Preview: 1/48th scale B-25 PBJ-J1 from Hong Kong Models...

Hong Kong Models new 1/48th scale PBJ-J1 Mitchell is due for release in time for Xmas. We look at the information on this kit including the box top marking aircraft in our preview...

Preview: 1/48th scale B-25 PBJ-J1 from Hong Kong Models...

B-25 PBJ-J1 Mitchell

From Hong Kong Models

1/48th scale kit

Plastic injection moulded kit with photo-etch for seat belts included

Markings for two aircraft

Release due in November 2024

Product Link on the Hong Kong Models Website

The Subject: The B-25 PBJ-J1 Mitchell

The B-25 Mitchell's introduction to Naval Aviation came under unique circumstances when 16 of the bombers under the command of Army Air Forces Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) for a raid on Tokyo on 18 April 1942. Just two months later, the Navy contracted for a percentage of North American's B-25 production. Designated PBJs, the aircraft became a mainstay in Marine Corps medium bombing squadrons. The PBJ-1J was the U.S. Navy's designation for the B-25J (Blocks −1 through −35), it had improvements in it's radio and other equipment. This aircraft is virtually identical to its cousin, the PBJ-1H Mitchell, which is also just ground attack variant of the U.S. Army Air Corps/U.S. Air Force B-25 Mitchell bomber. The only notable difference between the 1H and 1J model aircraft is that the 1J omitted the 75 mm cannon and replaced it with an additional 4 x 12.7 mm Browning machine guns in the nose (two either side). Beside the standard armament package, the U.S. Marine Corps marine bomber squadrons (VMB) acted as land-based bombers or ground attackers. 

The boxart "MB 9" is one of the choices of this kit...

Marine Bombing Squadron (VMB) 413 flew the aircraft's first sorties in the Solomon Islands, and subsequent flights included daylight bombing over Rabaul, as well as night heckling missions. The Navy's use of the PBJ was mainly experimental in nature, including catapult and arresting gear trials aboard the carrier USS Shangri-La (CV-38) in November 1944.

 They were also armed with the "Tiny Tim" rockets 

The Kit: 

Hong Kong Models will have 2 new releases of 1/48th scale subjects around November. The first is the  1/48th scale  B-25 PBJ-J1. The second kit that we saw from the photos at the Tokyo model show was the 1/48th scale A-20 Boston III, - of course a brand new tool in this scale.

The interior is just as detailed as the 1/32nd and previous Mk.I 48th scale kit...

This new kit in 1/48th scale shares the same boxart as it's larger, 1/32nd scale cousin. There are many of the same features in this kit, just smaller in scale:

The feature list of this kit:

Photo-etched parts

Color manual and a poster

Realistic Surface Detail

Detailed cockpit

Detailed full Engines

Decals for two aircraft are included in this kit, one is the MB-9 from the VMB-611 in the Philippines in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two.  Marine Attack Squadron 611 (VMA-611) was an attack squadron in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The squadron was originally commissioned as a medium bomber squadron flying PBJ-1C/Ds during World War II. VMB-611 was the only Marine bomber squadron to operate in the Philippines during the war and was quickly decommissioned following the surrender of Japan.

This kit is due for release in September - You can get more information on this kit from the Hong Kong Models website.