say further research needed and my knowledge on this aircraft is limited .
Hi Nigel good video I I want to ask you how long does CA glue last for
Hi Keith, that's a good question.. with no solid answer. Some keep it in the fridge, but I never do as the risk of moisture getting to it is very high once the seal has been broken. If you store it in a unlit place, i.e.:- not on a windowsill, with the lid tightly fitted it should last you six months minimum. When it starts to go thick or does not dry fast is when it's gone off.
I've been really hesitant to get this kit due to all the fuss about inaccurate dimensions. But it really looks like it would build up nicely with a little bit of work. Love the lack of ejector pin marks!
Totally agree
Nigel do you have any interest in building the ICM 1/48 B-26K Counter Invader?
If it fell on my bench.. yes... as long as it's OD.
Evening Nigel, can I just say what a wonderful modelling channel you have, been a subscriber for a while and first time commenting, excellent content keep it up, thoroughly enjoying it, the reviews and the builds, I did buy some mods off you through eBay for the 1/24 Hellcat.Anyway my point on this gorgeous kit, is I believe the engines are the wrong ones, I think they’re for the A-20 not the A-26, please correct me if am wrong? Nigel. Thanks again stay safe and keep up the good work.
Hi Kevin. I cover that very subject at length in the video.
My professor in college was a navigator on them in WW2, then again in Korea and put back in during the Vietnam war because the AF needed experienced crew for aircraft. He ended up serving 26 years in the af, all on different versions of the invader. Lol.
Are you being sponsored or are you buying all these behemoth kits? Nice box art. They could have had side guns like the B-25. That would account for the mystery 4. I was thinking I would like you to snap the plastic & you did as you described it, thanks.
I buy all my kits. Now and then I'll get tools or resin as a freebie for review.
The engine is closest to the Wright R-2600 Twin Cyclone. This was used on the SB2C, TBF/M Avenger, A-20 Havoc, and B-25. It produced 1750HP vs the 2100 HP of the 18-cylinder Pratt&Whitney R-2800.
The B-24 used the P&W R-1830 Twin Wasp, also a two-row 14-cylinder engine.
The R-1830 has a diameter of 48.03 inches vs 55 inches for the R-2600. In 1/32 these would be 1.5 inches and 1.72 inches respectively. The R-2800 has a diameter of 52.8 inches (1.65 inches in scale). The question is what is the diameter of the kit engine because if it’s the right diameter for the A-26 then it will be too big for the B-24.
I will check. Having said that, even if the engine is incorrect for the B-24, having an actual twin row 14 cylinder engine in there instead of a plastic lump would look better eh? I thought the kit engine here looked a little anaemic to be a 2600?
Kermit Weeks is having an A-26 restored in the US- he has some great videos of the interior and restoration if you do a seach? Might be useful reference for internal detail.
Will that be the same Kermit Weeks I mention a couple of times in the video? lol.
Nigel, the canopy of your A-26 is a late B not the early B, early B's are flat and has only 1 panel over the Co-pilot seat, also I've helped repair a late A-26B here at Lackland AFB, first off yes those engines are wrong, the main wheel well are also wrong, there is no bulkhead in the front of the wells, the main gear wells are opened to the aft engine bulkhead, in that area is the engine oil tanks, also the cockpits on the late B's and the C's the instrument panels are correct, the early B's only has the pilots seat and jump seat and half instrument panel, the later aircraft was updated with both pilot seats and full instrument panel, also the gunners gun sight periscope "DOES NOT HAVE ANY CLEAR CAPS OVER THEM, THE PERISCOPES TIPS ARE EXPOSED TO THE AIRSTREAM".
Also on the late A-26's the wing guns are serviced from below not like their fighter brethren, reason the gun pods ammunition was fed from the ammo bins inside the wings, thus was carry over to the later versions with the wing mounted guns.
If you want pictures of an A-26B just ask I'll get them to you from the A-26 @ Lackland AFB Airmans Heritage Museum (I'm a volunteer for them)
Hi Cuda. I thought this canopy was flat? I did discuss the pilots seat and engines in the video. As for ammo boxes in the wings, I have seen the Kermit video and he showed panels in the wings and said they were for ammo?? Also, in the same video we can see bulkheads between the oil tank and the u/c bay.
The A-26B could carry up to 4,000 lbs (4x1000lbs) of bombs internally and an additional 2,000 lbs on underwing hard points. If those are 500 lb bombs you can install 8 at most. You can certainly put in 10x250lbs.
That's what I thought. I'm 99% sure the bombs in the kit are 500lb.
It would be nice if the "b-26 marauder " would be made into 1/32 scale, it was America's ,best twin engine light bomber ? Amazing ,look up the craft " flakbait " it had over six thousand bullet hole patches ? extremely rugged and dangerous aircraft .
More likely thousands of mostly schrapnel fragment hole patches. These often only scuffed the structure, hence skin patches instead of whole segments replaced, which would take away the patches.
think the decals are French,France used them in Indo China
Nice review Nigel..not my favourite twin aircraft...if hobbyboss got their act together and didn't make so many fubars in accuracy they could easily match HKM...or Tamiya for aircraft kits...
Ummmm.. HKM have not yet created a model kit without faults. Maybe the Do335 is OK, but the rest are.. I'll leave it there. In my opinion, this model, as a plastic kit, is top notch.
Pro tip:put super glue in fridge it will las longer
Once opened you run the risk of moisture getting to it...
this kit costs 580 in Poland where for 630 I can buy hk b-25 1/32 no thanks hobby boss
You may have missed the BIGGEST "Farcup" in the kit: The engines. Hobby Boss provide 2x14cylinder radials -7 per row. The A-26 used R-2800 engines which were 18 cylinders.....or 9 per row, just like the P-61. So, 2 resin R2800 engines will be a primary port of call in the After Market, and that will not be cheap.
If you watch the whole video, I I covered this and displayed the sprues from the P-61 kit by Hobbyboss.
BTW, I think you’ll find a bigger problem with the wing than it’s location on the fuselage is the shape of its airfoil. The A-26 had a NACA 65-215 laminar flow airfoil like that of the P-51. The maximum thickness to chord ratio of that airfoil is only 15% and occurs around 40% chord. The kit airfoil looks to have a t/c close to 25%, 50% thicker than it should be, and the cross-section is all wrong. This throws off all the other dimensions.