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  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

Martin B-26C-11 WIP Pictures

R

Radioman123

SOH-CM-2025
I am finally getting close on this aircraft which has been along time coming. Attached are some work in progress pictures. This is a native code MS FSX SP2/A B-26C-11-MO 41-18322 modeled as Hell's Belle II of the 439th BS/319BG based in Sardinia in 1944. The frame rates seem to be good all though this is an extremely complex model.

I am doing final touch ups and additions now.

Regards

Radioman123
 
Interesting feature was the tail gun on this model , i do prefer the Martin/Bell tail unit but hey this variant could be a starter possibly , as Peter mention , likewise they are one impressive looking aircraft :salute:
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Maurader Flying Characteristics

It does flying like the real beast as described in pilot reports. Vr (take off rotation) is around 140 miles per hour. Vs (stall clean) is about 112 miles per hour. At speed it is quite controllable. Pinned landings mean you come in hot about 135 to 150 miles per hour and flair just like in the videos. (See flying the B26 at http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/B-26.html )

I can see why the early inexperienced pilots would have a problem with this aircraft. That is because they were transitioning from an aircraft where the Vr was about 70 miles per hour and would not kill you if you had a left engine failure on take off. On one engine there is insufficient rudder authority below 160 miles per hour. All this means that you need to be on your game and emergency procedures need to be quick.

Experienced pilots loved this aircraft because it was rugged and fast and could out run some of the contemporary fighters. My father flew this aircraft type across the Atlantic in 1943 (his aircraft was named Lady Halitosis", 17th BG) and flew 40 combat missions in North Africa and it brought him home.

Regards

Radioman123

View attachment 33621
 
Radioman123 said:
It does flying like the real beast as described in pilot reports. Vr (take off rotation) is around 140 miles per hour. Vs (stall clean) is about 112 miles per hour. At speed it is quite controllable. Pinned landings mean you come in hot about 135 to 150 miles per hour and flair just like in the videos. (See flying the B26 at http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/B-26.html )
Click to expand...

Radioman, just curious, are these the numbers for the later production B-26, or the earlier short-wing version? Having never focused much attention onto the B-26 before, I'd be interested to know how much of a difference there was between the two as per these numbers. In the movie you linked to, it states that you can actually pull the B-26 into the air at 110 mph, and that it will fly off by itself, with no help, by 130 mph - which isn't all too different than other aircraft like the B-25 or A-26, which typically you 'fly the plane' off at 120 mph.

(Some may not be aware, but the only most recent airworthy B-26, owned by Kermit Weeks at Fantasy of Flight, is one of the very early, short-wing variants. It has sat static for a number of years now, but as of current, it is the most airworthy capable type in the world, just awaiting the day that it gets serviced to fly again. Unlike most aircraft designs, when adding power you also get added lift, it has been stated that when flying Kermit Weeks' short-wing B-26, adding power while in level flight resulted in no added lift at all!)
 
Maurader Flying Characteristics - continued

The numbers that I have are for an a long wing (71 ft) big tail version -- like the one that is modeled, early B/C model. Take off characteristics are highly dependent upon weight and fuel load much like modern aircraft.

3 curves from the 1945 flight manual are illustrative of this which are attached below. The model is set up with 5 crew and 2000 lbs of bombs (modeled as water ballast). In testing it seems to lift off at about 135 miles per hour and 30 degree flaps but I have not been looking for the minimum speed of rotation. The wing angle is flat so adding power does not do much. Anyway I think that it is reasonably close as the CG position affects all of this. The recommended TO speed is 119 miles per hour/30 degree flaps at 32,000 lbs which is where the model is set at. With power on, the best approach speed seems to be about 140 miles per hour. My understanding is that the short wing/short tail versions were somewhat hotter.

The biggest issue back then was that constant speed props were new and had high failure rates (maybe a maintenance issue). They failed with alarming regularity. At 32,000 lbs, the recommended minimum airspeed is 154 miles per hour. That is why novice pilots got killed in training.

Regards

Radioman123

View attachment 33672View attachment 33673View attachment 33670
 
Fascinating background information Radioman. Makes me all the more keen to come to grips with the B-26. :)
 
It's nice that someone should put together this great airplane. Too often forgotten. The strength of a Bomber and the speed of a Fighter.
So far you've done a good job with one exception. The airplane was the size of a B-25 with the cockpit about as roomy as a Cessna 172. The pilot shown, its like there is enough to put three of them abreast. You need to make him about 30% bigger.
.View attachment 33715View attachment 33714
 
B-26 Cockpit size

I agree having been in the cockpits of a B-17, B--24, B-17 that they are surprisingly small. IN the photo the pilot and co-pilot look to be over 200 lbs. The pilot model that I am using is about 180 lbs and is nominally 6 ft tall. See what you think. It is an interesting point however.

View attachment 33749View attachment 33750


It may be that I need to move the pilots a little closer together. (Picture on the left is from the model, the picture on the right is from a color film from WWII.)

Regards

Radioman123
 
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