Another 1/72 Strombecker identification kit model to restore, a Douglas A-20 Havoc.
This is the airplane I want to restore the model as. Appears to have two shades of green as camouflage.
looks like a challenge.
Lou
Mark,
Looking forward to your restoration.
Cheers
Gordon
A couple of photos to bring you up to date. First photo shows disassembly in process. All the components received attention with regard to refining the shapes. The nacelles had wood added to the rear top faces to make a major correction in the shape there. The model is going back together with filler creating fillets where there were none. All of the components are from the original Strombecker kit model but much refined. Correct decals have been sourced from an old USAirfix kit. I'm enjoying this restoration very much.
A post-war Wards catalog cut showing the old wartime 1/72 Strombecker identification kits still available. The A-20 Havoc kit sold for 46 cents! The B-17E, a Bell P-39 and I think a Curtiss SBC Helldiver were also made but are not shown here. With the Cruver molded one-piece plastic identification models also cheaply available by the thousands, it must have been a tough sell to move these Strombecker kits.
Love your work Mark.
Cheers
Gordon
Excellent results Mark. I had a chance to secure some of those plastic ID models when I was young and foolish. Since I turned them down, they went to the garbage bin.
Lou
Lots of wood filler being sanded out today.
Nicely done restoration.
Lou
Strombecker models do survive the ravages of time, in part due to the very durable Western Pine from which the kits were made.
Update photo show the model in primer. Underside has since been painted Neutral Gray.
You did a magnificent refurbishment. Please post to Solid Wood Models on Facebook.
lou
Were you able to finish this A-20, Mark? I'd love to see it.
Finally finished the Strombecker Douglas A-20A restoration. Propellers are original 1940s lead hobby shop aftermarket items. The two-tone olive drab was only ever used on the first batch of A-20As; these aircraft provided to the 3rd Bomb Group in 1941 before Pearl Harbor. The stand is an original WW2 recognition model stand.
Excellent work! How did you do the window frames? They look raised in the photos.
Frames are painted strips of paper fixed with glue stick and sealed with polyurethane varnish.
Very nicely done Mark.
Fantastic job.
Gordon
You continue to do amazing restorations. May I have a picture without the stand?
Louis
Wonderful to see new life breathed into an old model. A great restoration!! Just goes to show the differences between wood and plastic models. Wood goes the distance!!
Hopefully the next generation of model builders will continue restoration efforts.
Photos without stand per Lou's request:
Thank you.
Louis
Just a beautiful model, and meticulous restoration! I never knew about the two-tone camouflage.
Scott
Scott;
The two-tone olive drab upper camouflage colors were ONLY used on the first production A-20As delivered to the 3rd Bomb Group prior to Pearl Harbor. The two-tone olive drab was found to be ineffective with no color difference visible from any distance and was not used during wartime production.