When it was discovered that B-25s made really good strafers, it was decided to see how it would do with a really big gun in the nose. A B-25C was pulled from the production line and a lightweight 75mm gun was then installed. After a bit of tweaking (basically to keep the gun from tearing the plane apart when fired), a workable solution was found and the B-25G was the result. When production switched to the B-25J, it was decided to go a gunship version of this modified B-25 and so the B-25H was the result. It was in every way a standard J bird, but had a new nose as on the B-25G with a single 75mm cannon and four 50mm machine guns. Though side gun packs were available, rarely were they ever fitted as it was felt the extra speed was more important that four other guns.
 

THE KIT

Those of you who haven't already seen or built the earlier B-25J can take a peek at the B-25J preview for a look at what is on the sprues and a general feel of what you get with the kit. Basically, Hasegawa has removed those items for the glass-nosed J and replaced them with H specific sprues, or in this case sprue. To the right is the F-sprue which contains the new nose, guns and a plug-in section for the right side under the co-pilot. The additional bits for an H (which is basically the shell racks in the interior) are already part of an existing sprue. The only thing I could really find missing was the additional gunner's seat and, of course, the large breech of the 75mm cannon, which is visible when one looks into the plane via the forward access hatch. This isn't as terrible as it sounds for on the Accurate Miniatures 1/48 B-25H, from which this kit is based, the 75mm gun assembly was one of the worst fitting parts of the kit.

In all other respects, this kit is exactly like the earlier one.

Instructions are the usual superior ones that one expects from Japan's premier airplane kit maker. As usual both Gunze, FS (where appropriate) and generic color names are given. It would be interesting to know just what zinc chromate type 1 is as it is listed as a paint color. I'm thinking it is the green and not the yellow. Be careful as Mitchells used the yellow chromate for a primer except in the cockpit where an interior green was the main color. Markings are for three planes of the 82 BS/12 BG, an India based unit, from late 1943. All are similarly painted and all have a neat 'face' on the nose as seen in the box art. Three different 'faces' are provided as they were not identical. Naturally, all have girlie art on the side of the plane. First is the box art plane 'Eatin Kitty' (I have no idea to what that is referring.......), next is 'LeRoy's Joy' and finally the famous 'Dog Daize'. My last experience with the Hasegawa kit decals was very positive, other than the lighter colors being a bit transparent.

CONCLUSIONS