Description
The JRM Mars was a large, four-engine transport flying boat designed and built by the Martin Company for the United States Navy during WWII. It became the largest Allied flying boat to enter production, although only seven were built.
After the withdrawal from naval service the four surviving aircraft were converted for civilian use as firefighting water bombers, but one crashed (Marianas Mars) and another (Caroline Mars) was destroyed by a typhoon. The two remaining aircraft, the Hawaii Mars and the Philippine Mars, were based at Sproat Lake, British Columbia, and operated by Forest Industries Flying Tankers, Flying Tankers and then purchased by the Coulson Aviation. The former remained in operation until 2016 while the latter was withdrawn from service ten years earlier.
In the spring of 2024 the Hawaii Mars was acquired by the British Columbia Aviation Museum and after its last flight on 11 August it was moved to the Victoria International Airport for permanent display.
Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Martin JRM-3 Hawaii Mars, s/n 76823, C-FLYL, FIFT (Forest Industries Flying Tankers Ltd.), later FTI (Flying Tankers Inc.), Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, two schemes recorded in 1985 and 2003
2) Martin JRM-3 Hawaii Mars, s/n 76823, C-FLYL, Coulson Aviation Inc., Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, 2007
Assembly instructions:
CMR144-012HM Martin JRM-3 Hawaii Mars_instr web
Reference and further reading:
CMR144-012HM Martin JRM-3 Hawaii Mars_history
