Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series HA3207
Douglas A-26B Invader Diecast Model
USAF 3rd BW, 13th BS, #44-34287 "Versatile Lady", Iwakuni AFB, Japan, March 1951 |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Douglas A-26B Invader | | 8.25" | | 11.75" |
The 3rd Bomber Wing was stationed in Iwakuni Japan as part of the occupation force when they began operations in support of the Korean War. They transferred to Kunsan AB South Korea in August 1951. A-26 #44-34287 was referred to by her crews as “Old Able” or occasionally as “Patches” because of all the patches that were applied to fix combat damage. At some point someone painted a voluptuous woman on the left side of the nose and named her “Versatile Lady”. In 1951 Captain Tony Curto awarded the aircraft a DFC and served cake in honor of the aircraft having flown 203 missions in the first year of the war. #44-34287 was one of the 12 planes that took part in the first bombing mission in Korea. The aircraft can be seen at the museum at Lackland AFB, Texas.
Designed as a single-pilot light attack bomber, the A-26 first flew on July 10, 1942. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company, this twin-engined aircraft was met with little enthusiasm in the Pacific Theatre, prompting General George Kenney to proclaim "We do not want the A-26 under any circumstances as a replacement for anything." The early A-26 suffered from poor visibility, a problem that was corrected in 1944 when a clamshell canopy replaced the earlier "flat-topped" style. Later models were well-received in Europe, and the A-26 went on to become a greatly successful bomber, also serving in the Korean War and in several major Cold War conflicts. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Hobby Master's 1:72 scale A-26 Invader is loaded with quality features. The fully rendered cockpit interior features a detailed large center console and equipment boxes. The the rear gunner's compartment has a masterfully recreated ocular periscope system and the aft fuselage features rotating dorsal and ventral machine gun turrets. The solid metal wing has razor-thin leading and trailing edges and crisp panel line details. For easy configuration, the nose gear, main gear, and bomb bay area are molded as single snap-in units that include the doors in the opened position. Some releases include eight nose-mounted machine guns and/or four optional under-wing mounted machine gun pods.
© Copyright 2003-2013 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" range presents detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft.
Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Opening canopies, revealing detailed cockpit interiors.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
