Warbird Information Exchange

Hi,
My uncle flew as a photographer on the B-25 variant modified for photographic missions, designated the F-10, with the 80th Combat Mapping Sq. out of Karachi, India. I want to modify a B-25D model to the F-10 configuraton but there aren't many photos of F-10s that clearly show the nose modifications for the cameras. If anyone out there has any F-10 pictures, or knows where I can get some, or any illustrations from North American Aviation, showing the nose cheeks, I would really appreciate copies.
Thanks for any help!
~Mike

Mike,

There was a thread on the main hangar just a month or so ago pertaining to the B-25 in the NMUSAF collection. She was originally an F-10 and here is the thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=33635&hilit=nmusaf+b+25&start=30

Hope this is of some help!
Scott

Thanks, Scott! That gives me a couple good pictures to go off of. It's a shame no F-10s or RB-25s were preserved.
Thanks, again!
~Mike

Once I get some time I'll check my airfield references. Coffeyville AAF in Kansas was converted from a Basic Training station to Reconnaissance Training later in the war and they had F-10s. I don't recall if I have any photos of them in my stuff, but if I do I'll be sure to get the images to you.

Scott

Couple pic's I have.





Mike

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Thanks, Mike! Excellent! Any idea where those pics were taken?

I've asked my cousin to go through my uncle's pictures to see if there are any of the planes he flew. I'm looking foward to building this model. I noticed someone posted a couple months ago a plea to resin manufacturers to make conversion kits for models, and he mentioned the camera blisters for the F-10. Any idea if there are some out there? And, if not, what the best way to modify the model for them would be?

Thanks, all!
~Mike V.

18th Combat Mapping Squadron. Espiritu Santo, New Herbrides. Aug 1943.

I've never come across any conversions. As far as doing the conversion yourself I would go with a 2 part putty. That way you can work with it to get the general shape. Then after it dries you can sand and file to get your final shape.

Mike

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Thanks for the advice, Mike. That's what I'll probably end up doing.
Thanks, again, for the pictures. If you have any more, I'd appreciate those, too!
~Mike V.

I didn't realize there were recce B-25s. Neat.

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Been asking for some/any resin aftermarket guys to please do the F-10 and FAIRFAX window mods in both 1/72 and 1/48 for a long time and the postwar radar operator trainers nose pieces-anyone listening?????????

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Inspector, I've seen that term "Fairfax window mod" a couple times now. Can you explain what the mod is? Do you have any pictures? Was it only done to birds constructed at the Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas?
Thanks,
MikeV

I probably should have also asked (since you all are the experts) what would be the best kit to buy for my project. I have one on order, it's a 1/48 scale B-25D 345th Bomb Group "Red Wrath"... I don't remember the manufacturer. It hasn't come in yet. Is this okay, or should I look for something else?
Thanks for your help.
~Mike V.

That would be the Accurate Miniatures kit that has also been reboxed by Italeri. Best B-25 kit out there. I think the "Red Wrath" is the Accurate Miniatures box.

Mike

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Mike,

The Fairfax window mod added rectangular waist windows much like the H and J to the earlier models. I seem to remember that some C and D models got them as well as some Gs.

Scott

The Fairfax is sort of in the spirit of the later model side positions but the differences are difficult to verbalize but pretty obvious when you see photos of both windows side by side the two biggest visual differences are the Fairfax had a deflector fitted ahead of the opening and the top and bottom window bulges (fairings) were the same size. There was also a field mod that aped the Fairfax but was sort of a large cutout for the waist guns with a deflector mounted @ the leading edge, I believe MORTIMER has a couple of photos of this mod in his picture post about the 443rd and I found one picture of a wrecked B or C on a flatbed being hauled into the 15th A.F.'s boneyard on the MAXWELL AFB photo site under '15th AF salvage' with a huge square hole cut in it's side and an external stiffener riveted on over the cutout.
I agree that the ACCURATE MINIATURES is the kit and if you dig around @ swaps and flea markets you can find the out of production Aero Master sheets 48-481 and 48-482 for the 345th (my personal favorite B-25 group) or the SUPER SCALE sheet 48-149 covering the 499th/345th, 405th/38th BG, and 82nd/12th BG. Become very close to your copy of 'WARPATH ACROSS THE PACIFIC'.

I was disappointed when 21st CENTURY went under, I REALLY wanted to get ahold of the 1/18th scale B-25 they were developing, I could have spent my retirement building and detailing that!

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-