B-26B/C Marauder "Flak Bait" Scale Model (Free Shipping)

Item#: AB26BCT

MSRP Price: $211.95

Factory Direct Price: $149.95

Wing Span: 16.50"
Length: 13.50"

Manufacturer: Glenn L. Martin Company

FREE SHIPPING within the U.S. (additional rates apply for other destinations)

Introducing Factory Direct Models Martin B-26B/C Marauder Model Aircraft, This Aviation Collectible was hand crafted with absolute precision using the finest Philippine Mahogany. Working from our library of blueprints, reference materials and their photographs, Factory Direct Models master artisans recreated this historic military warplane into an incredibly desktop display model.

Please note that the stand shown in this photograph may vary or change with the model you receive.

We also make Custom Made Airplane Models to meet your specifications with the capability to include your company logo and inscribed inscription plaque to make your model a personalized work of art. If you would like personalized Custom Model Model Please Call (866) 580-8727.

Martin B-26B/C Marauder History:

The Martin B-26 Marauder went through a rocky history before becoming the known stalwart of the United States Army Air Force that people know it to be. Designed by Peyton M. MacGruder, the B-26 was built on the concept of power, speed and minimal drag. As such, the aircraft's basic appearance was that of an in-flight torpedo tube with wings and engines.

The Marauder worked to fulfill the need of the USAAF for a medium-weight, strike-capable bomber yielding high performance statistics. Early B-26 development was marred by the system's high-wing components - making landings at high-speeds a deadly thrill ride for even the gutsiest of aircrews. The wings were fitted with two rather large powerplants (Pratt & Whitney R-2800-5 series) and, even with the system running on a single-engine at lower speeds, proving a bit tricky to handle in itself.

The first Marauder prototype flew in November of 1940 and were pressed into service as the B-26A by February of 1941 with the US 22nd Bomber Group (BG) at Langley Field. Once the war was in full swing, the only existing Marauder bomber group made it's way to Australia, charged with conducting air raids on dug in and advancing Japanese forces. Initial results proved adequate, though the B-25 Mitchell outclassed the Marauder throughout the Pacific Theater - particularly in the role of torpedo bomber.

The B-26B followed in 1943, by now fitted with extra armor and machine guns. Powerplants for the B-26B were a series of R-2800-5, R-2800-41 and the R-2800-43 radials. Enlarged wing spans were common on production models numbering 642 and onwards. The B-26C, produced by the Omaha subsidiary of Martin, was similarly produced to the B-26B model, complete with the increased wingspan.

The B-26 was generally armed with 12.7mm heavy machine guns in a top-aft dorsal turret, tail gun assembly, nose emplacement as well as a ventral gun position (in some models). 12.7mm machine guns could be substituted with the 7.7mm (or .303 caliber) if need be, as could the ventral machine gun replaced with two fuselage-fixed 12.7mm (.50 caliber) forward-facing machine guns (low and behind the cockpit). A single torpedo could be affixed to the underside of the fuselage (B-26A and onwards) and over 5,000lbs or bombs could be stored internally.

The B-26 would go on to see combat action against the Japanese in the little-remembered action on Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain. RAF units would also go on to utilize the Marauder as the Marauder Mk I, which was the B-26A model. The "B" and "C" models would be marked similarly as the Marauder Mk IA and Marauder Mk II series respectively. South African Air Force Units and the Free French Air Force would also take on several elements of the B-26 in various forms.

In Europe, the B-26 would learn hard lessons about its role as a medium bomber. After the disastrous elimination of an entire Bomber Group (the 322nd Bomber Group in a raid over Ijmuiden in Holland), the regrouped B-26 Marauder would be used in a more medium-level pattern bombing approach instead of traditional high-level pattern or low-level pattern attacks.

The B-26 would go on to see several other models including the F, G and target tug-gunnery trainer drones. The US Navy would utilize the B-26 as the JM-1, while the USAAF converted nearly 60 to TB-26G's to be used as pilot/crew trainers. Most of those would be relegated to use by the Navy once more as the JM-2. In all, 4,708 B-26 Marauders were produced.