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| John Jenkins Designs 1:30 IWA-01 P-26A Peashooter, 34th Pursuit Squadron, 17th Pursuit Group, March Field |
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| Scale: 1:30 |
Length: 9.5" |
Width: 11.25" |
Composition: Resin |
SKU: JJ-IWA-01 |
The Interwar Aviation series covers aircraft that were developed and used between World War I and World War II, and was known as the “Golden Age of Aviation.”
In the two decades between the end of World War I and the start of World War II, military aviation underwent a complete transformation. The typical combat aircraft of 1918 was a fabric-covered externally braced biplane with fixed landing gear and open cockpits. Few aero engines developed as much as 250 horsepower, and top speeds of 200 km (120 miles) per hour were exceptional. By 1939, the first-line combat aircraft of the major powers were all-metal monoplanes with retractable landing gear.
The Boeing P-26 was the first all-metal monoplane mass-produced for the USAAC. The prototype first flew in 1932, and orders were placed for 136 aircraft. The initial order was delivered in June 1934 and, although it had only a short service life, it was to become one of the best known aircraft of the pre-war era.
All P-26 aircraft were withdrawn from front line service when WWII began, for the USA in 1941. However, some remained in service with the governments of Panama and the Philipines. One P-26 is credited with shooting down the first Japanese aircraft during attacks on the islands.
A small number of aircraft were sold to Guatemala and these were still in service there in 1955.
The 17th PURSUIT GROUP in 1935, consisted of the 34th, 73rd and 95th Pursuit Squadrons. These Boeing P-26’s were the most decorated and famous aircraft of their era. The group developed a style of markings which still allowed each squadron to retain its own identity. The main features to the style were the large tapered fuselage flash repeated in reduced scale on the wheels, spats, and scalloped trim to the headrest and leading edges of the fin and tail planes.
The 34th applied their markings in black and white.
The 73rd used red and yellow.
The 95th used blue and yellow.
Each squadron retained their own squadron insignia on the fuselage and carried large ID numbers on the upper decking and belly, the upper number being the individual aircraft number and the lower the squadron number.
These colourful P-26’s were sadly only in service with the 17th Pursuit Group for only a year, after which they were transferred to other groups.
Info: P-26A Peashooter, 34th Pursuit Squadron, 17th Pursuit Group, March Field
Posted by Tman on 3rd Jun 2020
John Jenkins Designs produces some of the best aircraft models in the premium 1/30 scale metal toy soldier market. The Boeing P-26 model, part of the Interwar Aviation Collection, is no exception. There are three P-26s available, each representing a specific squadron from the US Army Air Corps 17th Pursuit Group. Each P-26 features distinctive livery representative of its squadron and each has minor tooling differences. The 34th Pursuit Squadron model, is arguably the best of the three JJD P-26 models. The paint job is very flashy with the black and white trim. There is a minimal amount of weathering present. The model features a radio mast and antenna wires in addition to other features like the gunsight, bombs, and a fully detailed cockpit with opening door. A partial-body plastic pilot figure is also provided. This particular model requires some minor assembly that includes lifting the wires over the radio mast and attaching an antenna wire to the tail. My only gripes with the model are that The pilot door hinges are too large and it is difficult to secure to one of the JJD display stands. Overall, this is still an excellent and unique prebuilt model aircraft and it was well worth the purchase!
Posted by Ronald Martin on 30th Dec 2019
Nothing is perfect in this world, and neither is this model. But it satisfies in spades. First, what's right with it: I have never seen an interwar model of any aircraft that so closely approaches the look and feel of the original. I have a collection of some 60 model airplanes, 8 of them John Jenkins WWI models, and this may well be my favorite of them all--which is not to underrate the value of the other JJ airplanes. John Jenkins models are all very fine, in my opinion far and away the best WWI model airplanes on the market. But this P-26 is remarkably detailed, with realistic strutting, and rivet marks that make the plane really look metallic. The light weathering adds to the realism as well. The one criticism I have is that the cockpit door hinge is not to scale; I would have preferred the model without an opening cockpit door, but that's me and others may feel differently. I also question the 11 painted white on the top of the fuselage, behind the pilot: shouldn't these numerals be yellow?
Nevertheless, I think this model is of museum quality. In a glass display case, all by itself, it is quite stunning.
This P-26 comes with a pilot made of resin. He is expertly painted.
Grab it while you can!
