Is there anything on the market to convert a 1/72 (or even 1/48) B-24D kit into an A or LB-30 model? I’d like to model a Coastal Command Liberator I to go along with my 1/72 Revell U-Boat but I was curious if I could model the earliest variants of these aircraft.
In 1/72, Pavla makes a two-part conversion to a Liberator GR.V, while Magna Models will release a civil Liberator I/II conversion in the near future.
[link]http://www.72scale.com/aircraft/Consolidated/B-24.htm[/link]
[link]http://www.pavlamodels.cz/katalogy/detail.php?k=air&c=72-25&styl=styly.css[/link]
[link]http://www.pavlamodels.cz/katalogy/detail.php?k=air&c=72-40&styl=styly.css[/link]
With either a Minicraft or Hasegawa B-24D, you can probably pick and choose parts from the Pavla conversions to make a GR.I. You’d still need to find or scratchbuild new early-type cowlings to have a B-24A/LB-30/Liberator I.
HTH!
Cheers,
Alex
Get two sets of Quickboosts 1/72 PBY-5 Catalina cowlings as this is where they came from for the B-24, B-24A, LB-30, and Liberator II. Consolidated didn’t have to come up with another design as the PBY had already been flying since 1936 I believe. The twin tails came from the Model 31 flying boat. The propellers will have to be narrowed as they used a “tooth pick” Hamilton-Standard design compared to the B-24C and D and beyond H-S propellers. Liib II used Curtis Electrics with the long prop domes. Quickboost does have PBY-5 propellers which are close to the correct shape. They are on sale at Great Models for $8.45 for a pair. For a Lib I, you will have to cut a scale 3 feet off of the nose of a B-24D. A Lib II has the same nose as an early B-24D with the pitot tubes at the center of the nose side compared to a later model D with them at the top. For the Boulton-Paul upper and tail turrets, find a British bomber kit such as a Halifax or Lancaster, as the US requisitioned LB-30’s used Martin A-3 turrets.