1/6 Scale B-26 'Flak Bait' finished

Always had a soft sopt for the B-26. A Matchbox kit was the first ever to be hung on my ceiling as a child.

Looks fantastic. Sounds rather nice as well. Well done to all involved. 😉

Here’s another video of the second flight, taken from the ground rather than from the model.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQOZY-vHkNc

WOW it does look good:)

I’ve got some more pictures, thanks to RC Universe. I emailed the site owner who took these, and got permission to reproduce them on this side of the pond. Credit – Photos by Ken Isaac of RCUniverse.com

Absolutely brilliant!!! Congratulations Stephen, she’s a beauty. 🙂

Here’s some screen captures from another video.

It’s finally flown! Six flights so far. Things were a bit cold in Denver over the winter, so the test flight was delayed until June this year, and moved to Texas for the lower altitude giving more lift and power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA4FjAJ8I7c

I can’t remember the base. The answer might be here – http://flakbait.b26marauder.com/

B26 Flak Bait.

Having only just joined and seeing the first photograph I thought it was a geniune WW2 shot, then the black+white photos I was convinced!! What a marvellous model that is !!! a superb job very well done!!!! Was this particular B26 based at Andrewsfield/ Gt Saling, Essex.?

The taxi trials were cut short due to one engine pulling air from the tank ( loose pipe ). He’s since been away on business, and hasn’t had a chance to do anything with the B-26.

Since completing the 26, we’ve built a set of 1/3 scale wings for an Albatros DVa, we’re detailing and painting an F-5 ( about 6ft long ) and building a 1/5 scale composite Fw190D, plus starting on a prototype kit of a Fw190A

Any video of her first flight yet Steve?

I have seen the taxiing stuff on youtube but nothing more…

Whats the next big project??

It would be nice to see the real ‘Flak Bait’ re-assembled, and with such a historic airframe, you’ve got to wonder why it wasn’t years ago.

Fantastic.thought the first photo was the `real` thing………..

Hopefully the test flight was last night. Phil flew out to the USA on Tuesday to help the radio set up. The first engine run happened Friday evening, and they were planning for a flight on Saturday eve after the Warbirds over the Rockies show was over. Still waiting to hear if the flight went ahead.

Great job!

Stunning model!!

Just priceless!

I don’t know why, but the moment I saw this, I knew you life in England (no, saw the water mark after).
I did live in Sussex for a few years, must have helped. 🙂

There is a full build thread on the RC Model Flyers forum in the Fighteraces section.

I’m 100% sure it will be flown, although the test flights won’t be performed by the owner. He’s getting an experienced Top Gun pilot to do the maiden. None of the models we have built so far have been test flown by us. We wouldn’t have a problem doing it, it’s just that most people want to do it themselves or at their own flying site.

What is more common is that when a model is completed, the customer comes to us for a day or two, and we go through the model systems with them and set up the radio and engine so all is working as it should from their transmitter.

Benyboy, it really isn’t black magic at all. What it is is patience, having the right tools for the jobs and more patience. Nothing about the build is complicated, there’s just lots of it, and it needs to be broken down into smaller jobs. The airframe itself is built no different to a small model, just there’s more of it and the material sizes are bigger.

All the artwork and markings used computer cut paint vinyl masks, so nothing difficult about those. Carefully measure the position, stick them down, spray through and peel them off.

Again the weathering technique isn’t difficult, you just have to have the confidence to do it. Even Phil, the guy I build with, had his doubts about the finish when I first suggested it to him, but upon completion, he said “You were right about seeing the big picture”. He was looking too closely during the process and not looking towards the overall impression.

Thanks for the insight Stephen, amazing work and even more labour-intensive than I’d imagined. This will sound like a crazy question given that it’s a flying model, but do you think it will actually be flown when it reaches the new owner? Considering the craftsmanship and the cost I’d personally be very nervous about flying it! If I were the owner I can well imagine myself being happy just looking at it. 🙂

Did you get a chance to test fly it before dispatch?

Stunning, as always. Your model building is like some kind of understandable black magic to me 🙂