Subject: Re: Bay of Pigs A-26
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Jim Birchfield" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:06:30 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jim Birchfield 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 6:56 AM
  Subject: Bay of Pigs A-26

  Bay of Pigs A-26B, Operation Pluto, Bay of Pigs

  by Jim Birchfield
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here

  This is the Monogram B-26C kit modified with a resin set that I have no idea where it came from or who manufactured it. The resin was pink in color, and included the gun nose, filler plate with antenna for the upper turret position and the wing stations. Being an older kit also meant dealing with fuselage warpage and the need for heaps o'putty. I replaced the kit engines with a pair from Quick Boost, added a second seat, control column and additional instrument panel from the spares box. Some of the wing stations were not completely molded, so the missing areas were completed with sheet styrene and more putty. The nose guns are drilled out styrene rod. Decals came from the Zotz multi sheet on Nasty Invaders. 

  As a side note, most of the A-26's flown in the Bay of Pigs ops were from the inventory of Alabama Air National Guard units in Montgomery and Birmingham. Some missions were flown by Alabama Air Guard pilots.  Aircraft 933 is on display at the Havana Aviation Museum, and is an early A-26 with the horizontal gun nosae configuration. Aircraft 935 was shot down by a Cuban T-33 which is also on display at the Havana Air Museum.

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here

  Photos and text © by "your name goes here"