Wednesday, March 24, 2010

B-25J Mitchell "My Duchess"


I am a huge fan of WWII twin-engined bombers. Too bad for me, there are not many kits of this type of subject out there in the 1/48 scale. However, I've never had trouble finding the venerable B-25 Mitchell. This kit was the Revell re-release of the classic Monogram B-25J kit.

Like the classic Monogram offering, this kit has great detail, considering its age, and some poor fitting areas due to warping. In the hands of an experienced modeler, however, this kit can still be an award winner.


The subject is a Mitchell from the 499 BS, 354 BG. The decals were provided by Model Master. I have always liked the nose art from the 354 BG, and the bats are my favorite. The decals were good, but I probaly could have painted most of the bat instead, saving a lot of aggrivation when the very large decals cracked and broke before finally settling down. I also added some depth to the paint scheme by using pastel chalk technique to simulate weathering. This kit was difficult and I added a lot of interior detail that unfortunately cannot be seen, but I had a lot of fun doing it anyway. It looks great on display next to my P-47.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hi Quinntin,

Many thanks for the site and the photos ... great job!. I did a search for the plane my father flew during WWII and amazing! there it is "My Duchess" and my father's name along the the base of the pilot's window: N. E. Wiley!! ... super detail!
I would be love to receive some information toward building a replica much like what you've done with this B-25 Mitchell. Please advise.
Many Thanks, Merry Christmas and good luck.
Sincerely, Jack Wiley