Review of FCM 1/72nd Scale
Douglas A-26 Invaders Decal Set
no. 72031
By Ray Mehlberger
Available at Sprue Bros for $11.49 marked down from $13.00.
By Ray Mehlberger
Available at Sprue Bros for $11.49 marked down from $13.00.
HISTORY:
The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Cold War conflicts.
A limited number of highly modified United States Air Force aircraft served in Southeast Asia until 1969. It was a fast aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft.
A re-designation of the type from A-26 to B-26 led to confusion with the Martin B-26 Marauder, which first flew in November 1940, some 20 months before the Douglas design's maiden flight. Although both types were powered by the widely used Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp eighteen-cylinder, double-row radial engine, they were completely different and separate designs – the Martin bomber originated in 1939, with more than twice as many Marauders (nearly 5,300) produced in comparison to the Douglas design.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Ground attack, Light bomber
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight: 10 July 1942
Retired: 1980 Colombian Air Force
Primary users: U.S. Army Air Forces, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, French Air Force
Number built: 2,503
Unit cost: U.S. $242,595 (1942)
Variants: On Mark Executive, Marketeer, and Marksman
The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Cold War conflicts.
A limited number of highly modified United States Air Force aircraft served in Southeast Asia until 1969. It was a fast aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft.
A re-designation of the type from A-26 to B-26 led to confusion with the Martin B-26 Marauder, which first flew in November 1940, some 20 months before the Douglas design's maiden flight. Although both types were powered by the widely used Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp eighteen-cylinder, double-row radial engine, they were completely different and separate designs – the Martin bomber originated in 1939, with more than twice as many Marauders (nearly 5,300) produced in comparison to the Douglas design.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Ground attack, Light bomber
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight: 10 July 1942
Retired: 1980 Colombian Air Force
Primary users: U.S. Army Air Forces, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, French Air Force
Number built: 2,503
Unit cost: U.S. $242,595 (1942)
Variants: On Mark Executive, Marketeer, and Marksman
THE SET:
FCM is the initials of the company’s owner Felipe C. Miranda. It is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The set comes in a self-sealing clear envelope.
It contains one decal sheet and the instructions.
FCM is the initials of the company’s owner Felipe C. Miranda. It is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The set comes in a self-sealing clear envelope.
It contains one decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet printed in color on both sides on slick-coated paper in 16 ½” x 8” format, folded twice to fit the envelope,
The face side of the instructions shows a 4-view line drawing to use for stencil markings placement, followed by 7 color profiles of the A-26:
The face side of the instructions shows a 4-view line drawing to use for stencil markings placement, followed by 7 color profiles of the A-26:
The first profile is a Douglas A-26C with the 2°/5° G.Av., Natal Air Base – Brazil 1952.
It is bare metal with black engine nacelles, black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit, yellow and green vertical bars on the rudder flap, black large no. 5, over black serial no. B-26C over 5162. It has a black 62 on the side of its nose followed by a logo of a shield that is divided in two diagonally with yellow at the top and blue at the bottom. The yellow section has a black no. 5 G.Av. on it and the blue section has 2 black bombs dropping on it.
The second profile is a Douglas A-26B with 1°/10° G.Av. S Paulo Air Base, Brazil – 1972.
It is gloss dark-bamboo-green over gloss pearl-grey. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder flap, a large red no. 10 outlined in white over white serial no. A-26B over 5156. It has a black 56 on the nose, followed by a white shield with a rampant red griffon on it over a black ribbon with 1°/10° G.Av. on it. It has black “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” on the side of the fuselage under the wing and the Brazilian Air Force star insignia on the sides of the fuselage. An illustration of just the other side of its nose shows a logo of a white playing card with a red ace of diamonds on it.
The third profile is over a Douglas A-26B, with Grupo no° 8, Carro Moreno Air Base, Chilean Air Force – 1965.
It is overall satin-black with a white star on the rudder flap. It has a logo of a yellow circle with a black diving eagle on it on the side of its nose.
The fourth profile is of a A-26C with A-26C Comando Aereo de Combate No. 3, Aplay (Meta), Colombian Air Force, Colombia -1951.
It is overall satin-black, with its rudder flap divided (reading top to bottom) into yellow, dark blue and red. It has a logo high on the rudder of a blue circle with a white Pegasus the Flying Horse on it, over white serial no. FAC over 2519. The 2519 is repeated in white on the side of the nose. It has Colombian Air Force roundel on it fuselage sides.
The fifth profile is of a Douglas A-26C, with 1°/10° G.Av. S.. Paulo Air Base, Brazil – 1972.
It is gloss dark-bamboo-green over gloss pearl-grey. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder flap, a large red no. 10 outlined in white high on the rudder, over white serial no. A-26C over 5174, black 74 on the side of the nose, followed by a white shield with a rampant red griffon on it over a black ribbon with white 1°/10° G.Av. on it. It has a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit and the Brazilian Air Force star on the side of the fuselage.
The sixth profile is a Douglas A-26B, with 2°/5° G.Av. Natal Air Base, Brazil – 1969.
It is gloss dark-bamboo-green over gloss pearl-grey. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder flap, white serial no. B-26B over 5160 on the rudder. Black 60 on the side of the nose, followed by a logo of a shield divided diagonally into yellow at the top and dark blue at the bottom. It has 5 G.Av. in black on the yellow section and 3 black dropping bombs on the dark blue section. It has black “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” on the fuselage sides under the wings.
The seventh profile is a Douglas A-26B, with 1°/5° G.Av. Racife Air Base, Brazil – 1970.
It is gloss dark-bamboo-green over gloss pearl-grey. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder flap and a white serial no. B-26B over 5158 on the rudder, black 58 on the side of the nose followed by a logo of a circle with a red headed bird riding a bomb over a white cloud. The yellow nose of the black bomb has 1/5 G.Av. on it and the cloud say We will catch you! In Portuguese on it. This is just on the right side of the nose.
Included on this side of the instructions is the suggested color listing and suggested kits to use this decal sheet on of: Revell brand kit no. 04310 and Italeri brand kit no. 1259.
It is bare metal with black engine nacelles, black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit, yellow and green vertical bars on the rudder flap, black large no. 5, over black serial no. B-26C over 5162. It has a black 62 on the side of its nose followed by a logo of a shield that is divided in two diagonally with yellow at the top and blue at the bottom. The yellow section has a black no. 5 G.Av. on it and the blue section has 2 black bombs dropping on it.
The second profile is a Douglas A-26B with 1°/10° G.Av. S Paulo Air Base, Brazil – 1972.
It is gloss dark-bamboo-green over gloss pearl-grey. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder flap, a large red no. 10 outlined in white over white serial no. A-26B over 5156. It has a black 56 on the nose, followed by a white shield with a rampant red griffon on it over a black ribbon with 1°/10° G.Av. on it. It has black “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” on the side of the fuselage under the wing and the Brazilian Air Force star insignia on the sides of the fuselage. An illustration of just the other side of its nose shows a logo of a white playing card with a red ace of diamonds on it.
The third profile is over a Douglas A-26B, with Grupo no° 8, Carro Moreno Air Base, Chilean Air Force – 1965.
It is overall satin-black with a white star on the rudder flap. It has a logo of a yellow circle with a black diving eagle on it on the side of its nose.
The fourth profile is of a A-26C with A-26C Comando Aereo de Combate No. 3, Aplay (Meta), Colombian Air Force, Colombia -1951.
It is overall satin-black, with its rudder flap divided (reading top to bottom) into yellow, dark blue and red. It has a logo high on the rudder of a blue circle with a white Pegasus the Flying Horse on it, over white serial no. FAC over 2519. The 2519 is repeated in white on the side of the nose. It has Colombian Air Force roundel on it fuselage sides.
The fifth profile is of a Douglas A-26C, with 1°/10° G.Av. S.. Paulo Air Base, Brazil – 1972.
It is gloss dark-bamboo-green over gloss pearl-grey. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder flap, a large red no. 10 outlined in white high on the rudder, over white serial no. A-26C over 5174, black 74 on the side of the nose, followed by a white shield with a rampant red griffon on it over a black ribbon with white 1°/10° G.Av. on it. It has a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit and the Brazilian Air Force star on the side of the fuselage.
The sixth profile is a Douglas A-26B, with 2°/5° G.Av. Natal Air Base, Brazil – 1969.
It is gloss dark-bamboo-green over gloss pearl-grey. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder flap, white serial no. B-26B over 5160 on the rudder. Black 60 on the side of the nose, followed by a logo of a shield divided diagonally into yellow at the top and dark blue at the bottom. It has 5 G.Av. in black on the yellow section and 3 black dropping bombs on the dark blue section. It has black “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA” on the fuselage sides under the wings.
The seventh profile is a Douglas A-26B, with 1°/5° G.Av. Racife Air Base, Brazil – 1970.
It is gloss dark-bamboo-green over gloss pearl-grey. It has small vertical yellow and green bars on the rudder flap and a white serial no. B-26B over 5158 on the rudder, black 58 on the side of the nose followed by a logo of a circle with a red headed bird riding a bomb over a white cloud. The yellow nose of the black bomb has 1/5 G.Av. on it and the cloud say We will catch you! In Portuguese on it. This is just on the right side of the nose.
Included on this side of the instructions is the suggested color listing and suggested kits to use this decal sheet on of: Revell brand kit no. 04310 and Italeri brand kit no. 1259.
The reverse side of the instructions shows a top-view of the top view of no. 1 profile, that further shows its wing tips, rudder tip and elevator tips are red and the Brazilian Air Force stars on top of the wings.
A 2-view shows the bottom of profiles 2, 5, 6 & 7. Wing and elevator leading edges are black and the Brazilian Air Force star insignia is under the wings.
A eighth profile is of a Douglas A-26B, with 2/5 G.Av. Natal Air Base, Brazil – 1962.
It is overall bare metal with yellow and green vertical bars on the rudder flap, large red number 5 outlined in white on the rudder over black serial no. B-26B over 5156. Black 56 on the side of the nose with a shield that is divided diagonally into yellow at the top and dark blue at the bottom. It has red 5 G.Av. on the yellow section and 2 dropping black bombs on the dark blue section. On the fuselage sides, under the wings is “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA”.
This is followed by a top view of the number 3 aircraft with the Chilean Air Force. It only shows their white star atop the right wing.
A top view of the number 4 Colombian Air Force profile. It shows their air force roundel on top of the left wing and white no. 2519 atop the right wing.
Finally, there is a side and top profile of a Douglas A-26B with the Portuguese Air Force, Esquadra 91, Forca Aerea Portuguesa, Ba12 – Bissalanca –Guine 1971.
It is overall bare metal with a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit, a large red letter D outlined in white on the rudder over small black serial no. 7106 over a black rectangle. It has Portuguese roundels on its fuselage sides, a logo of a blue 6-pointed Star of David on the sides of its nose, a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit and a narrow blue stripe down the length of the fuselage.
A 2-view shows the bottom of profiles 2, 5, 6 & 7. Wing and elevator leading edges are black and the Brazilian Air Force star insignia is under the wings.
A eighth profile is of a Douglas A-26B, with 2/5 G.Av. Natal Air Base, Brazil – 1962.
It is overall bare metal with yellow and green vertical bars on the rudder flap, large red number 5 outlined in white on the rudder over black serial no. B-26B over 5156. Black 56 on the side of the nose with a shield that is divided diagonally into yellow at the top and dark blue at the bottom. It has red 5 G.Av. on the yellow section and 2 dropping black bombs on the dark blue section. On the fuselage sides, under the wings is “FORCA AEREA BRASILEIRA”.
This is followed by a top view of the number 3 aircraft with the Chilean Air Force. It only shows their white star atop the right wing.
A top view of the number 4 Colombian Air Force profile. It shows their air force roundel on top of the left wing and white no. 2519 atop the right wing.
Finally, there is a side and top profile of a Douglas A-26B with the Portuguese Air Force, Esquadra 91, Forca Aerea Portuguesa, Ba12 – Bissalanca –Guine 1971.
It is overall bare metal with a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit, a large red letter D outlined in white on the rudder over small black serial no. 7106 over a black rectangle. It has Portuguese roundels on its fuselage sides, a logo of a blue 6-pointed Star of David on the sides of its nose, a black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit and a narrow blue stripe down the length of the fuselage.
This is one neat decal sheet. It will be of great interest to modelers planning on a A-26 to build in 1/72nd scale,
The set was made in Brazil and printed by Micro Scale. It is bright vivid colors that are perfectly in register.
I want to thank Mr. Felipe C. Miranda owner of FCM decals for this review sample.
All FCM products can be viewed on their website at:
The set was made in Brazil and printed by Micro Scale. It is bright vivid colors that are perfectly in register.
I want to thank Mr. Felipe C. Miranda owner of FCM decals for this review sample.
All FCM products can be viewed on their website at: