The NA-40 first flew towards the end of 1939, when the war in Europe was already underway. After numerous modifications and improvements that culminated in the design of the NA-62, the type eventually entered service in 1941, now designated as B-25 ‘Mitchell’. It was a close call, as the NA-40 originally failed to win any orders back in 1939, and orders that were meant to materialise for France, never did due to competition. Whilst the B-25 was new to the production lines, a further, significant modification was made, replacing the constant dihedral of the wing to that of a slight dihedral, just outboard of the engines. This gives the Mitchell its quasi-gullwing and removed flight instability.

The Mitchell saw service as a gunship in its B-25H incarnation, complete with heavy 75mm cannon armament in the nose, through to a version known as the ‘Strafer’ which packed a fearsome total of 8 guns in the nose, as well as four in forward facing pods which sat on the side walls, just below the cockpit area. With the subject of this HKM kit release.

The B-25 served in every theatre ofWW2, from the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Europe, with the type continuing in service with nations such as Brazil, until around 1970. One of the most audacious missions of the war, the Doolittle Raid, provided an early morale boost for America, following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbour. In this instance, sixteen B-25B medium bombers attacked Tokyo, having taken-o from the carrier USS Hornet. The aircraft were stripped of unnecessary weight to allow them to take o from the relatively short floating runway.

The B-25H was powered by 2 ×Wright R-2600-92-14 Twin Cyclone 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 1,700 hp each, and it also carried a heavy 75mm cannon in the nose. 9 x .50cal M2 Browning machine guns across waist, tail, dorsal and forward gun positions. A typical medium range mission would see the B-25Hcarry around 3,000lbs of bombs. The wingspan was 67ft 7in, with a length of 52ft 1 1in. A crew of 6 was typical for the B-25H.

Big 1/32 scale

Wingspan 643mm

Length 498mm

Includes photo etch parts and decal sheets for distinct markings

Paint and glue not included