B -25 conversions

B-25B

B-25 C/D (unmodified)

B-25 C/D w/ field mod waist & tail guns added

B-25J

Dang it!!! Now you guys have me wanting to build a B-25... I just finished a 1/48 twin medium...

Thank you for the info.

The modification on the B-25Gs used as an example were made at the NAA's Mod Center at Fairfax Field in the States. If you look at a large number of B-25C/D photos, you can sometimes see this mod on B-25s that did not pass thru Hawaii nor Australia. The mods done in SWPA apparently did not have the raised fairing nor the larger bulged waist openings. The second waist type was done to the B-25C/Ds of the 321st BG before departure to North Africa in 1943. It was done at the Warner Robins ALC in Georgia. It included the waist windows and a raised fairing for a tail gunner and the removal of the belly turret. It was considered so successful that a modification center was set up at Sidi Ahmed to modify additional aircraft. I had to dig up N.L.Avery's excellent book on the B-25 for this info.

Best wishes,

Grant

Field mods in the SW Pacific Theater, particularly by the 5th Air Force created many modifications that would later be introduced on the assembly line. Or added those mods to older aircraft with spare parts for newer variants. But in North Africa where the original post refers to, the Mitchell's were pretty much standard as delivered. Middle East Air Force units were operating them alongside the RAF in Egypt in summer 1942 before Operation Torch and large scale US involvement in North Africa.

It would help to link to a photo of the two aircraft that you are looking to make. Because the B-25C and especially the B-25D were modified after being built with some features that are similar, but not the same as the B-25Hs and Js. Some were modified to have a single tail gun with a fairing over the position. They may have had waist gun positions installed.

Look at this B-25G which had the same mods.

www.network54.com/.../Mitchells+in+Central+and+South+Pacific-+&

The waist gun positions look similar to those on later models but they weren't staggered.

There is another type of waist gun mod, but it was flush without the upper and lower fairings.

If it is 1/72, the best would be to get a Monogram Snaptite B-25 kit an use an Italeri kit to provide parts to detail it up.

modelingmadness.com/.../stb25.htm

Best wishes,

Grant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

I don't know how the wings are different, aside from the B & C having wing hard points for small bombs. The nose is pretty much the same on the standard glass nose bomber, as is the flight deck area, but behind that things change a LOT. The B/C had the top turret located in the after 1/3 of the fuselage as opposed to between the bomb bay & cockpit on the H & J. The B & C had a retractable remote operated belly turret that was discontinued on later versions. The B&C had no dedicated waist or tail gun positions as built at the factory. The B & C had single exhaust stacks on the sides of the engine nacelles as opposed to later multiple exhaust stacks around the circumference of the cowlings on later versions... The latest version of the B-25 before the most visible changes were made to the airframe was the G, which was a hard short nosed version with the 75mm gun and .50 cal.s similar to the H on the earlier style fuselage.

Shipwreck

. I know of a 1:72 AMT B-25C, but I do not know much about it.

The AMT kit is a re-release of the even older Frog kit, originally from the early 60's

Actually Revell had a B-25 B/C, H-285, 1:48. It is inaccurate, so if you find one, do not buy it. I know of a 1:72 AMT B-25C, but I do not know much about it. Both of these kits are long out of production and pale compared to the Accurate Miniature kit. Bronto's short list about covers it. You may want to note the difference in the location of the top turret, belly turret, waist guns, and tail gun configuration. I would not suggest that anyone try to convert a J to a C, unless they are really good at scratch building!

As long as the front gear is the same, I'm golden.

 Kidding. Wow. I guess I'd have to look at a side by side and specs to see all that. AM is the only maker of a regular plastic C?  Thanks for the insights.

Here's a short list - fuselage, wings, engines, cowlings, upper turrets, tail turret, waist guns, nose, and tons of detail differences.   I just don't see the need to convert a J to a C as the Accurate Miniatures kits can be found for a reasonable price (usually around $30-40 from what I've seen recently) on the second hand market.

Probably  1/48. How are the J and C so different from eachother? (in areas that would show up on a kit)

What scale / kits are you considering?   In 1/48 it would be way easier to just get the Accurate Miniatures / Italeri B/C kit than to convert a cheaper (Monogram J) kit.  In 1/72 it is the same situation, I would just start with the Italeri B/C.  Many times starting with a cheaper kit and having to do more work doesn't equal saving anyone money if you are building for a contract.