One of the distinctive sets of markings were those applied to the 345 Bomb Group, operating in the Pacific.
These planes represent the Hells Belles squadron - with a bright blue Bat emblazoned on the nose of their B25-J strafers.
The strafers carried 6 or 8 fixed .50cal MG in the nose, a possible 4 further fixed .50 cal package guns either side of the cockpit and the top turret packed a further 2 .50cal. They also had bombs in the bomb bay. Their tactics were to go low, with the element of surprise, hoping to shoot up the Japanese planes whilst they were still on the ground.
The models are 1/600 Tumbling Dice, USAAF markings from Doms Decals, the Bat nose & tail Apache markings a combination of hand painting & suitable letter transfers. I added a battery of nose guns and side package guns to the Tumbling Dice model.
A lone Bat in close up...
Very nice (we'd expect nothing less) - but shouldn't the .50s be black?
ReplyDeleteIn real life, yes. I painted them grey so I could give them a wash of black to make them look a bit more 3d.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work Colin...well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you! The tail transfers were a pain - but great once they were done.
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