Monogram Air Apache B-25

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

1/48th scale, freehand brushed weighted nose, OOB:

I gotta figure out how to get definition this good for a better nose art shot!

Needed no canopy masks or masking taping, just a steady hand [;)]

The Testors chrome enamel makes a nice bomb camera lens, eh?

It’s not the nice Monogram decals, I just got the new camera Monday, so I am trying to figure out how to get a better focus on close-ups.

Historical note:

I built this after getting actual Air Apache war documentary footage.

The Monogram Apache symbol is not exactly right, as the face is supposed to go slightly outside of the circle, but I am not one to worry that.

This one is the skip-bombing model, wherein they left some glass in the nose. Later on they totally eliminated all glass and filled the nose with more 50’s.

One thing I noticed in all the WWII footage I have is that in all cases they left the waist 50’s at home and the side windows open, as well as leaving the little round escape hatch totally open for ventelation in the Pacific tropical climate. I am still contemplating cutting that hatch out of mine. [:-^]

Tom [C):-)]

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Nice job Tom. I have an Accurate Miniature B-25 straffer sitting in the stash gathering dust until I find the time to start. The Monogram kit looks great though.

You did a fine job on the painting-especially by hand-did you use enamel or acrylic?

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Testors MM acrylics-they go on smooth and easy and dry fast, usually it only takes a single coat.

Tom [C):-)]

4

Looks good, Tom. I’m still learning my digital camera, as well. One thing I’ve found is a “macro” button. If yours has one, is allows for crisper focus on close-ups.

5

Hi Tom, it’s nice to see folks building the old Monogram kits. The J is my favorite model of the B-25, but Accurate Miniatures doesn’t make one, and I lack the courage to hack up a beautiful $50 kit to attempt a conversion. So I’ll be trying the Monogram kit myself sometime! I have the decals for “Panchito” flown by DAV, just no kit to go with them yet.

Got any construction tips for the Monogram kit? It looks like the main landing gear struts didn’t want to sit quite right… did they give you trouble?

Kevin

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I was thinking the same thing. I’m not one to critisize other peoples work especially at my skill level, which I’m judging myself to be about the same as the model builder here. I’d say the only real critique I could offer is to lighten up a little with the paint on your transparent pieces, all the framing is way to thick. Other than that she look’s good, I like the nose art, kinda hard to see it but it look’s good.

I’m, gonna go to hobby lobby one of these days with that coupon for 40% off, they sell the monogram B-25.

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another nice one t Terrific. I’m assuming these are older, or did you just get all of these done?[%-)]

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Both-

The older ones I have noted as such in one manner or another.

The others I had to put on the “Back burner” due to a very bad year last year, with a broken right shoulder socket and a broken foot with four toes fractured and in a boot.

This has been in addition to recovering form the aftemath’s of Hurricanes Katrinaand Rita, as well as several black-outs due to freakish weather here.

Now that I am feeling better and regaining the mobility of my right arm, and the local power isholding, I am getting back into it again.

I still have a five-year stash that includes many out of production kits as well, including a couple of old Hasegawa’s, another Williams Brothers, and a few Hobby Craft’s, an Aurora SBC-3 and Monogram’s 1/32 F3F and 1/48th SB2C.

Tamiya’s are OK, but I still like the simplicity, flavor and innovative origionality of the older kits.

Tom [C):-)]

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I see now. glad that you and Louisiana are on the mend[tup]. I know what you feel like with the injuries. I broke my wrist in football this fall and couldn’t build for several months

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Absolutely no criticism intended on my part. The B-25 is large, and a heavy model can cause the landing gear to splay out even when things are installed perfectly. I’ve had it happen to me, on a 1/48 Monogram F-14. Just wondering if Tom has any tips… I have several B-25 builds in mind and I’m eager to learn about this kit.

Kevin

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I deliberately keep my framing on the “thick side”, MI, as a preference I actually like it that way.

When I do framing, I actually set-aside a small amount of paint I let evaporate until it is almost thick enough to trowel on.

Then I dip a tiny brush (like “00”) into it and freehand the framing, scraping off any “wide spots” with a sprue I sharpened to a blunt chisel point.

If you get to know me, thick framing is not a point I am bothered with, especially since I have an actual close-up color photo of a B-25 fresh from the factory, ready to take- off, with plenty of overspray effectively widening the nose canopy framing.

Every time I have tried masking and a thin paint, it always runs under the masks and messes up the entire canopy, so that technique is not for me.

You see, also, this way if anyone copy’s my photos, I will always be able to identity them.

I call this “the special touch of Tom”. [swg]

Neat, eh?

Tom [C):-)]

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I deliberately keep my framing on the “thick side”, MI, as a preference I actually like it that way.

When I do framing, I actually set-aside a small amount of paint I let evaporate until it is almost thick enough to trowel on.

Then I dip a tiny brush (like “00”) into it and freehand the framing, scraping off any “wide spots” with a sprue I sharpened to a blunt chisel point.

If you get to know me, thick framing is not a point I am bothered with, especially since I have an actual close-up color photo of a B-25 fresh from the factory, ready to take- off, with plenty of overspray effectively widening the nose canopy framing.

Every time I have tried masking and a thin paint, it always runs under the masks and messes up the entire canopy, so that technique is not for me.

You see, also, this way if anyone copy’s my photos, I will always be able to identity them. [8D]

I call this “the special touch of Tom”. [swg]

Neat, eh?

Tom [C):-)]

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that is a good looking plane, congratulations, and i have one question, is this model right? i mean were there a b25j with so many machine guns in the nose? i have this same model and a few days a go i was wondering if this is correct, havent search for any reference yet but im just curious, if it was a bomber how could that guy release the bombs with so many armo boxes in that small place? maybe im wrong but anyway congratulations on that build-

Regards

Hector

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It sure is. Many variants of the B-25 pretty much filled the nose with guns. Depending on the area of operations, they were used as gunships just as much as bombers. They did everything from strafing airfields to attacking enemy shipping. I was at an airshow last year where there were no less than 15 B-25s present, and one in particular had eight .50s in the nose! [:O]

Kevin

15

I deliberately keep my framing on the “thick side”, MI, as a preference I actually like it that way.

When I do framing, I actually set-aside a small amount of paint I let evaporate until it is almost thick enough to trowel on.

Then I dip a tiny brush (like “00”) into it and freehand the framing, scraping off any “wide spots” with a sprue I sharpened to a blunt chisel point.

If you get to know me, thick framing is not a point I am bothered with, especially since I have an actual close-up color photo of a B-25 fresh from the factory, ready to take- off, with plenty of overspray effectively widening the nose canopy framing.

Every time I have tried masking and a thin paint, it always runs under the masks and messes up the entire canopy, so that technique is not for me.

You see, also, this way if anyone copy’s my photos, I will always be able to identity them. [8D]

I call this “the special touch of Tom”. [swg]

Neat, eh?

Tom [C):-)]

Dont get me wrong, I wasnt saying anything negative about it, I’m a free hand brush painter too, I dont even own an airbrush. I was just saying that could be worked on. I free hand all my canopies, I dont have the patience for masking.

Good work though man, it’s always good to see multiple builds, I’m just not used to seeing so many so fast from one person.

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WOW thanks for the info, i was planning on doing some mods to my old b-25j but now that everything is clear then is gonna stay the way it is-

thanks a lot

regards

Hector.

17

Hey muck,

I got it figured out finally!

The simple Kodak I got has a setting called “Self-Portrait”, and now it seems to work very well for close-ups.

I’ll be re-posting the more clear pictues in not very long.

Tom [C):-)]

18

I’m assuming that this kit is the same as the Revell 1/48 B25-J? If so, I’ve been building/struggling, with this kit for a while. The version I have is the Red Bull special edition, which comes with, aside from a new small sprue, a DVD of the aircraft, special decals, and 2 chrome spray cans.

It’s got a lovely detailed interior, even if some bits are a bit flat (the fire-fighting equipment is just a slightly raised marking on the wall, rather than being an item in it’s own right), however, little can be seen once everything is closed up. The panel lines are raised, which for me is an annoyance, but, in typical RM style, they have moulded the copyright on the outside, under one of the main planes. Still, at least we know the mould is from 1977!

The major problems with the kit, that I’ve so far encountered are:

  1. To get sufficient weight in the nose, I had to fill in the ‘tunnel’ under the pilots, as well as the front wheel well (no great loss are barely visible in standard configuration), and some where the bombbay is (I kept mine closed).

  2. The fit is variable. Sometimes excellent, sometimes, well, pretty awful. Of course, it may just be me, but, especially as this is a chrome colour aircraft, it’s going to mean loads of work!

  3. The nose gear is too weak. Had to strength it with copious amounts of CA!

One thing I found peculiar was that the wing sparss have detailing which disappears inside the mainplanes. Why go to the both of detailing something that’s completely hidden?

Still it’s a cheap and cheerful kit, and that, in itself, is a good thing!

19

Tom-

Nice work fella! You have been a busy boy lately, and I’m glad to hear that you are on the mend and feeling better. Keep up the good work! [tup]

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Excellent, Tom! I’ll be looking for the re-posts.

At least now I know I don’t need new glasses![:D]