B-26 Marauder

[Martin H]

The Airfix kit is a beauty - I've one part started that will end up in Banff strike wing markings for bombing Kriegsmarine port facilities.  

How about a twin Highball version Lee?

[GTX]

Apparently there was some consideration of fitting the B-26 with a jet engine - all be it in a testbed arrangement:

In early 1942 Sherman had still believed that "the actual flight application of jet propulsion to the cooling ducts of some of our existing fighter ships" was desirable, "if only for morale and research purposes." The application "could be done in only a few months," he emphasized, "as is indicated by the information that I have already acquired experimentally." Specifically, Sherman had recommended that a twin-engine, high-speed medium bomber-a Martin B-26 Marauder in Langley's test flight fleet-be modified to include the auxiliary jet propulsion system, which the Langley Jeep had proved to be "attractive in all respects." With the afterburner, he had predicted that the top speed of the B-26 could be raised in an emergency from 350 to 400 miles per hour, "with the fuel consumption increased by the order of only 300 percent." The jet's average temperature would be approximately 1700 degrees Fahrenheit, but since the unburned portions of the air would be directed along the walls for cooling, there was no reason to fear overheating.4

Source.

Regards,

Greg

[elmayerle]

Wasn't the A2J Savage setup like that?  Jets for speed boost?

AJ-1 Savage had a jet engine, or two, for boost.  The XA2J-1 TurboSavage had two Allison XT40s on a straight wing but with swept tail surfaces.  I keep thinking that one would look good with swept wings and pod-mounted jet engines.

[kitnut617]

I keep thinking that one would look good with swept wings and pod-mounted jet engines.

Isn't that what this is Evan?

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http...l%3Den%26sa%3DG

Might be something to follow, the swept wings and jet pods of the A-3 and the Marauder fuselage, hmmm!  (gears grinding away noises)  

[Jschmus]

Over on the Navy archive website, there are concept pictures of the "USS United States" that feature a "notional heavy attack bomber" that somewhat resembles what Evan is talking about.

*Correction* - The photos are of a Navy model used to test sea-keeping ability, circa 1947, and the aircraft depicted is quite a bit bigger than a Marauder, Savage, or even the Skywarrior that came later.

[elmayerle]

I keep thinking that one would look good with swept wings and pod-mounted jet engines.

Isn't that what this is Evan?

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http...l%3Den%26sa%3DG

Might be something to follow, the swept wings and jet pods of the A-3 and the Marauder fuselage, hmmm!  (gears grinding away noises)

Well, here's the TurboSavage:


You can see why I felt swept wings and podded engines would work.  Such would've been some definite competition for the A3D.

[Maverick]

Is it just me, or does the nose and cockpit look like a 'whale's' anyway??

Mav

[kitnut617]

Well, here's the TurboSavage:

Now seeing that picture jogged my memory, I'm sure I've seen a kit conversion to do one of those!

Robert

[elmayerle]

Hmm, going back to the Marauder, I can see a stretched fuselage going for a four-engined heavy bomber and/or a swept-wing competitor to the A3D.

If anyone has a spare set of 1/48 Marauder wings, I reckon I'll need those for doing that four-engined heavy.

[elmayerle]

Well, here's the TurboSavage:

Now seeing that picture jogged my memory, I'm sure I've seen a kit conversion to do one of those!

Robert

Hmm, if you find where you saw a kit of the A2J on sale, please let me know, that's one I very definitely want.

[famvburg]

Is it just me, or does the nose and cockpit look like a 'whale's' anyway??

Mav

    Not just you, I have an AJ-1 & & A-3 in the stash waiting to kitbash an A2J. The fuselage of the A-3 appears very similar to the A2J, IMHO.

[jcf]

Over on the Navy archive website, there are concept pictures of the "USS United States" that feature a "notional heavy attack bomber" that somewhat resembles what Evan is talking about.

*Correction* - The photos are of a Navy model used to test sea-keeping ability, circa 1947, and the aircraft depicted is quite a bit bigger than a Marauder, Savage, or even the Skywarrior that came later.

The BuAer ADR-42 heavy bomber requirement originally specified a turbojet-powered aircraft with
an MTOW of 100,000 lbs, approximately 90' long with a 116' wingspan(44' folded).
Later versions of the requirement reduced the weight to 89,000 lbs and the wingspan to 110', it also specified
four turbo-props and a 2,000nm radius.
The A3D was eventually purchased to fulfill the basic requirement.

Cheers, Jon

[famvburg]

Hmm, going back to the Marauder, I can see a stretched fuselage going for a four-engined heavy bomber and/or a swept-wing competitor to the A3D.

If anyone has a spare set of 1/48 Marauder wings, I reckon I'll need those for doing that four-engined heavy.

     It may just be my warped mind, but I've always thought the Nakajima G8N Rita looked a little like a 4 engine extrapolation of the B-26. Wasn't the XB-33 & XB-33A called Super Marauder?

[GTX]

I've always thought the Nakajima G8N Rita looked a little like a 4 engine extrapolation of the B-26

I tend to agree, though the nose is more B-25ish:




Regards,

Greg

[elmayerle]

As near as I can tell, the XB-33 & XB-33A "Super Marauder" designs were high altitude developments intended to replace the B-26.  A bit of looking indicates that they evolved from the B-26 by way of the XB-27 design.  Not outside the scope of what we're discussing, but I'm looking at an un-pressurized, save in a trasnport version or jet version, aircraft.