1/72 Minicraft B-24 Liberator

by Mark McClellan 

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I built this model mostly out of the box.  As I found out that Liberators flew out of my town, Cunderdin Western Australia, in WW 2, I decided that I had to make one.  When the local museum found out that I was making it, I was asked if I was making it for them.  (No…I wasn’t, but I guess I am now!)  Anyway, I was disappointed that the fuselage was in 4 pieces.  The kit was o.k. , nice soft grey plastic, but the windscreen is in 3 pieces.  I wasn’t too happy at this point and the kit sat for three years.  I did manage to locate some “Aussie Decals” for a Liberator that was stationed here.

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Anyway, I was getting bugged about when I was going to finish the model, so I decided I’d better make another attempt at it.  As this model was going to be hanging “in flight”, I had to put the gear up.  The picture of the underside of the wing shows my attempt at this.  I couldn’t find any good pictures of the under wing in flight, so I punted.  I only had to put half of a wheel in the wing with a bit of plastic strip to brace it.  I also braced the gear door up and glued it, but I was still left with an awful hole there.  If anyone has a good photo, I’d appreciate a look for the next one.

During construction I broke one of the .50 cal barrels so I decided to close the starboard side up.  Painting was straight forward with Model Master Metalizer Aluminum covered with our Aussie version of Future.  Then it was time for the decals.  These had sat in my desk drawer for over two years now, so not feeling particularly, I decided to scan them – just in case.  The roundels went on fine, PHEW!  Then I tried to do the swan – the symbol for 25 Squadron, the City of Perth Squadron.  ARGH!!!  They dissolved and my heart sank.  Lucky for me I did the scan, now I needed to learn (fast) how to make decals.  A trip or two to Stanbridges Hobbies in Perth sorted me out.  I’m not completely satisfied with my decal making results, but the Liberator SJ-M mow belongs to the Cunderdin Historical Collection.  The old fellas there were very impressed, so I guess all wasn’t lost.  

On February 14, 1945, there was a fatal crash of Liberator A72-124.  I’d like to make a model of this one in 1/48th scale, perhaps in a cutaway mode. By that time, I should be better at making decals.  Happy modelling!

Mark 

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Photos and text © by Mark McClellan