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TB-25 Mitchell question


BlackAck

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A long term modelling project is Revell's B-25J in 1:48. It's been stop/start owing to life plus the lack of an airbrush. My plan/hope is to model it to represent a TB-25J S/N 44-30914 assigned to the Test Pilot's School at Edwards AFB in the early 1950s:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TB-25J_over_Edwards_AFB_1954.jpg.

So, my question is would she have had the top turret removed or not? My copy of "B-25 in Action" has many photographs of post war TB-25s that were streamlined, but was this a universal modification? In the case of '914, if she was assigned to the TPS, having a top turret would be ideal. Or does it really matter?

Thoughts, ideals, irrefutable evidence are welcome.

Edited by BlackAck
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TB-25J_over_Edwards_AFB_1954_zpsxb4qkxox

As other have said no turret or guns. Bigger carb intakes/different exhaust layout.

The may have been a rig set up on tail turret area for towing a target banner.

It's a cool scheme,one i've thought about doing myself..but have always been out off by the lack of info on what the upper surfaces looked like.

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Hmm.. strange. Anyway, '914 is the third picture in the gallery:

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2563

They also had bigger carb intakes and different exhaust arrangement
The may have been a rig set up on tail turret area for towing a target banner.

What did these modifications look like?

Edited by BlackAck
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If you look at my build thread you will see what the new intakes and exhausts should look like. I have the Revell 1/48 Red Bull boxing and it has the parts for the TB-25 in it.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234976001-big-bad-bonnie132-hk-b-25-glass-nose-disaster-strikes/?hl=bonnie

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Thanks guys for all the help and advice. I haven't got to the engines yet, but that exhaust issue is good to know. Here's what I can tell/infer about the upper surface colours from the photograph

engine carbs are red

cockpit roof is red

elevator upper surfaces are red/yellow probably in a similar pattern to underside

upper wing tips are yellow

Some part of the winch/cable assembly sticks up from the rear position and is yellow

Edited by BlackAck
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Sorry I'm late in reading your post.

Mrs Loft-full has some photos of her father and his friends working on TB-25J's at Ellington Air Force Base in the early 1950's. I don't think that all TB-25J's ended up looking the same, and there may have been variations depending on what people were being trained for. (I think it was navigators at Ellington). When I get home this evening, I'll ask Mrs Loft-full if I can scan some of her Dad's black and white pictures and post them for you. I'm trying to find some interior shots of the TB-25J's at Ellington, (or anywhere else for that matter), as I too have a particular one to build.

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Didn't the RCAF also have some trainers that had essentially the same shape as a B-25 glass nose, but it was painted black? Apparently they were used as RADAR trainers and a scanning RADAR antenna took the place of the bombardier's position.

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Hi,

Here's a selection of photos I've hastily scanned from Mrs Loft-full's photo album. TB-25J's, (well one in particular), at Ellington don't appear to have an upper turret.

If you need better scans or a close up send me a message.

Cheers,

Bob

BeautifulBelindaSELECTION_zpswl8izbni.jp

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