B-25 cowlings, 3 types?

[Troy Smith]

Skids was asking for corrected B-25 cowlings for the AM kit in 'wanted'

to which I responded...

Don't believe the hype..... if you are prepared to deal with a CA Hurricane, you can do this....

http://modelingmadness.com/scott/allies/us/b25g.htm

About this time I read a number of articles and comments from newsgroups concerning the kit. Amongst the more lengthy lists of what was wrong with it (it seems some people will complain about every little detail), it seems that there were rather vociferous damning of the engine cowlings. Frankly, they look a bit small to me as well. Apparently AM got the opening diameter wrong and they should be larger. Rather than spend the money on an expensive resin replacement, I just got a nice piece of 180 sand paper, rolled it up, stuck it in the cowling and twisted it around a few times. In no time at all, larger cowling openings! Really couldn't be simpler and a much preferable option than spending more money on what is already a rather expensive undertaking.

I linked that sanding may help, and he mentioned that the cowls for the B-25 B kit were wrong.

Did some searching, and it seems 3 types of cowlings were used.

Hi Troy

Its the B version I will be doing, and I think the Cowls are completely wrong. Very interesting though. Will read up on it

Simon

HI Simon

INteresting. Just had an image search

Looks 3 types of B-25 cowlings

An early type, fitted to B-25B, and maybe other?

Note single large exhaust

a B-25 D [note C and D are same type, but build by different factories]

B-25D

Identical to the B-25C, the only difference was that the B-25D was made in Kansas City, Kansas, whereas the B-25C was made in Inglewood, California. First flew on 3 January 1942. (Number made: 2,290.)

from http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/b25flightse_2.htm

and the type most commonly seen

from - http://www.maam.org/airshow/b25_exterior.htm

Now...at least some of the builds of the AM B-25B show an early type cowling

a review search turns up this

http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/b25breviewbg_1.htm

and these look like the early type of cowlings as a separate sprue.

So....I'd ask if it's just the front aperture being too small, or if there is another problem, the sanded cowl image for a B-25g , with the 3rd type of cowling.

An interesting little detail I'd not noticed before.

Posting this up here as it's just been posted that Academy are re-issuing the Accurate Miniatures B-25B kit some maybe of interest and of use to others.