Monogram 1/48 B-24J

[MRDuczz]

After seeing what great work was done on the P-61 Black Widow thread, I've decided to try to get a long time resident out of my stash and attempt another well known fill and sand model, the Monogram B-24J. With summer coming on, I'm sure it will be a slow build, but it will be out of the stash and on the modeling desk. I was able to come up with the decals for Witchcraft in 1/48 on sale, so that has given me some incentive to have at it. Progress is being made.

 

[Tommergun]

Oldie but a goodie. Watching intently.

 

[the Baron]

Great choice for your project! I remember when Monogram brought out this and the other large aircraft kits in the 70s, and how much fun I had building them. I think they still hold up well today, too. This will be fun to watch!

 

[Jakko]

Is this the kit used in Shep Paine's well-known diorama from the attached PDF?

 

[Holz44]

I've got a few planes ahead of a B-24, but you're making me consider a shuffle of priorities...........
I'll be watching your progress and challenges!

 

[Edbert]

I spent so many hours as a youth pouring over 4-6-8 page pamphlets from Shep,

What a freaking legend!

 

[MRDuczz]

Is this the kit used in Shep Paine's well-known diorama from the attached PDF?

Yes, I believe that it is the same one.

 

[the Baron]

Is this the kit used in Shep Paine's well-known diorama from the attached PDF...

Yes, it is.
He also used this kit to make his diorama of the B-24D Lady Be Good. That was before Monogram re-issued the kit as a B-24D. Shep scratched the nose of the aircraft, including the greenhouse nose.

 

[MRDuczz]

Making progress. Today's photos of filling and sanding, filling and sanding... I filled with Mr. Surfacer 500, so what looks like dark gaps are actually filled with that. The tail turret must be installed prior to gluing on the horizontal stabilizer, so it needed to be assembled. I used the Eduard mask set on it and painted the interior and exterior colors with AK Interactive paint markers. Hopefully, the olive drab with be close to what I use to paint the upper surfaces. I used Mr. Hobby glue to assemble it, thinking capillary action would keep it in the gap only. Yeah, right. I'm pretty sure it went behind a mask so I can't wait to see what that looks like when the mask comes off. The belt of cartridges was something new that I read somewhere. I painted them silver and then painted the case end with clear yellow. It's not perfect, but ought to look good inside the turret from a couple of feet away. Fun B-24 fact; the wingspan is 110 feet and the length is 67 feet 2 inches. In 1/48 scale, that means the wing is almost 10 3/4 inches wider than the aircraft is long. My mind struggles to think that's right.

 

[Edbert]

I so wish there was a high-end version of the B-25. You are doing Monogram proud here, do not mistake me. I tried the AM version and struggled.

I'd pay $150+ for a serious kit of this great airplane!

 

[BarleyBop]

That turret is gonna be awesome!

 

[MRDuczz]

I so wish there was a high-end version of the B-25.

Hobby Boss makes a B-24D and J in 1/48. I don't know much about it, I found it hard to justify purchasing a new B-24 when I had one waiting in the stash for probably over 25 years. I was really tempted because of the Witchcraft markings that come with the HB kit but when I found the aftermarket one, I was able to resist!

 

[Littlemarten]

I so wish there was a high-end version of the B-25. You are doing Monogram proud here, do not mistake me. I tried the AM version and struggled.

I'd pay $150+ for a serious kit of this great airplane!

Have you considered the HK kits? 1/32. I haven't built one, but they look impressive in the box.

 

[Edbert]

Have you considered the HK kits? 1/32. I haven't built one, but they look impressive in the box.

You're right, dunno why I forgot about that one.

I was very impressed with some of what I've seen with HKM kits, so I bought their B-17G. It is not bad, but underwhelming. Discovered later that it is an older one and that they've improved over the years.

 

[Ron2]

You're right, dunno why I forgot about that one.

I was very impressed with some of what I've seen with HKM kits, so I bought their B-17G. It is not bad, but underwhelming. Discovered later that it is an older one and that they've improved over the years.

I started the Eduard b17 months ago and put it on hold- wanted to develop my skills a little bit more first. It's an impressive kit.

 

[Littlemarten]

It is not bad, but underwhelming. Discovered later that it is an older one and that they've improved over the years.

Good to know, thanks!

 

[Wig41]

You are a brave soul!

 

[MRDuczz]

You are a brave soul!

I probably fall more under the category of overly optimistic of my ability to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

 

[Ron2]

I probably fall more under the category of overly optimistic of my ability to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

It's a B24! It'll be awesome!

 

[Marauder1981]

OMG the seams... they give me nightmares

 

[MRDuczz]

OMG the seams... they give me nightmares

Yeah, the seams on this one are certainly a challenge. Most of what I did today involved Mr. Surfacer or Perfect Plastic Putty and a sanding device of some sort. Even with the seams being so troublesome, the good part is at least it's a big model with lots of seams…and…wait…uh…

 

[BarleyBop]

good part is at least it's a big model with lots of seams

Hahaha... My mum would say "it's easier to clean a big house than a little one"!
Maybe she was onto something?

 

[Ron2]

Hahaha... My mum would say "it's easier to clean a big house than a little one"!
Maybe she was onto something?

You guys use "mum" too? Didn't realize that.

 

[BarleyBop]

mum

... Depends on the family, I'd say.

I alternate between both spellings.
As a teenager, I actually said "Maa" as opposed to "Maw".
Sometimes, the abbreviation for the French 'maman', as we had a bilingual household.

 

[Ron2]

... Depends on the family, I'd say.

I alternate between both spellings.
As a teenager, I actually said "Maa" as opposed to "Maw".
Sometimes, the abbreviation for the French 'maman', as we had a bilingual household.

I grew up in a bilingual household too. Hillbilly and Chicagoan! Funny thing we would go down south to see my mom's family. My cousins called my grandma "mamaw " somehow I got it confused and called her "papaw". Didn't see my moms family as much once I was a teen but I remember going down for a funeral as an adult and suddenly it dawned on me… "city boy" had a good laugh at himself!

 

[Jakko]

I actually said "Maa" as opposed to "Maw"

Better than Northern Irish … They (going by the show I was watching the other day) say /mɛː/ (sort of "meh" with the "e" sound stretched out) which around where I live is the sound sheep and goats make …

 

[BarleyBop]

Better than Northern Irish

Hahaha. Picture my hesitation to properly address my mother-in-law in Mandarin as 'mother', which depending on the inflection could get me into a lot of trouble!

I'll let Mr. Googly Woogly explain:

• 1st Tone (Mā - high flat pitch): Means mother (妈 / 媽).
• 2nd Tone (Má - rising pitch): Means hemp, rough, or numb (麻).
• 3rd Tone (Mǎ - dipping pitch): Means horse (马 / 馬).
• 4th Tone (Mà - falling pitch): Means to scold or curse (骂 / 罵).

 

[Jakko]

Better than mispronouncing the word for pen, the writing implement, thereby saying not 筆 but 屄. This is — going by what I've read — apparently a fairly common mistake by Europeans.

 

[Ron2]

Hahaha. Picture my hesitation to properly address my mother-in-law in Mandarin as 'mother', which depending on the inflection could get me into a lot of trouble!

I'll let Mr. Googly Woogly explain:

Haha I probably would have purposely tried to do the third choice! Just for a laugh.

 

[Edbert]

You guys use "mum" too? Didn't realize that.

Well, Canada is still a colony ya know, they are allegiant to the king.

(shots fired!)