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1/48 Accurate Miniatures B-25 B "Doolittle Raid" (Finished)

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  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
1/48 Accurate Miniatures B-25 B "Doolittle Raid" (Finished)
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, December 10, 2018 3:52 AM

Here's a subject I've always wanted to do, one of the planes led by Jimmy Doolittle on the "Doolittle Raid".  On April 18th 1942, 16 B-25B Mitchells took off from the USS Hornet and bombed Japan.  Damage was minimal but it showed Japan that they were hardly invincible and it did wonders for American moral after the Pearl Habor cheap shot.  Here's my homage to those 80 brave airmen. 

I've had the Accurate Minitures Doolittle Edition in my stash for years. I bought it a Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon back when they carried the good stuff.  Remember those days? It's my understanding this is good kit with some issues.  Nevertheless, I look forward to diving in.   

 

I was orginally going to do Doolittle's plane, but I just can't pass up Ted Lawson's Ruptured Duck, the subject of the movie "30 seconds over Tokyo".  I just love the nose art. 

          

I quickly got to work on the interior.  It's been years since I've done a bomber.  I generally don't waste time detailing up things that won't be seen, as life is too short, however, Accurate Miniatures did such a nice job on the detail I couldn't resist a little paint work.  I followed the painting instructions.  The cockpit was painted XF-81 Dark Green, the bombay Alclad Aluminum, and everything else a custom mix of Zinc Chromate, XF-3 Yellow Green with a bit of the Dark Green added.  

   

The kit seats were pretty lousy, so I replaced them with Quickboost resin. A bit of careful painting brought out the detail.  Of course later I learned that Doolittle planes only had lap belts.  Oh well, not sure how much will be seen in there anyways.

Test fit........very nice so far...

I'm pretty confident this will be the last time anyone will see the instrument panel, so I took a picture.  Against my better judgement, I added Airscale dials.    

More test fitting....

It looks like the fuselage will close nicely. 

 

Time to work on the top turret and bombadier area.  

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by damouav on Monday, December 10, 2018 4:04 AM

Great start mate. What brand of paint will be used to cover fuselage? You have tried several brands to date, just interested in your current thoughts.

Thanks for posting.

Subscribed!

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  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, December 10, 2018 4:44 AM

Thanks Damian.  I'll probably use the recently acquired Mission Models Olive Drab as a base and fade it from there.  It's my understanding these were freshly painted so I won't go crazy with it.  I'll used Tamiya Neutral Grey for the underside.  Thanks for tagging along.  

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Chapin, South Carolina
Posted by Shipwreck on Monday, December 10, 2018 6:59 AM

Hey Lawdog, yes these birds were suppose to be freshly painted and there are plenty of photos of what that looks like as they sat on Hornet's deck. Google Doolittle B-25!

On the Bench:

Revell 1/96 USS Constitution - rigging

Kinetic 1/48 YF-104A 5-2957

Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8

Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer Prep & Reasearch

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Monday, December 10, 2018 7:14 AM

Great start, should be an interesting build. Will you be making a section of Hornet deck to display it on.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Monday, December 10, 2018 8:52 AM

It is a very nice kit; I built one a few years ago.

Don't forget nose weights!  They included them on earlier production, but when I contacted the company looking for mine, I found out that they had eliminated them.  Trying to save some cost, I guess.  Accurate Miniatures made some nice models; too bad they are gone.

The interior even has a "head", and the earlier versions had a very tiny "Life" magazine to go into a wall pocket in that area!

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: North Pole, Alaska
Posted by richs26 on Monday, December 10, 2018 3:29 PM

lawdog114

Thanks Damian.  I'll probably use the recently acquired Mission Models Olive Drab as a base and fade it from there.  It's my understanding these were freshly painted so I won't go crazy with it.  I'll used Tamiya Neutral Grey for the underside.  Thanks for tagging along.  

 

LD, are you going to do a movie version, or the actual paint and weathering?  Most of these aircraft were well used in the Louisiana Maneuvers, and had peeling paint and poor removal of the exercise markings.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/airfix-b-25-c-d-to-a-doolittle-raider-b-t498089.html

 

 

WIP:  Monogram 1/72 B-26 (Snaptite) as 73rd BS B-26, 40-1408, torpedo bomber attempt on Ryujo

Monogram 1/72 B-26 (Snaptite) as 22nd BG B-26, 7-Mile Drome, New Guinea

Minicraft 1/72 B-24D as LB-30, AL-613, "Tough Boy", 28th Composite Group

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Monday, December 10, 2018 3:45 PM

Glad to have you guys along. Interesting on paint information.  Speaking of reference pictures, all the pics I’ve seen of these on the Hornet show them to be quite weathered. So much for fresh paint...lol. I‘ll do mine accordingly. 

I plan to do the Duck with the decals that come in the kit. I presume they are for the real plane not the movie one. 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2017
Posted by Chip on Monday, December 10, 2018 4:48 PM

Lawdog - The B-25 Mitchell is a subject that I've always admired but one that I'm too intimidated to build. I can't wait to see you work your magic on this kit. 

Also, I know you've used Mission Model paints in the past, I'm interested in your thoughts on how they compare the gunze or tamiya...  I wouldn't mind changing over to a water based paint solution but have yet to bite the bullet.

  • Member since
    June 2013
Posted by bvallot on Monday, December 10, 2018 9:37 PM
Happy to pop in and see this! I have planned to do a B-25B myself one day when I can get around to it. I recently had the opportunity to meet *** Cole who was Jimmy Doolittle’s copilot. He was at a CAF event that’s been coming to New Orleans the past few years. He’s the last surviving member from the flight at 103 years old. Picked up his book too. Happily looking forward to your progress. Hope you’ve been well.

On the bench:  

Tamiya F4U-1  Kenneth Walsh

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 2:01 AM

Looking good!  I built this kit for a friend of mine who is the grandson of the Doolittle raider co-pilot Griffith Paul Williams (RIP) was on crew 40-2267 TNT.  Survived the mission, later shot down in a B-26 over North Africa and spent the rest of the war as a POW.  Passed away in 1998.  I have a copy of his memoirs and reads much like 30 seconds over Tokeo - a book I read in the 6th grade.

http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1933

Looking forward to the rest of this build.

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 6:51 AM

Chip

 

Also, I know you've used Mission Model paints in the past, I'm interested in your thoughts on how they compare the gunze or tamiya...  I wouldn't mind changing over to a water based paint solution but have yet to bite the bullet.

 

I too compared MMP to Tamiya and they seem to spray equally well, just like enamels. I was VERY impressed how well MMP did in my fine spray line testing. Haven't tried Gunze but have heard great things about it too.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 6:52 AM

Dog, the Mitchell is looking fantastic. Beer Too bad most of all that beautiful interior will not be seen once the fuselage is closed up..

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 9:25 AM

Didn't Academy or someone pick up the molds for these and start repopping them under their name? Anywho, I love this plane and want to add one to the stash. I am looking forward to seeing the master at work on this.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Chapin, South Carolina
Posted by Shipwreck on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 9:58 AM

BrandonK

Didn't Academy or someone pick up the molds for these and start repopping them under their name? 

BK 

 

Italleri has some of them; I am not sure who else.

On the Bench:

Revell 1/96 USS Constitution - rigging

Kinetic 1/48 YF-104A 5-2957

Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8

Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer Prep & Reasearch

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: North Pole, Alaska
Posted by richs26 on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 3:39 PM

Both Italeri and Academy have repopped the AM B-25's in the last few years (Scalemates).

WIP:  Monogram 1/72 B-26 (Snaptite) as 73rd BS B-26, 40-1408, torpedo bomber attempt on Ryujo

Monogram 1/72 B-26 (Snaptite) as 22nd BG B-26, 7-Mile Drome, New Guinea

Minicraft 1/72 B-24D as LB-30, AL-613, "Tough Boy", 28th Composite Group

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Chapin, South Carolina
Posted by Shipwreck on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 8:27 AM

FSM gift ideas has a review of Italleri's AM B-25G I have 4 AM kits on my shelf plus 5 Revell B-25Js. Looking at the review reminded me what I do not like about those excellent AM kits. That is the recessed panel lines. B-25.s had over lapping panels; with no space between them!

On the Bench:

Revell 1/96 USS Constitution - rigging

Kinetic 1/48 YF-104A 5-2957

Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8

Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer Prep & Reasearch

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 8:12 PM

Chip
I know you've used Mission Model paints in the past, I'm interested in your thoughts on how they compare the gunze or tamiya...  I wouldn't mind changing over to a water based paint solution but have yet to bite the bullet.

Thanks Chip, glad to have you along.  Mission works a bit differently than the others.   Here's a good turorial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=644Dalxa8YA

or here....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=644Dalxa8YA

 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 8:28 PM

bvallot
I have planned to do a B-25B myself one day when I can get around to it. I recently had the opportunity to meet *** Cole who was Jimmy Doolittle’s copilot. He was at a CAF event that’s been coming to New Orleans the past few years. He’s the last surviving member from the flight at 103 years old.

 

Glad to have to Britt.  Indeed he's the last of a very exclusive club.  The next time I do this subject it will be his ride.   

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 8:34 PM

keavdog
I built this kit for a friend of mine who is the grandson of the Doolittle raider co-pilot Griffith Paul Williams (RIP) was on crew 40-2267 TNT.  Survived the mission, later shot down in a B-26 over North Africa and spent the rest of the war as a POW.  Passed away in 1998.  I have a copy of his memoirs and reads much like 30 seconds over Tokeo - a book I read in the 6th grade.

Glad to have you along John.  What a cool story.  Do you have any pics of TNT? I'd love to see it.  

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 8:37 PM

plasticjunkie

Dog, the Mitchell is looking fantastic. Beer Too bad most of all that beautiful interior will not be seen once the fuselage is closed up..

 

Thanks PJ, thats why I didnt go crazy with painting it.  

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 8:41 PM

BrandonK

Didn't Academy or someone pick up the molds for these and start repopping them under their name? Anywho, I love this plane and want to add one to the stash. I am looking forward to seeing the master at work on this.

BK

 

Good to have you Brandon.  I believe Academy and Italieri have "borrowed" some of the molds.  I've seen their Dauntless boxed by Academy too.  It's my understanding AM still owns them, and likely get a cut.  

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 9:21 PM

I wanted to comment days ago, and say how beautiful that looks, but I was locked out, lol.  Really though, that looks great!  Bow Down

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 9:32 PM

I too wanted to comment for days.  I’m on board for this one! I’ve really been considering the recent Italeri repop.

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 11:02 PM

Keyda81

I wanted to comment days ago, and say how beautiful that looks, but I was locked out, lol.  Really though, that looks great!  Bow Down

 

Thanks Keyda.  Glad to have you aboard.

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 11:04 PM

Mopar Madness

I too wanted to comment for days.  I’m on board for this one! I’ve really been considering the recent Italeri repop.

 

Thanks Chad,

You can still find original AM releases on ebay.  I suppose I just prefer the original molds.  

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 11:48 PM

It's out in the shed, but I think I have a Hobby Boss or Academy version.

Doolittle retired where I live. i met him once at a cafe for breakfast, and own a couple of books about the raid, although not Lawson's.

One interesting fact. The aircraft all taxied up to the same take off point.

No way there could be an aircraft with a ton of bombs and several hundred gallons of avgas careening into the island on takeoff.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Thursday, December 13, 2018 2:40 AM

GMorrison

It's out in the shed, but I think I have a Hobby Boss or Academy version.

Doolittle retired where I live. i met him once at a cafe for breakfast, and own a couple of books about the raid, although not Lawson's.

One interesting fact. The aircraft all taxied up to the same take off point.

No way there could be an aircraft with a ton of bombs and several hundred gallons of avgas careening into the island on takeoff.

 

Thanks for stopping in G.  Your lucky!  He's certainly on my list of people I wish I had met.  Thanks for the taxiing info.  Indeed, a B-25 into the tower would have been disasterous.    

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Chapin, South Carolina
Posted by Shipwreck on Thursday, December 13, 2018 6:57 AM

lawdog114

 

Chip
I know you've used Mission Model paints in the past, I'm interested in your thoughts on how they compare the gunze or tamiya...  I wouldn't mind changing over to a water based paint solution but have yet to bite the bullet.

Thanks Chip, glad to have you along.  Mission works a bit differently than the others.   Here's a good tutorial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=644Dalxa8YA 

Lawdog, thanks for the tutorial on the Mission Model paint. Has it worked out just as well for you? I figure it would have to be twice as good as Tamiya; it cost twice as much!

On the Bench:

Revell 1/96 USS Constitution - rigging

Kinetic 1/48 YF-104A 5-2957

Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8

Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer Prep & Reasearch

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2016
Posted by Hobbie on Thursday, December 13, 2018 7:48 AM

Also late to the party thanks to the log-in problem but taking a seat!

Indeed, Academy rebranded the G and B (Doolittle) versions, Italeri got the C/D, all of them minus the nose weight. Recently, Italeri put out the G with a new set of decals.

I scored the original Accurate gunship C/D-version a while ago online, it's waiting on the shelf for the day I'll be good enough to tackle it ; I'll learn straight from your bench Toast. I was on a B-25 binge and eager to do the New Guinea "bat" versions, Accurate for the glass nose, old Monogram for the hard nose.

Your interior is stunning as usual, Accurate's work is great out of the box, real shame you can't see anything once the turkey is sewed up.

It's quite unusual to see you tackle on big birds like this one! :)

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in the mud : after a while, you realize the pig likes it.

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