Hi,

I'm thinking of trying to do a Navy B-25, PBJ-1. From the Revell B-25J, 1/48th, how difficult is this to do? Is there a conversion kit out there?

Thanks,

Mike

Check your references, B-25Js were navalized and became PBJ-1Js. Mostly by swapping out radios. Some by adding gun packages to the front of the plane. Seems to me the only differences then are antennas and the gun packs.

Lonestar Models has a resin nose radar pod used on a PBJ-1J (B-25J), and the wingtip radar pod used on other versions such as the PBJ-1H (B-25H). Al

Thanks to you both. I'll check out Lone Star Models for the nose.
Mike

Certainly an interesting build. Of course it would be painted in the standard tri-color scheme.

I did a quick check on Wikipedia for more information, and was surprised that there were several variants, all flown by the Marines.

"U.S. Navy and USMC[edit]

The PBJ-1 was a navalized version of the USAAF B-25. It had its origin in a deal cut in mid-1942 between the Navy and the USAAF. As part of the deal, 50 B-25Cs and 152 B-25Ds were transferred to the Navy from the USAAF. The bombers carried Navy serial numbers beginning with 34998. The first PBJ-1s arrived in February 1943. They were used by Marine Corps pilots, beginning with VMB-413. Many of them were equipped with a search radar with a retractable radome fitted in place of the ventral turret.

Large numbers of B-25H and J variants were delivered to the Navy as PBJ-1H and PBJ-1J respectively. These aircraft joined, but did not necessarily replace, the earlier PBJs.

The PBJs were operated almost exclusively by the Marine Corps as land-based bombers. To operate them, the U.S. Marine Corps established a number of bomber squadrons, beginning with VMB-413, in March 1943 at Cherry Point, North Carolina. Eight VMB squadrons were flying PBJs by the end of 1943, forming the initial Marine Medium Bombardment Group. Four more squadrons were in the process of formation in late 1945, but had not yet deployed by the time the war ended.

Operational use of the Marine Corps PBJ-1s began in March 1944. The Marine PBJs operated from the Philippines, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa during the last few months of the Pacific war. Their primary mission was the long range interdiction of enemy shipping that was trying to run the blockade which was strangling Japan. The weapon of choice during these missions was usually the five-inch HVAR rocket, eight of which could be carried on underwing racks.

Many of the PBJ-1C and D versions carried a rather ugly, bulbous antenna for an APS-3 search radar sticking out of the upper part of the transparent nose. On the PBJ-1H and J, the APS-3 search radar antenna was usually housed inside a ventral or wingtip radome. Some PBJ-1Js had their top turrets removed to save weight, especially towards the end of the war when Japanese fighters had become relatively scarce."

Joel