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USAAF · Medium Bomber · Strafer · Doolittle Raid · PBJ Maritime Patrol

North American B-25 Mitchell

B-25B / C / D / G / H / J · USAAF & USMC PBJ · 1941–1945
USAAF / USN route with unit, theatre and markings context

The North American B-25 Mitchell was one of the most versatile Allied medium bombers: famous for the Doolittle Raid, brutal low-level strafing in the Pacific, Mediterranean bombing, skip-bombing and Marine PBJ patrol work. For modellers it means choosing the nose first: glass-nose bomber, solid-nose strafer, cannon-nose gunship or PBJ maritime aircraft — each changes the guns, markings, weathering and payload.

5–6
Crew
2×R-2600
Radials
.50 cal
Heavy guns
Doolittle
Iconic raid

What paints do I need?

Generate a practical starter paint list for this North American B-25 Mitchell build, with common brand equivalents.

Scheme basis: USAAF / US Navy. Treat these as modelling equivalents rather than laboratory-perfect matches; always check your chosen aircraft, theatre and date.
ColourUseTamiyaVallejoAKMr Hobby
Olive Drab / Sea BlueMain upper colour depending on USAAF or US Navy subjectXF-62 / XF-1771.043 / 71.300AK RC023 / RC258H52 / H54
Neutral Grey / Intermediate BlueUndersides or naval mid-toneXF-53 / XF-1871.051 / 71.299AK RC024 / RC256H53 / H56
Interior Green / Bronze GreenCockpit and internal structuresXF-5 + yellow mix71.137AK RC230H58/H302
Insignia White / BlackMarkings, invasion stripes and walkwaysXF-2 / XF-6971.001 / 71.057AK RC004 / RC022H1 / H12
Natural Metal / AluminiumNMF aircraft, chipping and landing gearLP-1177.701AK Xtreme Metal AluminiumSM201
Zinc Chromate / Yellow GreenWheel wells and internal areas where appropriateXF-471.094AK RC262H329
Exhaust/rubber/weatheringExhaust, tyres, gun staining and oil streaksXF-1/XF-64/XF-85Black/Brown/RubberAK weathering coloursH12/H47

B-25 operations · 1941–1945

The B-25 Mitchell was a medium bomber, gunship, skip-bomber, anti-shipping aircraft and patrol bomber. It fought from the Doolittle Raid to North Africa, Italy, Burma, New Guinea and the Pacific islands. A good model starts by choosing the role: early Doolittle B-25B, glass-nose bomber, solid-nose strafer, B-25G/H cannon-nose aircraft, late B-25J or USMC PBJ.

5–6Crew
2×R-2600Radials
JLate route
PBJMarine route
B-25 real reference
Real B-25 photo route: check glass/solid nose, turret fit, side guns, theatre markings, nose art, bomb load and weathering before paint.

Role & strengths

  • USAAF medium bomber, low-level strafer and skip-bomber
  • Doolittle Raid, Mediterranean, CBI, New Guinea, Pacific and USMC PBJ routes
  • Glass nose, solid gun nose, cannon nose and late J-model variants
  • Olive Drab/Neutral Grey, natural metal, US stars-and-bars and nose art
  • Radial exhaust, oil staining, chipped walkways, coral dust and gun soot

Key theatres

  • Doolittle Raid from USS Hornet
  • North Africa, Italy and Mediterranean bombing
  • New Guinea low-level strafing and skip bombing
  • USMC PBJ maritime patrol in the Pacific

Specification B-25J

Crew5–6Length52 ft 11 inWingspan67 ft 7 inMax speedc.275 mphPowerplant2× Wright R-2600 radialsArmament.50 cal MGs, bombs/rockets; G/H with cannon routes

Survivors today

B-25 survivor reference

Surviving B-25s are useful for nose shape, cockpit framing, turrets, side guns, nacelles, undercarriage, bomb bay and weathering layout, but restored paint schemes still need subject checking.

View survivors

Timeline highlights

Build this B-25 as…

Pick the nose and theatre first. A Doolittle B-25B, Mediterranean glass-nose bomber, Pacific strafer, B-25G/H cannon ship and PBJ patrol bomber all need different details.

Aircraft identity

★USAAF
BGBomb Groups
2×Radials
.50Browning MGs
NOSENose choice
PBJMarine route
Nose warning

B-25B/C/D/G/H/J and PBJ aircraft are not interchangeable. The nose, guns, turrets and markings must match the subject.

Weathering warning

Pacific strafers can be filthy, but Mediterranean and Doolittle aircraft need different restraint. Theatre matters.

Paint scheme cards

EarlyOlive Drab / Neutral Grey

Doolittle and early bomber routes use OD/Neutral Grey with restrained wear.

PacificFaded OD, coral dust, gun soot

Low-level strafers need faded paint, dust, oil, gun staining and hard-used nacelles.

LateNatural metal route

Late B-25Js can use natural metal, but panel variation should be subtle.

PBJNavy/Marine patrol finish

PBJ routes need maritime patrol weathering, radar/antenna checks and USMC markings.

Campaign cards

Doolittle Raid

B-25B aircraft with clean early-war finish, carrier take-off context and very specific markings.

Mediterranean

Bomb Groups in North Africa/Italy with dusty OD, nose art and medium-bomber weathering.

New Guinea / Pacific

Solid-nose strafers with heavy guns, skip-bombing, dust, oil and brutal low-level wear.

USMC PBJ

Marine patrol route with naval colours, radar/antenna options and maritime grime.

Build difficulty and related guides

Overall difficulty

High. Twin-engine alignment, turrets, glazing, guns and bomb loads need careful sequencing.

Variant difficulty

Very high. Nose and turret choices can make or break accuracy.

Weathering difficulty

High. Pacific, Mediterranean, natural metal and PBJ routes need different treatment.

Paint codesOlive Drab, Neutral Grey, natural metal and Navy/Marine patrol finishesTechniqueRadial exhaust, gun staining, nose art and Pacific weatheringArticleB-25 kits, variants and Mitchell weathering guide

B-25 Bomb Groups and Marine PBJ units

Sortable B-25 unit cards covering Doolittle Raid, Mediterranean, CBI, New Guinea strafers, cannon-nose aircraft, USMC PBJs and survivor/reference routes.

Route:Sort:

B-25 operating map

Variant selector

Airfield info

Click a marker to show linked B-25 unit cards and modelling notes.

Campaign timeline

Survivors

Books and reference sources

B-25 build guide

Kit choice wizard

B-25 videos, photos and archive material

Media replaces the old separate walkaround tab: cockpit, exhaust, undercarriage, markings, survivor references, archive imagery and video cards are grouped here.