To date, there are only two basic 1/48 scale A-26 kits available: The elderly Monogram/Promodeler kit or the much more modern ICM kit. Each kit has deficiencies with shape as well buildability. For reasons unknown, the shape of the Douglas A-26 Invader has proved to be a challenge for manufacturers of plastic scale models. This model combines the Monogram/Promodeler and ICM A-26B kits in an attempt to better capture the shape of the A-26.
The Monogram kit made its appearance in 1993 as an A-26C under the Monogram label. However in 1986 Monogram and Revell had already merged to form Revell-Monogram, and the engraving on the kit indicates Revell-Monogram. Later, the A-26B variant was issued under the Pro-Modeler label. The kit appeared with a modified fuselage that eliminated the glass nose section and added a ventral turret. A new six gun nose section was supplied. The engine cowls were slightly modified. Since then, the kit has been reissued under various labels and at the time of this writing, the A-26B kit has been reissued by Revell Germany, however, the molding of this issue are not done as well as the earlier kits. I have collected a number of these kits over the years, but I have never actually completed one. The kit fuselage has some shape issues that I have found solutions for, but the wings, nacelles and cowls are poorly done. The nacelle and cowl assemblies are so ill-fitting and misshaped as to render them virtually unusable.
ICM has issued a number of variants in different boxings. Despite being much newer, it has, in my opinion more egregious fuselage shape issues with a flat sided, overly square, and undersized cross-section. The fuselage aft of the wing can best be described as fictitious and would need to be replaced. The turrets are significantly undersized with an incorrect profile. However, the wings are far superior to the Monogram/Promodeler kit.
This very well done drawing by Alexey Matvienko is an excellent illustration of the differences of each kit compared to factory drawings of the fuselage.
The amount of green on the drawing indicates just how far off the ICM tail is in just the profile view. The cross section is equally as bad. Note how far off the location of the horizontal stabilizer is placed.
Here is a direct comparison between the Monogram an ICM empennage.
The ICM vertical stabilizer and rudder are undersized with an incorrect profile. The location of the horizontal stabilizer is incorrect.
Here you can see how the ICM fuselage is undersize and slab sided. This is another reason, the ICM fuuselage can not be “corrected”
The shape of the ICM turrets are too dome like. They are also significantly too small and the cutout for the mantlet is square rather than rectangular. The Pro Modeler turrets are pretty much spot on.
Telescoping tubing was cemented between the port and starboard wing roots with a mixture of cyanoacrylate cement and acrylic resin powder. The wings were then cemented to place. Finally the wings were cut away from the fuselage.
The wings are joined together with telescoping 1/8” and 3/32” tubing. The engines were drilled out and brass tubing was cemented on center.
The Monogram A-26 fuselage has been modified and mounted to a board. The fuselage is ready will be aligned to a sheet of graph paper.
The Monogram A-26 wings were cemented in place and reference measurement was made to help in mounting the ICM A-26 wings.