Warbird Information Exchange

I have an old 1/72 B-25 Mitchell that was given to me. It is molded in tan plastic, has moveable control surfaces, missing a few parts clear transparences. What version of B-25 is this supposed to represent? Can it be made into a reasonable model and who was the Manufacturer?

Judging by the movable control surfaces, I'd say it's either Airfix or Fr0g (spelled just like the amphibian, but this forum's nanny software replaces the correct word with "French." ) Yours sounds like it's more likely Fr0g, since it's molded in tan (I think the Airfix kit has only ever been molded in silver or gray.) If it is the Fr0g kit, then it's a B-25C (check the location of the upper turret..if it's behind the wing, then it's the Fr0g kit.)

Unfortunately, getting replacement parts will be difficult..the Fr0g kit dates from the 1960s and the original manufacturer long out of business. However most of Fr0g's molds ended up in Russia and the kits resurface from time to time under a variety of labels. It looks like the B-25 has been re-released in recent years by a Ukrainian company called "Eastern Express" (which has re-popped a number of old Fr0g kits.) A Google search shows several online vendors that have it for sale, so it may currently be in production. However, I don't know if the company has any service for providing parts.

Here's a link to a website showing the parts in the Eastern Express kit..you can check and see if it matches the kit you have: http://www.hobby.dn.ua/product_info.php?products_id=59175&language=en As for accuracy, it looks like a typical 1960s Fr0g kit: very basic and devoid of detail. Understandable, as the kits were targeted mainly at kids.

SN

I'd put that dog to bed and find another, newer and more accurate B-25 to build (there are several) unless you want to build both new and old to show how far modelling has come in 45 years. I used to buy and build FR G and AIRLINES kits (both from FR G) in the mid 60's because they did the ONLY kits of some out of the mainstream aircraft then like the HOTSPUR glider, they were rude and crude, but the only game in town if you wanted a particular airplane model-I always puzzled over the fact that the kits were 1/72nd+/- and the pilots always seemed to be HO 1/87th scale.


Has anyone metioned just how irritating the 'politically Correct' filter system is? What would happen if we were discussing amphibians that eat flies or Florist accessories?? french this-

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I had assumed it was an old french kit but there is nothing on the parts themselves to indicate the manufacturer, as on newer kits. It received it free, it was not in orginal box. The fuselage was glued together years and was I going to build it as a B-25C,just for fun. With a little bit of work, it could be made into a decent model. I have a french F4U which is gray plastic. I was born after french went out of business and had never seen this kit before. I know that Airfix/Matchbox B-25's were grey plastic.
Why do we have a PC filter, if we are mentioning the kit manufacturers name? Why do we have to even bother with Political Correctness anyway. Models in themselves are politically neutral!

Heller did do a J in 1/72nd which wasn't bad, it was better than the iron railroad bridge rivets AIRFIX, which in fairness was very very old. I'm not sure which kit molds survived the merger between the two.
MONOGRAM did a pretty nice little 1/72 J as a snap kit about 30 years ago. REVELL did a 1/78th-ish (box scale) B-25 about a Century ago, for mid 50's it was OK for a 10 year olds eye. ITALERI has done one several times (reissues).
And of course there's the REVELL/MONOGRAM J in 48th (the earlier REVELL late 60's B/C in 48th was pretty bad) and ACCURATE MINIATURES many variant B-25's in 48th.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I have Testor/Italeri's B-25C/D in olive green plastic which is a really nice kit. Also have a Monogram B-25J clearnose and B-25J gunship in 1/48. Will probably make them Marine PBJ's.

The Monogram Snap-Tite is actually a B-25B. To me it's the best early B-25 in 1/72 in terms of shape. The Italeri kit is a bit more detailed, but it has some fuselage/nacelle shape issues that have always bugged me.

The recent Hasegawa J looks very nice, although they screwed up the framework on the nose glass in a way that's nearly impossible to fix (I've also heard complaints about the canopy profile.) Still, I wish they'd follow it up with a B-25C/D.

SN

You're right! I remember taking a hard look @ stepping one up because there were no B kits available then-thanks for knocking a cobweb or two loose

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

I actually "tricked out" a Monogram Snap-Tite B-25 about 20 years ago. It was before the explosion of aftermarket parts, so I scratchbuild the interior, made new clear parts with my trusty Matell Vacu-Form machine, and used some engines from the spares box. Painted it as a desert B-25C.

The Monogram Snap-Tite B-25 and B-26 are really very good kits, with accurate shapes and nice surface detail. The only real drawaback is that they're a bit simplified, since they were intended for beginners. I'm still toying with getting a Hasegawa Marauder and using the interior, landing gear, and other details to make a "contender" out of the Monogram Snap-Tite B-26. You would end up with an accurately shaped and detailed short-wing Marauder, for about half the price of the Valom kit.


I never knew Heller had a B-25 of their own. Now you've got me curious..I'll have to look that one up.

Steve