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My B-24 lives again, thanks to this forum...

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  • Member since
    July 2016
  • From: Malvern, PA
My B-24 lives again, thanks to this forum...
Posted by WillysMB on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 12:54 PM

Several years ago my Minicraft B-24H was attacked by the dread ace Rosie von Blum over Bad Kittyhiem and fell to her destruction on the floor with parts scattering into another universe.

I had spent a lot of time on her including a totally invisible interior based on a B-24 manual I had found (I know its there) and going for a flawless surface for the natural metal finish The Dragon and his Tail would require. So she sat there on top of the shelf in a box looking morose for the interveening years.

Recently, being stuck at home, I embarked on repairing my collection and started looking at the Dragon anew. Turned out the primary structure was intact, the vertical fins had gone, but were retrieved, as was the tail turret, but most of the small parts were missing including the right main gear assembly, nose gear assembly, nose turret, and various doors, etc. 

A plea to this forum resulted in several offers of help, expecially from DiscoStu, with locating parts. Finally finding all that I needed I set about modifying some parts from the Hasegawa kit to fit, painting, and finally reassembling. Of course, most of my paints were useless, Hobby Lobby wasn't much help, but I finally found a Testors paint kit I could use. So, for all the folks I promised pictures to, here they are. A couple things I still need to do include finding some yellow and red paint to do the outer engine prop tips and manufacturers logos, replace the waist guns, and paint the frames on the front turret (I didn't trust my hands to be steady enough to paint them and figured they'd look better without obvious wavy frames).

Overall view from the less ornate side

 

Trying to show my attempt at some panel differentiation.

Close-up of the Dragon marking

Showing off the new main gear leg and nose wheel assemblies. Yes, I know the elaborate painting wrapped around the bomb bay doors, but those pieces are long gone so went with plain replacement doors.

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 1:26 PM
Rescued from the boneyard!
  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 1:47 PM

Way to go!

Curious to see what the mods do with that nose art.

Really nice model, and way to go DiscoStu.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Earth
Posted by DiscoStu on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 1:51 PM

Looks fantastic!  Glad you were able to save her.

"Ahh the Luftwaffe. The Washington Generals of the History Channel" -Homer Simpson

  

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Northeast WA State
Posted by armornut on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 3:23 PM

   Looks like the Lib has as many lives as Rosie von Blum. Neat nose art. May I recommend Tamiya masking tape to tape the outlines of your doors, it comes in several narrow widths, conforms to curves well, and may allow yo to paint the trim without the waves.

we're modelers it's what we do

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, June 4, 2020 11:14 AM

That's fantastic! Glad you were able to save her!!! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

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