Comprehensive Series Scale Model Aircraft Manual No. 5

Building and Detailing the Monogram/Revell 1/48 Scale B-26 Marauder

by Mike Ashey

Reviewed by David Couche

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Mike Ashey has released a new eBook which is the 5th in the series of the Comprehensive Series Scale Model Manuals, this time the focus is on the Monogram/Revell 1/48 Scale B-26 Marauder. This book has 66 pages and over 374 sequenced colour photos. This series of books is now only available as a set of PDF files.

Here is a write up on the highlights of the B-26 manual supplied by Mike:

'The Monogram/Revell Marauder was first issued in the mid 1980’s by Monogram. Although most Monogram aircraft kits have a good fit, this kit has some challenges. The kit has photoetch and resin detail sets that are readily available including replacement engines, cowlings and wheels. Eduard offers several different photoetch sets to help improve the interior and the exterior, the most notable of which are the pre-painted cockpit parts and the seatbelt set. The Masters two part 50 calibre brass barrels can also be used and these gems improve the overall exterior appearance of the model.

The Monogram and AMT kits have slightly different overall dimensions. The AMT engines, nacelles and landing gear are larger so these parts are not interchangeable with the Monogram kit. Two Monogram kits were used for this build, an original issue in green plastic and a later version in gray plastic which was produced in China. The plastic on the original version is hard and can be easily scribed while the gray plastic is softer and does not respond well to scribing. Since the gray plastic version was used for the fuselage, wings and engine nacelles, the butt and lap joint surface detail (panel lines) were not re-scribed. All the Eduard photoetch detail sets, the Loon Models replacement cowling, Quickboost resin engines, Cutting Edge Model Works clear, red, green and blue lights, and the Masters brass barrels were all used for this build.

The model was painted with Testors enamels and the decals are from Microscale. Interior weathering was accomplished with pencil pastel dust applied with a stiff flat brush. The exterior weathering and decal fading was accomplished with pencil pastel dust applied with a wedge shaped makeup sponge and stiff flat brushes. Dry brushing techniques with silver paint were also used throughout the build.

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Mike has developed his own unique and systematic techniques for building, detailing, painting, decaling and basic weathering which are documented step by step throughout the book. Mike not only provides helpful methods of building and detailing this kit but points out the problem areas in the kits construction and moulding, and how to correct or fix these. The old but venerable Monogram B-26 Marauder is still the only 1/48 kit around, so with one in my stash to build, I read this eBook keenly to see what I would be going into with building the kit. Mike talks openly about its problems and short falls as well as about its good points. He does use a number of aftermarket etch and resin sets to lift the detail, accuracy and quality of the build-up.

I found the numerous photographs used and the brief but informative text used with each photo to be a clear and concise way to go through the build, detailing, painting, decaling and finishing of this large project. This approach and the details and help Mike has given, would certainly be useful to those in the smaller scales, especially the 1/72 builders.

I also really like the Modellers Notes page at the end of the book. Mike’s detailed list of paints and tools used, as well as aftermarket detail set and references used will prove useful to most modellers.

This book has been deliberately produced for builders of the Monogram/Revell B-26 Marauder, providing an absolute wealth of reference photographs and detail on modelling techniques. This is recommended to all builders of the B-26, large or small.

Thanks to Mike Ashey for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2020 by David Couche
This Page Created on 18 May, 2020
Last updated 19 May, 2020

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