AIRCRAFT OF THE WEEK ( B-24 Liberator )

Vintage_Aircraft · February 4, 2005, 8:50pm

Heres the new aircraft of the week voted into office by you.[:D]

Remember to post lots of picks of your compleated B-24 models, and interesting pictures you’d like to share.[8D]

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator
The B-24 was employed in operations in every combat theater during World War II. Because of its great range, it was particularly suited for such missions as the famous raid from North Africa against the oil industry at Ploesti, Rumania on August 1, 1943. This feature also made the airplane suitable for long over-water missions in the Pacific Theater. More than 18,000 Liberators were produced.

B-24D SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 110 ft. 0 in.
Length: 66 ft. 4 in.
Height: 17 ft. 11 in.
Weight: 56,000 lbs. loaded
Armament: Eleven .50-cal. machine guns [nose, left & right cheek, top turret (2), ball turret (2), left and right waist and tail (2)] plus a normal maximum load of 8,000 lbs. of bombs
Engines: Four Pratt & Whitney R-1830s of 1,200 hp. ea.
Cost: $336,000

Engine Picture
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/engines/eng33b.htm

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 303 mph.
Cruising speed: 175 mph.
Range: 2,850 miles
Service Ceiling: 28,000 ft

Versions

XB-24
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/xb24-1.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/xb24-2.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/xb24-3.jpg

YB-24
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/yb24.jpg

LB-30 (British)
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/lb30-1.jpg

B-24A
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24a-1.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24a-2.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24a-3.jpg

B-24B
None

B-24C
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24c.jpg

The Lady Be Good
At 2:50 p.m. on Apr. 4, 1943, 25 B-24Ds of the 376th Bomb Group took off from their AAF base at Soluch, Libya, for a high-altitude bombing attack against harbor facilities at Naples, Italy. All planes but one returned safely to Allied territory that night–the one which was missing was the Lady Be Good.
Almost 16 years later on Nov. 9th, 1958, several British geologists were flying over the desolate, sun-baked Libyan Desert. At approximately 400 miles south of Soluch, they spotted an aircraft on the sand. A ground party which reached the site in March 1959 discovered the plane to be a B-24D. The “Lady Be Good” had been found.Evidence at the site indicated that the crew had become lost in the dark on return from Naples and had flown over their base and southward into the desert. As their fuel supply became depleted, the nine men aboard had bailed out but had disappeared while attempting to walk northward to civilization. Intensive searches were made for clues as to the fate of the crew and in 1960 the remains of eight were found, one near the plane and the other seven far to the north. Five had trekked 78 miles across the tortuous sand before perishing and one had gone an amazing 109 miles. In addition, they had lived eight days rather than only two expected of men in this area with little or no water. The body of the ninth man was never found. Numerous parts from the “Lady Be Good” were returned to the U.S. for technical study. Also, some of the parts were installed in other planes, aircraft which then experienced unexpected difficulties. A C-54 in which several autosyn transmitters were installed had propeller trouble and made a safe landing only by throwing cargo overboard. A C-47 in which a radio receiver was installed ditched in the Mediterranean, and a U.S. Army “Otter” airplane in which a “Lady Be Good” seat armrest was installed crashed in the Gulf of Sidra with 10 men aboard. No trace was ever found of any of them; one of the few pieces washed ashore was the armrest of the “Lady Be Good.”
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/lbg-1.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/lbg-2.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/lbg-3.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/lbg-4.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/lbg-5.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/lbg-6.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/lbg-7.jpg

B-24E
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24e-1.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24e-2.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24e-3.jpg

XB-24F
None

B-24G
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24g-1.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24g-2.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24g-3.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24g-5.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24g-6.jpg

B-24H
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24h-3.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24h-4.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24h-5.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24h-6.jpg

B-24J
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24h-2.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24j-2.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24j-3.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24j-4.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24j-5.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24j-6.jpg

XB-24K
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24k-1.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24k-2.jpg
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24k-3.jpg

B-24L
Lighter version of the J

B-24M
Lighter version of the L

XB-24N
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b24n-1.jpg

YB-24N
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/yb24n.jpg

XB-24P
The XB-24P was modified by Sperry Gyroscope Company from a B-24D-50-CO to test airborne fire control systems.

XB-24Q
General electric version of the J
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/xb24q.jpg

Scale model links
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/kingb24.htm
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/kolb24.htm
http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/us/cleaverb24j.htm

Hope you like everything

The skies the limit,
V.A.

yardbird78 · February 4, 2005, 8:56pm

Wow. You really outdid yourself with all the references and different models of the Lib. Fantastic job. Thanks,
Darwin, O.F. [alien]

jridge · February 4, 2005, 9:28pm

Ask and ye shall receive…

Super job Vintage — thanks for all your hard work!

rjkplasticmod · February 4, 2005, 9:38pm

Another great lead-in write up. Thanks for your effort.

Regards, Rick

Vintage_Aircraft · February 4, 2005, 10:33pm

Hey it was no problem, I particuarly enjoyed resarching this one because it is my favortie bomber.[:D]

The skies the limit,

V.A.

Vintage_Aircraft · February 5, 2005, 8:20am

Well Im finnally able to put a finished model in for the Aircraft of the week. So here it is my 1/48 respresentation of the unforgettable Lady Be Good.

Here are two photos of the model one an overall view and one a close up.

This model has about 6 to 7 months of work out into it equaling to around 275 total hours of construction time.

Interior:
90% of the rear portion of the bomber is scratch built , I had to extend the floor of the waist gunning position to the point of the break, I rebuild all of the structual members in the interior because I did not like how Monogram represented them. The oxygen bottels are from the Monogram B-29 kit, the ammo belts are scratch built, and I put in some very prominent main support sections in the very rear of the bomber. This portion took me most of my time to build the model.

The Cockpit was built as is since not much detail is visible with the hazed over glass. It was then weathered with the base color of the aircraft and instaled.

Tail Exterior:
The tail turrent was converted back to the correct D version, that was the hardest part of construction, it took me two months to find enough pictures to get it right. The rear virtical stabalizer with all of its fabric gone was also scratch built using styreen strip. and the elivators were repositioned, and all of the fabric surfices were given the rotting fabric treatment, which was done by taking a dremel and thining it out from behind and the taking a hobby knife and making cuts in the edges to make it resemble freyed fabric.

Forward fusalage exterior:
The number four engine was removed and the insides built using a very good photo of the another libs engine to work from.

The correct J version windows on the sides of the canopy were discarded and new ones made from clear sheet styreen put on. The nose bubble was damaged using a dremel thinning it out from behind, and making cracks by scribing it with a hobby knife.

The propelers are all bent to the correct angles useing photos enlarged to 1/48 and bending them until they matched.

The peeling deicer boots were made using apoxy putty rolled into a snake then pressed on until they were flat and rectangular shaped, I then put them on the model and smoothed them in usinging water and hung them down and let them dry in a natural droop. The wrinkles in the skin were made using a a dremel tool and smoothed over with steel wool.

Paint weathering and markings:

The overall color of the aircraft is Tamiya dark yellow airbrushed on using a Badger 360. The aircraft insigneas were airbrushed on using the kit decals as stencils. I used Tamiya medium blue to represent the faded insignea blue and regular white for the star. The name and aircraft number on the nose were hand painted on using Tamiya white paint. The number ob the tail is a cut apart decal number sheet.

The aircraft is weathered using Tamiya Dark yellow. Your probably thinking wy weather with the base color? Well what I did was only weather everything that was not dark yellow with dark yellow, so that it gives the impression of the entire aircraft being covered in dust.[:D]

The base is part of a cutt apart hallow door, and it was covered in a layer of celluclay1 inch thick, then I took deluted white glue and drenched the base in it and covered it with filtered sand. ( Note I have put the aircraft on a new base) I then painted the sides in black.

over all I had a very fun time building this kit.

The skies the limit,

V.A.

rjkplasticmod · February 5, 2005, 9:22am

Excellent build & diorama. Looks great.

Regards, Rick

LionBaron · February 5, 2005, 9:24am

Thanks Vintage for all your profiling work , I’m very pleased the b-24 is featured , which by coincidence matches the timing of my finished b-24 J model , your b-24 is simply awesome the time and effort you put into that diorama is worth it , great job !! Thanks for sharing the pics of your masterpiece Lady Be Good .

nicodemus · February 5, 2005, 4:13pm

Vintage aircraft,

First, I appreciate your work on presenting the B-24. Thanks for the time in doing so.
Second, An absolute incredible job on the dio! Thanks for sharing that gem with us, you must be proud! *whatever we’re paying you, it isn’t enough![:D]

Vintage_Aircraft · February 6, 2005, 10:51am

Thanks for all the kind words everyone.

LionBaron-If you could post some pics of your lib here that would be great.[:D]

nicodemus- Im getting paid!!![banghead] and when was I going to be told this[:D] lol

jridge · February 6, 2005, 6:05pm

Here’s a link to Blackwolf’s ETO Club. He’s been working on positng some of my uncle’s PTO experiences and pictures. Enjoy.

http://etoclub.proboards18.com/index.cgi?board=usaafbg&action=display&num=1107650952

rjkplasticmod · February 7, 2005, 2:31pm

Interesting information. Thanks for posting the link.

Regards, Rick

Vintage_Aircraft · February 7, 2005, 9:20pm

jridge-Very nice link, so when are you going to build us the chaimbermaid in the picture so we can see it.[:D]

The skies the limit,

V.A.

nkm1416 · February 8, 2005, 3:00am

Very good work on the B-24 VA. I wonder if Minicraft is still producing 1/72 B-24s after their separation with Academy. I’ve not been seeing 1/72 B-24 model in the LHS.

jridge · February 8, 2005, 8:27am

Hey VA,

Here’s the Chambermaid I built over a year ago. I presented it to my uncle on Sept. 11, 2004, the 60th anniversary of their last mission.

Mike Grant decals (thanks Mike!), custom printed stencils, Terry Dean nose weight, Karaya .50 cal. barrels, Aeroclub .30 cal. MG’s in the bombardier position, scratch built antenna “thingys” below the cockpit, reengineered the ball turret retractor mechanism. This was my 3rd model after a 50 year hiatus. So, there’s much room for improvement. Plus, I have a lot more information on the A/C. So, now I know how inaccurate this one really is!

I’m currently building a replacement. I rescribed the entire A/C before Swanny told us raised panel lines were OK on B-17’s and B-24’s[8]… I have no idea how LionBaron did his rescribing in 5 hours[?] I’ve got 3X that much time invested so far.

rjkplasticmod · February 8, 2005, 8:40am

Excellent work on the Chambermaid. Thanks for sharing.

Regards, Rick

rrmelend · February 8, 2005, 10:01am

Vintage: Thanks for the great info and links, your dio of the Lady Be Good is one of my all time favorites.

LionBaron and jridge: both very nice builds of your aircraft.

jridge · February 8, 2005, 3:35pm

Thanks for the compliments. But, the photo’s cover up a lot of sins…

Vintage_Aircraft · February 8, 2005, 4:16pm

jridge-Lots of sins [}:)] There is no such thing as a perfect model, and from what I see its really good. Cant wait to see your replacement one, are you doing it like it is in your sig? would be really cool to see a dio like that.[:D]

rrmelend-Thanks for the kind words, and Im really humbeld by you stating my dio is one of your all time favorites, thanks.

The skies the limit,

V.A.

cossack · February 11, 2005, 2:14am

VA …

I am not sure if we have a Pope in here, but you MUST be on your way to canonisation, and ultimate sainthood!!![angel] And as for the “pay” comment - please help yourself to a 1000% pay increase!! Its worth it [;)]

Seriously, thank you very much for (obviously) hard work … a labour of love!!