Nice work check. If those decals arrive within the week, I will be well impressed. Surprised you couldn't find them closer  to home.

I got the group letter applied to the stabilizers, using some spares from the decal stash.  This time, the MicroScale liquid decal potion worked flawlessly.

I tried a couple of different things that might be helpful to anyone running into the same problem.

First, I applied the potion to the whole decal and let it dry fifteen minutes.  Then I used a very small brush and sparingly applied a second coat just around the outside of the image area, since the edge of the image is where the shattering was still taking place last time.

No shattering this time.  In fact, things went so well, I decided just to bite the bullet and order a new sheet of the Kits'World decals, since the serial and aircraft letter are superior to what I could cobble together.

Ordered them from Hannants and they shipped already on Saturday.  Should have them and finish up the fixing up this week sometime--I hope.

I'm glad theres armor….too many curves for me. They complain about too many wheels, I'd complain theres too much taping and sanding?

AJD: Wing stripes look good! I know what you mean about trying to mask around something with a complex curve like a fuselage.

The upper surface stripes look good.  When it sits on it's landing gear, who'll even see the bottom ones?  

Those fuselage stripes do seem to cause the most problems. I think a couple of guys had white stripes that were not the same width as the black.

Sounds like its going to be colourful for sure.

Well I forgot about putting an ID stripe on the underside of the wing. After I unmasked everything.. Breaking out the tape again.

can you say gaudy? 

Finished painting the new stabilizers this afternoon.  Not going to post photos since they look like my previous effort--except these are right-side-up.

I'll need to clear coat them later today; hope to apply decals tomorrow and get them installed a day or so after that, after they've dried out.

Thanks, Gamera.  I'll look forward to it.  As for the hull, I'm building her as a waterline kit, so no concerns about being in the mud.

Glad to hear about MicroScale's longevity.  It might make life easier!

James, the GB has now ended. Those last builds were ones that had started before the end date, sorry buddy. How about Matt's Ground Attack GB.

I would like to join in with my 1/24 Hawker Typhoon if I may. I would post progress both here and in the aircraft section where I have already started a thread.

James

CMK02: Looks good, glad you had the spare decals on hand there. The MicroScale/SuperScale decals seem to last for years, I've used sets over twenty years old without problems.

I'll post some photos of the NC when I get some time, as I remember she's currently in just plain grey. And half of her hull is buried in mud so I'm not sure how you'd even paint much of the area under the waterline.

Rudder revision, part two--not very obvious in the photo, but the faded OD on the rudder is MM straight from the bottle; main part of the stabilizer is in WEM's OD 41.

Thanks, Jack.  I appreciate it.  Can't take credit for the choice of nose art; it came boxed up for "Aries," but the Kits-World decals are quite lovely and much better detailed.  Academy also released the B-24H for three other planes of the Zodiac squadron (Aquaria, Leo and Gemini, I think).  It was probably back in the 1990's sometime.

I hadn't done any Liberators for years, either.  Given the drama I've had with this one, I'm not likely to build any of the others anytime soon!

Gamera:  yes, I went through my decal stash and found MicroScale's ancient sheet for Liberators (the one with Strawberry B*** and The Witch on it; probably had it for 20 years); and I can cobble the serial number from the codes, plus using the aircraft letter from the kit.  Hopefully MicroScale's decal-preservation/restoration potion will work again--and better even.  These are my last usable decals, and I don't have any margin for either error or disaster.

It seems the shattering still happens at the outer edges, so I'm considering using two coats around the perimeter of the image area, and maybe that will work.  Unfortunately, the more potion you put on, the thicker it makes the decal.  Guess at this stage I won't worry about that.

As for BB-55, is she still in her Measure 32/18d camouflage?  Apparently she carried two different versions of this:  one in the early half of 1944 and a different one after a refit in September of '44..  The Trumpeter kit comes tricked out for her after the September '44 refit.  Sometime in 1945, she was repainted in Measure 22.

My wife and I lived in NC in the '80's (in Hickory), and at that time I never knew BB-55 was in the state.

CMK02: Cool, being able to fix the problem there! I assume you've been able to root up some extra decals for the tail codes.

BTW: I've been on the USS NC about a half dozen times now and have a bunch of photos. Probably not terribly useful for you but I can always send you some if they would be useful.

Checkmate - very nice build, and like your choice of nose art.   Nice crisp work overall, particularly the problematic decals. 

I never noticed the error on the tail either, mind you the last time I paid close attention to a B-24 was a build I did over 30 years ago. 

regards,

Jack

Thanks for the comments, guys.  One of the advantages of posting here is this kind of feedback.  It would be a disservice to the Liberator to leave the stabilizers the way they are.  

I have a new pair under paint and hanging out to dry.

Mea magna culpa is mine, Gary, for not doing enough research.  I need to remember:  "Trust, but verify."  I have double and triple checked the instructions.  They are majorly in error.  Even the construction drawing shows them installed upside down.

CMK02: Beautiful work on Aries! Love the nose-art and fantastic job all around!

Gee, the fins do appear upside down- and those on my Virgo are the same... I never thought to check to see if the instructions were right!?! !

Ok, so the tails are not just me... The other Academy Liberator build posted on here had me looking at B-24 photos. But I did not want to say that the Emporer was naked without being absolutely sure...

checkmateking02

Thanks, Bob; although as usual, there's more to the story.  

I've been very kindly and gently informed that the vertical stabilizers are on upside down!  Yes, incredible as that may seem.

The kit instructions and diagrams show them the way I installed them, but they are in error, and--dummy me--I didn't think to verify with research.

I'm in the process of fixing this faux pas now, and will post photos of the correction.

And thanks, Gary!  I do appreciate it!

How embarrassing!    "Aries" has been a real drama queen.

Yes, mea culpa!  I looked at the photos and said, "Something doesn't seem quite right."  And I had to verify it with photos and ask someone else to look before I said anything.  I would never have mentioned it publicly.

The vertical stabilizers don't appear to be upside down so much as apparently by design attached in the wrong place.  Not your fault about that!

And I agree with Stik.  If you want to leave it as is, there's nothing wrong with that.  It's a beautiful model in any case.

Thanks for not shooting!

Gary

PS> And you get one free "You're Doing It Wrong" call on me. 

One thing I've noticed about modeling is that you need a good sense of humor.

Excellent finish on the Liberator sir! Looks great from here ;) glad to see this cross the finish line!

checkmateking02

Thanks, Bish; your comments are always appreciated, and you're a great host.  You've never vanished into thin air.  

I'll be heading over to the 1944 GB and starting in on another 1/700 ship there (BB-55 USS North Carolina).  Also have to finish up some 1/700 Dauntlesses for the carrier GB, and the flight deck of USS Enterprise from the Hollywood GB.

There is something appealing about B-24's, although I've usually been a B-17 fan (12 O'Clock High!).  But I think the nose art shows up really well on those slab-sided Liberators!  And their squat stance makes them look dangerous and ready for action.

checkmateking02

Thanks, Bish; your comments are always appreciated, and you're a great host.  You've never vanished into thin air.  

I'll be heading over to the 1944 GB and starting in on another 1/700 ship there (BB-55 USS North Carolina).  Also have to finish up some 1/700 Dauntlesses for the carrier GB, and the flight deck of USS Enterprise from the Hollywood GB.

There is something appealing about B-24's, although I've usually been a B-17 fan (12 O'Clock High!).  But I think the nose art shows up really well on those slab-sided Liberators!  And their squat stance makes them look dangerous and ready for action.

Well, I know its not always easy hosting a GB, things in life come along and get in the way. But if people are going to produce some great builds and help make the GB a good one, the host should do there best to be around s much as possible. And now I am a civvy, I don't have any excuses.

I know what you mean about the slab sided 24. Its like the perfect canvas for a nice large piece of art work.

As for the tail, it actually got me checking my B-24's, I had not noticed. I wouldn't actually blame you if you just chalked this one down to experience.

And well spotted Gary.

Thanks, Bob; although as usual, there's more to the story.  

I've been very kindly and gently informed that the vertical stabilizers are on upside down!  Yes, incredible as that may seem.

The kit instructions and diagrams show them the way I installed them, but they are in error, and--dummy me--I didn't think to verify with research.

I'm in the process of fixing this faux pas now, and will post photos of the correction.

And thanks, Gary!  I do appreciate it!

How embarrassing!    "Aries" has been a real drama queen.

Great job on the liberator! Good to see you overcame the decal difficulties

Thanks, Bish; your comments are always appreciated, and you're a great host.  You've never vanished into thin air.  

I'll be heading over to the 1944 GB and starting in on another 1/700 ship there (BB-55 USS North Carolina).  Also have to finish up some 1/700 Dauntlesses for the carrier GB, and the flight deck of USS Enterprise from the Hollywood GB.

There is something appealing about B-24's, although I've usually been a B-17 fan (12 O'Clock High!).  But I think the nose art shows up really well on those slab-sided Liberators!  And their squat stance makes them look dangerous and ready for action.

Beautiful. I do love the look of the B-24, I think its those longs wings, And that's a great example check. Always a pleasure having you in one of my GB's check.

It's been a real pleasure hosting this, and thanks to you all. Not only have we had some great builds, but we have had some great laughs along the way (and we know who to blame for that) and some great sharing of info as well. I am sure HvH would have been proud.

I am going to revive an old tradition by doing a GB round up. Given the variety of builds, I will do this in the general modelling thread, and will add ajd's as soon as he is done.