1:72 North-American B-25B Mitchells Doolittle Raid, USS Hornet, and April 18th 1942

Kits-World 1:72 B-25B Mitchell - the Doolittle raid, USS Hornet, April 18, 1942

This is a set of wet decals in 1:72 scale from the manufacturer Kits-World, focused thematically on the B-25B Mitchell machines from the raid launched from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942. The package contains no plastic or resin parts - it is purely sheets with decals intended for transfer onto a finished model that has been painted and sealed with clear. Before buying, check against the illustration of the sheet that the set matches the machine you are building, in scale as well as in version and markings.

The real subject

The B-25 Mitchell was a twin-engine medium bomber with a twin vertical tail and a nosewheel undercarriage. The B-25B version belonged to the early batches of the type. For the operation of April 1942 sixteen machines took off from the deck of an aircraft carrier, which was a non-standard way of employing an aircraft of this category; the machines were lightened and modified for the range and for the takeoff from a short run.

Application tips

• Apply the decal onto smooth gloss clear; a matte surface under the decal causes silvering.
• Cut the motif out close to the edge of the carrier film, soak it for a few seconds and let it rest on a paper towel until the film releases.
• Fine-tune the position with a brush and clean water, then press the moisture out with a cotton swab from the center outward.
• Use a decal softener on engraving and riveting; on flat surfaces it tends to be unnecessary.
• Once dry, seal the whole model with a matte or satin clear, which optically hides the edges of the film.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want to replace the decals from the box with a better sheet
• Builders of bombers in 1:72 scale
• Anyone interested in the particular historical markings of the machines of April 1942

The package contains decals only. A model, paints, clear and softener are not part of it.