SPA Modeler

Well, I guess there is not actually a 'new' J yet... But you get the idea...

So I started the old old old Airfix B-24J. Did I say it was old?

There is something about this old silver plastic I just love. The fuselage looks and feels great. I spent several minutes just holding it and admiring the classic B-24 shape from various angles (and maybe fancying myself as a wee lad again). It's too bad about the main canopy though -- probably the worst issue with this kit). Been having fun cleaning up the parts, chiseling off huge ejector towers, sanding... Two of the engine/cowlings have been cleaned up and prepped with a tamiya 2000 grit sanding sponge. I think I will hose the engines/cowlings with some Tamiya silver of one flavor or another then brush paint the gear box grey, then apply a good wash. Love the simplicity of building these old kits. I suspect when it's done that I'll be like...yup, looks like a liberator! Not sure what I am going to do for markings. Probably going to be fictitious , maybe it will be Husslin Hussy compliments of a Monogram P-61 kit and the group markings might be based on the original Monogram B-24J release.

Don’t you just love building old vintage kits from the past?

Nice! I like the vintage kits most of the time.

Well it if looks like a Liberator, chances are it's a Liberator.

Great choice Chris, looking forward to seeing this done. From what I've heard it does actually build up quite nicely.

Stuart wrote: ↑Wed Nov 12, 2025 6:03 am Well it if looks like a Liberator, chances are it's a Liberator.

Great choice Chris, looking forward to seeing this done. From what I've heard it does actually build up quite nicely.

After you get the parts cleaned up, the fit is indeed pretty good actually. There is a minor issue with the rear upper fuselage . there is a step between the left and right halves near the tail. however, I think that’s mostly because of the locating pin not matching up correctly between sides. So, I’m just gonna remove that one locating pin and that should resolve the majority of the issue.

Sounds good to me Chris.

You might well be able to get an AM vacform canopy to replace the clear parts?

I've always fancied building the old Airfix B-29, mainly for the boxart if nothing else. I used to see it in shops when I was a kid but could never afford it.

Oh no, not starting down that rabbit hole! The problem with kits this old is if you make one thing on them look realistic then it looks out of place and you have to start making everything else you can fix look right as well. next thing you know you’re sanding off all the rivets and rescribing the whole model— but there still won’t be anything you can do about those clunky looking movable ailerons. No sir, I might replace a bent or broken gun barrel with some plastic rod, but that’s as far as it’s gonna go.

That's fair enough Chris - I hate blooming vac-form canopies anyway!

Stuart, those vacuform canopies can be a pain to cut out, but once in place, damn they look good...

Agreed Carlos, I'm just crap at cutting them out