1/32 Hobby Boss B-24D Liberator

Kit manufacture: Hobby Boss

Scale: 1/32

Type: B24D Liberator

Extras used: Squadron ☹ Resin Wheels, Eduard Seatbelts, Profimodeller Pitot Tube and Aircraft Stencil Decals, Yahu Instrument panel (B24J used), Master Model .50 cal Machine Gun Barrels, Aerocraft Brass Gear Inserts.

Paints and colors used: Rattle can black and aluminum base coat. Tamiya Grey belly. Stynylrez mixed with Vallejo US Desert Sand for top coat. Tamiya and Mission Models for interior.

Weathering: Paint distressed mechanically. Flory clay wash inside and out. Oil paint used for partial wash, filter and random panel highlights. Dust was grout, plaster and light dust/mud from a local building site

02/10/2021

The B-24 was supposed to be a replacement for the B-17. However, most of the US bomber crews preferred the more robust B-17. In fact, the B-24 was called by many who flew her as the “Flying Coffin”. I have always preferred the shear ugliness of the B-24 to the B-17 and thus chose this kit for a December/January (2021) build. I modelled an anonymous airplane that served in North Africa. Just before the ill-fated Ploesti mission, B-24’s practiced low level flying over the desert- this is the time frame for the modelled aircraft.

Beat up/bleached out desert paint was chosen as the scheme for this model. The aircraft recently received new props and deice boots. The number one engine has just been replaced due to flak damage (patches evident on the wing) as well as the flap, wing tip and aileron on the left side. The right wing has a few patches from fighter damage.

This aircraft is marked as “Desert Eagle” and served with 512 Squadron of the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group. Markings were mostly vinyl masks. It is a very early B-24D (40-565) and the paint is heavily weathered (I simply lightly sanded or used a very weak alcohol solution to punch through the topcoat to get to the more durable rattle-can aluminum primer). Dust and dirt were mostly oils, Flory wash and a home brewed dust/plaster/grout mix.

The Hobby Boss kit is an easy build. It is a modern kit with “zero” clearance fit- this is good if you have no paint on the surfaces to be mated. If you do, be prepared to sand. I am still learning how to fill seams and it was a daunting task on a model of this size. The interior is somewhat overly complicated and can be detailed to your hearts content- I kept it basic and actually left parts out that will never be seen. I went for a Yahu Instrument panel and was very impressed. Too bad you can’t see it. The Master Model .50 cal barrels are excellent and a noticeable upgrade. The resin wheels as well as the pitot tubes are also a nice improvement. Unfortunately, the kit contains NO aircraft stencil decals- Profimodeller helped with this. The Aerocraft brass gear inserts were worthwhile for piece of mind. This aircraft requires a LOT of nose weight and with a glass nose you have to get creative. I put in 25% more than recommended (admittedly not as far forward as the nose) and still ended up with a tail sitter. This makes the aircraft HEAVY and a tail sitter! I was always going to put it on some kind of base, so it wasn’t too much of a problem.

A model of this size is a logistical challenge. You cannot paint and weather it in one piece unless you have a huge workspace. The fragile machine guns, turrets and aerials must be added late in the build if you have any hope of keeping them attached to the model. There is evidence that Hobby Boss were going to make the wings removeable, but the instructions would have you attach them mid build. I attached mine later after a home brewed magnet/bolt modification. When I did attach the wings, most of the painting/weathering was already done.

The model will not fit on a standard shelf. It is several FEET across. As a Valentines present to my wife (it is a hue of pink, right?) I placed the model on a large shelf over our front entrance way (I did this while she was at work so she would be “surprised”!). I considered hanging it on a wall, but couldn’t find anywhere big enough to do that where it would be out of the way yet still viewable. Considering the weight of this thing, I also would only mount this to a stud if you are considering putting this on a wall!

I decided to add my first ever figure to this model- the captain has arrived early to do a walkaround before the days training mission. The next day at o-dark-thirty, this aircraft will take off for the raid on Ploesti. After 49 completed missions and 2 fighters shot down, this aircraft and its crew will not return.


None of my videos are monetized. Music is fair use, public domain and freely available. I encourage you to support musicians financially wherever possible.
Music: Roger Waters
   • Roger Waters - Mother