LB's FlightLine B-25J to B-25C "Desert Warrior" Build

[Elbee]

B-25-ers,

Not baggin' on Robart as I know the company has changed hands, but what is up with this? See Photo.

I bought these when I bought the FlightLine Mitchell, though not from MotionRC.

I just opened the second wheel/tire and noticed it was wonky to say the least, now I see why.

Anyway, the point was to show my version of the B-25 Goodyear Wheels, and the disc brake parts design.

I did something similar for the Corsair though in a larger scale.

I found better references for the wheels and brakes and have incorporated that for the Mitchell.

The wheels are PETG/PLA and the 2 mounted inserts are resin prints (the bottom one is a PLA print).

This is V 1 of the brake parts, but seem good.

More when there is nore.

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Elbee,
Might be new owners learning experience and you're a guini-pig. Hubs look good. Just hope the robart wheels stay in production.

Rex

[Elbee]

I hear you on that, hope the're around like forever. I bought the Robarts a couple of years ago, so I don't know whether that was before or after the sale.
Their tires are top-notch, the wheels are a little dated, IMHO, but those do work great. Would suggest Robart add metric axle bushings. Best, Steve

[Elbee]

Bomber Bunch,

One down and one to go.

I've included the Intake Extension as an STL for the more adventurous among us.

Best, LB

[f4u ausie]

A little light at the end of the tunnel!!! Awesome as always.. that 1 flight after finishing,, must b nervewracking

[Elbee]

A little light at the end of the tunnel!!! Awesome as always.. that 1 flight after finishing,, must b nervewracking

Thanks Craig,

I never worry much about the first check flights.

It is more likely than not when I have crashed my planes, I am doing something I should not be doing, have become complacent, or I am not paying attention to the basics.

Could be said for most things in life, but that's a topic for another time.

A wise man once said to me, "You built it once, you can build it again, right?", which changed the way I think about a lot of things.

Worrying about anything is pointless, we all do it knowing this; keeping the angst at arm's length is the key for me.
Whoa, who is this guy....

Best as always, Steve

[Elbee]

Winter Builders,

I finished some 'sand' paintwork before the "COLD":cold_face: hit.

Helps me to see all one color to begin some weathering.

Also need to paint the 'gray camo' paintwork on the underside of the cowls before permanently mounting those.

Looking at the archive pictures, it would appear as though the airframe was 'washed' from the leading edge forward, then the new artwork applied.

The nacelles especially look stained, but the cowls are not as bad and the nose section, props, and nose gear all look really clean.

Uncertain how far I will go to represent all of that, but I will definitely give it a go.

More when there is more.

Best, LB

[f4u ausie]

Does appear to of been a heck of a mess r tyres full of mud great observation,,, not so obvious at a quick glance.. makes u wonder why would the not just wash it all.. guess it takes longer than a car... of course will u b that accurate,, { dirty rear clean front)??

[Elbee]

Craig,

Hard to say, except she was on an Exhibition and Bond Selling Tour, so I suppose the powers that be said, "just clean the parts they're gonna see."

Who knows.
I did notice, too, that the Nose Gear Wheel has a new wheel cover with the circled Star, again, just clean up what the cameras will photograph.:camera:

Best, Steve

[Elbee]

B-25-ers,

Just couldn't bring myself to use stickers, red paint, or a decal after everything else.

Found a good reference for the Filler Caps, so I designed one and printed 6.

Tamiya Flat Red is great match to Callie's Red printing ink it would seem.

More when there is some more...

Best, LB

[RRHandy]

That makes them pop.

[Elbee]

RRHandy

Weathering is our friend....

Best, LB

[davegee]

Looks just like the real things! Well done, Elbee!

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

Great detail Elbee! I'd like to do the Phantom with no decals if possible.
Excited to see more.
Rex

[Elbee]

Thanks, Rex.
Yeah well, there's only like a million of the those little things on a Phantom...

I spent the best part of 4 sessions doing Callie's Nomenclature on my F-Phour.

Most of those are on the bottom as I recall.

If you need a placement guide, I have one around here somewhere.

It's generic, in that it matches F-4B/J.

At first it just looked like way too much stuff, but I look at her now (the Phantom not Callie) I am happy I took the time.

It just helps completes the illusion for me if I squint a bit

I'd go gently if you decide to add a few and do only those that really matter and maybe do more as time goes on, just my $00.02 USD.

Next on the Mitchell List will be the Outer Wings, those need a little massaging, too.

More when there is more...

Best, LB

[Elbee]

davegee,

Many thanks my friend.

A little here, a little more there, and shazam, you're done....or not.

Best, LB

[davegee]

davegee,

Many thanks my friend.

A little here, a little more there, and shazam, you're done....or not.

Best, LB

Do you know if this was the only aircraft of its type to be painted up this way? I'm guessing the plane was eventually scrapped like so many other old warhorses. Wouldn't that be neat to meet one of the crewmembers, although at this point I doubt any are still around, unfortunately. That desert sand camo color is very attractive!

Cheers

davegee

[jetfool]

Elbee,
I agree, less is more for the show. At this size if I can get the paint correct, scale details to make a difference it should be competitive against the larger jets. Hopefully the more you look the more details pop out at the viewer.
Waiting on Callie for quote on graphics/stencils.
Best Regards, Rex

[Elbee]

Bomber Dudes and Dudettes,

Quick update.

Outer wing panels primed, sanded, and painted.

Added the obligatory (for me anyway) Comm Lights (or whatever these lights were/are) to the bottom of the RH wing tip.

Did not light 'em this time as I couldn't even see those when I did the first check flight on my Corsair which are lighted.

Looks pretty slick to me either way.

On to exhaust staining on the engine cowls.

More when there is some more.

Best, LB

[davegee]

Bomber Dudes and Dudettes,

Quick update.

Outer wing panels primed, sanded, and painted.

Added the obligatory (for me anyway) Comm Lights (or whatever these lights were/are) to the bottom of the RH wing tip.

Did not light 'em this time as I couldn't even see those when I did the first check flight on my Corsair which are lighted.

Looks pretty slick to me either way.

On to exhaust staining on the engine cowls.

More when there is some more.

Best, LB

I know there is always discussion about these lights. A small control panel in the cockpit (at least on the P-47 that I know of), allowed for turning one, two, or all three lights on and off, and to signal Morse code to those on the ground who might want to be sure they were friendly and not enemy. I got the opportunity to talk to several WWII pilot veterans over the years, and I never found one who even knew what I was talking about! They might have been a good idea early on, but in practice, especially as the war progressed, probably weren't used on a regular basis, if at all. Still, almost all tactical airplanes had these installed at the factory. Who knows?

They look great, Elbee. What did you use for the silver bowl-shaped parts of the recognition lights?

Cheers

davegee

[jetfool]

Looks amazing