1/48 Accurate Miniatures 

B-25B Mitchell

by Bill Lachance

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On April 18, 1942, 16 B-25B Mitchell bombers took off from the US carrier Hornet. They were on their way to deliver America's first strike on the Japanese mainland, on a mission that became known as the "Doolittle Raid." It was led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, who was promoted to Brigadier General and received the Medal of Honor after the raid.

I built this kit to honor those eighty intrepid airmen who took part in the raid that day. This aircraft, the "Ruptured Duck," was flown by Lt. Ted Lawson. It was the subject of his book, and later movie, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo."

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Accurate Miniatures' kit is a real gem. I chose the extra detail of Eduard's photoetched set, and I also used Squadron's vac canopies. The decals are from the kit, and any of the 16 aircraft can be built.

Based on photos, I modified the exhausts, and enlarged the engine cowl openings. I also shortened the back of the engine attachments to allow the props to sit closer to the cowling. I made the blast shield behind the dorsal turret from thin sheet styrene. The arrangement of the fuselage windows by the flaps are inaccurately depicted in the kit, but I chose to leave mine as is. I didn't want to run the chance of destroying any of the beautiful interior detailing (even though much of it can't be seen once the fuselage is closed).

Eduard's PE set includes the pilot's seats, instrument panel,control levers, and belts for all five crewmen. Shoulder harnesses are also included, but it appears that the aircraft that took part in the Doolittle Raid didn't have them. The extra items for the dorsal turret include a sighting glass, some kind of wheel, and gun barrels. A PE barrel for the nose gun is also included.

Squadron's vac canopy set includes the cockpit, nose, turret, and tail glazings. Part of the fuselage in front of the cockpit must be removed, and the instrument panel coaming needs to be cut from the plastic and fitted under the vac canopy. The canopies are crystal-clear, and a great amount of care is needed to fit them.

I pierced holes in the clear tail cone to fit the rear "guns." These were actually broomsticks on the real aircraft, and were installed to discourage tail attacks from Japanese aircraft. I painted the "slits" for these with a dark gray paint, as photos of the real aircraft show them as a lighter color than the black-painted broomsticks.

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This was a most enjoyable project. I love adding and painting detail, and this kit kept me very happy during it's construction.

Bill

Visit my website to see other models of mine, I also build models on commission.  http://www.pix.prettyneatinc.com/

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Photos and text © by Bill Lachance