DB-7B Boston III

HK Models, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The Douglas A-20 Havoc (company designation DB-7) was an American light bomber, attack aircraft, night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II.

Designed to meet an Army Air Corps requirement for a bomber, it was ordered by France for their air force before the USAAC decided it would also meet their requirements. French DB-7s were the first to see combat; after the fall of France, the bomber served with the Royal Air Force under the service name Boston. From 1941, night fighter and intruder versions were given the service name Havoc. In 1942 USAAF A-20s saw combat in North Africa.

It served with several Allied air forces, principally the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), the Soviet Air Forces (VVS), Soviet Naval Aviation (AVMF), the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom and the Royal Australian Air Force. A total of 7,478 aircraft were built, of which more than a third served with Soviet units. It was also used by the air forces of South Africa, France, and the Netherlands during the war, and by Brazil post-war.

In most British Commonwealth air forces, the bomber variants were known as Boston, while the night fighter and intruder variants were named Havoc. The exception was the Royal Australian Air Force, which used the name Boston for all variants. The USAAF used the P-70 designation to refer to the night fighter variants.

The subject of this kit, the DB-7B, was the first batch of this model to be ordered directly for the Royal Air Force. This was done in February 1940. These were powered by the same engines as the DB-7A, with better armour protection. Importantly, these had larger fuel tanks and they were suitable for use by the RAF as light bombers. This was the batch for which the name "Boston" was first assigned but since the DB-7s intended for France entered service in the RAF first, the aircraft in this order were called the Boston Mk III.

Among other combat missions, they took part in the attacks on the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen during their dash through the English Channel (Operation Cerberus) and the raid on Dieppe ("Operation Jubilee").

300 Boston IIIs were produced and delivered. Some of these were converted for use as night fighters.

Bostons in 1:48 scale

AMT released their 1:48 scale A-20B/C Boston kit in the mid 1990s as the second in a series of four Boston/Havocs. This was a nicely detailed, generally accurate offering, and it was a shame that it disappeared from hobby shop shelves when AMT stopped producing aircraft models some years ago. Italeri re-released this kit in 2006, but we have not seen any new Bostons in the following decades.

Until now.

HK Models’ 1:48 scale DB-7B Boston III is an all-new moulding.

The model comprises 205 pieces in grey coloured plastic, 21 parts in clear plastic, 30 parts on one photo-etched fret, six pieces in white metal, markings for two subjects and a detailed instruction booklet.

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Thumbnail panels:

The outline of the model captures the spirit of the early Boston with its skinny fuselage, rakishly angled horizontal stabilizers, glass nose and the near flat dihedral of the slim, graceful wings.

Recessed surface textures are gorgeous. They are crisp and restrained with slightly raised inspection hatches, fine and consistent grids and rows of rivets plus all the other features you could think of. The photos of the light grey plastic does not do the kit justice.

In places there is also the hint of oil-canning effect, especially on the engine nacelles and fuselage.

Assembly starts in the cockpit. This is thoroughly fitted out with busy sidewalls, floor, control column and instrument panel.

The instrument panel dials look a little bit undernourished on the sprue but either careful painting or the use of the decal overlays should pop the detail right out.

Photo-etched harness straps are offered for the pilot’s, navigator’s and gunner’s seats.

The canopy may be positioned open although the life-raft is missing.

The navigator’s nose position is also busy and convincing.

Three chunky white metal weights are supplied for the nose. This is a nice touch as the model would otherwise be a definite tail-sitter.

A fully detailed bomb bay is included. The sidewall detail is deep and impressive. Ordnance appears to be four RAF 250 lb MC bombs. Bomb bay doors are a separate single part. They may be posed open by slicing the single part down the centreline.

The wings are conventionally designed with upper and lower, port and starboard parts. Elevators, ailerons, flaps and rudder are all moulded as separate parts and should be easy to pose to taste.

Engine nacelles are benefited from separate interior sidewalls.

The kit cowlings feature ten capsule-shape outlines. I think these outlines represent the field-installed cooling vents. These were permanently open, although the openings were sheeted over on some later examples.

Unlike HK Models’ new 1:32 scale A-20G, the engines are made up from a very modest number of parts – just five per side. Detail is still nice and considering these are ensconced in the tight-fitting cowlings they are more than adequate. The only addition I might made is a wire ignition harness.

The main undercarriage legs are made up from either all-plastic parts or a combination of white metal and plastic – the choice is yours. The instructions direct us to glue the undercarriage legs to the roof of the landing bay, but this would leave the legs exposed to potential damage for the balance of assembly. I will try to find a way to fix the undercarriage legs after construction and painting.

The undercarriage doors are designed to be posed open but they may be closed by simply slicing off the hinges and gluing the doors in place.

The wheels are split along the centreline. They are flattened and bulged.

The gunner’s position in the rear fuselage is also fully fitted out with seat, equipment, ammo boxes and bulkheads. The raised frame and stringer detail is moulded all the way to the aft of the fuselage.

Options include alternative rear guns, different styles of rear gunner’s clear covers, including the option of open or closed, two styles of wheel hub and more.

Clear parts are thin and free from distortion.

Markings

Markings are supplied for two aircraft:

• Boston III Z2216 RH-A, 88 Squadron, RAF Attlebridge, Norfolk, UK, August 1942

• DB-7B AL445 K, 15th BS USAAF, RAF Molesworth, Cambs UK, Summer 1942.

Decals are printed by Cartograf in Italy to a very high standard. The markings are all in register and colours look good.\

I was delighted to see that HK Models had released a 2025-standard 1:48 scale Boston kit.

Detail is excellent, surface textures are first class and it is great to see fully fitted out nose, cockpit and tail position as well as nacelle interiors and more. The bonus of nose weights and white metal landing gear legs are another couple of modeller friendly nods.

HK Models’ DB-7B Boston III is an welcome addition to their growing  line-up of 1:48 scale bombers.

Highly Recommended

Thanks to HK Models for the sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2025 by Brett Green
Page Created 1 August, 2025
Last updated 1 August, 2025

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