Martin Baltimore Mk. III/IV/V by Special Hobby

1/72 scale
Kit No. 72028
Retail: $47.00
Decals: Three versions US Test machine, RAF, and Italian Air Force
Comments: Engraved panel lines, injection molded multi-part canopy, option for one of two gun turrets, resin detail parts for wheels, airscrews, radial engine faces, and hinges for landing gear doors; individually mounted propeller blades

History

The Martin Baltimore began life as the Martin 187F bomber, ordered by the French government in 1940 to replace its fleet of American-built Martin Maryland (167F) bombers. The French order for 400 aircraft was overtaken by events when the Blitzkrieg was unleashed and the German Army unexpectedly swept through France in the Spring of 1940. re-designated the Martin 187B-1, the aircraft underwent minor modifications to conform to British armament and equipment standards. Upon delivery to the RAF, it was renamed the Baltimore.

The Baltimore had the same wing as the Maryland, but had a deeper fuselage, allowing physical communication between crew members. The Baltimore also had the benefit of ungraded engines, the Wright GR-2600-A5B5 Double Cyclone. The first Baltimore flew on June 14, 1941 and the type became operational with RAF No. 223 Squadron in early 1942. The Baltimores were only deployed to the Mediterranean Theatre, replacing the Maryland in its various roles, including bombing, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine duties. With the need to improve the plane’s defensive capabilities, starting with the Mk III, the Baltimores had machine gun turrets fitted to the dorsal surface of the fuselage. The Mk IIIs were retrofitted with featured the Boulton Paul turret, but subsequent versions had turrets manufactured by Martin.

Apart from the British units, Baltimores were also flown by GB I/17 Picardy Free French Squadron, No. 13 Squadron of the Free Greece, and Stormo Baltimore of the Italian Allied Air Force from 1944 onwards, after Italy surrendered to the Allied in the Fall of 1943 and switched sides.

Specifications
Wingspan: 61 ft, 4 in. (8.7 meters)
Length: 48 ft. 6 in. (14.8 meters)
Height: 14 ft. 2 in. (4.32 meters)
Maximum speed: 305 mph (488 km/h) at 11,600 ft. (3,540 meters)
Range: 950 miles (1,529 kilometers)
Service ceiling: 24,000 ft. (7,315 meters)
Armament: Up to 14 .303 inch machine guns (7.7mm) and 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) of bombs

The Kit

Special Hobby’s Martin Baltimore is injected molded in grey plastic and consists of 96 plastic parts, including 10 clear parts for the windscreen, glazed nose, and optional machine gun turrets. In addition, there are 19 resin parts for the main landing gear wheels, radial engine faces, airscrews, control wheels, and exterior details such as the wing-mounted pitot tube. The cockpit is fairly detailed with a separately mounted pilot’s seat and control yoke to which a resin half wheel is cemented. There is also a separate port side instrument panel.

As the Baltimore was an attack aircraft, a bombardier sits in the glazed nose, and a seat and what appears to be a periscope are mounted forward of and below the cockpit. Internal bulkheads are included for the pilot’s and the rear gunner’s position, for which a third seat is provided. A key feature of this kit is the option for the Boulton Paul turret that was mounted in the Baltimore Mk III. This turret is identical to the main weapon of early war “turret fighters” such as the Boulton Paul Defiant, and has a gun mount featuring four .303 machine guns. A second option, for the turret fitted to the Baltimore IV and V, is a simplified turret manufactured by Martin armed with two .50 caliber machine guns. Whichever turret is selected, the turret assembly includes a dorsal section of the fuselage which will have to be cemented to its larger counterpart, and this will require some skill at seam hiding.

Each engine cowling consists of two halves which will require seam hiding, into which the resin engine faces are to be cemented. Both cowlings have separate intakes on their dorsal and ventral surfaces. Each propeller features individually mounted blades, all of which are cemented into a small resin airscrew. The landing gear are not particularly detailed save for the resin wheels, although each of the four landing gear doors are connected to the nacelles by small resin hinges. The glazed nose is represented by two clear parts.

Markings

The kit decals feature excellent color and are perfectly in register. Markings are provided for three versions. The first of these is a Baltimore Mk III, an American test machine in British markings in a scheme of overall aluminum except for the rudder, ailerons and elevators, which are painted in the RAF scheme of Dark Earth and Middle Stone, commonly seen in the Mediterranean Theatre. There is no explanation as to why this version only has its control surfaced painted.

The second version is a Baltimore Mk IV of RAF Coastal Command, which is depicted on the kit’s box art in a scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey over White undersides. This was a machine of the 13th Squadron, Free Greece Air Force, based at Gambut, Libya in 1943. The third version is a Baltimore Mk. V in Italian Air Force markings, a machine of 132 Gruppo, 1 Stormo, circa November 1944 (after the Italian surrender to the Allies of September 1943). It is painted in a scheme of Dark Earth and Dark Green over Sky Grey.

Conclusion

This is an interesting and relatively detailed kit of an early WWII bomber/attack aircraft that saw service only with Allied nations rather than in U.S. markings. A true example of the U.S. acting as the Arsenal of Democracy in the period after the war began and before Pearl Harbor — highly recommended.

Reference

Special Hobby instructions