Hobby Boss 1/32nd scale B-24D Liberator
I've put the finishing touches to this 1/32nd scale B-24 over the Bank Holiday weekend and took advantage of some spring sunshine to take some pictures of the completed model outside in natural light. I've been working on this on and off for a year or so, and it has been the ideal project to pick up and do a bit to as and when I felt like it.
This model doesn't get the best press but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. You can spend a fortune on after-market improvements if you wish, but other than some seat belts, resin wheels and gun barrels, this is how it comes in the box. The interior is crammed with detail and took a long time to complete - excellent value for your money when you compare it to the price of the other 1/32nd 'heavies' on the market. Fit was excellent throughout and the only filler used was to deal with a small gap along the underside of the nose where, I believe, I hadn't got the interior aligned as perfectly as I could.
The turrets, however, are a weak point of the kit. It's been well documented that the rear turret (and forward turret on the J-version) have a very visible seam right down the middle. Aftermarket replacements are currently sold out so instead I used the kit rear turret and painted the mating surfaces black before gluing and this has made the unsightly join a little less conspicuous. For some reason Hobby Boss put heavy framing on the upper turret which doesn't exist on any B-24 turret I've seen, so this was sanded off and the dome given a good polish so it now better represents the Martin turret fitted to this model of Liberator.
I didn't want to risk putting the colossal amount of nose weight into this as I was using the kit's plastic landing gear (which is perfectly strong enough to cope with the weight of the 'un-weighted' model) so I made a tail strut as was so often put in place when B-24s are parked on the ground.
The kit doesn't come with the most inspiring of schemes for an olive drab B-24, so I did a bit of research on 'Satan's Angels' and painted the model to represent this aircraft as it would have looked in the autumn of 1943 with the group insignia on the tail and the short-lived red surround to the stars and bars. This aircraft was actually written off in a landing accident at Lympne in Kent, when the nose wheel collapsed and it ended up in a ditch on 13th November of that year. I used Kits World national insignia as well as the Profimodeller stencil set.
All in all a very enjoyable build, and if you want a large 1/32nd bomber that doesn't break the bank but still gives you plenty of detail, I thoroughly recommend this kit.
All the best,
Tom
Super nice, amazing build, great looking B-24. It is amazing how much Hobby Boss loaded the details for the interior and bomb bay. Nice looking details all over. Great job on this very big build!
Yes indeed it’s packed full with detail. Some if it is a bit basic in places but with some careful painting it scrubs up well. You get a lot of plastic for the money.
Great job on the big beauty. Impressive. Been Jonesing over the HK 1/32 B-17E but have nowhere to put it.
That would look super in the "Hawaiian" scheme. You can hang one of those models on the wall, which is what I do with big bomber models.
I’ve built two of the HK Forts and they’re great kits. The wings can be kept detachable which is a great help for storage.
Super work for sure, Thomas - as is usual with your work.
Thanks, Tom!
Really well-done, Thomas. Build and finish...all good. That big bad boy has to take up half a room.
It’s not small by any means - just over a metre wingspan, or a smidgen over 3ft in old money.
Amazing result, Thomas!
Thank you, Spiros.
Stunning model Tom !
Appreciated, Paul. Thank you.
I'm impressed! Such nice detals! I wish to build B-24 too 🙂
It’s a nice kit, despite some inaccuracies. However, that kind of thing doesn’t overly concern me as I just enjoy building them!
Really impressive work on this Liberator, Thomas @vacform
The interior looks superb, just like the entire build.
Many thanks, John! I’ve spent quite a bit of time over the years researching interior colours and this is my interpretation of how a D-model would have looked inside.
It must have taken a lot of work to complete. Well done!
It has a lot of plastic to get through, but I just picked it up and did some work on it as I felt like it - once the interior was done it went together quite quickly after that.
inspiring build! Great job
Thank you, David!
You must have a large Model building bench Thomas !
Looks very nice. Well done.
Too big for the modelling bench - this was done on the kitchen table!
Very nice model with a nice interpretation of OD. Did you have to put an extension onto your house to put the model? I have built the Monogram 1/48 scale B-24 and it lives in the airplane hangar with the B-29. I really like how shiny the cockpit canopy and other clear parts are in this rendering.
Many thanks. The transparencies are excellent in terms of clarity - I did, however, give them all a quick once over with some plastic polish whilst I was working in the top turret but even before they were crystal clear.
THANK you! I have been waiting to see a thorough buildup of this kit.
My pleasure! Hopefully seeing this will mean you’ll treat yourself and build one?
Really impressive!
Thank you, George!
An inspiring model Tom. Your attention to detail & superb finish are just so good. Just wish I had the space to put one!
That really looks to be a beauty of a kit! You did a great job of putting together a great looking build. The B-24 is my favorite US Heavy Bomber from WWII, in many ways superior to the B-17, but just too ugly to get the glory. I like the early models with the large greenhouse nose best of all, and love how clean and clear yours is in the kit. Excellent job of masking and painting there. That must be even more impressive in person based on its size.
If you are interested there are three of us building the 1/48th Monogram/Revell B-24 kit here. https://imodeler.com/groups/work-in-progress-aircraft/forum/topic/monogram-1-48-b-24d-the-squaw-sleepy-but-which-version/
Very nice! I can't imagine the wingspan on that thing...
Excellent work!
Beautiful work. But man, i wouldn't want to tackle anything that big!
Looks great, I really like it a lot. I built a 1/48 B-24 back in the day and it was a bit of a monster then. I can't imagine how big this one is.
Impressive work. Well done!
Awesome. the kit looks great and your work is stellar.
Lovely work Thomas! Job well done with a kit that has been the subject of unnecessary criticism. The end result on the table is what counts.