B-24 question

To the best of my knowledge, the waist hatches on B-24's were opposite each other. Later versions of the B-17 G did have staggered hatches. If in deed B-24's did have staggered hatches, then I think all the model companies have it wrong and I have problems, I have 2 more H's still to build.

Where did you read they were staggered.

It depends on what manufacturer and what block number with in a letter series when they were phased in.  B-24's were made by Ford, Consolidated-San Diego, Consolidated-Fort Worth, Douglas-Tulsa, and North American with many different blocks in between, so check references such as Squadron's In Action and others.

urich, I have been reaing a bit further into this. I think there may be a slight misunderstanding. From what I can tell, the windows themselves were not staggered. But where windows were enclose, the position of the gun in the window was. On one side the gun would be towards the rear of the window, on the other side towards the front.

As for the enclosed windows, you would have to try and find images of the aircraft you are building. There are pics of H and J models some with enclosed and some with open windows. As rich say's, it depends where it was built and the block number.

I did a simple search and found it in the first listing in Wikipedia

B-24H Because of obvious vulnerability of the B-24 to head-on attack, the B-24H design incorporated an electrically powered Emerson A-15 nose turret. Approximately 50 other airframe changes were made, including a redesigned bombardier compartment. The tail turret was given larger windows for better visibility and the Martin A-3 top turret received an enlarged "high hat" dome. The waist gunner positions were enclosed with Plexiglas windows and laterally offset (as the later B-17G's waist positions had been) to reduce mutual interference between the two waist gunners during battle. Most H model aircraft were built by Ford at the Willow Run factory. (Total: 3,100)

B-24J The B-24J was very similar to the B-24H, but shortages of the Emerson nose turret required use of a modified, hydraulically powered Consolidated A-6 turret in most J model aircraft built at Consolidated's San Diego and Fort Worth factories. The B-24J featured an improved autopilot (type C-1) and a bombsight of the M-1 series. B-24H sub-assemblies made by Ford and constructed by other companies and any model with a C-1 or M-1 retrofit, were all designated B-24J. The J model was the only version to be built by all five factories involved in B-24 production. (Total: 6,678)

More info from Joe Baugher:

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b24_16.html

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b24_18.html