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

**Elbee** · Jan 29, 2026, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by davegee

I know there is always discussion about these lights...look great, Elbee. What did you use for the silver bowl-shaped parts of the recognition lights?

Cheers

davegee

Dave,

Designed and printed the "cups".

Wonderfully simple: 14 mm diameter cylinder X 3.7 mm deep dished from the zero datum to the top with a semi-flattened 1/2 sphere.

For the 0.5mm inner lip use a cut out (negative) cylinder at 13 mm diameter set 0.5 mm below the top of the positive cylinder.

Presto-Change-O, add a bit of brite-silver paint for the reflection and "Bob's your uncle."

Cut the lenses from 1/32nd clear sheet using a sharpened brass tube and used Clear Colors of Tamiya Acrylic Paints for Amber, Green, and Red.

Best, LB

**Elbee** · Jan 31, 2026, 09:49 AM

Mitchell Maniacs,

Finally, mounted the LB Cowls to the Nacelles.

Had to design a jig to hold those at the correct down thrust angle per OEM.

The jig uses the motor's prop shaft as the zero and an inner ring that fits the ID of the cowl to center and stabilize the entire part to the center line of the motor until the glue dries.

Whew, that was quite the description.

Anyway, it works.

Next is repainting the prop tips as per davegee's suggestion (thanks, Dave) that the OEM yellow tips are too long/wide from the tips to the base to be scale.

Well, I checked my references and he is quite correct, so somewhere along the line I'll need to repaint the tips on my Spittie and my Corsair, too.

Gotta do what ya gotta do, right.

Once props are complete it's on to mounting the nacelles to the fuselage.

Best, LB

**davegee** · Jan 31, 2026, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by Elbee

Mitchell Maniacs,

Finally, mounted the LB Cowls to the Nacelles.

Had to design a jig to hold those at the correct down thrust angle per OEM.

The jig uses the motor's prop shaft as the zero and an inner ring that fits the ID of the cowl to center and stabilize the entire part to the center line of the motor until the glue dries.

Whew, that was quite the description.

Anyway, it works.

Next is repainting the prop tips as per davegee's suggestion (thanks, Dave) that the OEM yellow tips are too long/wide from the tips to the base to be scale.

Well, I checked my references and he is quite correct, so somewhere along the line I'll need to repaint the tips on my Spittie and my Corsair, too.

Gotta do what ya gotta do, right.

Once props are complete it's on to mounting the nacelles to the fuselage.

Best, LB

I just found this on a quick online search: I just checked my guesstimates on my FMS P-47 and what do you know, the yellow tips measure out to an equivalent of 4 inches tall, by 1941 military standards! Besides, to me the OEM prop blades make the plane look like a toy with those wide yellow bands. Comparing our models to period photos, no question, narrower is better and more scale (not that Any of us care about scale!) HA! Davegee

During World War II, the standard for painting propeller tips on Allied military aircraft (USAAF, USN, and RAF) was a 4-inch (approx. 10cm) yellow band applied to the tips of the blades, primarily as a safety warning to ground crew.

Primary Purpose: The bright yellow tips provided high contrast against the typically black-painted, rapidly rotating blades, helping personnel avoid walking into the propeller arc.
Coloration: The tips were painted yellow, often on both the front and back sides of the blade, though sometimes only the front.
Time Period: While some earlier, pre-war, or early-war aircraft used red/yellow/blue painted bands, the standardized yellow tip was adopted by the USAAF around August 1941 and for US Navy aircraft by early-to-mid 1942.
Other Markings: While yellow tips were standard for visibility, some early war British propellers used by Rotol carried colored identification discs (white, red, or blue) indicating blade material or settings, rather than just tip safety paint.

**Elbee** · Feb 9, 2026, 03:41 PM

Bomber Bunch,

Kwik Update.

Adding the nomenclature and graphics to the nacelles, weathering as I go.

More when there is some more...:pop

Best, LB

**jetfool** · Feb 9, 2026, 03:58 PM

Looks fantastic!

**RRHandy** · Feb 9, 2026, 04:13 PM

Awesome

**f4u ausie** · Feb 9, 2026, 04:19 PM

Absolutely awesome Steve... Always wished I got a birdcage f4.. 4 me lighter colour show the dirty weathered effect so much more.. I'm looking forward to finished product almost as much as u

. I really like a dirty warbird!!

**Elbee** · Feb 28, 2026, 12:09 PM

Bomber Band of Brothers.

It's been a while since I've posted an update.

Frankly, would have thought I'd gotten her on her feet already, but.....

I couldn't figure why something looked off when I was designing my nose wheel.

It's the nose wheel door, which is a marvel of Motion-RC engineering, but it is too long at the front and covers the nose wheel strut when viewed from the side.

My guess this is done to allow better access to the retract mounting screws for faster assembly at the factory.

That said, I cut the door, used excess EPO from previous surgeries, and mounted the cut portion of the door to the forward fuselage.

A little filler, a little paint and abracadabra, it closer to 1:1 in my mind.

The other thing I've been doing is designing new main gear wheels and a new nose wheel.

I know there are many great authors who have done some good designs.

Though ones I looked at needed some tweaks and I like ball bearings, so I started from scratch.

Fitment has been a bit of a choke point only because I wanted to add the detail of hollow axles for the pass-thru brake lines.

davegee has gotten me hooked on this detail modification and to his credit, it is quite prominent once you know to look.

Thanks, Dave for the inspiration.

More when there is more.

Best, LB

**f4u ausie** · Feb 28, 2026, 01:20 PM

Just one more little elb detail!! Good pickup. Or observation. ... Fine wine..

**Elbee** · Mar 2, 2026, 02:33 PM

Hey Ya'll,

Quick look at the Main Wheels and Nose Wheel designs.

I had an inquiry, of sorts, so much easier to post what I've done.

This might explain why it's taken soooooo long to get these right.

I wanted these to be strong and as scale-like as my Corsair wheels.

These are slightly smaller so getting the hub as thick as reasonable was a big part.

The cutaway profile could use some tweaking, though for this project it is not too shabby.

I could not get the website to post the pictures so you could simply thumb through those.

So, I posted the pic as individuals, harder to view, but I did try.

Not certain why that happens, I will try an edit later and see if I can get the pix easier to view.

For now, no STLs, but you never know what the future will bring.:smirk:

If anyone chooses to improve on this design, that's good news, right?!

Quick Parts List

304 Stainless Steel Tubing 5mm OD X 0.6mm wall
Sealed Ball Bearings 5mm ID X 10mm OD X 4mm W
Sealed Ball Bearings 4mm ID X 8mm OD X 3mm W
Wheel Collar 5mm ID X 10mm X 5mm W

Best, LB

**jetfool** · Mar 2, 2026, 05:23 PM

Outstanding design! Your work amazes me.

**jetfool** · Mar 11, 2026, 02:46 PM

Elbee,

Just saw where Tom Hunt on the other site has posted his STL for his 3d bomb drop, vs 2, for his B-25. Don't know if you have one installed but this looks good with 4 droppable bombs. Just thought I'd give a heads up.
Best Regards, Rex
,

**davegee** · Mar 11, 2026, 04:20 PM

Originally posted by jetfool

Elbee,

Just saw where Tom Hunt on the other site has posted his STL for his 3d bomb drop, vs 2, for his B-25. Don't know if you have one installed but this looks good with 4 droppable bombs. Just thought I'd give a heads up.
Best Regards, Rex
,

Hi Rex: the name "Tom Hunt" rang a bell for me from over 20 years ago. I'm not sure if he is the same guy that I competed with way back when but he had a Mosquito that was absolutely eyewatering in every way. Can you tell me where you saw his post on the B-25? I'd like to see if he is the same guy I knew back then.

Thanks,

Davegee

**Elbee** · Mar 11, 2026, 04:25 PM

Originally posted by jetfool

Elbee,

Just saw where Tom Hunt on the other site has posted his STL for his 3d bomb drop, vs 2, for his B-25. Don't know if you have one installed but this looks good with 4 droppable bombs. Just thought I'd give a heads up.
Best Regards, Rex
,

Rex,

I believe I read Tom Hunt's post on RCG.

It's a sequential drop, i.e., the bombs drop after both doors are open instead of relying solely on gravity and drop 1,2,3,4 or 2,4.

Something like that, anyway, very cool.

I added inner bomb bay door skins, but have not given much thought about bomb drops.

Thanks for the information.

Best, Steve

**Elbee** · Mar 14, 2026, 05:01 PM

Mitchell Madmen,

On her feet for the first time.

I am tickled Desert Pink.

Next is some overall weathering on the upper surfaces, verticals and belly.

Those props could use a little love as well.

Still need to add the black radio antennae to the masts and verticals, inner bomb bay skins, and a few more stencils.

Then the flying gear and a bench test or two.

Hoping she's not tail heavy as without the battery she wants to drop on her tail.

More when there is more, but Woo-Hoo for now...

Best, LB

**jetfool** · Mar 14, 2026, 09:50 PM

Patiently waiting for more progress but take your time and it will be perfection in action. The turtle will win over the tortious.
Best Regards, Rex

**Elbee** · Mar 15, 2026, 09:55 AM

Originally posted by jetfool

Patiently waiting for more progress but take your time and it will be perfection in action. The turtle will win over the tortious.
Best Regards, Rex

jetfool

Rex,

Were there any pictures of the model attached to my post from yesterday?

Best, LB

**davegee** · Mar 15, 2026, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by Elbee

jetfool

Rex,

Were there any pictures of the model attached to my post from yesterday?

Best, LB

Hi LB: I was anticipating seeing some update pics of your B-25 from your post yesterday. I thought that your text alluded some included pics discussing your points, but I did not see any.

Regards,

Davegee