Model of the Month: February, 1999
John Sebastian
I was given this model by Ed Gurule back in 1993 with his hopes that I would finish it reasonably quickly so he could use it as a reference for building a larger version. Being a novice at the time (still am now!), I accepted the model wondering if I had the skills to build it, having only completed a Goldberg Gentle Lady glider and a Goldberg Freedom 20 trainer prior to this time. Poor Ed waited and waited, probably after a while figuring that the plane was going to remain a lumber yard in the rafters of my garage for a long time.
However, progress was being made as the years passed, albeit slowly. I changed my mind about engines three times, starting with Saito 4-strokes (Ed’s), then O.S. 0.60 2-strokes, then finally O.S. LA 0.40 2-strokes because they were cheapest and easiest. This final engine decision required re-working the engine compartments to accommodate the 0.40s. For the sake of simplicity, I had installed the fixed wire gear which came with the kit. A year or so later, I ripped out the fixed gear and installed cheap mechanical retracts. If I was going to build this bird, it might as well do what the real one did; I was disappointed when I discovered that the real B-25’s gear retracted fully into the fuselage, unlike the model’s gear, which is only partial. I built the wing in 5 sections: the two outboard sections were built on a Great Planes’ wing jig-very helpful. The nacelle sections and the center sections were built and then all five sections glued together with a lot of glue and hope.
What!? Instructions with no pictures? Plans without the exact layout of the radio and pushrod locations? Oh oh… The construction booklet author did however have a sense of humor which became apparent when I read… "put the glue into the box and shake it up and pour out the finished model." The only other building challenges I faced involved a feral cat we befriended who, at various times over the years urine-sprayed the plans and clawed the wing sheeting.
The most enjoyable aspects of this kit were the detailing of the cockpit and forward compartment. The kit came with vacuum formed bits such as chairs, instrument panel and center console, etc. These were painted and installed with some additions of my own such as straight pins bent to represent the throttle levers and thin tubing to represent electrical lines. Guns barrels were made with 3/32 dowel drilled out. I also scratch built the dorsal turret mechanism which is actuated by full left or right rudder. The mechanism was made from a tiny electric motor and some plastic gears from a toy car. Sometimes I am lucky and the turret actually moves when it is supposed to.
At this writing, I have yet to fly this bird. How will anything this heavy fly anyway? Curtis Kitteringham has generously offered his help whenever I am ready. For now though, I think the B-25 is best left in the rafters of the garage a while for me to just stare at …Thanks for reading!