by Robert Karr

Introduction

During the Second World War, the B-25 served in every corner of the world. First flying in 1940, almost 10,000 were built by the time production ended in late 1945. Appearing in many different versions, the most numerous were the C/D and the J. The J is featured in this photo essay. From 1981 to 1995 I photographed at least four B-25s at air shows and museums in California, at various times of the day and year (accounting for the sometimes less-than-perfect exposure).

The pictures were chosen with modelers in mind so rather than alot of overall shots what we see here is details of specific areas of the airplane – undercarriage, engines, and so forth. Some areas to watch out for when using these pictures for modeling purposes are the over-the-cowl air scoop and the exhaust system. Aside from the wartime modifications, many of the modern restorations incorporate the U.S.A.F.’s training mods installed in the 1950s.

Painting by the author

North American B-25 J

Since there are many photographs, the material has been divided into sections presented below.

Fuselage nose and offensive armament

General view of the transparent nose. The 2 yellow braces are on the interior of the detachable escape panel on the upper side. (And… what legs! – Ed.) Photo: Robert Karr

Front view of the same aircraft, showing a single flexible .50 gun. Photo: Robert Karr

Another aircraft shows improved armament. Flexible .50 calibre machine gun and the 2 fixed .50s mounted in the lower right nose. Photo: Robert Karr

Looking in the ammo belt to the flex .50 gun and the Norden bombsight can be seen.Of note is also the bomb aiming panel wiper on the outside.

Photo: Robert Karr

Port package of .50 calibre machine guns, mounted below cockpit windows.  Photo: Robert Karr

Cabin interior

Perhaps the most differences between the 40’s era B-25s and the modern restorations occur in the cockpit. This particular B-25 has the most representative WWII instrument panel of any of the ones I have had contact  with- but modern avionics still make their appearance in the upper-center-left. Also the war time bombers would have had unpadded fuselage sidewalls painted interior green (or olive drab or zinc chromate- there’s some controversy here).

Photo: Robert Karr

This is the left side of nose interior showing bombardier’s control panel. The bright object to the left of the picture is a hanging flak helmet. Photo: Robert Karr

Norden bomb sight.  Photo: Robert Karr

Right side of nose interior showing fixed .50 cal machine gun.The one shown here is a dummy but it’s overall shape and size are correct.The object running along the top of the photo is the bottom of the ammo box.  Photo: Robert Karr

Looking forward from waist through crawl space over the bomb bay. The pipe in the roof just right of center is a hand hold. Photo: Robert Karr

 Bomb bay

Exterior of starboard bomb door looking forward. Photo: Robert Karr

Looking into the bomb bay. The circular object is the hatch into the

interior. Ladder is not standard! Note also perforated inner faces of bomb doors.

Photo: Robert Karr

Bomb bay looking forward showing door actuating arm mechanism and a lot of plumbing. Note that this bomb bay is armed with mock-up bombs!

Photo: Robert Karr

Looking aft. There is not much detail on rear bulkhead. The red beacon below is not WW II vintage.

Photo: Robert Karr

 Landing gear

Nose landing gear, seen from the port side. Note the linking arm from the bottom of the cylinder to the right side of the gear leg.

Photo: Robert Karr

Close-up of complex nose gear leg fittings. This shows the starboard side of the leg

Photo: Robert Karr

Main starboard gear looking aft.

Photo: Robert Karr

Right gear looking forward. The landing gear covers remained closed on the ground, except for the small flap visible here.

Photo: Robert Karr

Port main gear, showing the inner wheel hub and leg details. Oleo linkage points forward.

Photo: Robert Karr

 Wing and engines

Underside of starboard wing. Yes, the airfoil of a B-25 does actually developed World War I stye under-camber out near the tip!

Photo: Robert Karr

More of starboard wing underside and nacelle showing general detail including exterior flap hinge and various fasteners. Watch out for the post-war scoop and exhaust! Photo: Robert Karr

Rear view of engine nacelle. Photo: Robert Karr

Starboard cowl looking forward showing the cowl flap actuators and nice detail on the prominent engine accessory access panel fasteners. The area of difference with the wartime B-25s is the exhaust. There was several arrangements on the A, B,C and D models but the J of wartime had individual stacks for each cylinder, exiting through bumps in cowl. This photo shows one of the post war methods.

Photo: Robert Karr

In-flight shot of starboard engine accentuating crankcase detail and showing the correct World War II version of the over-cowl scoop. It’s low and thin- most restorations have a box-like rectangular scoop originally fitted in the 1950’s. Photo: Robert Karr

Front view of the port engine. This aircraft features the box scoop of 1950s vintage. Photo: Robert Karr

Engine close-up, showing crankcase and ignition harness, propeller governor, propeller hub and markings. Photo: Robert Karr

More engine crankcase and propeller governor detail (a frosty photo of a polished natural metal airplane taken on a cloudy yet bright day.There’s almost no color because there was none to be seen that day!) Photo: Robert Karr

Firewall of the port nacelle. Lots of plumbing!. This photo should be useful to any modeler doing a crash or maintainence diorama.   Photo: Robert Karr

 Control surfaces

Port wing flaps. Because of the gull-wing, the flap hinge next to the nacelle on the outer flap had to pivot (see the next photo of just this area). Also, notice that there was no fairing or fillet on the fuselage side next to the flap- it’s just flush.  Photo: Robert Karr

Close up of right flap hinge pivot travel slot.  Photo: Robert Karr

Detail of starboard rudder and elevator hinges. Photo: Robert Karr

Kits of the B-25

A few words on some of the many B-25 kits on the market through the years:

•  Monogram-ProModeler B-25 H/J 1/48. Buy it!
• Revell B-25 B/C/D 1/48. Mid-60’s vintage kit, not bad. Engines a touch too small, detail a little crude but the main problem is that the fuselage is just too tall and generally oversize to match the great wings.
• Monogram Snap-Tite 1/72. More for the younger modeler but actually quite accurate and has the rear fuselage contours right for the pre-H B-25.
• Testors/Italeri 1/72. Two kits- one the C/D, the other H/J. The C/D kit is accurate and well detailed AND has the correct narrow rear fuselage. The H/J really goofed because there is more to making a late model B-25 than merely moving the turret up front. The most important thing they failed to take into account is the fact that the earlier airplanes had a more tapered rear fuselage 7″ ( in the side view) narrower( or less tall). In 1/72 this is only about 2.2mm but it really does alter the whole ”feel” and look of the model. Because of this the early B-25s appeared much more lean and sleek.
• Airfix 1/72 kit. An old standard, not bad, lots of detail – and lots of rivets.Personally, I like lots of rivets if they are in the correct places because I can sand them down until just a trace remains and this gives the model a more realistic texture. Even in a flush-riveted WWII-era airplane, one could see where the rivets were.

A final word about a sentimental favorite- the ancient Revell odd-scale B-25. In and out of production, sometimes hard to find, sometimes not. Molded in something like 1/64, it’s crude, has questionable outlines and detail but I think it’s the most appealing kit for kids, even more so than the modern SnapTite- bigger than 1/72, easy to build, a kid can make this model and really have something to show for his effort and we need to cultivate a new crop of young model builders so the hobby doesn’t die out!

 Robert Karr is a modeler and an artist who produces consistantly fine work in 2 and 3 dimensions. His work can be viewed on the web by visiting Robert’s web site Aviation Art by Robert Karr (Ed.)

 This article was originally published in IPMS Stockholm Magazine in September 1997.