Jump to content
Logging In to USMF has changed from using your USERNAME to requiring the EMAIL ADDRESS associated with your USMF account. Click to read more.

1/48 North American B-25J, NEI-AF / ML-KNIL, Australia 1944

earlymb

By earlymb,
in MODELING

 Share

Recommended Posts

earlymb

earlymb

Posted
Posted

Backgound

 

First let me say I have no experience in building scale models, I put a few together as a kid but that's about it. Then 2 years ago I decided I wanted to make a model of a B-25 as used by the 18th squadron, Netherlands-East Indies Airforce. The NEI-AF between 1942 and 1945 was composed of personnel that evaded capture by the Japanese by escaping to Australia during and after the Japanese invasion of the Netherlands East-Indies in January 1942, initially topped up with RAAF personnel.

 

The No. 18 Squadron was formed on April 4th, 1942 in Canberra as an RAAF squadron, but on July 6th 1942 the squadron was turned over to the NEI-AF and as an NEI-AF squadron it would operate the rest of the war under RAAF command equipped with B-25's, 60 of which had already been purchased by the Netherlands East-Indies government before the Japanese invasion. NEI-AF crews were sent from Australia to the US to pick these up and ferry them back.

 

After operating from a number of different airfields 18 squadron was stationed at Batchelor Airfield, 80 kms south of Darwin in April 1943 where they would stay until July 1945. The squadron specialized in (very) low-level strafing- and bombing runs, mainly against Japanese shipping and coastal installations, but also other targets. Quite a few of the squadron's B-25's were converted to gunships, by fitting 6 to 8 .50 machineguns in the nose. A veteran explained the standard procedure of the squadron to me: they would operate in pairs, with the first one going in low-level with guns blazing to suppress enemy fire so his buddy who was right behind him could aim his bomb in relative peace. If he was out of bombs they would reverse rolls. In late 1945 command of the squadron was handed back to the NEI-AF and in the following years it saw intensive service during the Indonesian war of independence, before being disbanded on July 2, 1950.

 

 

The Model

 

The model kit used is the standard 1/48 Monogram/Revell B-25 kit. As I made this model 2 years ago I have no pics of it during construction; due to lack of time I put it away and only pulled it out again last week. I decided to try to get it to a bit higher standard than the kits in my youth, so I purchased a cheap airbrush with compressor and some Vallejo acrylic paints. I also watched and read a lot of tutorials of various scale modeler's forums and websites. For the first time in my life I changed a few details of the kit, scratch-built a few things and tried some more effects than just slathering on paint with a brush.

 

The color is a mix of Vallejo paints (unfortunately I can't remember the formula anymore) and is actually very close to the original color, which was a nice surprise. So was the airbrush, it is a huge improvement over painting and I think it doesn't look too bad for a first time. Although a specialized company does sell decals for various NEI-AF aircraft in 1/48 scale, these were pretty expensive so I airbrushed on the flag-marking. It currently lacks the registration numbers but I will try to make my own paint mask for them. On several original photos you can clearly see the USAAF roundel has been painted out before the new marking was applied, so I tried to replicate that effect by airbrushing the form of the USAAF roundel in a slightly darker green before airbrushing the flag markings over it.

 

I also replaced the seat belts by scratch-built ones that I made of thin strips of masking tape painted khaki and buckles I made of very thing metal wire.

 

 

The Base

 

I did want to put the model on a simple base, so I used an old photoframe of the proper dimensions as a base. I then filled it with plaster of Paris, which I painted to represent the soil of Batchelor Airfield. I couldn't find out what the exact shade of the soil would be there, so this shade is a guess. I forgot the exact formula anyway. I also scratch-built the palm tree for which I used real leaves, which I cut to simulate palm fronts and dipped into clear acrylic paint.

 

At this stage I packed everything away for 2 years, so after I unpacked everything again recently it turned out that while the leaves of the palm were still holding their shape they had turned brown, so I painted them. I'm not 100% satisfied with the shade but this is what I can do with the paints I currently have. I did add all the undergrowth, for which I used some sort of green fibers I bought 20 years ago to make trees for my train set. I simply drilled a few 5mm holes through the plaster, cut bundles of various length of the green fibre and after dripping some wood glue into the holes just stuck them in. After the glue cured I then shaped the bundles into a plant-like shape and dry-brushed it with light green to get some color effects.

 

The figures are the standard ones supplied with the kit. I did paint the crew as if they wore khaki summer uniforms and the mechanic with a dirty HBT coverall. Originally, crews were allowed to wear whatever they found comfortable in the heat and most only wore shoes, khaki shorts, shirts with the arms rolled up and a cap or side cap. To place the seating figure I scratch-built a few ammo cases, one with open lid to accommodate his foot.

 

Less is more, so I'm not sure yet if I'll put more into the display as I don't want to crowd it. The kit comes with 3 bombs and I have made a base for them as they would be placed before loading into the aircraft. I have placed the base with the 3 unpainted bombs to see how it would look; I would love to hear your opinion if they should stay or if it crowds the display too much.

 

And so, without further ado some photos of the model (drumroll):

 

post-80-0-63081000-1518019989_thumb.jpg

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
earlymb

earlymb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for all comments! I think this is my first model in 20 years or so. The tutorials on various techniques, tips & tricks were a great help. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Proud Kraut

Proud Kraut

Posted
Posted

First off all: I really like modeling threads with all these background informations about the system, the history of the unit and of course the "how I did it", thanks for sharing. Really hard to believe that this is your first dio. You did a fantastic job! And since you have asked for it: Leave the bombs on the dio. It's by far NOT too crowded with them. Looking forward to see more dios from you the next time; GOOD JOB!

 

Lars

Link to comment
Share on other sites
earlymb

earlymb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for your comment, I agree that the bombs should stay so I will finish them. When that's done this diorama is finished, although maybe I will expand it in the future with a solid-nose B-25 strafer if I can find a nice kit of those.

 

Another unfinished project I packed away 2 years ago and will pick up again now is a large 1/32 scale Bristol Beaufighter that is too big for a diorama and falls outside the scope of this forum anyway although a number were used by the USAAF as nightfighters; I will finish it in RAF desert livery. I also have a new 1/48 P-61 Black Widow i might start with after that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...