HB Models B-24 Hints, Tweaks, Tips

[1to1scale]

[NigelR32]

Hi all,

For those that havent seen this over on LSP, I thought I'd put this up here.

Alistair of Aerocraft has sent me this message last night, just to make everyone aware of who is doing the work on the Turrets and why it's taking a while. 

I am 100% confident that these Turrets will come to fruition as I have seen the initial mouldings and, shall we say, the less successful mouldings and rest assured, Alistair is committed to getting these parts out there for you to add to your model. Note that this update will not only cure the seam removal, but it will also correct the shape, the framing of all three turrets and positiion the guns correctly.

As soon as there is more information available it will be posted here.. as this is no longer a secret.

Hi Guys

 

I have and I am still working on some replacement turrets for the Hobby Boss B-24 Liberator. These are proving to be a lot more difficult than would first appear, and I have already done and discarded a few basic masters already. It is not only just how to make the master but then and or also how to cast it. I need to get the master good, and figure the assembly of it all to enable the clear domes to be cast and then how to integrate the, gun slots and the 'bulged' metal sections as separate parts. Before anybody asks yes I do have the Hasegawa / Eduard 1/72 scale kits and am trying to use those as a basic design pattern, BUT it is a lot more tricky when upscaling it all and designing it all to work with silicone moulds and resin.

Over the past few months I have spent quite a lot on reference materials including kits and books, casting materials, and have just sent sketches to be drawn in 3d for some parts that I will get printed, some are only sections to help me do casting. As with all of this there is a lot of trial and error, and once I have the basic 'shells' correct I will have to look and see what will need revising for the interior parts to work. There is a strong possibility that the interior parts will need changing.

So far with my investigation the front turret requires the most changes the top and the rear less so but changes are needed. As many of you know there are variations on the turrets but first of all I will be working to represent the Emerson nose turret, the Consair rear turret and the Martin top turret.

 

At this stage I cannot and will not be able to provide a time scale and or price, but the sooner the better for me, but I am only human and I need to complete the two projects mentioned below and the turrets are going to take some time to get them correct. Although I will try my best there could be hurdles along the way, and I am not easily beaten BUT, it needs to work for me and work for the customers.

 

Non LSP information, but just to keep those interested in the loop

 

1/48 Hunter T.7 masters are progressing well, decals are currently being drawn for the first two box options, there will be a few releases of this set in a few different guises.

I hope to have some pictures and more information up in the next two weeks.

 

I need to get back to the high altitude 1/72 Wellington, but I can say that I and Franta of DK Decals have been working together on the project and I can tell you that he has already drawn three schemes all quite different, that will be placed on a various decal sheet in the near future.

 

The other tricky part is the clear resin, to keep that part short and simple I have been testing and working with some new clear, and it is yielding varied results but I am getting better with it and I really need a break through with it as ALL of the above projects require it to work.

 

Also once clear works well I can hopefully get the P-51 canopies out, well I am re-working the masters for those as well... they may come out sooner than the B-24 stuff......

 

So please be patient but for now you know what I am working on, however I hasten to add this is all in my 'spare' time after the day job............

 

cheers Ali 

[Clunkmeister]

This looks like GREAT news in the pipeline, and I’m excited to see what comes down the line.  I AM a little surprised at the slow nature of AM popping up for this kit, especially since it seemed that B-17 was here almost overnight. The one thing I’m watching closest is Iain Ogilvie’s wing fix.  That will fix what to me is the one thing I can’t unsee.  As a big B-24 fan, I’ll probably snap up every piece of quality AM there is for my builds. A “D” and a “J” both. Superchargers, engines, brass gear, turrets, etc. 

And that Martin turret...  hmmm, might that also fit a Mk.X Lanc???

[nmayhew]

I wonder if there has been any more progress?

[sluggo]

Stumbled on a really good shot of the side of the nacelle.

[Clunkmeister]

1 hour ago, sluggo said:

Stumbled on a really good shot of the side of the nacelle.

Now this one for GOLD!  Brilliant pic, Sluggo!

[Clunkmeister]

18 hours ago, nmayhew said:

I wonder if there has been any more progress?

I’m hoping so, but I haven’t heard a thing, either. 

[Old Dog]

8 hours ago, sluggo said:

Stumbled on a really good shot of the side of the nacelle.

Looks like a lot of oil canning for a fresh off the assembly line bird, a result of the speedy build process I assume.

[sluggo]

I was thinking that might be a cool craft to model but it's a B-24M 20 FO 44-51251 that got a couple glamour shots taken, went to storage and then straight to Kingman. Never assigned to a Bomb Group.

[IainMackayDall]

Is anyone attempting a B-24 Mod to a PB4Y-2 ?  See these reference shots below:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/HigherFartherAndFaster/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2124429434527355&__xts__[0]=68.ARAqXCC1HvbOy1AHAaGiPyWhTI3nrv5CcYYyqK-ibeNDAfwFqTfT67r-RkRlIFeLVv4dygJTrDEoW6uk_O9GvJZvGgsLHmPMYjUgFtKgxZxp3_HfOWguHt0KJ1RCg6Oo_989kHH1P-PKekG8gxwLX18_xOEq8553v2P2R1FylSObYuziXjItt0dp19GVUO9ssXVXbbcs79-q3eUFNo9Svu7HfCj_IQbIe4ijxJ8hrrYszWCKJqj-FVSoCP43oU6U7eHEQfOrb9-lxNlLvrS8Ffu7leuEc9t9lqh0osZ11ma8N-hvnd6box7ewkEsBuiLOoT2Ucx0peSPAfTTGImURWNrt9PBSB0aQ4y2qUyLLnw&__tn__=-UC-R

or this link:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/HigherFartherAndFaster/photos/  under the photos reference of the "Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer"

[IainMackayDall]

One more PB4Y-2 Privateer shot from this facebook feed

[recon]

Are there any decals for the J or D (1/32)?

mike

[1to1scale]

DN Models does have several masks available, and if you check Hannants, they list a few decal sets. 

[recon]

Just picked up the “D”. Hopefully someone will come out with some decals for it.

Mike

[seiran01]

On 10/14/2019 at 5:19 PM, recon said:

Just picked up the “D”. Hopefully someone will come out with some decals for it.

Mike

HAD Models has agreed to scale up their Pete The Pom Inspector decals to 1/32 for those wanting a D (or H with D-style greenhouse nose) assembly ship. Will include the nose art for both Pete (B-24D) and Pete 2nd (B-24H, aka RePete if you ask Ernie). Hopefully preorder will go online in the next few days.

After talking with Feri @ HAD this weekend he’s agreed the best approach from a pricing perspective will be to include a cd with templates so that the builder can make paint masks for all the giant yellow circles with their red borders.

So. Frigging. Excited. 

Profile art from their smaller scale sheet for reference:

 

[seiran01]

On 10/10/2019 at 10:11 PM, recon said:

Are there any decals for the J or D (1/32)?

mike

Multiple decal sheets available for the J... Profimodeller has 2 or 3 sets including the one with giant dragon artwork on side, DK Decals did a sheet of British/Aussie Liberators recently and Novascale does a sheet of NMF Aussie B-24s. There might be more but those are already available off the top of my head.

[recon]

Thank you for that tip, I found the plane I want to do!

Mike

[GusMac]

Initially misread that as Pete the Porn Inspector!!

Not quite sure the scheme for that would have been!?! 

[Captain Boogaloo]

I'd like to recommend the B 24 wheel set from Halberd ( think they do a couple of options, re: tyre tread)- the tyres are actually rubber, so should give nice realistic 'flats', and unlike the true details appear to be the right profile \shape. They also seem to be the right size, unlike the (very nice! but slightly under sized )Eduard brassin B17 wheels. Their B 17 supercharger set looks like it might be a nice tweak, though. 

Another approach to sorting the undersized propellers : kudos to Nigel for his blade extension system, but after all that work, one is still stuck with the odd blade shape and the plane jane hub. As it's definitely easier to shorten a propeller blade, I went for four of Eduards Corsair brassin replacement propellers - there is another, cheaper resin corsair prop on ebay just now, too. Can't recall who's making it though!

As Resin2detail seems shut down, an alternative for resin radio sets is happy.lappy on Ebay: very reasonable price, even if they are sent from Australia!

Hope that helps someone!

Blue Skies!

Captain Boogaloo

[Clunkmeister]

I’m surprised that more aftermarket hasn’t appeared for these kits. I’m definitely doing a D, and it will be an assembly ship.  I still hope for some better engines, wheels, props, etc.

And if Iain Ogilvie gets his wing sorted, I’m in on that as well.

[Captain Boogaloo]

Just looked on ebay: Hungarian Aero Decals do the other 1\32 Corsair resin prop - 2\3rds the price of the Eduard version. So reduce the blade length to a scale 11' 7" and Bob's your Aunty's live-in-lover!!

There's your props, Clunk! And two+ choices of wheels, Vector already do the engines ( pricey, but they are rather saucy! And would Eduard actually be any cheaper? They might include engine mounts, though), All the Eduard etch, profimodeller doing stencils and pitot tube ends, the chap on ebay who is doing the vac form\resin turrets (if you can't wait for Ali's versions, worth waiting for if his brass undercarriage is anything to go by!), Eduard B 17 guns or the awesome Gaspatch guns\ ammo belts, master brass gun barrels,MDC  flexible resin ammo feeds or Master Details metal versions, the guy in Auz (happy.lappy on ebay) doing resin radios, or get the Eduard b17 radio room etch, master D's oxygen tank set, Grey matters Norden bomb sight (cheap, but nice), Master Details version or the Robert Mzorozki(?) Gucci version, airscale's instrument panel, 1\32 spark plugs\ ignition harness sets from Anyz models, really nice crew figures ( inside aircraft) from Master Details, or the new Icm usaaf figures (walking)...

Its all out there! and how much aftermarket do we need?!!!!? Maybe it's like paperwork for full size aircraft....when that weighs the same as the airframe, you're ready to fly: when your aftermarket purchases no longer fit in the box with the kit, you're ready to build!I

Definitely want Ian's wing fix, if that comes on the market, though: with you on that!

Blue Skies!

Captain Boogaloo

[Captain Boogaloo]

Further to my last post, are we allowed to have a bit of a rant about after market stuff here? Rather than go for the profimodeller decal sheet for 'Dragon and his Tail', I decided to go for ( the MUCH more expensive) kitsworld version because the blurb made much reference to the Collings Foundation aircraft in these markings ( I usually build airworthy, or at least preserved 'warbirds'- it's just my thing).

Very disappointed to find that the Kitsworld sheet of this scheme has only the very basic markings of the original, with none of the extra markings the Collings B 24 had (crew names, sponsors names etc). It also seems to be very close to being out of register, with some barely legible escape hatch markings. Not what I would have expected for this price.

Buyer beware!

Captain Boogaloo

[1to1scale]

Captain, the real big issue is the turret. The seam is impossible to make disappear, the Vac turrets off eBay are terrible, very wavy and distorted. A good set of aftermarket turrets, at least a good set of clear vacs, are sorely needed. I have a whole mess of aftermarket items, and a mostly completed interior, just waiting for something to improve the turrets. I keep hearing promises of turrets from various sources, but nothing ever comes, 13 months after this came out...still nothing. 

[Captain Boogaloo]

Well, I guess I sorta agree: the turrets are definitely one issue this model has. But are they harder to fix than the wing? I have my doubts, but at least Ian has pathfinded his way to a doable solution for that: heck, he's already published the basic shape the new formers need to be!! I've been reading your thread  (I must be crazy etc) and you are clearly a modeller of sufficient talent to scratchbuild a pair of turrets - there's some juicy references in your thread already! So, courage, Mon brave - by way of inspiration, a few years ago a friend on the Bomber command SIG wanted to backdate the FM 1\48 Halifax to the early version with a front turret, he stayed overnight and we blew up some plans on the printer then in the am,( with a hangover, too!) I carved a balsa master, covered it in car filler, sanded & polished it, added some plastic strip framing and we smash-molded turrets until we had a couple of nice ones, which he then added scratchbuilt internals & guns to !ater. Point is the whole process took 4 hours, tops. Maybe the eBay vac form b24 turrets are a bit gash ( can't really say as mine are winging their way here as I type this! But he's certainly sold a number and customers seem happy with them), but even if they are a pile of doody,  I'm certain I can use them as a stepping stone. 

" S'like, so many positive waves, man, we can't lose!"

Blue Skies!

Captain Boogaloo

 

[1to1scale]

2 hours ago, Captain Boogaloo said:

Well, I guess I sorta agree: the turrets are definitely one issue this model has. But are they harder to fix than the wing? I have my doubts, but at least Ian has pathfinded his way to a doable solution for that: heck, he's already published the basic shape the new formers need to be!! I've been reading your thread  (I must be crazy etc) and you are clearly a modeller of sufficient talent to scratchbuild a pair of turrets - there's some juicy references in your thread already! So, courage, Mon brave - by way of inspiration, a few years ago a friend on the Bomber command SIG wanted to backdate the FM 1\48 Halifax to the early version with a front turret, he stayed overnight and we blew up some plans on the printer then in the am,( with a hangover, too!) I carved a balsa master, covered it in car filler, sanded & polished it, added some plastic strip framing and we smash-molded turrets until we had a couple of nice ones, which he then added scratchbuilt internals & guns to !ater. Point is the whole process took 4 hours, tops. Maybe the eBay vac form b24 turrets are a bit gash ( can't really say as mine are winging their way here as I type this! But he's certainly sold a number and customers seem happy with them), but even if they are a pile of doody,  I'm certain I can use them as a stepping stone. 

" S'like, so many positive waves, man, we can't lose!"

Blue Skies!

Captain Boogaloo

 

I certainly hope the ones you get are better than the pictures I have seen so far. Please post some pictures when you get them.

 

Edit: Yes, I had played around with making my own vac turrets, but came to an issue I didn’t know how to overcome. I had a new idea, but needed to get a second set of transparencies to give it a try.  It was then that I heard of three different companies working on a solution, so I put the whole kit on the back burner. If I don’t hear of anything new coming along, i might go back to my original plan of just making a set of top domes to replace the kit parts.