n Box Review of Monogram 1/48th Scale
U.S. B-24D "Liberator" Bomber
Kit no. 5604
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1983
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1983
HISTORY
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California.
It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models designated as various LB-30s, in the Land Bomber design category.
At its inception, the B-24 was a modern design featuring a highly efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing. The wing gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to carry a heavy bomb load.
Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine. In comparison with its contemporaries the B-24 was relatively difficult to fly and had poor low speed performance; it also had a lower ceiling and was less robust than the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
While aircrews tended to prefer the B-17, General Staff favored the B-24, and procured it in huge numbers for a wide variety of roles.
At approximately 18,500 units – including over 4,600 manufactured by Ford Motor Company – it holds records as the world's most produced bomber, heavy bomber, multi-engine aircraft, and American military aircraft in history.
The B-24 was used extensively in World War II. It served in every branch of the American armed forces, as well as several Allied air forces and navies, and saw use in every theater of operations.
Along with the B-17, the B-24 was the mainstay of the U.S. strategic bombing campaign in the Western European theater.
Due to its range, it proved useful in bombing operations in the Pacific, including the bombing of Japan. Long range anti-submarine Liberators played an instrumental role in closing the Mid-Atlantic gap in the Battle of the Atlantic. The C-87 transport derivative served as a longer range, higher capacity counterpart to the Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
By the end of World War II, the technological breakthroughs of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress and other modern types had surpassed the bombers that served from the start of the war.
The B-24 was rapidly phased out of U.S. service, although the PB4Y-2 Privateer maritime patrol derivative carried on in service with the U.S. Navy in the Korean War.
SPECIFICATIONS
Role : Heavy bomber, Anti-submarine warfare, Maritime patrol aircraft
Manufacturer: Consolidated Aircraft
First flight: 29 December 1939
Introduction to service: 1941
Retired: 1968 (Indian Air Force)
Primary users: United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force
Produced: 1940 - 1945
Number built: 18,500
Unit cost: $297,627 ($4.95 million in today's dollars)
Variants: Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer, Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express, Consolidated Liberator I
Developed into: Consolidated R2Y
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California.
It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models designated as various LB-30s, in the Land Bomber design category.
At its inception, the B-24 was a modern design featuring a highly efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing. The wing gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to carry a heavy bomb load.
Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine. In comparison with its contemporaries the B-24 was relatively difficult to fly and had poor low speed performance; it also had a lower ceiling and was less robust than the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
While aircrews tended to prefer the B-17, General Staff favored the B-24, and procured it in huge numbers for a wide variety of roles.
At approximately 18,500 units – including over 4,600 manufactured by Ford Motor Company – it holds records as the world's most produced bomber, heavy bomber, multi-engine aircraft, and American military aircraft in history.
The B-24 was used extensively in World War II. It served in every branch of the American armed forces, as well as several Allied air forces and navies, and saw use in every theater of operations.
Along with the B-17, the B-24 was the mainstay of the U.S. strategic bombing campaign in the Western European theater.
Due to its range, it proved useful in bombing operations in the Pacific, including the bombing of Japan. Long range anti-submarine Liberators played an instrumental role in closing the Mid-Atlantic gap in the Battle of the Atlantic. The C-87 transport derivative served as a longer range, higher capacity counterpart to the Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
By the end of World War II, the technological breakthroughs of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress and other modern types had surpassed the bombers that served from the start of the war.
The B-24 was rapidly phased out of U.S. service, although the PB4Y-2 Privateer maritime patrol derivative carried on in service with the U.S. Navy in the Korean War.
SPECIFICATIONS
Role : Heavy bomber, Anti-submarine warfare, Maritime patrol aircraft
Manufacturer: Consolidated Aircraft
First flight: 29 December 1939
Introduction to service: 1941
Retired: 1968 (Indian Air Force)
Primary users: United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force
Produced: 1940 - 1945
Number built: 18,500
Unit cost: $297,627 ($4.95 million in today's dollars)
Variants: Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer, Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express, Consolidated Liberator I
Developed into: Consolidated R2Y
THE KIT
Monogram is an old prolific model company based in Morton Grove, IL. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a large shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. Inside it has a cardboard saddle across the top of the tray to make the box more sturdy.
Monogram is an old prolific model company based in Morton Grove, IL. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a large shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. Inside it has a cardboard saddle across the top of the tray to make the box more sturdy.
The box art shows two B-24 D's making a bombing run and about to be attacked by 2 Japanese fighters (either Zero or Oscar's ?).
The lead B-24D has a shark-mouth on the nose and a yellow serial no. 124047 above a white skull and crossbones on the rudder.
It has 30 yellow completed bombing mission marks over 2 victory marks for destroyed aircrafts and 3 victory marks for victories over ships, with the word "Moby Dick".
The second B-24D is in the same color scheme with "Moby Dick" skull and crossbones on its rudder and yellow serial no. 124011.
One corner of the box art says the instructions are in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish. Each marked with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks that language.
One side panel of the box begins with features of the kit: "Famous, 4-engined, WWII bomber, propellers spin, nose wheel pivots, detailed cockpit and landing gear, includes figures of 4 crewmen, Jolly Roger Squadron insignia, molded in olive, black and clear, turret turns, guns move up and down, detailed bomb bay with bomb load, can be assembled with bomb bay doors open or closed".
The lead B-24D has a shark-mouth on the nose and a yellow serial no. 124047 above a white skull and crossbones on the rudder.
It has 30 yellow completed bombing mission marks over 2 victory marks for destroyed aircrafts and 3 victory marks for victories over ships, with the word "Moby Dick".
The second B-24D is in the same color scheme with "Moby Dick" skull and crossbones on its rudder and yellow serial no. 124011.
One corner of the box art says the instructions are in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish. Each marked with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks that language.
One side panel of the box begins with features of the kit: "Famous, 4-engined, WWII bomber, propellers spin, nose wheel pivots, detailed cockpit and landing gear, includes figures of 4 crewmen, Jolly Roger Squadron insignia, molded in olive, black and clear, turret turns, guns move up and down, detailed bomb bay with bomb load, can be assembled with bomb bay doors open or closed".
This is followed by 5 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. Made up length of the model will be 17 3/8" and the wingspan 27 1/8".
The other side panel has a color side view of the B-24D in the cover art scheme and a 1 paragraph history of the aircraft in 7 languages, including English.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
This kit contains 3 dark olive-drab trees, a black tree, a clear tree, the decal sheet and the instructions. Parts are all loose and not in cello bags.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part numbers next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Monogram !
The first dark olive-drab tree holds: fuselage and rudder halves, engines, cockpit floor and rear wall, cowlings, bombar doors etc. (26 parts)
This kit contains 3 dark olive-drab trees, a black tree, a clear tree, the decal sheet and the instructions. Parts are all loose and not in cello bags.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part numbers next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Monogram !
The first dark olive-drab tree holds: fuselage and rudder halves, engines, cockpit floor and rear wall, cowlings, bombar doors etc. (26 parts)
The second dark olive-drab tree holds: a wing top and bottom half, elevator half, fuselage panels etc. (23 parts)
The third dark olive-drab tree holds: the other wing top and bottom half, other elevator half, crew figures, nose gear and main gear legs, bulkhead etc. (24 parts)
The black tree holds: the propeller, wheels, bombs, machine guns, dashboard, seats etc. (56 parts)
4 propeller shafts broke off this black tree. I put them into an old pill bottle so they don't get lost.
4 propeller shafts broke off this black tree. I put them into an old pill bottle so they don't get lost.
The clear tree holds the cockpit and turret windows (18 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
The kit has raised detail. Flaps are all molded solid.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.