North American B-25 Mitchell - Modelling information

1/72nd Scale

The Airfix, Matchbox and the old Frog/Novo-models are not recommended to built a good model of the Mitchell. To built a accurate 1/72nd scale model of the B-25C/D version, you can use the Italeri kits. Hasegawa released a very nice and accurate kit of the B-25J version in 2004.

C- and D-versions (Italeri kit):

In order to built an B-25C/D, based on the Italeri kit, of no 18 squadron NEI, the window just behind the canopy (part no 12) need to be reduced to half its size. The corners must be more rounded. Also this windows was somewhat bulgy (according to the photos of the real aircraft).

The windows, part 21, were, as far as i could see on photos, not present on the first C models. Also the oval windows (the parts just near part 12 in the frame of the kit) were present on the early C-versions.

The blister, part no 20, just aft the cockpit, was not present on the early C-models.

The most radical modification of the kit is that a small angle on top of the fuselage must be added. Remove a V shaped part from the fuselage. This must be about 2 mm at the end of the fuselage and zero millimetre near the ventral turret. Because of this modification you had to reshape the radome of the tail.

See the drawings.

Correction fuselage B-25C model Italeri

Later the aircraft had an extra fixed .50 inch machine gun added to the nose, so two fixed plus one movable machine gun were present. The kit has just on single machine gun, so check your scrap box or buy the guns in an accessory kit.

D-modified:

In the Pacific theatre more modifications were made and also been used by no 18 Squadron NEI. The B-25D-20 and later had additional gun packs added plus two machine guns pointing out of the windows just behind the wings. These windows are the same as used on the B-25J. Note that the location of these windows was identical!

Also these aircraft had an addition gun in the tail. A housing was added, note that this housing had a different shape than the housing of the B-25H and B-25J models, see the drawing added.
The Italeri PBJ-1D has a housing added with a tail gun, but this has a different shape and cannot be used for this version of the Mitchell.
What can be used from this kit are both gunpacks (parts 21 and 22). I think these packs might be some thicker. [By the way all parts for an ordinary B-25C are still with this kit]

Tail of a North American B-25D modified.

See this photo for a good impression of this blister. Note these blisters were slightly different from the blisters used on the first modified strafers!

J-version.

The J-version was usually fitted with two fixed machine guns plus one moveable machine gun in the nose. The kit has only one fixed gun available.

For all models you'll need to put an amount of extra weight in the front of the fuselage, to have model stand nice and easy on its landing gear.

• Airfix
  • Kit 04005: A B-25J with both transparent and solid nose. Fuselage is to narrow.
• ARK Models
  • Kit 72001: North American B25C Mitchell (ex FROG)
• Frog/Novo
  • Kit 159: A B-25C/D. An old model and hardly available. It was released with rather good decals for an aircraft of 320 (Dutch) squadron RAF.
• Hasegawa
  • 240E15 / 00839 / 00866 / 2400748: This is undoubtedly the best B-25J kit available at the moment. Parts for both a transparent and a strafer nose are included with the kit. Kit 2400748 contains decals for an aircraft of 320 squadron RAF
  • Kit 2402058: B25H Mitchell 'Nose Art'
  • Kit 240E17: B25H Mitchell
• Italeri
  • Kit 123: B-25B/C. The first released had a nose section in two parts with rather thick framing. In later releases of this kit the transparent nose section was one piece with a thinner framing. [also released by Bilek)
  • Kit 129: B-25H/J.
  • Kit 340043: N.A. 90 PBJ-1D (This is in fact the same as the B-25B/C kit, with some part added for a PBJ-version.)
• Matchbox
  • Kit 40411: A B-25G/H. The models of Matchbox are no longer available.
• Revell
  • Kit H2022: B-25B/C (Same as (first released) Italeri kit. No longer available.
  • Kit 04360: EB-25J; A release of the Hasegawa, with a lower price and decals for a Mitchells of 18 squadron NEI. Parts for a strafer version are added to the kit

Modelling add-on

• Aeroclub
  • Set P091: Hamilton Standard Hydro 12,6" (B25)
• Airwaves
  • Set C72157: Bombbay detailset B-25B-J
  • Set C72156: B25 Mitchell Cockpit Detail set (Airfix)
• Bilek
  • Set PB010: Detailset NA B25B/C Mitchell (Italeri/Bilek)
• CMK
  • Set A7142: B25J Mitchel Control surfaces t.b.v. Revell/Hasegawa
  • Set A7140: B25J Mitchell Exterior Detail set t.b.v. Revell/Hasegawa
  • Set A7141: B25J Mitchel Armament set (Revell/Hasegawa)
  • Set Q72063: NA B25 Mitchell wheels (Hasegawa)
• Eduard
  • Set E72-139: Bombbay detailleringsset B-25B-J
  • Set E72-166: Detailleringsset B25B/C
  • Set E72-140: Detailset B-25H/J
  • Set E72-423: Detailset B25J Mitchell Interior (Hasegawa)
  • Set E72-426: Detailset B25J Mitchell Interior (Hasegawa)
  • Set E72-425: Detailset B25J Mitchell Bomb bay (Hasegawa)
  • Set E72-424: Detailset B25J Mitchell exterior(Hasegawa)
  • Set SS327: North American B25J Mitchell Solid Nose - self adhesive (Revell/Hasegawa)
  • Set E73-327: Detailset B25J Mitchell solid nose interior self adhesive (Hobby Boss)
  • Set SS328: North American B25H Mitchell - self adhesive (Revell/Hasegawa)
  • Set E72-494: Detailset North American B25J Mitchell Solid Nose exterior (Hasegawa/Revell)
  • Set E72-447: Detailset B25H Mitchell exterior(Hasegawa)
  • Set E72-435: Detailset B25H Mitchell Bomb bay (Hasegawa)
  • Set E72-424: Detailset B25J Mitchell exterior(Hasegawa)
  • Set BIG7201: Detailset B25J Mitchell (Hasegawa)
  • Set BIG7255: Detailset B25J Mitchell Solid Nose (Hasegawa)
  • Set XS233: Express Mask B25J Mitchell (Hasegawa)
  • Set XS124: Express Mask B25C/D Mitchell (Italeri)
• Falcon Canopies
  • Set VAX46: USAF Part 4
• Neomega
  • Set M: Pratt & Whitney R2800 (F8F, F6F, P61, P47, B25)
  • Set M2: Pratt & Whitney R2600 (A20 B25, TBM/TBF)
• Obscureco Aircraft/span>
  • Set 72005: North American PBJ-1D/J Mitchell Conversion
• Part Etchings
  • Set S72-231: Detailset B25 Mitchell Bomb bay(Hasegawa)
  • Set S72-230: Detailset B25H Mitchell (Hasegawa)
  • Set S72-228: Detailset B25J Mitchell (Hasegawa
  • Set S72-227: Detailset B25 Mitchell Generic (Hasegawa)
• QuickBoost
  • Set QG72002: B25H/J Mitchell Corrected Cowlings (Revell/Hasegawa)
  • Set QG72030: B25 Mitchell Engines (Hasegawa)
  • Set QG72010: B25 Mitchell Props (Hasegawa)
  • Set Qg72055: B25B Mitchell Gun barrels (Hasegawa)
  • Set QG72025: B25B/C Mitchell Gun barrels
  • Set 72058: B25H Mitchell Gun barrels (Hasegawa)
• Scale Aircraft Conversions
  • Set 72010: NA B25 Mitchell Landing Gear (Hasegawa)
• Squadron/Signal
  • Set SQ9166: Canopies North American B25 Mitchell.
  • Set SQ9195: North American B25J Mitchell Canopy .
• Tasman
  • Set 232: B25B Mitchell Glass part set (Accurate Miniatures)
• True Detail
  • Set 72034: Wheels for B-25B – J.

Decals

• AviPrint:
  • Set 72005:: Decals for several NEIAF B-25Js e.g. N5-230 ML-KNIL
• DKdecals
  • Set 72007: B25 Mitchell in RAAF and NEIAF Service
• Dutch Decal
  • Set 72017: Decal for several aircraft such as B-25J M-451 (partly stripped of paiint).
  • Set 72033: Decals for several NEIAF Mitchells and some B-25s of 320 squadorn RAF. Note  N5-146 is a B-25C-15 with US-serial 42-32512. It was equipped with the later exhausts and two gunpacks with two .50 inch guns (see the photo on page 47 in Air Enthusiast nr 26); N5-126 should be N5-128, an B-25C with US-serial 41-12935.
  • Set 72079: Dutch Flags (B25 Mitchell, C54, Lockheed L12 (NEIAAF), B24 Liberator, Catalina, Do24 (MLD), Do24 (RAAF)
  • Set 72072: Dutchies in the RAF (Spitfire, Typhoon, Tempest, Mosquito, Halifax, Mitchell, Swordfish
• EagleCal
  • Set D7225: Decals for B-25C/D/J 320 squadron RAF.
• FlevoDecal
  • Set FD72-001: Royal Netherlands Navy part 1
  • Set FD72-003: Netherlands East Indies KNIL 1942-1947 part 1 (Hurricane, C47, C54, P40N, B25 Mitchell'
  • Set FD72-022: Royal Netherlands Historical Flight (B25, C45, S11, L21, Spitfire, T6 etc)

Scale 1/48

• Academy
  • Kit 12290: B25G Shark Mouth Mitchell
• Accurate
  • Kit 3432: North American B25G Mitchell
  • Kit 3431: North American B25C/D Mitchell
  • Kit 3430: North American B25B Mitchell
  • Kit 480030: North American B25C/D Mitchell 345 Bomb group "Air Apache"
• Italeri
  • Kit 342650: B25C/D Mitchell - !
• Monogram
  • Kit 15507: North American B25J Mitchell.
  • Kit 5512: North American B25J Mitchell (Glass Nose)
• Revell
  • Kit XX: Een B-25B/C.
  • Kit 0452: Een B-25J.
  • Kit 05725: B25J Mitchell "The Flying Bulls"
  • Kit 5528: B25J Mitchell Gun nose

Also in this scale several modifications need to be scratch build.

For an modelling article of a B-25 in scale 1/32 I refer to the article of Wim Nijenhuis in "Modelbouw in Plastic, number 3, 1978 (a release of IPMS Nederland).

Modelling add-on

• Aeromaster
  • Set D617: Conversion set for B-25H gunship
• Aires
  • Set 4097: B25B Mitchell Cockpit Detail set (Accurate Miniatures)
• Cutting Edge
  • Set BM48017: B25B thru J Mitchell Wheel Hub Masks
• True Detail
  • Set 48019: Wheelset
• Eduard
  • Set XF117: Express Mask B25 Mitchell (Revell/Monogram)
  • Set XF060: Express Mask B25B Mitchell (Accurate Miniatures)
  • Set FE327: Detailset B25G Mitchell (Accurate Miniatures)
  • Set FE322: Detailset B25B Mitchell (Accurate Miniatures)
  • Set E49-322: Detailset North American B25B Mitchell Interior (Accurate Miniatures/Italeri)
  • Set E48-524: Detailset B25G Mitchell Interior (Revell/Monogram, Accurate Miniatures)
  • Set big4862: Detailset B25G Mitchell (Accurate Miniatures)
  • Set big4861: Detailset B25B Mitchell (Accurate Miniatures/ Italeri)
  • Set E48-525: Detailset B25B Mitchell exterior (Accurate miniatures)
  • Set E48-261: Detailset North American B25J Mitchell (Monogram)
  • Set E48-260: Detailset North American B25G/H Mitchell (Monogram)
• Landing Zone
  • Set X: Corrected Cowls for B25C/D/G/J Mitchell
• Neomega
  • Set M2/48: Pratt & Whitney R2600 (A20 B25, TBM/TBF)
• Obscureco Aircraft
  • Set 48012: North American PBJ-1D/J Mitchell Conversion
• OK Resin
  • Set 48101: B25G Gunship (Accurate Miniatures)
  • Set 48102: B25H Gun nose Mitchell (Monogram)
  • Set 48103: B25 Mitchell Cowlings (late)
• Pavla
  • Set U48015: B25B Mitchel Nose interior (Accurate Miniatures/Italeri)
  • Set S48023: B25 Mitchell Seats (2x)
• Quickboost
  • Set 48038: B25G-H-J Cowlings
  • Set 48029: B25C-D Mitchell Gun barrels
  • Set 48022: North American B25B Mitchell Gun Barrels (Accurate)
• Scale Aircraft Conversions
  • Set 48055: North American B25J Mitchell Landing Gear (Monogram-Revell)
  • Set 48007: North American B25 Mitchell Landing Gear (Accurate Miniatures)
• Squadron
  • Set SQ09646: North American B25C/D Mitchell
  • Set SQ09645: North American B25B Mitchell
• Vector resin
  • Set 48010: Wright R2600
• Verlinden
  • Set 00001574: B25 Detail set (Accurate Miniatures)
  • Set 00001580: B25 Moving Surfaces (Accurate Miniatures)

Decals

• DKdecals
  • Set 48002: B25 Mitchell in RAAF and NEIAF Service
• Dutch Decal
  • Set 48017: Decals for several B-25 Mithcels of NEIAF and 320 squadron RAF.
  • Set 48018: Decals for several B-25 Mithcels of NEIAF and 320 squadron RAF.
  • Set 48056: B25B/D/J Mitchell ML-KNIL, NEIAAF part 1 1942-1945
  • Set 48047: Dutchies in the RAF: Mitchell MKII/III 320sq, RAF, Typhoon, Tempest, Mosquito, Spitfire
• EagleCal
  • Set D4825 : Decals voor B-25C/D/J van 320 squadron RAF.
• FlevoDecal
  • Set FD48-001: Royal Netherlands Navy part 1
  • Set FD48-003: Netherlands East Indies KNIL 1942-1947 part 1 (Hurricane, C47, C54, P40N, B25 Mitchell'
  • Set FD48-004: ML-KNIL Propaganda Mitchells
  • Set FD48-011: Historical Military Aviation in the Netherlands for aircraft such as B25