HKM01F016. PBJ-1J Mitchell. Hong Kong Models. 1:48 Scale

PBJ-1J Mitchell, 1:48 Scale

HKM01F016 - Hong Kong Models

In mid-1942, the US Army Air Corps and the US Navy made an inter-service agreement; in exchange for the USN cancelling the Boeing XPBB Sea Ranger patrol flying boat and its associated Boeing Renton plant, the USAAC would transfer 202 North American B-25 Mitchells and its production plant in Kansas. This agreement was made to free up production capacity for the B-29 Superfortress, which was a high-priority project at that time. The transferred B-25s then received the designation PBJ-1 Mitchell and were assigned to patrol duties that the cancelled XPBB was originally designed for.

By mid-1943, most of the PBJ-1s were operated by the US Marine Corps as support patrol bombers. As a result of the USAAC changing the assigned role of the Mitchells into that of a close-air support gunship, the design of the PBJ-1 (at that time completely identical to its army counterpart) was changed. With the addition of six frontal-firing M2 Browning machine guns, the USMC saw further potential uses of the PBJ-1 against ground and naval targets, therefore requesting a further upgunned version later designated the PBJ-1J for production. Compared to the B-25J on which it was based, the PBJ-1 removed the nose gunner position in favour of making room for a further six Browning MGs and a radar, bringing the total gun count to a staggering twelve. The PBJ would go on to serve as a long-range cargo interceptor from March 1944 until the end of the war.

Kit features include:

• Full colour gloss instruction manual
• Included A3 sized poster
• Photo Etch parts
• 3D printed parts
• Nose weight
• Markings for VMB-611  Moret Field, Phillipines
• Markings for VMB-614 MCAS Cherry Point USA

Suitable for ages 14 and up. Scale 1:72. The completed model has a wing span of 429.5mm, is345mm long and has 262 parts. Also included are 3D printed parts and a Nose weight.

Glue and paint are required for this model. (Not included).