Minicraft 1/72 B-24D Liberator Training Squadron (1 Viewer)

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T Bolt

Colonel
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Mar 24, 2010
Chicago, Illinois
I started this project with the intention of re-creating the scene in the first photo. It's the training squadron my father was in taken I believe at Alamogordo New Mexico (I heard a lot of stories about Alamogordo) probably in late 42' or 43. There are over 150 men, four jeeps and two dogs in the photo, and of course my father standing on the wing, 12th from the left.

I found it difficult to find reference pictures of early B-24 trainers but finally found the second picture that seemed to match the photo well enough. (Similar type numbers on the side of the nose). The aircraft in the first photo appears to be an early model B-24D or even a "C" model as the venturi tubes are at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock instead of the usual 2 and 10 and it has only small cheek windows so I had some minor modifications to do to the Minicraft kit. I used resin wheels and vacuform turret glazing. The Liberator in the second photo shows heavy paint fading and staining which would be consistent with the harsh climate of New Mexico, and I had a lot of fun recreating it.

By the time I had finished the model I had collected a lot of the figures and a couple of the jeeps to complete the diorama scene, but could not face painting all those figures and put it off, and somehow never got back to it. Maybe someday…. I think my dad would still like it the way it is.

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You should finish it. There are many models of B-24 around but yours will be the only one with a training unit included. You can even build a panoramic camera on a tripod to take the photo.
 
Thanks a lot everyone! If I ever get around to finishing it I'll make sure to put in a camera. Maybe if i work on the figures a little at a time.....
 
Beautiful Liberator!!! Great work!8)

All the best!
Dusan.
 

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