Olibob65 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 this is just sickening !!!!!! how can we mere mortals put up any work with this quality in here. I can only say this is a work of art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 On 2/25/2014 at 12:53, David H said: With the installation of the Falcon vac canopy, how do you feel the shape of the whole front end matches up with photos? To my eye it looks pretty good; somehow better than the nose on the Academy kit. i think installing the larger side opening windows makes a difference. And IIRC fitting the Vac canopy wasn't so bad a job once you learned you could curve it after removing the sliding windows. Looking forward to the 4 By 2, but i'll be equally entertained by the F7F Tigercat. Thanks, David! Regarding the nose, I have the Academy "J" version in my stash, and I referred to it often during the build. The Academy nose is flatter on the top, and this is the reason why the Falcon canopy had to be bent down. To be honest, I think the Revell kit might actually be closer to the proper profile, but that's just a hunch from looking at so many photos. The Academy canopy is pants - squashed beyond all recognition. The actual B-24 canopy has a different cross section at the rear (where it mates with the fuselage) than it does where it mates with the windscreen. In some odd coincidence, I think bending the Falcon canopy creates the same effect. It's not perfect by any means, but it's not bad at all. The other big difference is with the nose greenhouse itself. I couldn't use the vacuform piece because it wasn't wide enough. This means the Academy fuselage is pinched at the front relative to the Revell kit. I had a B-24 drawing that showed the cross section at several fuselage stations, one of which was the rear of the greenhouse. Guess what? The Revell kit matched that fairly well (again, not perfect) so I think its width is OK. If only the Revell greenhouse wasn't 1/2" thick... I think the Revell kit actually represents one of the HALPRO B-24s, so it is meant to be a very early D model. Hence the nose pitot probes on the side of the fuselage, no cheek window, different greenhouse framing, etc. But that's just a guess, I am not a B-24 expert by any definition of the word. Now, about the 4x2. I know a shop in Jamestown NY that had the Revell re-issue the last time I was there, so I sent them a note to see if they still had it. They did, and only $30. Cheap. So I ordered it, only to find that they actually didn't have it in stock...ugh. Will keep looking though. And yes, the Tigercat is waiting - right after the Skua. Cheers, Bill EDIT: 2018 - The Revell re-issue of the Matchbox PB4Y-2 is now part of my stash, along with the Cobra resin set of aftermarket "improvements." Will this be the year? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 A true masterpiece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 You can see the 'dedication' in every photo. Superb project, fantastic result and excellent photography too !! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derwentsider Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 The bar has now been set so high there is snow on it. Simply beautiful to look at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Outstanding Bill Followed this during the GB, bit like a Guinness "good things come to those that wait ! " Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviapassionmaquette Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 what a marvellous job.....your job is very great and I like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king daddy Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 what a corker.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolphin38 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 That is stunning, I have one of these in the stash and I can appreciate the work you have put into this, to produce this result is quite amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlCZ Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Wow ! This is really nice Liberator, this tricolor scheme is gorgeous and details (ammo belts) - really nice ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted April 15, 2014 Author Share Posted April 15, 2014 Hi mates, I went to Buffcon 31 last weekend. This is a show put on by IMPS Niagara Frontier, which is the local modelling club for Buffalo, NY. As usual, I did not bring my camera, nor even my phone so I don't have pictures to show of the many models on display. Nearly 450 models, according to one of the judges that I spoke with. It was a great event with a LOT of vendors, so consequently I no longer have any money. I brought the PB4Y-1 Liberator to the show, and it was entered in the category for 1:72 and smaller multi-engine propeller aircraft. It won first place! Woo Hoo! A much bigger surprise was the antique Libby also winning the best aircraft overall! This I wasn't expecting at all, as there were some exquisite aircraft models entered. When everyone was just about finished packing up their models to go home, a friend snapped a picture with his phone of some goofy looking guy who would not let go of my trophy! This photo is also pretty good for showing just how big (small) this model actually is! I also got a third place award for a 1:72 Spitfire Vb, and a second place award for a 1:72 Buccaneer. All in all, it was a fun day! Cheers, Bill 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_gn Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 That's a great, and deserved result. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Norman Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 one of the best builds of this model I have ever seen!! Wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumbie Air Services Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 Beautiful job, still can't believe thats the old Revell kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kampartiger Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Knowing there're a zillion of rivet heads to be removed,i hv to take my hat off in admiration of such a magnificient build.The colors are spot on with the white being kept subdued instead of the normal glaring outcome.Wonderful navy's Libby,wish I could build one just like yours.Keep up with the excellent work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Crikey. That's just gorgeous... congratulations on a museum quality build, thanks for posting. - Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Bill, WOW...WOW.... What a IMPECCABLE, IMMACULATE and STUNNIGLY GORGEOUS Liberator you built. She is AMAZING, KUDOS.... and CONGRATULATIONS on your third and second prize...keep smiling and making brilliant models ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 (edited) Amazing! Very well done. Edited December 6, 2015 by Dave N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bordfunker Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 That is a truly stunning piece of work, and really shows what can be done with even old kits to bring them up to modern spec. Brilliant build, beautifully finished. Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan-o Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 (edited) What a cracking job!! Edited December 6, 2015 by ivan-o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 (edited) You made a masterpiece here Congratulations! Jerzy-Wojtek Edited December 6, 2015 by JWM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Stunning, just stunning. Excellent build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Convair Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 I already had praised this model in an old post. No surprise here, the "best overall aircraft" is very well deserved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eht1418 Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 That looks great. I think I tried to build one of these 40 years ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 Thanks, everyone! It's always nice when an older thread like this one gets discovered by folks who haven't seen it before. I had a lot of fun building this, as it has a reputation as a kit that is not worth building. But that was the point of the Obsolete Kit Group Build, to see what we could do with these old kits. Some of the participants decided to build their obsolete kit just the way that they would have decades ago, and in the process reconnected with the joys of modelling that we all experienced in our youth. Other, more lunatic, modellers like myself decided to go all out. Even though I didn't finish the build on time, I still finished it since I believed the effort was worth it. I think the old Revell kit cost me $1.00 at one of our club meetings, and the aftermarket maybe $65 - I can't remember. Is that in the thread somewhere? Regardless, I encourage everyone to have a look at all of the finished models from the Obsolete Kit Group Build. "A splendid time is guaranteed for all!" Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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