1/72 Scale B-24 Liberator

Post by **DBMiller** » Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:11 pm

Here I go, my first group build! I'm 3 days into a cold (so the start of the project should be a bit slow), I'm laid off work for January, and I have 2 kits still to be finished, but I'm up for this!
I have several bomber kits but I decided on the B-24D from Revell in 1/72 scale. Oddly enough, I chose this before I knew a B-24 was one of the prizes! I inherited it, and a few other kits, from the grandfather of a family friend. She didn't want any of his old kits but, of course, I did! As you can see it is an old "Warbird" boxing and a bit tattered. Some (many) of the parts have detached (or been detached , but not by me!) from their sprues.
Another reason I chose this kit is that I have a set of special edition decals and color schemes for the 50th anniversary of the Liberator in 1985. I got these as part of the 1989 IPMS national convention package. Also in the package was a nice booklet with B-24 diagrams and photos. I wasn't there as an entrant, it was just a nice vacation in San Diego with a great model show and a visit to the "Top Gun" naval air station as part of the package!
I have a few after market parts picked out for purchase as the build progresses (if that's ok with the rules that I get them later) but I can't afford them just now.

On to the pictures:

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Post by **ModelingMatt** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:03 pm

A bright colored assembly plane would look pretty cool, not your usual olive drab fare.

Post by **DBMiller** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:50 pm

I thought about that! I have some pictures of kits painted up that way and they sure are eye catchers!

Post by **Jamesday1998** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:28 am

should look really cool when its done and that looks like a absolutely ancient kit!!

Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 4:58 pm

25 Jan 2013
Day one of my Liberator group assembly ship project: "Lemon Drop".

I blame ModelingMatt and Jamesday1998 for encouraging me (challenging me!) to build one of these colorful birds! Well, I'm over 50 and need to keep some of my vision for the build, so that means I also blame them for the condition of my eyes from all the internet searching I did looking for images and information on this plane!

Sorry boys, that's the way it is. At least my cold is on it's way out. On the plus side, I did find a few nice color drawings and some black and white photos of "Lemon Drop" in her bee stripes.
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By the way, what's with the pant leg? ~~~~~

Since the main feature of the final product will be the color I won't be working on the interior much, just enough so it won't look too empty! Good thing, since my modeling skills aren't up to a super detailed bomber interior! Also, the assembly ships had their guns removed and the ports sealed up, although, my main reference says that "Lemon Drop" kept its top and tail turret guns. This means I won't have to worry much about the bomb bay or interior of the waist gunner stations! Just seal it up and call it done! There is one tricky interior bit, though; the nose. The cockpit is not too bad, but that nose! It's a huge, I dare you to leave me empty, space with a huge, clear window in front of it! Luckily, the booklet from the 1989 IPMS convention (my main reference) has some great photos and drawings, and, scale templates for the 1/72 Revell cockpit interior bulkheads and floors! If nothing else I will be able to dress it up a bit!

The only aftermarket parts I will be adding (apart from the decals I already have) are from Scale Aircraft Conversions. They have a landing gear set for the Hasegawa kit that I can make work. From what I've read about this kit I will need to add quite a bit of ballast to keep the nose down. The metal gear will support this extra weight better. The set also comes with bulkheads for the cockpit and nose gear well in white metal. They are not too detailed but will ad a bit of the needed weight!

But, I'm a long way away from painting and detailing! There is a lot of sanding and re-scribing, test fitting, and cleaning up to do yet!

Donald
Cold in Vermont
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Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:23 pm

I hate to add this link but it is a major reference for my work. Just try not to compare this build with what I will deliver because it won't be close!

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/inde ... liberator/

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:46 am

Reference is always good.

That is one crazy paint scheme.

Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:41 pm

Here are some color images I found.
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Post by **Paul** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:46 pm

Great paint scheme that's gonna look awesome

Post by **DBMiller** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:22 pm

26 Jan 2014

My SAC landing gear came in yesterday! It is for the Hasegawa kit but doesn't look like there will be too much trimming involved to make it fit the Revell kit. I think I've figured out how it all goes together, except for the nose gear. That might take some scratch building work to give it a place to mount. I might also have to work the main gear wells.
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Parts inspection and test fitting. Did someone say "rivets"? I see much sanding in my future.
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What's this? A little guy! The tail gunner, I think. Should I even bother!!! He's just a torso on a peg!

Post by **DBMiller** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:44 pm

28 Jan 2014
Day 45...still...sanding...rivets...

Here are a few pages of references from the IPMS convention booklet. There is a nice review of the Revell kit I'm building, as well as the other available kits at that time. Also included is a set of templates for various parts of the interior. While on break from sanding I used some of them, plus the kit cockpit, to form up a rough model. This will help when I come to install the metal parts.

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As I said, VERY rough! The metal parts should look much better!
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As for rivet duty...

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Looking much better already! Just touching up the scratches from over zealous re-scribing! The black marker is from laying out the extra windows I have to cut.
~~~~~~~
Donald

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:44 pm

Fair bit of work you've done on this.

I am still to re-scribe more than the odd panel line.

Post by **DBMiller** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 1:51 pm

Why does every other kit here have a decent cockpit? Mine doesn't even come with a back wall!

Post by **DBMiller** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 3:42 pm

31 Jan 2014

Just a quick post this morning. I've been working on the fuselage rivet sanding and the cockpit parts. Once I get those 2 things done, plus install the nose gear, I can glue the fuselage together!
I've had to cut 3 new windows on the left side and 2 on the right as well re-add the life boat hatches I sanded off with the rivets. The nose interior is being a pain. My parts trimming wasn't too good and now I have to seal up any gaps between the metal cockpit and the kit walls! Also, I'm at the limit of my comfort zone for detailing, but even at 1/72 scale, this kit is too big to ignore the interior. I know I could have spent a zillion dollars on after market parts but all I really want is some detail for the light to catch when you look inside the nose.
Oh, well, to use my wife's favorite expression; "It's better than it was."

Here is a look at the left side fuselage work.

Here are 2 views of the cockpit area. The first is just glued and the second has a primer coat. It really shows off the clean up work I have to do!

I've done more work since I took these shots and will post them today or tomorrow.

Donald

Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 4:23 pm

Took a break from modeling last night to photograph the action at the fire station next door. There was a multi alarm fire down the road from me and fire trucks were coming in from all over!

This is the company assigned to cover the station while the other trucks were out. It's a 3 second shot at ISO 800, so the guys are a bit ghostly.

Rest over, back to work!

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 11:27 am

Really nice progress on the interior on this dude.

That picture of the fire crews is cool

Post by **DBMiller** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 12:35 am

Yea! A new update! After a brief interlude to watch '633 Squadron' on TV I gathered together some new photos. I've added the new windows and finally started to glue actual kit parts together! The instructions are a bit basic and not always clear. I love the color call outs. I've found only 3 colors: black, silver, and yellow!

~~Instructions:

~~Seats glued in! Interior glued in! Weight added! I saw this technique for adding weight online. Wrap the lead shot in cling wrap and stuff it in place!

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~~Window cutting.

~~Windows in!

~~The most important tool in my kit: the flash light! Just rake it across the floor to find dropped parts.

~~The kit nose gear next to the metal parts. I used the kit mount to attach the metal to the nose well. Just a little trimming required.

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~~Gear in place!

~~Glued together! Working on the top turret since the instructions say that was left in place.

That's all for now!
Donald

Post by **conradschmid99** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 12:43 am

That looks amazing for such a small scale

Post by **Rodney** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 1:03 am

looking good

loads off working going into it..i hate it when parts hit the floor but I stole a idea from one off coens vids and I tell ya its saves a lot off time on the floor with a flashlight saying a few choice words

Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 1:51 am

After the glue incident last night, http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.p ... 96&start=0, I thought I'd take some time off and put this together. The B-24 Liberator I chose to build is an assembly ship from the 44th Bomb Group. Assembly ships were retired combat planes that were re-purposed as formation guides for the huge numbers of bombers some missions required. These planes had their weapons removed and were painted with bright colors and distinctive patterns so that the bomb groups could see where to go. The assembly ships would then peal off and return to base.
I first saw one in the book, "How to Build Dioramas" by Sheperd Paine. It was printed in 1980 by Kalmbach Books. There wasn't much on the assembly ships as such, just a few photos and a bit of text. The big B-24 "star" was the crashed "Lady be Good".

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The next time I saw B-24's painted up like this was in Fine Scale Modeler's "Modeling The Second World War" special edition magazine. It must have come out at the end of 1995 since the cover says to display until Feb, 1996. This has an excellent 5 page feature story by George F. Wright on building 8th Air Force assembly ships in 1/72 scale. His are far more complex than the one I chose!

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The last scan is from Fine Scale Modeler's "Great Scale Modeling 2001". There is a feature on the Monogram model dioramas Shep Paine built for the company's advertising back in the 70's. Included is Paine's "Spotted Ape" build that was shown in his diorama book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~EDIT: Here is the link to Sheperd Paine's site: http://sheperdpaine.com/monogram/index.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~There are even downloads of the original diorama instructions from the Monogram kits!

So, when it was suggested that I build one of these planes, well, I just had to! Just not too complex.

Post by **coladito1** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 3:30 am

Loving the craftsmanship!! Very inspiring!! Thanks for sharing.

Post by **snappercity** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 9:30 am

Loving you work on this. With a bit of TLC this old kit can be built into a real winner.

Post by **DBMiller** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 6:56 pm

Yea! A new update! I warned you that I'm a slow modeler! First, I want to thank every one for the positive feedback! That more than anything is the biggest help to me.
So, got the top turret attached. Broke off the left gun about 6 times. Attached the rear turret, without the gun. I've learned that lesson. I bought a set of sanding sticks, course grit to polishing, from the local hobby store. They are super! I've never had them before and beat the heck out of cut up sheets of sand paper! I used them to finish off the sanding before priming.

Tail gunner position:

Before primer:

After primer:

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Also started work on the tail. I will finish this as a sub assembly and attach it after painting.

Coat of primer on the horizontal stabilizer.

I can't blame all my troubles on the kit, I've seen a super build up of it, but it is being a challenge for my skills. Sanding off the rivets really show off the course engraved panel lines while destroying the fine panels and other details. The cockpit is beneath basic and the interior nose detail, well, there isn't any. The after market parts help a lot with the look even if I didn't do that great a job of putting it in. The priming made it look a lot better, and I think it will look pretty good when done but it's no modern high end kit!

Till next time,
Donald
I think I'll get a snow day off work tomorrow, it looks like a big one is on it's way. If the power stays on (it should) I will get some more done.

Post by **Jamesday1998** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 7:02 pm

Looks awesome! The describing is great! Keep up the good work!

Post by **DBMiller** » Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:28 pm

A little more work on my snow day. Left the tail assembly to dry and took a look at the wings. At some point I was going to have to sand them and build the wheel wells so why not give it a go right then?

Wing sanding and re-scribing:

I sanded the wing tops first so I could work on the wells without having to worry about damaging them by sanding after they were installed. Once the wings are assembled I can finish sand them.

Here is the start of the wheel wells.

And here is one done and primed! Not like fancy photo etched but I can live with it. At least the main gear won't have to live in a barren hole in the wing.

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You can see that I've made a start on the other wing. Some day I'll learn to cut a straight line. There is an old joke that I seem to live by: "I cut it twice and it's still too short."

Post by **m0gb0y74** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 4:47 pm

I like the decal sheet that came with the kit. WW2 Bombers should be adorned with some lovely pin-up nose art

Mind you, the bright colours of the assembly ships do make for an interesting model.

Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 6:20 pm

Rip Van Winkle here, back at last! What year is it again?
I actually had some things to do for work that kept me busy and at home it just wouldn't stop snowing! My blower wasn't working right, of course, so the last load I had to shovel by hand ! And, while not really old, I'm too old for that!

So, on to my update.
I ran into a bit of a mental block on how to attach the main gear since I wasn't using the kit part. I finally decided on SIMPLE! It's a bit of hollow square rod. It's not too visible when the wing is on and I'll hide it a bit with some more strip when I get ready to close it up.

I have to close it up before I finish the rest of the gear because the geometry of the wing won't allow me to slip it over the completed gear assembly. Here are the rest of the parts all primed up! This alligator clip and tooth pick trick is great! I'm so glad I saw it here.

And look! I have the tail glued on! I think it might be level too! Close, anyway...
There's a bit of a step from the fuselage to the horizontal stabilizer that I've since filled. Just need to smooth it out and re-prime.
It's starting to look like a bomber at last!

https://www.youtube.com/user/ThudWeasel · Post by **HistoryRider** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 6:42 pm

Great update! Looking good!!

Post by **chrismoseley** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:10 pm

Good Work So Far Mate Looking Forward To This Being Completed

Alex

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:13 am

The scratch built details look great dude.

Post by **DBMiller** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 2:05 pm

Thank you all for the kind comments! I wish my work was as good as that makes me feel! It's a good thing that I build for my own enjoyment; although this contest is responsible for this particular project.

Kit update: I just realized I have to buy more decals! The special edition Lemon Drop set doesn't have the national markings or stencils and the kit set is, put bluntly, crap.

Aside from that recent set back it's coming along! Oh well, from a distance, say England, it will look pretty good when done!

Donald.
Guilford, Vt
Not snowing but still below freezing.

Post by **DBMiller** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 5:03 pm

Thank you all for not reminding me that the color scheme I chose doesn't need the national markings! Duh.

Too bad, since I found a set of various scale markings I had bought ages ago.
I'm enjoying the look of this plane so much that I'm thinking of buying a better kit some time and build an active duty version.

Unless I win one...hint...hint...

Donald
Still freezing in Vermont.

Post by **DBMiller** » Fri Mar 14, 2014 5:50 pm

Quick update today (sneaking it in at work). I painted the wheel wells light grey and painted the landing gear parts silver. Next I will give it all a bit of a dirty wash so I can seal up the wings. I want to get on with painting this guy!

Look! Gear on sticks!

Thanks for watching me struggle along!
Donald

Post by **eoinfinnegan** » Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:35 pm

Your doing a cracking job on that bird

Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Mar 15, 2014 12:42 pm

I don't know about "cracking" but thank you! I almost wish I had just gone for an 'out of box' experience but I am improving my skills a bit as I go along. I should be awesome (not!) by the time the Viet Nam build comes along in August.

Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:17 pm

Four of you done already! I'm feeling the pressure here so I better get moving!

In all my worry about the big parts I've neglected the small bits I'll need to finish up. I worked on that yesterday.
I started by attaching the flaps and filling the gap where the moveable bit would slide. It doesn't look like that on the real plane and I'm not positioning the flaps down so I just sealed it up. I've also assembled the ailerons and will add them when I glue the wing halves together.

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I've also attached another of the landing gear struts to the main gear. The wings will fit over this when I glue them up. There will be another part to add once the wings are attached.

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This is one of the main gear dirtied up with an airbrush paint.

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For the engine nacelles I first removed the very end of the propeller mount. The real one doesn't stick out that far. Thank you the Britmodeller B-24 thread (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/inde ... liberator/) for that one.
I then sanded and re-scribed the engine nacelles and gave them a primer coat. This should be fun dry brushing the cylinders!

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I also started on the wheels. The axles of the metal gear are thicker than the kit parts so I will have to drill out the centers when I go to mount them.

So, I'm moving right along! Stay tuned for more!

By the way, don't look at the Britmodeller build. It only makes me cry to think of it.

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 4:56 pm

Looking good dude.

Still a newbie when it comes to re-scribing.

Great job.

Post by **DBMiller** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:09 pm

The re-scribing continues to be a challenge. I've never done it before; I had to buy a scribing tool for this kit! The best help came from a video answer to a scribing question that ChrisandAlexModeling answered on YouTube.
Start light first! Otherwise you will scribe all over the place and just make a mess.

By the way, the wings are glued together! I'll post in a day or so.

Post by **DBMiller** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:21 pm

Moving right along now! I've gotten the wings together, primed, and, drum roll please, glued in place!

One wing on...

Both wings on!

The right side wing root has a very bad join. I don't know what is happening here because even after a lot of grinding it still won't fit right. Hence the very bad joint to fill. I started with a bit of plastic strip that I will follow up with some putty.
Also, the greenish color in the rear is because I have no brain. I thought I'd paint it olive drab all over (the engine cowlings and nose are that color) then over paint with the black and yellow like the real plane. Part way through I thought it might not work and the green would through off the yellow. Now I have to re-prime the whole thing, but I will use a lighter grey so the black and yellow don't look too dark. Oh, well.

But now it has wings! They look almost level, too!

I bought this product to see if it will work like the Blu-Tac I've seen used. I will need it when I mask the stripes.

https://www.youtube.com/user/ThudWeasel · Post by **HistoryRider** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:42 pm

Looking good! I have always loved the look of the B-24...don't know why, but I do. Sorry to hear about the wing....I ran into some fit problems of my own, so I totally feel your pain and frustrations.

Keep it up!

Post by **DBMiller** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 5:00 pm

Here is that nasty wing root seam all puttied up. It looks glossy because I used a Q-Tip with a bit of lacquer thinner to smooth it out. That works great on Squadron Green Putty. The other wing root was fine but I used some putty there too just to make both sides look alike.

Up next...masking the glass...sigh...

Maybe I'll just put it off a bit longer.

Post by **DBMiller** » Wed Apr 02, 2014 1:59 am

.. More work today! I actually put on some color and started to add more parts. First I covered the dark primer with light grey so the stripes will show up better. I don't think pre-shading will work on this version because of the yellow and black stripes that have to go over it. I'm not completely sure I like the effect anyway, so I'll just weather the plane after painting. I'm learning more about my airbrush, an Iwata Eclipse, than I ever did before. I bought is years ago with no research and since I don't build a lot I don't use it as much as I should. I've learned that it needs more than 50% thinner with Testors Model Master acrylics to spray smoothly.
..And it has a small paintcup, which means: WATCH OUT FOR SPILLING THE PAINT ON YOUR KIT!

..First up, paint the engine cowlings and glue them on. I over did the green; it doesn't extend that far onto the wing. Also, the anti glare panel in front of the cockpit, as well as the canopy framework has to be green as well. The canopy will have to wait a bit longer. The masking looks to be a long job!

..Next comes the silver on the vertical tail pieces. The version I'm building had silver with a black stripe instead of the earlier green tail. Man, that silver, along with the close up shot, shows up the surface defects! But, since the assembly ships were the golden oldies of the fleet I should get away with a little scuffing!

.. After this I will have to figure out how to mask the stripes as well as all that glass!

Post by **m0gb0y74** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:35 pm

I'm totally jealous - you can see the framing on your cockpit transparencies

Post by **patrickroos** » Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:07 am

Great work and looking good!

50/50 mix is normal, if it doesent have a lid for the cup, just put some tape on to prevent spill...

This might work? (For Hasegawa, but its for a B-24D)
http://www.eduard.com/store/Eduard/B-24 ... param=B-24

Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:05 pm

VERY short update today. Must get to work on painting! Here is how I plan to mask it. I scaled the images from the booklet I got from the IPMS show to be 1/72.

These are the original scans:

Scaled to 1/72.

Should work.

Post by **DBMiller** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 10:13 pm

Just began painting. I'll be painting the yellow freehand after marking out the borders of the stripes. Then I will mask off the yellow and paint the black. I tried both freehand on the tail and that was close but still too messy with over spray. I'm not a good enough painter to try that yet. Anyway, you can get an idea how this will look when I'm done!

Post by **Rodney** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 10:50 pm

WOW that yellow is really going to stand out nice job on the ole girl..

https://www.youtube.com/user/ThudWeasel · Post by **HistoryRider** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:39 pm

THAT IS GOING TO BE SHARP!!!

Post by **DBMiller** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 6:10 pm

Long time no see! Work fell on me like a ton of bricks these last 2 weeks and the sofa looked more fun than model building!
Also, I will NEVER build another model that requires stripes! Never. Ever. Really.
I should have done what I wanted from the start; just use tape and mask it off nice and easy. No, I had to try to get a more feathered edge. Taping the paper mask did not work as well as expected and free hand was a disaster!
I took a break and avoided the sledge hammer method of problem resolution.

Here is the embarrassment that is my early attempt at masking the stripes.

Since then I have started on the underside of the wings and am much happier with the results. Whew!
Wish me luck.

Post by **UKguyInUSA** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:47 pm

She's gonna be a beaut when completed....love the progress so far, looks great!

Cheers,
Martin