B-25D Tondelayo T1/48th scale, Accurate Miniatures 1/48th scale
The goal of the project was to represent B-25D-1 #41-30669 Tondelayo of the 500th B.S. at Nadzab in June of 1944. My key reference is the excellent history of the 345th Bombardment Group Warpath Across the Pacific by Lawrence J. Hickey. I also used numerous photographs of the aircraft from across the internet.
The airplane changed in appearance depending on the time in the campaign in the Pacific. Some photos show the entire forward area of the airplane being painted, while earlier photos show some of the glass still clear. On the mission of October 18, 1943, over St. George's Channel near Rabaul the starboard engine was shot out and the aircraft escaped repeated attempts by Japanese fighters. It took until late spring of 1944 for the plane to be repaired to fly missions once again. This model represents the repaired aircraft.
The kit is Accurate Miniatures classic molding of the early B-25 that started with the Doolittle raiders and was followed by the D model. At the time of its initial molding, it was a leap ahead of the classic Revell and Monogram kits in 1/48th scale. The Aeromaster decal sheet 48-483 supplied the markings.
I used the printed guides in the instruction sheet to fabricate the reinforcements to the fuselage to protect against damage from the package guns on each side of the nose and from the top turret. A tail gun was added although I am not sure how they could aim given the cramped quarters. Guns were added to the right and left windows at the back of the fuselage.
There are many versions of this aircraft in model form on the internet. This is my interpretation following repairs and flying from a remote forward base in the Pacific. The paint is faded and uneven. Dobodura was at the end of a very long supply chain.
In November 1944 the airplane was converted to a fat cat for transporting cargo and people. On March 30, 1945 the aircraft ran out of fuel due to as diversion caused by bad weather and was crash landed on the beach of Catanduanes Island.The crew was eventually rescued (https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-25/41-30669.html).
The pictures show the construction of the cockpit, several angles of the completed model, and the last is a side by side with one of the Dolittle Raiders.
Wayne @spotlandis, i love the different hues of olive drab, the faded look is great. Lovely weathering! Makes me want to start my Airfix B25.
Thanks for the note. With aircraft like the B-25s in the Pacific there are lots of great photos for use as references. Plus the color is OK over gray until then natural metal aircraft were delivered.
Excellent work, Wayne! Did you manage to make it to the end of the build without breaking the spindly nose gear strut?
Thanks for the note. I cut a piece of thick paper stock and taped it around the nose gear struct and until the painting was complete. It protected the strut and also was a visual reminder that it was there. So I was fortunate this time.
Wayne, I used a similar technique when I built my Tigercat; the main gear had to be attached quite early in the process, so I cut sections off a paper towel tube and taped them around the gear legs as protective "spats". For an added measure, I painted the cardboard tubes red as a visual reminder. 😊
A fine looking Mitchell, Wayne @spotlandis
The shading of the OD turned out really well.
John
The OD is simply mixing various Tamiya colors to make the shading look somewhat like the gray patterns seen in period photos. Setting in the Pacific tropical sun probably did a number of the paint.
Thanks for the note.
Great-looking Mitchell! Those Pacific theater birds weathered heavily.
Thanks for the note. Yes the birds certainly were weathers. Warpath Across the Pacific has a lot of pictures and color renderings. One of my favorite close ups is Tondelayo at Nadzab in New Guinea. You can see what I was trying to replicate.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Excellent Mitchell, Wayne!
Thanks Spiros, the kit provides a good place to start. I see that it has been produced by other manufacturers in recent years. I don't know if the include the nose weights designed to fit into the compartment below the pilots.
Excellent D model, Wayne. Looks like the photo, great to have period photos of the real thing for reference.
Thanks Chas. Warpath Across the Pacific is a great resource for pictures and the history. Now I want the newer HK 1/48th B-25J with a gun nose to get a 5th Air Force plane at the last months of the war.
That is a fantastic Mitchell, Wayne @spotlandis! 🤩 Wow, the faded paintwork is really nice too! 👏
Thanks for the note. I really enjoy this type of painting. The goal is not to have too much so that it looks un-airworthy. On the other hand, it was out in the tropical sun. When it was turned into the hack plane Chowhound the plane was stripped of its paint and got different nose art. In photographs it looks the best than at any other documented stage of its career.