Following World War 2, the B-25 Mitchell was put to use in a variety of non-combat uses. Among these were the VB-25J (VIP/Staff Transport), the TB-25J (Advanced Pilot Trainer), the TB-25K (Hughes E1 Fire Control Trainer), the TB-25L (Hayes Pilot-Trainer Conversion), the TB-25M (Hughes E5 fire-Control Radar Trainer), TB-25N (Hayes Navigator-Trainer Conversion), and the CB-25J (Utility Cargo/Transport). I want to build several of these bomber modifications, starting with the Utility Cargo/Transport version, the CB-25J. Having flown C-141s in the Air Force, this seemed like a good place to start.

When the US Air Force came into being in 1947 (it had previously been part of the Army), they set up the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), which was the cargo, transport, and airlift division of the USAF. In the 1960s, the name changed again, with MATS becoming the Military Airlift Command (MAC). After the war, MATS had a need for small, cargo-carrying airplanes that could rapidly move smaller loads between airfields. The B-25J Mitchell was chosen for this role. The plane was demilitarized by removing the upper and lower turrets, as well as the tail guns. The bomb bay racks were removed, creating a large open area for cargo that stretched from the rear of the pilot's compartment to the tail. The B-25J doesn't seem like it would be a useful tool for hauling cargo since any cargo on the plane would have to be loaded through the hatches. My research found that many of these conversions had the bomb bay doors welded closed, so the size of each piece of cargo would have to be relatively small. I couldn't find any information for how many planes were converted to the CB-25J configuration, but it seems clear that the Mitchell only hauled cargo for a few years.

I'm not really sure this converted bomber fits into the Bomber Group, but I didn't think anyone would mind if I put this build here. For this conversion, I plan to use the 1/48 Revell/Monogram B-25J. The copyright on the box is from 1996. The major changes to the model seem fairly straightforward: remove the external armor plate that protected the pilots on both sides of the fuselage, remove the bombsight and guns from the nose, remove and plug the top and bottom gun turrets, remove the tail guns and add a tail fairing, and add the various additional blade antennas and wire antennas that had been added after the war. I am still trying to decide how much I want to detail this conversion. I want to do some additions in the cockpit, since the detail here is fairly soft, especially on both cockpit walls. I don't plan to replace the raised panel lines or add rivets on the exterior of the plane, although I might change my mind later. I will need to create all of the markings for this plane, either by piecing decals together or by creating my own masks for painting them. All of this will be decided as we roll along.

In the future, I also want to build a trainer version from a B-25C/D, a TB-25N radar trainer, and a civilian B-25 fire bomber. I have also found a photo of a B-25 radar ferret used in Korea. It was the "hunter" part of radar hunter/killer teams, with A-26s being used as the radar killers. There was also a very brightly painted B-25 used at the Edwards Test Pilot School, if you want something really unusual.

This will probably be quite a journey for me, since I don't do many natural metal models, and I have never done one in 1/48. Hope you will join me for the trip. Cheers everyone.

4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Yet another SUPERB entry, my friend @gblair! A conversion you don't see modeled every day (first time for me). The Monogram B-25 is still a good kit. Looking forward to your progress and your approaches in conversion/improvements!

Thanks, Stephen (@stephen-w-towle). I hadn't noticed the difference in the cowlings. I don't think it will be too hard to do. I will need to take a look at it.

Thanks, John (@johnb) and Spiros (@fiveten). This should be interesting to do, hopefully in a good way.

Thanks, Walt (@luftwaffe-birdman). I don't do many NMF aircraft, mainly because I am not very good at it. I figure the only way to get better is to practice, so I figure this will fit the bill. I am also not very good at panel lines, and the most I have done is to replace lines removed during sanding. I am keeping the option open for this one, so it will be a game-time decision. I remembered this being one of Monogram/Revell's really good kits, but the cockpit walls were disappointing. I keep seeing a looming rabbit hole opening up...

Interesting conversion project, like Spiros says it’s not a everyday menu when it comes to ideas in conversions. I guess keeping raised lines in a NMF finish isn’t a deal breaker at all. My suggestion for the paint work is either Tamiya lacquer (their LP range) or AK Xtreme metals, both spray and cover very well, though the Tamiya-san is more resistant to touch

George, go into the archives and look at what other modelers have done with the kit. I believe most of the panel lines in the real a/c where over lapping. Given the scale and size of the project I'd skip sanding down the raised lines it could be a deal breaker and a PITA. If your new at scribing. If your new at NMF, Pedro and John have some good advice on the paint finishes. The Revellogram kit has some weighty issues if you plan on using weights in the nose and in the engine nacelles. In some kits the fuselage to wing joints need filling with plastic card and putty. Given the number of subjects your planning on doing, you could scale down. Hasegawa and Airfix offer descent kits or buy a cheap kit and use it as a test dummy for practicing NMF paints something that is cheap and will not be missed if you crash and burn. Some of these kits are priced at the same price or more as the Revellogram kit.

Wow! Fantastic progress after an equally fantastic research, my friend @gblair! Tackling all these details to get it right is really amazing! So great to learn all these things. This is a most joyful build thread, that I look forward to its progress.

Thanks, Spiros (@fiveten) and John (@johnb). Sometimes the research is fun, and hopefully the build will be, too. It is nice to be working on a 1/48 model instead of 1/72.