[PappyB]

Can I get opinions on this one from folks that own it? I had to dump my FM Doolittle for space reasons and am thinking of replacing it with this one in my collection... I seem to recall a thread about some inaccuracies with this model, but I haven't been able to dig it up?

It shouldn't have the twin stinger in the tail, right?

Been looking for good reference pics, haven't found many -- some seem to ahve no guns, but I had thought broomsticks were used to make people believe they were armed (guns removed for weight?)

I could be all wet though...

[mustangdriver]

That is very true. Broomsticks were pa inted black and used as guns. The amount of detail to the gun area was left up to the crews. Some had twin broomsticks in the tail, some had only one. Some went even as far as to paint tracks by the guns to make it look like they could elevate as well! Doolittle's B-25 had twin broomsticks in the tail. I have the Corgi doolittle B-25(and now your FM one). I think that the Corgi B-25's are great.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

That is very true. Broomsticks were pa inted black and used as guns. The amount of detail to the gun area was left up to the crews. Some had twin broomsticks in the tail, some had only one. Some went even as far as to paint tracks by the guns to make it look like they could elevate as well! Doolittle's B-25 had twin broomsticks in the tail. I have the Corgi doolittle B-25(and now your FM one). I think that the Corgi B-25's are great.

THanks for the info, Mustang! Good to know my memory hasn't completely failed me

[STARMAN 352ND]

On 1 April 1942, following two months of intensive training, 16 modified B-25B Mitchell medium bombers, plus their five-man volunteer crews and maintenance personnel, were loaded onto the USS Hornet at Alameda, California. Each plane carried four 500-pound bombs (three high-explosive and one incendiary), extra fuel tanks, and a reduced suite of defensive machine guns, consisting of two .50-caliber guns in an upper turret, and a .30-caliber machine gun in the nose.Each plane received a 225-gallon fuel tank in the bomb bay, a 60-gallon tank in the lower turret, and a 160-gallon tank in the passageway. At least some of the B-25s were also fitted with two dummy wooden machine gun barrels, fashioned from broomsticks.
Broomsticks were placed sticking out of the rear of the planes. When painted black the broomsticks looked like machine guns to enemy fighters. By reducing weight and increasing fuel the range of the bombers was increased.
Your memory is fine....
JP

[Tyler109]

The B-25 in Dayton was supposed to be a replica of the one Doolittle flew and it has 2 broomsticks in the rear. I have the model signed by 4 of the survivng Doolittle Raiders and it's probably my most prized aircraft, I highly reccomend it.

[PappyB]

thx fellas, leaning towards picking it up... though I notice in Tri's pics that it appears to be the only B-25 with that silly fake window above the cockpit

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by PappyB

thx fellas, leaning towards picking it up... though I notice in Tri's pics that it appears to be the only B-25 with that silly fake window above the cockpit

True...I just over look it.
JP

[parsig9]

Just display it at eye level and you'll never notice the window. Mine's up. It's a great piece for the history alone and I like the big AMRY letters under the wing.

[djjeffhall]

PappyB,
The Corgi Doolittle "fake window" is accurate.

It's been written more eloquently elsewhere but the basic story is Doolittle navagator, not expecting to launch for another day, got plastered. Climbed on board, pointed vague East and siad "Tokyo is that-a-way," and went back for a nap. He had just received a care package from his wife and used the enclosed blue blanket to cover the window. Doolittle could barely wake him when it was time to bail out.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

PappyB,
The Corgi Doolittle "fake window" is accurate.

It's been written more eloquently elsewhere but the basic story is Doolittle navagator, not expecting to launch for another day, got plastered. Climbed on board, pointed vague East and siad "Tokyo is that-a-way," and went back for a nap. He had just received a care package from his wife and used the enclosed blue blanket to cover the window. Doolittle could barely wake him when it was time to bail out.

haha that would really make your day if you woke up and everyone else is gone and your plane is going down. Worse still, would feel pretty stupid if you just slept through and went with the plane.