Want an easy upgrade to any 1/48 North American B-25 Mitchell? Step right up to the new Quickboost B-25 Mitchell landing lights set that provide a beautiful replacement to what is supplied in the kit. The supplied instructions identify where new Quickboost replacements go but it’s quite easy to understand where the parts go. The parts are packaged in the standard Quickboost re-closable packaging with a paper stiffener along with the instructions.

These parts will fit the Accurate Miniature series of Mitchell’s (3430, B-25B; 3431, B-25C/D; 3432 B-25G; 3430-0200, B-25B; and 480030 B-25C/D) as well as the later kits re-released by Italeri (2650, B-25C/D) and Academy (12290, B-25G; 12302, B-25B). They will also dress up the Monogram kit (5500, B-25H; 5502, B-25J; 5507 B-25J) that has been re-released by Revell (5528, B-25J; 5753, B-25J; 4520 B-25J; 85-5512, B-25J; 5725, B-25J) as well as Revell’s older glass nose Mitchell (H-285, B-25B; 4585, B-25C/D). I suppose you could do some surgery and use this set on the 1957 Aurora 1/48 B-25 Mitchell, but I’m guessing that kit is worth more unbuilt. I’ve included photos of both the Accurate Miniatures and the Monogram B-25 leading edge landing light housings. For all practical purposes they are essentially the same. Both are boxed in and both have a seam going straight though the landing light reflector.

Quickboost has molded the landing lights perfectly in light grey resin and clear resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost landing lights are supplied on a two resin sprues with thin resin attachments to the parts that should minimize any cleanup. Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash the parts to remove any remaining mold release and prime them first. They will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal plastic glues or solvents will not react with the resin.

Be very careful removing the parts from the resin block, especially the landing light bulbs. I used a photo-etched razor saw to remove the parts and still managed to lose one bulb. The second one was surrounded with tape to keep it from flying anywhere. I spray painted the reflector with Tamiya TS-30 ‘Silver Plate’ and let dry. I glued the B-25 wing halves together and let dry well. Make sure the kit light reflector is glued well because when you drill the hole for the receptacle, it will just spread the wing halves apart. I painted the landing light housing Vallejo Black and let dry. I used a #51 carbide drill bit to drill the hole into the center of the kit reflector and then adjusted the diameter with a round mini file to fit. The landing light bulb was secured with Future acrylic and allowed to dry. Just to make sure, I added another drop of Future over the bulb and reflector to add some sparkle. Total preparation time for each landing light was under ten minutes.

This product is a good way to enhance your North American B-25 Mitchell and well worth the time and cost. This product is highly recommended due to the superior appearance of the Quickboost parts.

Thanks to Aires Hobby Models and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this set.