¹⁄700

As part of their May 2017 NEW items, Tom's Modelworks releases a set of 1/700 scale B-57B Canberras.

B-57B Canberra (x3)
Model No. B57b-700
MSRP - $20.99

Probably one of the biggest surprises in aviation history was the purchase of the English Electric Canberra for use by the United States Air Force, the last such occasion being the license build of the De Havilland DH-4 in World War I. At the time, the US Air Force was transitioning between piston and jet power, on the one hand B-29s, B-50s and Convair B-36s rumbled about the skies while their replacements, the Boeing jet bombers were just beginning to roll off the assembly lines. Because the British companies producing the Canberra for the Royal Air Force were running at full capacity, the Glenn L. Martin Company purchased a license to produce the Canberra in the USA for the Air Force. Due to the great urgency placed on delivering the type, the initial phase of manufacturing used the minimum-change formula to expedite production and the first B-57As were largely identical to the English Electric Canberra B.2 which had served as the pattern aircraft for U.S. development. In early July 1953, the first U.S.-built B-57A rolled out for its maiden flight, one of only eight which were built as bombers (the remaining 67 from the first batch were converted to high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft when the Korean War ended). The B-57B that began to enter service in 1954 was the more refined bomber variant that incorporated a number of substantial design changes including the addition of heavy gun armament for strafing attacks and four hard points under each wing capable of mounting external bombs and rockets. The Vietnam War effectively extended the B-57B's service career as two squadrons deployed there first flew combat missions into North Vietnam as part of Operation Rolling Thunder on 2 March 1965. In fact, the B-57 holds the distinction of being the first jet bomber in U.S. service to drop bombs in combat. The type began flying night intruder missions in April and proved to be excellent ground support aircraft as well as exceptional truck killers along the Ho Chi Minh Trail where they operated for much of their eight years in Vietnam, suffering heavy attrition in this service.

The B-57 was offered previously as a resin model by WEM but has been out of production for decades. We believe that the 3D printed models offered here compare very favorably with the WEM model and, in fact, likely surpass it by a good margin. Plus the set offered here actually includes 2 different models - (x1) English Electric B.2 which served as pattern aircraft for Martin production of the initial eight B-57As (shown with the B-57B model in photos #2-3) and (x2) Martin B-57B models complete with two Mk.84 bombs under each wing. We've posted high resolution photos so you can judge the quality for yourself. Although photography of these little gems is a challenge for our equipment and limited skills, check out the well proportioned models including the clean fuselage with detailed canopies (seashell style on the 'A' variant and the offset, fighter-style type on the 'B') and tail assembly, the wings with embedded engine nacelles, wingtip tanks and the Mk.84 bombs on the B-57B models.

While the surfaces are not perfectly smooth (3D printing is done in layers), the plastic used can be sanded and painted much the same way you would handle resin or styrene. The models may still have some powder and oil-like agent on them that needs to be removed by washing in warm water with a drop of detergent added to it.

NOTE: While we currently maintain limited inventories of most items, some items may be "printed on demand", which usually requires 10-15 business days from order to shipment.