High speed recon bomber

[frank2056]

I finally finished this project. The design and construction part of the project went well, but the painting and decaling were just a series of frustrating disasters. The plane's not completely finished, but it's good enough for now; I'll revisit it at some point and add more weathering and fix a few issues.

The engines don't look straight, but they were straight when I put it on (I used the fuselage joint as the centerline). I either knocked it loose at some point, or it's a photographic effect. Par for the course with this model:



The bomber is part of the 44th Sqn. The squadron pendant is on the tail fin - barely visible. The plane serial is XE912. I completely sanded off the B-26 canopy framing, and faired the canopy into the fuselage. I have a steel template (Verlinden, IIRC) that has what looks like window patterns, so I used the template to cut out window masks for the canopy. I need to go back and smooth out the many layers of paint around the edges of the glass:



A final view, with a 1/144 scale crewman for scale. The fuselage windows that I opened up earlier are now filled with white glue. The crab-like landing gear is odd looking, but it supports the plane. The upper surface gray is lighter than the darker, bluer PRU blue on the lower surfaces; they just look the same in the pictures:



That's it so far! Thanks for all the suggestions and help on this model.

Frank

[Stargazer]

Amazing result! Well worth the wait. Congratulations! Now you need a name and designation for that bird, what d'you think?

[tanktastic43]

Nice job. Well done. 

tt43.

[chrisonord]

Very nice Frank,
I like this as it is so different in a 1950's and futuristic sort of way.
Cheers,
Chris.

[Daryl J.]

 

[thedarkmaster]

Looks so very good , top class   

[Cobra]

Great Job this Plane has a 'Blackhawks' or more likely,'Thunderbirds' feel to it!!!!!!!!! Great Work any other Awesome Projects Planned??? Great  Work all around!!!!

[sequoiaranger]

I like the way it looks. The (1/144 Marauder-based) plane looks like an experimental reality.

>The engines don't look straight, but they were straight when I put it on (I used the fuselage joint as the centerline). I either knocked it loose at some point, or it's a photographic effect.<

I think it *IS* a photographic effect, or rather, the fact that the skewed camo lines CREATE a sense of asymmetry. In the overhead pic, I placed a ruler on my screen and the "cleavage" line of the jets lined up perfectly with the center of the tail and the center of the nose. So you're OK. (if anything, the two tail guns might be offset slightly to the right side of the aircraft)

[frank2056]

Thanks for all the comments, guys. I haven't given much thought to a name. Weaver's suggestion that it's a Short's aircraft is good, and I liked Sequoiaranger's name suggestion, so let's call it the Shorts Marabou.

Craig - I did check the engines and you're right - they're on the centerline. If I look at the pod face on, it's centered. If I look at it from the rear face on, it's centered too. From some angles it looks twisted to one side. The guns are turned slightly to the right and up. I managed to almost knock one off while checking the engine alignment.

Frank

[Ed S]

Nice one Frank and a very creative design.



Ed

[Weaver]

Well done Frank - that looks really good!    I've always thought the Marauder would be a good starting point for a jet and now you've proved it!

[Brian da Basher]

Outstanding, Frank!! The design really captures the essence of those RAF 'secret projects' from the early jet age and the paintwork would make a lot of folks swear this baby was real.

You've got some serious talent for smaller scales!

Brian da Basher

[GTX]

Great work - engine changes would be a B**** for it though.

Regards,

Greg

[Taiidantomcat]

How cool is that