Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Informal Lockdown/COVID-19 GB => Topic started by: Frank3k on March 30, 2020, 07:47:05 AM
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These are the Trumpeter 1/200 B-25s, heavily modified. The first one (but actually the second one built) has a standard tail and nose guns, inspired by this image:
(https://oldmachinepress.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/naa-super-strafer.jpg)
I didn't mean to give this one a solid (or painted over, as some early B-25s strafers) nose. The Trumpeter canopies have very deep frame lines, so I painted them silver and when dry... I just sanded the paint off with a 2000 grit stick. It did a good-enough-for-quarantene job. I liked the look of the solid forward nose and just added 4 cannon from sprue (0.4mm extruded ABS). I moved the top turret forward as well:
(https://i.imgur.com/nptB3Qs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IM6Xcej.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AnDJyxk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oIQfrrH.jpg)
The second B-25 (first one built) was inspired by all the flush top B-25s taidantomcat posted recently, in particular Old Wombat's NA B-27A (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=8963.0). This one took a lot of work and the canopy surgery wasn't as successful. I did follow Guy's advice on where to cut the back and that made it a lot easier.
I made the mistake of coating the canopy with Alclad clear, and it made it difficult to use the sanding trick to make the framework visible. I added a remote turret above and below, as well as a tail gun:
(https://i.imgur.com/bLTLTBn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/P5bsiVb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/y2r4YgT.jpg)
A minor issue was the national insignia. The Trumpeter kit has the markings for the Doolittle raid B-25s, but those markings were superseded in 1942. Luckily I found an ancient Techmod decal sheet in my stash. I bought the decals 16 years ago and they were old then. They were still good and went on without issue.
Here's a family shot, with a 1/200 figure from Herpa:
(https://i.imgur.com/260YeWA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rXGTgw7.jpg)
Despite both planes having a small amount of nose weight and a rudimentary (but invisible...) cockpit, they are solid tail sitters!
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As always, inspirational work.
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Neither looks out of place or odd.
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Beauties!
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Awesome work, Frank! 8)
All B-25's are tail sitters, unless they have a kit's-worth of mass added forward of the main wheels. :-X
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Awesome work, Frank! 8)
All B-25's are tail sitters, unless they have a kit's-worth of mass added forward of the main wheels. :-X
Yes, is B-25 feature. 1/700 B-25s for Mega-carrier drilled holes rearward on landing gear housings and put struts there to get to sit on nose gear. Not a joy of model building. :icon_crap:
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Thanks, guys. These kits are relatively simple, but the fit (especially the canopies) isn't great and the planes are molded in clear plastic, which only makes things worse. I tried holding the nose down with blu-tac but the nose gear would have collapsed.
I still have four of these left...
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I still have four of these left...
Do Captain Yossarian's plane.
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:smiley:
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Those are so cute! Love your take on the XB-28A but the streamlined-cockpit variant is dead impressive :smiley:
I still have four of these left...
Doolittle Raid formation with gears up?
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Do Captain Yossarian's plane.
I don't know if I can make 1/200 scale guts...
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Those are some magnificent Mitchells, Frank, and I especially like the pic of the two of them together!
Fantastic mods quite expertly done, bravo!
Brian da Basher
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Do Captain Yossarian's plane.
I don't know if I can make 1/200 scale guts...
(https://images01.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2019-11/catch22.jpg?itok=kkau7zLI)
Where's the rest of the 50 cal?