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HASEGAWA 1:72 N.A. B-25J MITCHELL |
Reviewer:
Richard Rusnák(rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:
21 April 2006
Kit Details
Producer: Hasegawa
Nr: 00546 (E series 16)
Model year (MY): 2003
Price: about $ 32
Date of build: 2005 April - August
A prototype of the two-engine, full-metal bomber took to the air for the first time in 1940. The first serial machine was launched in February 1941. The machines could carry 1360 kg of bombs. Successively emerged several versions from A, to B (August 1941), C (August 1942) up to J. Versions G and H were armed by canon. The defensive armaments were stabilized from version H. It was represented by gunner posts at the end of the fuselage at the side windows and in turret on the top, behind the pilot’s cockpit. Overall were built 9822 aircrafts, 4318 of version J.
The aircraft belongs to the most known among the allied forces. It attended almost all fronts of the World War II: in Europe, Mediterranean, Burma, China, India and the Pacific. The Aircraft was supplied to the British and Soviet army too. The Mitchells of version B were bombarding on the 18th of April 1942 for the first time on Tokyo under the command of J.H. Doolittle. For the surprise attack they had to take off from a carrier. They supported landing operations in Africa and Sicily. Under Soviet command they were providing supply during the Slovak National Uprising in 1944.
The kit contains 132 pieces. The parts from grey plastic are set in 5 frames. They are clean with finely engraved panels. The parts of the fuselage have positively engraved structure also on the inner side, on the seats there are indicated the seat belts. One full frame contains nicely transparent and thin clear parts.
The inner section of the fuselage is made nicely. Details are also imprinted on parts but after assembling are not visible at all.
The kit offers 3 versions of camouflage and 2 subversions of aircraft.
Two of them are standard olive drab / grey from 498th BS with expressive nose art „Jaunty Jo“ and „Miss B Havin“ and with the attractive head of an Indian on the tail part. They are from later period (November 1944 and February 1945), equipped with 4 machine guns on the side and an antenna cover under the bottom part of the cockpit.
The third version is in color of alclad sheet-metal with colored accessories from 486th BS with images of miss „Bottoms-up II“. This is an earlier model from March 1944 without the machineguns on the side and with antenna above the cabin of the bomber.
The kit can be built with open bomb bay filled with 2 bombs. A support under the ladder at the back door can be used as accessories.
The multi-page folded instruction contains the short history of the type, a double-page with camouflage and an assembling instruction divided into 11 sections. Assembling instruction is clear, there is the paint range quoted for each part. Alternative parts are marked clearly.
Despite the straightforward instruction I would suggest in some cases different proceedings from the following reasons to avoid scratches on transparent parts, and to protect small parts against breaking or bending.
The most important reason is that information about necessary noseweight in the front section is missing. With regard to the construction of the kit you can place the prepared heaviest parts without gluing and balance the kit afterwards.
Subgroups
Start the assembling by building the construction subgroups as is described in the instructions:
1. The interior of the cockpit is formed by floor, front partition, instrument panel, control sticks, seats and partition behind the pilots. Under the floor there is a manhole to the bomber‘s section. There is a decal for the panel of instruments.
2. The top gun turret is formed by body, double-machinegun and collector of cartridge case. Skip gluing of the transparent part.
3. The bomb bay is formed by its upper, front and back wall. There is again a decal for the indicated instruments.
4. The next subgroups are simpler: 2 bombs, front undercarriage leg with wheel, furnishing of the back gunner post and legs of the main undercarriage with wheels.
5. The last subgroup is the aircraft nose. Into the bottom section of the fuselage glue the floor, machine guns and magazines. I recommend waiting before gluing the glass. Help with the front part with openings fix the machine guns into right position, otherwise you would have difficulties to install the glass cover. Instead of the original floor with the seat I prepared a new flat one. According to the available drawings the seat was not connected to the floor but it was attached to the partition that closes the section.
All subgroups contain small parts, which needs to be painted before gluing. After drying you can glue the front undercarriage leg to the cockpit.
Fuselage
Continue the completion of the inner parts of the fuselage. Place into the right half of the fuselage the divided armored panel. Affix the prepared subgroups: bomb bay and back gunner post into one half of the fuselage, and follows the gluing of inner equipments of the fuselage: seats of gunners, magazines, bomb suspensions. I recommend following additional modifications at this stage:
Next follows the color painting of interior of the fuselage. The instruction recommends using uniformly interior Zinc-chromate yellow, but I have found a source where they mention an aluminum bomb bay. I have chosen a zinc-chromate. After paintings, glue bombs onto their suspensions.
© Richard Rusnák 2006
<Picture 1 – Improving of cockpit side panels, repairing of ejector marks.>
Other parts
Leave the fuselage for the moment unglued and continue the completion of tail area, wings and engine nacelles. The unusually divided nacelles need extra attention in order to keep the right geometry. Additionally I recommend opening the four engraved openings above the wing flaps on the upper parts of the wings.
Balancing
Next follows the most important phase – balancing of the kit. Put together without gluing the halves of the fuselage with the subgroups of the cockpit held by elastic (rubber bands?), put the subgroups of the wings on the bears with undercarriage legs and put the subgroups of the tail at the end of the fuselage. Estimate the appropriate weight, glue it into the space of the front undercarriage leg and repeat the whole process.
In my case I filled out with forged fishing lead almost the whole space of the front undercarriage well and also the space between the instrument panel and the front partition of the cockpit. (pic.2) Fortunately through the narrow door (opening) is not possible to see it. I have put a small piece of lead also between the floor and the fuselage of the nose of the airplane. In case this space is not enough for you there is some reserve also between the engine nacelle and the engine cowl, but because of the short distance from the axis of the wheels you would need much more weight to achieve the same effect.
© Richard Rusnák 2006
<Picture 2 – Cockpit and front well are almost full of lead.>
Airframe assembling
After you have achieved the proper weight, the next step is the gluing of the prepared subgroups and the halves of the fuselage. Leave out for now the pasting of the side windows with machineguns and entry openings with ladders.
Glue the wings and tail parts to the fuselage. Now is the right time to bind and to sand the basic joints of the large parts. Even the kit is accurate, this will take some time due to its size.
Engines
Continue with completion of the engines formed by two starry cylinders, motor-heads, cover, section of flaps and exhaust system. By assembling do not forget to place flexible socket between the rows of cylinders. Leave the propellers for the last stage.
Final assembling
Paste the bottom part of the nose, bumper under the tail, glass of the lights in the wings, engine subgroups and lugs behind the turret to the prepared airframe. Glue the antennas under the fuselage according to the version chosen and the pairs of fixed machineguns on the sides. I recommend drilling an opening into the drop-shaped cover of the machineguns before the gluing.
Next follows the second phase of binding and sanding of the joints of the attached parts. In my case it was problematic to connect the nose to the fuselage. The glass of the lights is not as accurate too and their connection to the wings needs smoothing out. At this stage I washed the completed airframe and let it properly dry.
Now is time to prepare the sensitive parts. The cover of the undercarriage, bomb bay and entry openings are too thick. I recommend sanding them before gluing. Sanding is quite problematic, because they are of a vaulted shape. I prepared a completely new front cover.
Affix the machineguns into the side-windows and glass-forehead in advance. As an improvement you can place the ammunition belt in the opening of the back gunner, which were leading by the sides of the room through the side-cuts in the safety shield of the machinegun.
Glue the glass parts to the airframe. Be careful by setting the front glass of the forehead on top of the 4 barrels of machineguns. Glue the undercarriage legs, cover of the undercarriage, bomb bay, the scanner in the wing and the doors of the entry openings with ladder.
Next follows the fine binding of the connections of the glass parts and the airframe. You can attach the propeller without gluing after painting of the whole kit.
© Richard Rusnák 2006
<Picture 3>
I decided to build „MISS B HAVIN“ in standard camouflage. I have used mat OLIVE DRAB (MOLAK 11-M) for the top-coat and GREY (HUMBROL 106) for the bottom surface. I use for the interior instead of zinc-chromate yellow rather REVELL SM 360. I have painted the wing-endings with WHITE (HUMBROL GLOSS 22) instead using the decals. For tires BLACK (HUMBROL MATT 33), propellers BLACK (REVELL SM 302), metal parts SILVER (REVELL 90) and METAL (HUMBROL 53), the caps of the propeller leaves and the front of the engine cowlings YELLOW (HUMBROL RAL 1021). The last one I have painted yet before gluing.
For final treatment I have painted it with mat lacquer (HUMBROL MATT 49), and indicated the wearing with aluminum painting and black smudge.
The attached decals are all right in the sight of the color, size and printing. They need to be cut out tightly in order to get rid of the covering mat film. I recommend splitting the head of the Indian into two parts to get an authentic look of the rudder edge.
© Richard Rusnák 2006
<Picture 4>
Mitchell’s dimensions were height 4,8 m, wingspan 29,6 m and length 16,1 m. The model is 67 mm high (66,6 mm is equal to real height in 1:72 scale), wingspan 284 mm (286) and length 225 mm (223).
© Richard Rusnák 2006
<Picture 5>
The Mitchell definitely belongs among my most beautiful kits. Even though there was a lot of work on it, it was a pleasure to build. I would like to emphasize some of the strengths of the kit:
The only concerning imperfection is the missing information about weight for the front section. In case you do not realize it until after assembling there is no chance to correct it. Small imperfections and corrective actions are mentioned above. I definitely recommend it to intermediate and experienced modelers.
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