North-American PBJ-1J Mitchell (Limited Edition)

North American Aviation's B-25 Mitchell was named in honor of Major General William Mitchell, considered the father of the United States Air Force.
Two years after his death in 1936, the Air Corps issued Circular No. 38-385, which outlined the requirements for the next generation of bombers.
This included the ability to carry 1,200-pound bombs 1,200 miles at a speed of at least 200 mph.
Among the companies that submitted designs to meet this requirement was N.A.A. Its proposal was a twin-engine medium-range bomber, initially designated the design number NA-40.
This design followed N.A.A.'s somewhat successful but canceled NA-39 design just two years earlier. The NA-40 first flew toward the end of 1939, with the war in Europe already underway.
After numerous modifications and improvements, culminating in the design of the NA-62, the type finally entered service in 1941, now designated the B-25 "Mitchell." However, it was a close call, as the NA-40 initially failed to secure orders in 1939, and orders intended for France never materialized due to competition.
Although the B-25 was new to production, another significant modification was made, replacing the constant dihedral of the wings with a slight S-shaped configuration just outboard of the engines.
There is no doubt that the B-25 was a particularly rugged and adaptable aircraft, despite the type's original designation as a medium-range bomber with a glazed nose and manned rear gun (B-25C).
It was capable of high- and low-altitude bombing, strafing raids, photo reconnaissance, and anti-submarine patrols.
The Mitchell, in its B-25H version, was used as a gunship, complete with heavy 75 mm cannon armament in the nose, up to a version called the "Strafer," which housed a fearsome total of eight cannons in the nose and four in forward-facing nacelles on the side walls directly below the cockpit area.
The "J" variant was the last production type built, with a total of 4,318 units out of a total production of 9,816 B-25s.
The B-25 saw service in all theaters of World War II, from the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East and the Mediterranean to Europe.
This type remained in service in countries such as Brazil until around 1970.
The PBJ-1J was a naval version used by the US Marine Corps (USMC) in World War II.
It was adapted for naval operations and often equipped with a radar system for anti-ship missions.

Plastic model kit - limited edition

• with photo-etched parts
• rocket mounts
• highly detailed surface
• cockpit with many details

scale 1:48

unbuilt / unpainted

Paint and glue not included