Hunting Percival P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder) Aer Lingus, 1956 at p.8

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you! 

Final touches on the way. The boarding ladder has been successfully installed with rails, and the starboard side has received ClearFix windows, drying now. This evening, port will hopefully follow, and I am right in time for the weekend to take beauty pics. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Belly in full glory 

"De/Militarize It" Group Build at whatifmodelers.com: a Martin Marauder Commuter (WiP) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The boarding ladder:

"De/Militarize It" Group Build at whatifmodelers.com: a Martin Marauder Commuter (WiP) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

"De/Militarize It" Group Build at whatifmodelers.com: a Martin Marauder Commuter (WiP) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Masking:

"De/Militarize It" Group Build at whatifmodelers.com: a Martin Marauder Commuter (WiP) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Dizzyfugu]

And finally... the Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956:

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some background:
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe.

After entering service with the U.S. Army, the aircraft received the reputation of a "Widowmaker" due to the early models' high accident rate during takeoffs and landings. The Marauder had to be flown at exact airspeeds, particularly on final runway approach and when one engine was out. The 150 mph (241 km/h) speed on short final runway approach was intimidating to pilots who were used to much slower speeds, and whenever they slowed down below what the manual stated, the aircraft would stall and crash.

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The B-26 became a safer aircraft once crews were re-trained, and after aerodynamics modifications (an increase of wingspan and wing angle-of-incidence to give better takeoff performance, and a larger vertical stabilizer and rudder). After aerodynamic and design changes, the aircraft distinguished itself as "the chief bombardment weapon on the Western Front" according to a United States Army Air Forces dispatch from 1946. The Marauder ended World War II with the lowest loss rate of any USAAF bomber.

A total of 5.288 were produced between February 1941 and March 1945. By the time the United States Air Force was created as an independent service separate from the Army in 1947, all Martin B-26s had been retired from U.S. service. Furthermore, after the end of hostilities in the European theatre of operations, many airframes with low flying hour numbers were left in British airfield.


1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


This was the situation when establishing Hunting Aircraft in 1944 by the purchase of Percival Aircraft: this business was absorbed into the British Aircraft Corporation in 1959.
At the end of 1945 the young British company Hunting Air Travel Ltd., a division of Hunting plc., based at Luton Airport, entered the scene - actually a commercial airline, not an aircraft manufacturer. The new airline began commercial operations from Bovingdon Airport at the start of 1946, and the lack of suitable passenger aircraft for domestic routes (or to continental neighbors) led to a private conversion program for leftover B-26 airframes.

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


This work was done by Percival Aircraft Ltd, which had become part of Hunting in 1936 and also had its headquarter at Luton. At first, only five B-26B bombers were planned to be converted into P.26 airliners. The airframes underwent considerably changes, primarily stripping them off of any military equipment, closing the bomb bays and adding a passenger cabin with appropriate seating and entry. Furthermore, the bombers' original R-2800 engines were replaced by more powerful and efficient R-3350 radials with 2.000 hp/1.470 kW each. This was a simple task, since this engine had been an early design options and the mountings were compatible.

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Other modifications included an enlarged wingspan, which was intended for a more economical flight as well as a reduced landing speed, especially when loaded.

The revamped aircraft entered service in 1951 when Hunting Air Travel changed its name to Hunting Air Transport. Flying primarily on the British Isles, the aircraft attained immediately some interest from other small airlines, also from continental Europe.
When Percival Aircraft Ltd changed its name to Hunting Percival Aircraft in 1954, a total of 21 B-26 bombers had been converted for Hunting-Clan Air Transport (6, Hunting Air Transport had changed its name in 1953), Aer Lingus (6), Derby Airlines (4), Sabena (3) and Manx Airlines (2).

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


All of these differed slightly, being tailored to their operators' needs, e. g. concerning seat capacity, engines or entry configurations. The last machines were re-built for Aer Lingus, with 27 passenger seats (nine rows in 2+1 configuration), a crew of four, and integral boarding ladder under the rear fuselage (instead of standard side doors). Furthermore, these final machines were driven by slightly more powerful (2.200 hp/1.640 kW) turbo-compound R-3350 engines, which offered a considerably improved fuel efficiency and an extended range (+20%).

By that time the civil aircraft industry had undergone a major recovery and new models like the turboprop-driven Fokker F.27 Friendship entered the scene - faster, with bigger passenger capacities and more efficient, and the P.26 could not keep up anymore. Another big weakness was the lack of a pressurized cabin, so that the P.26 could only operate at medium altitude. Until 1960 all remaining P.26 were withdrawn and scrapped, most of them had reached their service life, anyway, but operational costs had become prohibitive.

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr




General characteristics:
    Crew: 4 (pilot, navigator/radio operator, two service)
    Capacity: 21–32 passengers
    Length: 58 ft 3 in (17.8 m)
    Wingspan: 79 ft 3 in (24.20 m)
    Height: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
    Wing area: 734 ft² (66 m²)
    Empty weight: 24.000 lb (11.000 kg)
    Loaded weight: 37.000 lb (17.000 kg)

Powerplant:
    2× Wright R-3350-745C18BA-1 radial, each rated at 2.200 hp (1.640 kW),
    driving four-bladed propellers

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 287 mph (250 knots, 460 km/h) at 5.000 feet (1.500 m)
    Cruise speed: 225 mph (195 knots, 362 km/h)
    Landing speed: 100 mph (79 knots, 161 km/h)
    Range: 3.420 mi (2.975 nmi; 5.500 km)
    Service ceiling: 21.000 ft (6.400 m)
    Wing loading: 46,4 lb/ft² (228 kg/m²)



1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hunting Percival Aircraft P.26 Commuter (Martin B-26B Marauder airliner conversion); aircraft 'EI-ACF', Aer Lingus; 1956 (Whif/Matchbox kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Old Wombat]

Really nice looking aircraft there, Dizzy!

[Sticky Fingers]

[PR19_Kit]

A veritable tour de force there, superb work. 

I specially like the Tempelhof shots, very nostalgic.

[VickersVandal]

That looks Boss. 

Executed so convincingly, you'd never pick it as a whatiff.

[loupgarou]

Beautiful model and beautiful photos, as always! 
Ahem, doen't the hostess in one of the photos have a skirt too short for 1956?

[Librarian]

Stunning recreation...truly beautiful. Could the Marauder have had such potential. It was outcompeted by the A-26 at war's end but too advanced to sell abroad (except France) so they scrapped them all...well, almost. What a crime .

[kitbasher]

Great stuff 

Not too great a leap of the imagination to see the beginnings of the Martin 2-0-2 in a low-wing version of your build.

[Mossie]

You're done and I'm not even started yet!

Beautiful work. My favourite shot is the B&W pic of the props starting up.

[kerick]

Beautiful model and beautiful photos, as always! 
Ahem, doen't the hostess in one of the photos have a skirt too short for 1956?

She would cause quite an uproar in 1956! 
Beautiful work!
You have to give us a tutorial on how you combine shots of the model with the background photos.

[TallEng]

lovely job as ever Dizzy
One small suggestion for next time:
File/sand a little flat on the bottom of the Tyres
It will make it look like the Aircraft has some 'weight' to it
See any of the latest Airfix offerings to see what I mean.
or check out the nearest Car/truck.

Regards
Keith

[major]

Oooooooo!!!!!!

[Dizzyfugu]

Beautiful model and beautiful photos, as always! 
Ahem, doen't the hostess in one of the photos have a skirt too short for 1956?

Ah, someone noticed the Easter Egg...  Could not resist, I was looking for a contemporary Aer Lingus crew member, did not find a good one for digital trasnplantation, but I came across this, err, service member. Perspective was fine, so I gave it a try. 

Fly Aer Lingus! 

Thank you all for the positive feedback!