B-25 Mitchell -- Accurate Miniatures 1/48 (1999)

[Edbert]

I was not familiar with this manufacturer when I bought this kit for a song at a local show. I got it and an IL-2 from AM at the same time.



I really enjoyed the instruction's conversational writing, lots of information about trimming and order to fit the bits, but the drawings were crap. Detail of the casting was nice, as was the fit of the small stuff. But the big stuff, like the wing and engine nacells or the bomb bay was ridiculously bad. This kit spent a lot of time in the closet of doom. But I do keep making small but steady progress. Here's some old shots of the interior, all of these shots were before I realized the kit was a mess.

 

[Sailor]

I was not familiar with this manufacturer when I bought this kit for a song at a local show. I got it and an IL-2 from AM at the same time.

View attachment 147166

I really enjoyed the instruction's conversational writing, lots of information about trimming and order to fit the bits, but the drawings were crap. Detail of the casting was nice, as was the fit of the small stuff. But the big stuff, like the wing and engine nacells or the bomb bay was ridiculously bad. This kit spent a lot of time in the closet of doom. But I do keep making small but steady progress. Here's some old shots of the interior, all of these shots were before I realized the kit was a mess.

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Wing root, bomb bay areas, and nacelles are known for challenging fits on these AM B-25s. They require patient and good modeling skills. It seems that you have the idea; keep at it and show us the good results.

 

[BOATMAN]

YES this looks to be a good model love the B25 mitchel an i'll follow your build an love the cockpit display very well done sir
chrisb

 

[Airborne01!]

If the full airframe is crap have you considered using sections as stand-alone dioramas? Just a thought that was inspired by the built up sections you've already shown!
Steve

 

[Edbert]

I spent a lot of time filling seams, decided early on this is not going to be show-ready or anything like that, just part of a collection of planes I think are cool.

So I fixed a lot, but also left a lot. Also decided this would be a good canvas for my Model Master Enamels, used "AMC Gray" and "SAC Bomber Tan". The gray is a little bit dark, and the tan is a little green, but definitely close enough for me.

 

[Tommergun]

Looking good.

 

[mustang1989]

These kits, despite some of their issues, were way ahead of their time. I've got an AM TBM Avenger in the stash that's begging me to build it.

 

[Edbert]

These kits, despite some of their issues, were way ahead of their time. I've got an AM TBM Avenger in the stash that's begging me to build it.

They did some very nice thing in the kit, I totally agree. This is the 2nd kit from AM I've built and the experience on the Ilyushin was similar without the big gaps in the exterior.

But I would think twice before buying another, I feel like I have to say that. Wrong to say something like that with only 2 kits behind me? Maybe.

Of course for $10-15 at a model-show, yeah I just might.

 

[mustang1989]

I hear what you're saying with the issues that you've had with this one here Ed. I will say, however, that the Avenger and Dauntless kits from them are just beautiful.

 

[Napali]

I say yes. The color is looking very nice for me and very similar to the one used by Bs25.

 

[Edbert]

I hear what you're saying with the issues that you've had with this one here Ed. I will say, however, that the Avenger and Dauntless kits from them are just beautiful.

Building a Dauntless is on my bucket list, I'll keep my eye out for it. I have a Pearl Harbor trio (Zeke/Val/Kate) in my stash, kind of want a Midway (Dauntless/Avenger/Wildcat) version to put with them.

 

[kevin]

The box art of your B-25 reminded me of this bird, B-25 J ...... I think, the sunk ship kills, airshow 2011.



It was a static display, but this one from 2012 did fly.

 

[Edbert]

I think, the sunk ship kills, airshow 2011.

With 12 @ .50BMG in such a small space, I think most ships would find their deck armor to be inadequate.

Looking at the latter airshow pics, I'm imagining the hours spent polishing that beautiful lady. Willing to bet they were all volunteers, except for some details. Back in the early 2000s the father of one of my kid's schoolbuds was crew chief on a flying Navy B-25 (sorry "PBJ") stored in a hanger in Georgetown.

Fantastic aircraft!

 

[Edbert]

If the full airframe is crap have you considered using sections as stand-alone dioramas? Just a thought that was inspired by the built up sections you've already shown!
Steve

I think 1/48 figures and the custom mods are beyond my limited skills. Still trying to get a good grip on modern materials and manufacturers. Doing mediocre as is illustrated by me learning about "new manufacturers" by building kits Accurate Miniatures (who are bankrupt) is not the best thing

I am working on my 2nd Trumpeter kit, and 1st plane from them. Also have very good feelings from Meng, but have only built 3 of them. I think AFV Club is ridiculous, but I am intrigued and will never give up. Zoukei Mura is mixed between pure-glory and WTF. Hobby Boss has some great items but a general ability to just delete/ignore entire portions of the kit.

Yet I also understand, I hated my statistics class in college, but these are small samplings, taken out of context.

Does not discount my findings, but they are only that.

 

[Littlemarten]

am working on my 2nd Trumpeter kit, and 1st plane from them. Also have very good feelings from Meng, but have only built 3 of them. I think AFV Club is ridiculous, but I am intrigued and will never give up. Zoukei Mura is mixed between pure-glory and WTF. Hobby Boss has some great items but a general ability to just delete/ignore entire portions of the kit.

Who are these people? Seriously, the merry go round with kit manufacturers is getting as bad as for paint manufacturers.

 

[Edbert]

I'm not gonna look back to see if I said this already, but my motivation on this kits has waned more than a few times. My goal is to finish it quickly, to make room for more items in my stash that I wanna build but also to join the collection of cool planes.

That said I used this as a means of practicing techniques and materials. I said the base color was enamel straight on plastic. No soap but I did brush away dust and cat hair and tried to wipe off a few greasy fingerprints. It reminded me of the old days spraying model-master paints, they cover so well and when thinned appropriately, spray well. On top of that was a clear gloss (X-22) then weathered/washed/panel lined with both oils and enamels. For 9+ months I was having trouble here, but as I am learning that acrylic clear has to be put on HEAVY. No trouble using artists mineral spirits and that attacking my color coat.

Where I has missed spots or overdone it, or scrubbed too much, I went back over small spots and panels with SAC Bomber Tan. I think it helped. Once I felt that was enough effort/time for this flawed build I put a layer of Testors Flat and am ready to pull masks and work with fiddly bits.


A lot of that can be seen in this pic, small grey plastic bits sneaking through before the last pass of tan, but also the starboard wing shows the light over sprays on top of the wash before I moved to the fuselage.






Busy day spraying for sure.

 

[styrenemachine]

I haven't attempted an AM B-25. I read quite a few builds of this model claiming stretched patients.
You have rendered justice to a beautiful plane!

 

[Edbert]

Some of it went together pretty well, some parts were HORRIBLE.

Since seam-filling and putty-sanding are my most disliked things, it definitely stretched my patience. My way of dealing with frustrations is to not try and power through, instead put it away and wait for motivation.

 

[Littlemarten]

Some of it went together pretty well, some parts were HORRIBLE.

Since seam-filling and putty-sanding are my most disliked things, it definitely stretched my patience. My way of dealing with frustrations is to not try and power through, instead put it away and wait for motivation.

You should know about the Poznecki Kitbash. Poznecki was the fellow who, with one other, got me back into scale modeling over forty years ago. The term originated when he got frustrated with a kit, and flew the nearly completed model into the nearest wall. Now that's frustration.

 

[Edbert]

I need to get some finished shots. Got the last fiddly bits done, some glass was missing, wheels, antennas, ladders, MGs, few fiddly bits then some smoke/exhaust stains and that was it.