Introduction

ICM is really looking at Vietnam and the heavy presence of American Forces. To that effect ICM has now combined their very nice B-26K Invader with their period figure set. The result is a very nice offering for 1/48th scale model fans to make a diorama for this interesting aircraft.

The following introduction is taken from ICM:

The B-26K Counter Invader aircraft began entering service with the US Air Force in the spring of 1964. Until April 1965, the USAF received all ordered copies. By this time, the American armed forces in Vietnam were in dire need of an anti-guerrilla aircraft, and in the spring of 1966 it was decided to deploy the B-26K in Southeast Asia. Based on airfields in Thailand, they flew combat missions to Laos. Since Thailand did not allow the basing of bombers on its territory, from May 1966, these aircraft were temporarily designated as attack aircraft – with the designation A-26A. And since the actions in Laos were considered unofficial, the Counter Invaders based in Southeast Asia did not carry national insignia.

Most of their combat missions, these attack aircraft made in the dark. The reason for this was the means of Vietnamese air defence, which posed a serious danger to piston aircraft at low speeds.

Review

This offering from ICM arrives in the usual manner of a flip top cardboard box with a separate card lid showing the artwork. Upon opening the box, there are three re-sealable plastic bags containing the model parts. The instruction booklet is separate and also contains the decals. This release from ICM must be heading towards the end of Invader releases, despite there still being a few more variants they could release. There are a large number of changes that have taken place with this release, and will give you spares, such as complete wings, a large amount of under wing ordnance and even a set of props. As with all of these models in this series, you start with the fuselage interior. Changes are instantly observed by anyone who has built any of the previous releases, gone is the bomb aimer’s portion of the cockpit and a co-pilot location has been installed. An unfortunate aspect is that ICM has STILL not provided harnesses for the seats, and these really do need to be added, on a model of this scale, with such a large glazed area. 

Wing supports are added via the bulk heads, separating the bomb bay from the cockpit and rear crew area. A bomb load is provided, for the interior bomb bay, but you only get one bomb per rung, when I believe there should be two. The detail on the interior of the fuselage halves is very nicely replicated, but I am not in a position to confirm its accuracy. The tail assembly is added when you close up the fuselage, and the flight control surfaces are provided as separate parts in this area. Moving to the other end and the nose of the aircraft, you are provided with 8 50cal machine guns in the nose. Alot of data you will read on the Invader will tell you there are 14 forward firing 50cals, but that is incorrect on an updated Counter Invader, and the lack of 50cals in the wings is correct. Finally in this particular area I am pleased to see ICM show that weight is needed in the nose and the amount of weight to prevent a tail sitter. 

The wings of this release are all new mouldings, as the counter Invader had to have newly designed wings with improved structure inside the wings, due to two aircraft having been lost due to wings breaking off - which is not really surprising when you think that these air craft were heading to 30 years old. The wing tips are removed and external fuel tanks added, similar to those seen on the F104 Star Fighter. All of the flight controls at the rear of the wing are separate, and so with a little bit of work could be displayed as you wish. On the underside of the wing there are four obvious locations for the hard points. The wings are added to the fuselage, prior to the engine nacelles and the under carriage being added, and this reduced weight will make wing orientation easier to get right. The engine nacelles themselves are the same as previous versions, with just a new intake fitted to the top of the cowling, which brought in the extra air required for the newly improved engines in this release, having gone from a Pratt and Whitney R2000 engine to the Pratt and Whitney R2800 engine. 

ICM have supplied engines for both sides on this release, and have added some alterations to make it more accurate for the R2800 engine. Which will meet the needs of many but there is a lot more that could be added to make this area truly appealing. The propellers are the correct wide paddle, with the cropped tip seen on the counter Invader. The under carriage doors are added to the model along time before getting anywhere near to adding the under carriage, and I praise ICM for providing very secure application of these parts. The under carriage struts both in the nose and the wings, appear to be very accurate with the exception of missing tubing that would replicate the  brake hoses. One thing the modeller may be interested to know is that the Invader’s biggest weakness was the under carriage struts, as they had a nasty habit of collapsing. The panels that fill in the fuselage holes and location, but I personally don’t like the idea of drilling the main canopy.

ICM has provided a good selection of external ordnance, should you wish to add it. The Invaders used everything from iron bombs, napalm, rockets and cluster bombs, that were used on movements along the Ho Chi Minh trail in order to help prevent troop build ups. In addition to the iron bombs located in the internal bomb bay, you are supplied with BLU-23, BLU-27,LAU-10A,LAU-68, LAU-69A, Mk 77, Mk 81 Low drag, Mk 81 Snake eye, SUU-14A, Mk 82 Low drag, Mk 82 Snake eye. You are also provided multiple ejection racks, used in conjunction with the bomb load. The ordnance, has its own decal sheet, and instruction booklet and you get at least two of every item. 

Something that ICM does very well, surprisingly and unusually is figures in 1/48th scale. Here we have five figures, two of whom are pilots, two are ground crew and one is an Officer. All of the figures have exceptional facial features for this scale, and for anybody with the skills for bringing these details out can expect a lot of approval. The two pilots are both in one piece flying coveralls, with webbing over the top. This harnessing is for basically attaching the pilots to the chair. The helmet in one case is provided in two halves and the painting style described in the instructions is more US Navy than Air force in my opinion. The officer figure is also dressed more appropriately for a Naval officer, rather than the greens I would expect to see on an Air force NCO. The best match would probably be the colour of the shirts worn by US Marine Corps officers. The two ground crew members are in T-shirts and light fatigue trousers, one has a raised hand the other two raised hands, and so you will have to position them to suitably indicate what they are up to. 

Conclusion

This particular release from ICM is especially appealing due to it giving the modeller the change to make a very visually appealing display plus all the weapons stowage under the wings, and wing tip fuel tanks. The multi coloured camouflage makes an appealing visual change to this release. Weaknesses in my opinion are restricted to the lack of seat harnesses, and these articles do need to be replicated. I have some concerns about the colours indicated for use on the officer at the very least, but some may know better.