The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was the most produced four-engine aircraft of the Second World War with an incredible 18,188 built between June 1941 and May 1945. The first variant to be effectively used in combat by the USAAF was the B-24D, which because of its extensive range was employed at bases in North Africa and throughout the Pacific where they almost completely replaced the Flying Fortress by 1943. Perhaps the best remembered single action by the type was the daring, long-range attack on the the Romanian oil fields at Ploiești on 1 August 1943. That day, 177 B-24Ds flying over 1,200 miles at low-level to avoid radar detection, attempted a surprise attack on the oil fields. Unfortunately for the Americans, a navigational error led to the disorganization of the bomber force and greatly compromised the coordination and results of the attack. Although some success was achieved, this action became the second costliest US bombing mission of the war with no less than 54 aircraft destroyed, 660 aircrewman lost and 55 aircraft significantly damaged.

The set offered here actually includes two different models - (x1) with the ventral ball turret in the retracted position and (x1) with the turret in the extended combat position. Photography of these little gems is a challenge for our equipment and limited skills, check out the well proportioned model including the fuselage with detailed cockpit, nose blister, dorsal turret, ventral ball turret, waist and tail gun positions; the distinctive twin-tail assembly; the Davis wings with well defined engine cowls and even the superchargers and retracted landing gear under the wings!

Although the surfaces are not perfectly smooth (3D printing is done in layers), the plastic used can be sanded and painted much the same way you would handle resin or styrene. The models may still have some powder and oil-like agent on them that can be removed by washing in warm water with a drop of detergent in it. Although the landing gear is represented in the retracted in-flight position, it should be fairly straight forward to add photo etch parts for a "gear down" rendition, perfect for an air base diorama.

NOTE: While we currently maintain limited inventories of most items, some items may be "printed on demand", which usually requires 10-15 business days from order to shipment.