So I’ve got a Monogram B-25J that I’m planning to build as a PBJ-1J, and I’m curious. What’s the deal with the radar pod? I’ve seen pics of 1Js with the starboard wingtip pod, with the nose pod, and several with no pod at all.
Was there any sort of logic to this? I’m going to guess from the pod-less 1Js that it wasn’t necessarily manufacturer standard. Was it akin to the Pathfinder Lightnings, where say a squadron or flight leader would have the pod and guide the others in? Or was it a case where the 1J evolved over its production run, with the pod being added to later builds?
Also, over and above the radar pods, were there any other external differences to the B-25J that I’ll need to take into account during the build?
This would have been the same radar used on Corsairs and Avengers which were so equipped. The radar had to be clear of any metallic devices such as the propeller. Given this was a gun version, there was no place in the nose to mount it. Radar in those days was very primary in the information it provide to the radar operator.
It gave indication of where the target was in relationship to the antenna…left, right, above, below left or above right. The idea was to find the target then center it on the scope which would put the guns on target…of course the pilot was also looking for exhaust flashes from the enemy aircraft’s engines once he was in trail of the target.
These radars were also used to help locate shipping…even a subs periscope could be detected at short range, something the human eye might not catch.
This radar system was also affixed to other aircraft…including P-40s post war for use for cloud seeding operations. It helped located the sweet spot to seed.
Thanks Hawkeye - I guess I’m trying to get a sense of rhyme or reason for the different configurations. Why did some have the pod and other not? Why did some have it in the nose and others in the wing?
Also, does anybody know if the radar pod housings of this era were of a standard(ish) size? There seems to be a lot of overlap between the APS-3 (PBJ-1, TBM-1D, PBY-6A), APS-4 (F6F-3E/5E, TBF-3), and APS-6 (F6F-3N/5N, F4U-5N, P-38M). The overall pod shapes appear pretty similar, but what about size?
In other words…could I jack the APS-6 radar pod out of my Revellogram P-38 kit and use it as a PBJ wing pod?
Another thing to keep in mind, there were night attack units and daytime attack units (and maybe those with some of both). The night attack squadrons surely got priority for the radar.
I’m not sure about the -Js, but many of the earlier model Mitchells were hand-me-downs from the Navy who in turn got them from the Army (though I have seen new production PBJs in Navy & marine colors on factory floor and flight line pictures). My point being, the Marines would put whatever they could get their hands on to good use against the enemy.
You should be able to scrounge the pod from another kit of an aircraft of the era. The pod size was determined by the size and range of motion of the receiver inside the housing.
Yeah that’s what I figured. There seems to be a lot of overlap in craft and specific radar being used (the APS-3 was a search/bombing radar while the APS-4 and APS-6 were interceptors…not sure why later Avengers sported the -4, but the -6 was certainly the nightfighter radar of choice), so it seems logical to me that they’d try to keep pod size more or less standard.
Think I’ll go scrounging in the parts bin tonight.
Thanks Owen! Looks like they flew -1C/D/H models mostly, but the idea did lead me to a few other VMB squadrons.
Lots of fantastic images over at VMB-611’s photo archives…with the extra pictures it looks like the radar pod off the Revellogram P-38 should probably suffice. Might be a teeny bit small, but only just so.
Not even close the way I see 'em, Doogs… The P-38M radar pod is way too small…
If you want to convert the J to an earlier Mitchell like the D-models flown by VMB 612, you gotta move the turret to the rear, re-do the waist windows (or fill 'em in). The tail gunner’s position is also quite different between the D and H/J, the D/G having a taller (and clunkier) “doghouse” over the B/C/D/G-type fuselage. The H/J had a redesigned tail incorporating the tailguns and a more low-profile doghouse in a deeper fuselage.
Both the VMB 612 -1Ds and -1Js had the APS-3 Radar, so the pods would be the same size… You’ll need the size pod that comes in the Monogram F4U-4 Corsair, although that one itself isn’t useable as it comes outta the box, since it’s designed for an under-wing mounting instead of wing-tip… It’s also fairly easy to fabricate if you got a drop-tank or Monogram Avenger torpedo laying around… I’d have to dig through my parts bins to tell what kit’s tanks are the same size, but I know I got several, including the Corsair’s pod… Oh yeah, the Corsair pod front half is quite useable too… It’d just take using a tail-piece form a similar-shaped rear half of a drop tank, and the P-38 or P-61 tanks would probably work for that…
BTW, if you’re in the market for AM parts, I did see a resin PBJ-1D conversion set for the nose and cowls out there… Dunno about the tail-turret…
Thanks, Hans! I did a highly technical “hold one piece next to the other” fit test with the P-38M pod the other night…depending on the PBJ image in question it either looks the part or looks small. I was also consolidating the parts box last night, adding the Jug leftovers and such, and came across some drop tanks off the Hobby Boss Wildcats that look about the right size. I’ve also read that Tamiya’s Zero drop tanks are the right shape…
Lone Star Models makes a resin PBJ wing pod, but I’d rather try to utilize what I have. Though the dimensions sure wouldn’t hurt…
And I’m planning to build a PBJ-1J, not a 1D. Might do a D at some point in the future, but I’ve always preferred the look of the J Mitchells.
I’ve already done a PBJ-1J from the Monogram kit that was badly damaged in a PCS move, so I’m looking forward to seeing yours… I never did get the damned radar installed though… I had it at the 99% stage, and the cat got it, knocking the vertical stabs off, then he chewed up them up. I got another B-25 kit a few weeks , cast replacement stabs, and repaired it, then the movers trashed it…
The cat’s long dead*, but I’d have gotten caught doing in the movers, probably…
I still have most of it though… Maybe it’s worth attempting another be-build this time…
Were I to do it again, I’d just build it as the CAF “Devil Dog” PBJ-1J, which doesn’t have the pod (or gun-turret) installed. It’s primary use is for CAF photo missions, the waist asn tail are set up for photographers to rde there… The tail position is kinda fun to fly in, since the gun-boot and rear panel of the doghouse are removed for the photogarpher to shoot through. Whatta view…
Reminds me… About 7 years ago, I made a PBJ skin modification for a CFS 2 PBJ-1J and made myself up as a pilot bitmap into the cockpit, lol… I wasn’t building many kits back then, but I “painted” gobs of aircraft for CFS2 (About 140 of 'em). Computer aircraft-modeling was about all I could do since I was deployed so much of the time after 9/11, and I could get a laptop into a Humvee in Afghanistan way easier than a modeling bench… Also a plus, after I painted an aircraft model, I could fly t, lol…
*Don’t worry, you animal-lovers… I didn’t whack him… He died of natural causes at age 16 two years ago…
