1/32 Hobby Boss B-24J Liberator

[FLMattModelling]

Well, the time has come, and the beast has been pulled off the shelf. I don't know where this will go when it's done, but it's a kit I've wanted to build.

 

So, here we go. Several sets of Eduard PE, Quickboost propellers, Master gun barrels, Cold War Studio turrets, and the Aerocraft undercarriage. Thinking of a paint scheme and will reveal that later once I get the plan worked out to do that.

 

 

The first step was to see how big this really is. It about fills the bench. Have that scene from Jaws in mind when Richard Dreyfuss comments about needing a bigger boat.

 

 

 

 

Next was to prep and paint the cockpit flooring. Put down the primer and then a coat of Allclad aluminum. In with the chipping fluid and then black. Comfortable with this as a start. 

 

 

My only issue at this point is the interior color. The Eduard photo etch is the wrong color, but it looks better than the kit parts. Still struggling with the route to go.

Edited June 30, 2025 by FLMattModelling

[Dennis7423]

Eduard unfortunately has a habit of printing their colored photoetch in the wrong colors for interiors especially. I carefully painted mine the correct bronze green color, to match the remainder of the cockpit:

 

 

- Dennis S.

   Mt. Juliet, TN USA

[FLMattModelling]

1 hour ago, Dennis7423 said:

Eduard unfortunately has a habit of printing their colored photoetch in the wrong colors for interiors especially. I carefully painted mine the correct bronze green color, to match the remainder of the cockpit:

 

 

- Dennis S.

   Mt. Juliet, TN USA

 

 

I may wind up doing that. Wish they were a little more deliberate with that, but I think they follow the manufacturer's instructions. Shame. Maybe the Yahu Models panel will be more correct.

 

Where did you get those parachutes? Those are really cool!

[tomg]

Chief Brody / Roy Sheider

 

Looking forward to your progress

[Dennis7423]

3 hours ago, FLMattModelling said:

Where did you get those parachutes? Those are really cool!

 

I mold them myself! Drop me a PM, I'm confident I have some laying around I could send you.

 

- Dennis S.

   Mt. Juliet, TN USA

[easixpedro]

Ohhh! Excited to see another, although we admittedly see few built and fewer finished.

 

I paused mine after its future home / museum backed out. Not sure what I’d do with a model w/ that big of a wingspan.

 

My build is here, if you want it for all the references. B-24s are a mess, a ‘Consolidated Mess’ if you will…

Good luck, and I look forward to more!

- Peter

[FLMattModelling]

After starting on the cockpit, I decided that I didn't like how it was looking. Pulled off the Eduard PE for the panel and got the Yahu version. The color looks much better. 

 

That caused me to question the cockpit floor. Out came the paint stripper and some fresh paint. The MRP Interior Bronze Green that I had seemed a little too bright. Toned down with a mix of 10:2 with MRP black, and that gave it a hue I was happy with. This is all dry-fit for now as I determine how to weather this more than I have it now. Still have to add the throttle quadrant levers.

 

 

 

 

I also opened up the rear cockpit bulkhead and created a shelf on the radio room side. Will try to create some radios that seem to be missing from the kit for this area. 

 

 

Wont be any updates for the next two weeks. Have to make the annual work pilgrimage to Oshkosh, WI for EAA AirVenture.

[TimW]

This might inspire me to resume building my B-24D...

 

Great work!

 

Tim W.

[Dennis7423]

Looking good! Excellent choice for your bronze green, it looks fantastic.

 

My museum, too, backed out of wanting mine, so it also has stalled for the past three, almost four years. The wife and I are exploring moving again, and once we get settled into our new abode, I plan on finishing up some of these large scale bombers and hanging them on the wall, facing vertically. Best I can come up with for them to be displayed/enjoyed, and they can easily be taken down to put on their wheels in a more traditional setting.

 

- Dennis S.

   Mt. Juliet, TN USA

[Mals Way]

Gha...This modelkit....Is....is.....is King Kong in size, geez.

 

Your hand is small when fuselage is in your hand.....eh ..or..eh ..or your big hands sorry.

 

and looks as a great start.

 

 

Looking forward to see more

Edited July 15, 2025 by Mal_Belford

[FLMattModelling]

13 minutes ago, Mal_Belford said:

Gha...This modelkit....Is....is.....is King Kong in size, geez.

 

Your hand is small when fuselage is in your hand.....eh ..or..eh ..or your big hands sorry.

 

and looks as a great start.

 

 

Looking forward to see more

I honestly don't know where I will put it, especially with a nearly 4 and 1/2 foot wingspan.

 

[Mals Way]

12 minutes ago, FLMattModelling said:

I honestly don't know where I will put it, especially with a nearly 4 and 1/2 foot wingspan.

 

Do a wall painting...background blueprint or a photograph in action, framed and looks cool imo...and could be in a livingroom on the wall..but thats me

Edited July 15, 2025 by Mal_Belford

[FLMattModelling]

53 minutes ago, Mal_Belford said:

Do a wall painting...background blueprint or a photograph in action, framed and looks cool imo...and could be in a livingroom on the wall..but thats me

I plan on keeping it for about a year and then I may have a place for it. Waiting on something to come together for that one.

[FLMattModelling]

Spent the past week recovering from 10 days in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for my yearly pilgrimage to EAA Airventure. Work trip, so not much time to go see warbirds. There were about 7 Wildcats which I did see doing a mass flyby. That was really cool.

 

Spent Saturday at the bench getting the interior painted up. Will be ready for weathering over the next day or so. 

 

 

Now, back to all of the bits and bobs that make up the rest of this. 

[MikeMaben]

That's a real monster FLM. It'll be interesting watching this,  Have fun.