1/48 B-25 Group Build! All Invited to Join!

Hans von Hammer

Melgyver:

Shot of a little detail on the top turrent of the B-25.  Made the shields for the gun slots in the turrent, shell link chutes, pulley for cocking cable, springs on bicycle seat.

 

Dunno which ref to use...

 

Sweet job, Mel..

FWIW if Mel's turret ain't enough, here's the side view of the PBJ-1H/J Bendix upper turret..

This brings up a fascinating subject  (just before I get to masking the canopies on the top turret of the B-25J).  The following is from a "Modeling Madness" group build:

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            One thing important to note with the turret: there is no metal framing!  You don’t need to paint anything!  What looks like “framing” is plexiglass strip that was glued over the seams of the individual parts in the production. Leave all that alone, the raised detail is perfect.  Just dip it in Future.  Then, once you have the turret attached, fill in the slots with white glue.  On the real thing, these are fabric zippers, that run up and down as the guns are elevated and depressed.  Once that is dry, paint it olive drab and you have the turret right.  99.9999% of modelers get this wrong because they have never seen the real turret, but we have several out at Chino, and that’s the way they really are.

I assume he is referring to the Bendix turret which has no framing, yet when you look at many of the B-25J model examples, the top turret has been masked.  Any thoughts?

I had used the color picture of the Bendix turrent as my guide.  As you can see in the black and white picture of the later turret it does have clear "slides" to fill in the gun slots and keep out the 250 mph plus breeze that would come in facing forward.  I believe earlier turrents had sheet metal "slides" and the only one I am aware of that had the zippers were the lower nose turrents on the B-17.   Not at home to dig out my old Wings and Airpowers that had turrent details to comment with any authority but have been around a lot of musuems and Warbirds at  airshows and top turrent "zippers" I don't recall seeing.  I think some of the early turrents had some metal framing until they got the process refined of forming the plexglass to withstand more pressures.   There is some obvious "heavy" metal in the front of the bendix turrent I modeled.

The early style turrets on the Bs and C/Ds were molded plexiglass panels glued together and did not have metal framing.  On Hs and Js it appears they did not have framing on the sides of the turret, but did have some framing by the gun slots and had either frames or plating on the backside

In this picture you can clearly see that the bottom aircraft has metal plating on the backside of the turret (NOTE: not all turrets had this plating)

This is a pic Hans used before and shows some framing

This one also shows framing and metal gun slots, not canvas

Hans von Hammer

No siree, no dates..

The only "rule" is that it's a 1/48 scale GB... Oh.. And pics..

 Jump "when ready" on this one... That's why it's in here anyway, insteada the' GB Hooch...  I don't care if you start today or next year... Heck, the B-17 GB's been going on for 2 1/2 years...

Sweet! I'll be getting in on my Peanut Butter Jelly Mitchell sometime this fall or maybe early next year - nice to have a home for it when the time comes!

Hans, I want to get in o this one. I have two B25's on the bench, the Italeri repop and a Revelogram. I wouldn't mind doing a third. Gonna look around for the G conversion for the AM kit. It'll be a while before I get started. Got rammed on my handcycle at the end of JUne and I'm just a couple weeks out of the hospital. I want to get the two 25's I've got working done before I start another. With the concussion syndrome in full swing I don't think I can handle more than one at a time.

I'm in with 40-2247  "AVENGER"

redraider56

The early style turrets on the Bs and C/Ds were molded plexiglass panels glued together and did not have metal framing.  On Hs and Js it appears they did not have framing on the sides of the turret, but did have some framing by the gun slots and had either frames or plating on the backside.

Been doing a little more leg-work here..

The early models of the B-25, B-G, had the Bendix A-9 top turret installed...

 Most of the Mitchells that are flying today are using either fake turret-caps or are using turrets of the Martin variety (The B-26 Marauder type, which was also manufacturered on license by the "car-guy", Preston Tucker).  The only flying B-25 that sports an original (and functioning) top turret is the B-25J Miss Mitchell, which is owned and operated by the CAF's Southern Minnesota Wing, that Red posted up above... MAAM's B-25, Breifing Time, also sports an authentic turret, although the turret is cosmetic..

( Miss Mitchell is also famous for it's nose-art, which was hand-painted by the original artist that painted the 1st Miss Mitchell of the 380th Bomb Group while he was a crewmember of her, Bombardier 1LT Phil Weiner.)

The turret's rear panel, plated in some photos, clear in others, well, it depends on what photo you're looking at.. Both are correct, since it was a crew modification.  Seems the some flight engineers (who doubled as the turret gunner in combat) would remove the clear panel and add an piece of 3/8th armor plate to the panel for head protection from flak (3/8ths won't stop bullets).

Great pic's Hans!

Thanks!  Will help me detail my turrent even more! 

It appears the early B-25 turrents had a lower profile resembling the later Martin Baker turrets and less framing.   You can see the cross bar that would support the ends of the shields for the gun slots.   Something I would have to add to mine,   Interesting fact about CE's adding the armour plate to the backside of their turrets as a field mod.  A lot like Huey CE's putting a piece under their seats and crews adding armour to thier early HUMV's. 

A lot like Huey CE's putting a piece under their seats and crews adding armour to thier early HUMV's. 

I used about 10 or 12 PASGT vests to line the cab rear, doors, and under the seat of my CUCV during the first Gulf War, and sandbags for the floor... Then, after we got new body armor in '04, most of the PASGT vests went to lining the Humvees too... 

Thought this might help.

Here's a few more..

Little bigger pic of the gun-nose:

And, how about a rocket-armed J?

More B-25 stuff here:

http://www.maam.org/airshow/b25_cockpit.htm

Hans von Hammer

Here's a few more..

Little bigger pic of the gun-nose:

And, how about a rocket-armed J?

The "Bats Outta Hell" decal came with the Monogram gun-nose kit when it was first released, I think..  I remember doing it, but it was over 12 years ago...

AM doesnt make a J. Their first C/D release had decals for "Dirty Dora" which was a Bats Outta Hell Bird, those are probly the decals your AM kit has

bondoman

I'm in with 40-2247  "AVENGER"

McElroy's Doolittle bird?

Woo-Hoo!  First one in with a kit-part photo...

The nose so far...

Hans von Hammer

The "Bats Outta Hell" decal came with the Monogram gun-nose kit when it was first released, I think..  I remember doing it, but it was over 12 years ago...

I've got those decals, I thought from a Revell version. I remember thinking they were very cool - but was completely intimidated by the compound curves! I've still got them, wondering if I want to give them a shot or go with the new decals oob.  I'm leaning towards the olive drab over gray look right now, assuming I don't go nuts on the blue PBY version...

Looking good Mr Gizmologist..!

Even with decal solvent, you'll stil have to have fresh knife-blade for that decal... And the blue paint to finish it.. IIRC, the nose needs painted where the bat's "face" goes, but the FS Number is on the instruction sheet and it matched the blue decal really well..

Oh I don't doubt that there would be some paint required afterwards! And let's be honest, I doubt the 1:1 version was airbrushed on fine setting with appropriate thinner & a cool dry room to cure in. I'd be tempted to paint all I could, then snip out just the teeth, eyes etc, place them over the paint. I also saw some saw-tooth type strips of blue, I'm assuming they are for the cowlings? (Instruction sheet is long gone, but I bet I can find a review online somewhere anyway)

p38jl

Looking good Mr Gizmologist..!

Tankee... I'm opening the nose escape hatch, so it has to be done... Saw a B-25 on an episode of The Twilight Zone a couple days ago that had the nose egress-hatch open, and I like the way it looked...

If any of you are wondering, the Bombardier's egress-hatch is the glass panel just forward of the fuselage on the lower left side.. It's hinged to open forward..

redraider56

AM doesnt make a J. Their first C/D release had decals for "Dirty Dora" which was a Bats Outta Hell Bird, those are probly the decals your AM kit has

VanceCrozier

Hans von Hammer:

The "Bats Outta Hell" decal came with the Monogram gun-nose kit when it was first released, I think..  I remember doing it, but it was over 12 years ago...

 

I've got those decals, I thought from a Revell version. I remember thinking they were very cool - but was completely intimidated by the compound curves! I've still got them, wondering if I want to give them a shot or go with the new decals oob.  I'm leaning towards the olive drab over gray look right now, assuming I don't go nuts on the blue PBY version...

I'll B building a J, so that's A-OK with me...

Going to have to remember about this when I get around to my AM -G

I was fighting off a headache last night so I didn't want to do anything too intensive on my other WiPs, so I cracked open the B25 box to check her out. Trimmed/cleaned the wings, tail assembly & fuselage halves just so I could see what I'll be getting into...

Yep, this one is going to have to sit on a shelf at the office! I'll also have to refresh my stocks of olive drab & interior green... Everything looks well-molded though.

Flub Dub, a squadron hack assigned to the 414 NFS in late 1944 at Pontedero Italy. She also was used for proficiency exams for new pilots. The standard ride was the P-61.

Damn this bird is taking a LONG time to build.  I forgot to take a pic before the fuselage halves went together (what a shame, I was looking forward to showing off my fishing weight art) but should have some wip photos soon.

Fishing weight art - you may have a sideline business in the local art gallery! Yes, I'll want lots of pictures of the inside just to prove I did something in there. Next time I get that box out to look I'll have to decide if I want to slice her open to expose some of that detail...

   I bought a Revell J at LHS so I could join fun.  When I opened the box there were two complete sets of clear parts given.  Karma must  know my history with clear parts.  Anyway,  I have an extra set if someone ever needs them.