BUMPER CROP FROM ICM – INVADERS, WEAPONS AND PAINT!
Having released several boxings of its newly tooled 1/48 A/B-26 Invader, two more iterations have hit the shelves, along with other sundry items. CHRIS CLIFFORD tells all…
Whoops of delight rang out around the globe when ICM announced it was to produce new quarter-scale versions of the capable Douglas A/B-26. They’ve proved to be impressive kits thus far (for a full build see here), but ever one to make the most of its moulds, ICM has now released two more variants, with a more exotic aura.
Above: There’s a decent stab at interior detail on the inner fuselage surfaces.
Above: This drone carrier fuselage half is approximately 28cm long, and as with the other variants, the finished model will be sizeable.
The first (48286) is the DB-26B/C with Q-2 Drones (£63.80). This has most of the standard parts, but also new components… especially the KDA-1 (Q-2A) and BQM-34A (Q-2C) Firebee drones. A fresh decal sheet is included too of course, and you can build either the DB-26B or C sub-types; the former is a mostly aluminium airframe with Day-Glo orange panels, and black engine nacelles, while the latter is entirely white save for the black and yellow engine nacelles and black anti-glare panel. Both are enlivened hugely by the presence of the drones, which are deep red in hue. The schemes in detail are:
• DB-26B, 44-34652/BC-652, USAF, Tyndall AFB, Florida, USA, 1950s
• DB-26C, 44-35666/BC666, USAF, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, USA, late 1950s
Above and below: The defining feature of the DB-26 airframes is, of course, the actual drones and parts for two types are provided. Both Q-2 drones are also available as separate kits from ICM; for a separate review of the Q-2A, see here.
ICM’s other ’26 kit replicates what’s arguably the most menacing of the family, the B-26K Counter Invader of Vietnam War fame. These aircraft were converted from different Invader airframes by On Mark Engineering, and adopted the familiar South East Asia scheme of the period, but with black undersides. They also had square-ended three-blade propellers, and wing-tip fuel tanks, and these are offered in the kit. ICM’s kit (48279) provides markings for three USAF B-26K airframes:
• 64-17649/TA Special Kay, Davis-Monthan AFB, 1970
• 64-17645/TA, 56th Special Operations Wing, 609th Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, 1969
• 64-17679/IF, 1st Special Operations Wing, late 1960s
Above and below: The B-26K’s trademark square-ended propellers are present, as are this variant’s wing-tip tanks.
The Counter Insurgency (COIN) Invader was fitted with eight machine guns in the nose, and a suitable part is provided, as well as the plethora of weapons employed by this type; note that ICM has also boxed these runners separately as set 48406 US Aviation Armament. The stores comprise:
LAU-10 rocket launcher, LAU-69A rocket launcher, LAU-69 rocket launcher, BLU-23, BLU-27 and Mk.77 napalm canisters, SUU-14A bomblet dispensers, Mk.81/82 Snakeye and low-drag bombs (all with optional fuze-extenders), and Multiple Ejector Racks with what appear to be flares. A sheet of stencil/stripe decals is also provided. ICM’s B-26K costs £52.60.
Above: The COIN Invader comes with four runners of weapons, but they are also available separately. All can be used on other builds... think F-4, Skyraider and more!
Above: The glazing in ICM’s Invader kits is startlingly clear, with no distortion.
Also released by the company is a bespoke acrylic paint set for the B-26K, although as it emulates three of the four standard shades for the South East Asia scheme, the colours can be used on other builds. The camouflage tones are 1072 US Dark Green, 1058 Tan Earth and 1069 Extra Dark Green (standing in for FS 34102, FS 30219 and FS 34079 respectively), along with 1002 Black, 1024 Silver and 2002 Satin Varnish. It costs £6.60 and all bottles are 12ml.
All the items here are available from Hannants: www.hannants.co.uk
For more details on ICM products, visit: www.icm.com.ua
See below for more general Invader parts photos...
