Richard Engar
Salt Lake City, Utah
Richard writes, “I do not usually do commission modeling or any contract projects as a ‘professional modeler,’ mainly because a fun hobby then becomes onerous work.” But he made an exception for a friend of a friend whose father was a navigator on a B-24 — in fact, Yo-Yo, an aircraft flown by George McGovern (among others). The model was a 1/48 scale Franklin Mint die-cast in British camouflage; Richard’s challenge was to convert it to a natural-metal Liberator in American markings.
“I later looked it up and noted that a current B-24J went for $499,” Richard says. “I thought, if I take on this project I had better not screw up this model!”
After detail-painting (tires, landing gear, wheel wells, etc.) and complicated masking, Richard sprayed the big bird with silver automotive paint from a can, then applied homemade, custom, and various other aftermarket decals.
The unveiling of the refinished model delighted the navigator’s son, who could only wish his father were there to see it.