1/32 B-24!

[Axis Nightmare]

Just got my "Military Issue" catalog yesterday and was stunned to see a Hobby Boss B-24 available. My last Squadron catalog didn't have it. I figured it was still a ways off but there it is. Like the B-17, it's not for the feint of heart with 540 pieces. It's skill level 5 which I think suggests hundreds of unnecessary parts to trim, paint and detail only later to realize you'll never see again once the main components are glued together. Not sure I could complete it in my remaining lifetime. Quite a start to 2019!

[[CAT]CplSlade]

I bought one, but not for $250.

Kit has some issues but it looks like a B-24 when finished so I don't care.

[aferguson]

quite a bit cheaper than the 1/32 Lanc and B-17.

[mikeg]

I saw the new 32nd Zoukie Nick under saved ebay searches, also

[[CAT]CplSlade]

quite a bit cheaper than the 1/32 Lanc and B-17.

Let's just say the B-24 isn't as accurately detailed as those two. If you're very familiar with the plane you will be disappointed in some areas, but to the casual observer and the '3-foot' rule, it looks just like a Liberator and nothing else. They completely fubar'ed the Davis airfoil, for instance. Not a deal-breaker for me but it is for others; it still looks like a Lib and my visitors likely won't know. Turrets are messed up but possibly fixable. Engine faces are basic but can pass with a little tinkering or AM. Can hardly see into the nacelle anyway.

Wingspan is almost 42 inches and it sits about 26 inches deep with its tail to the wall, so it would need quite a table to display on. I plan on building a custom display in our downstairs family room and can just accommodate that, but for most this kit will definitely test one's limits on display space.

[Axis Nightmare]

quite a bit cheaper than the 1/32 Lanc and B-17.

They completely fubar'ed the Davis airfoil, for instance. Not a deal-breaker for me but it is for others; it still looks like a Lib and my visitors likely won't know. Turrets are messed up but possibly fixable. Engine faces are basic but can pass with a little tinkering or AM. Can hardly see into the nacelle anyway.

For some, it's the challenge of the building and detailing experience that's important. My friend runs all cables complete with pulleys for the control surfaces through the fuselages of his 1/32 German WWI planes only to have them never seen again upon gluing the halves together.

I'd much rather see accurate outlines and accurate basic external features like turrets given the attention and about 300 less unnecessary parts like each and every cylinder and pushrods of every engine if you're not even going to be able to see them. It's like 21st Century planes that have the tiniest of detailed stencils on a plane that has glaring errors in the basic shape.

[tmanthegreat]

Given that this B-24 is a Hobby Boss model, I’m not entirely surprised by the inaccuracies you’ve pointed out, [CAT]CplSlade. It wouldn’t surprise me if even the paint guides are somewhat inaccurate compared to the aircraft they are supposed to depict as well. That said, the kit is tempting, but I’ve got my stalled HK Models B-17 kit to finish first

[PanzerArm]

I passed on the HB B-24J pretty much for all the reasons CplSlade mentioned. I found a guy that I could get one for $220 shipped, but even at that price all those inaccuracies are just a deal breaker for me. I opted for the HK Lancaster instead, when eBay had one of its 15% off sales and scored one for $280 shipped.

-Kevin

[grockwood]

I inherited my fathers 1/48 bombers. I was surprised how big the B24 he built was. I can't imagine the size a 1/32 will be. If all his 1/48 were 1/32, I would need another storage locker.

[[CAT]CplSlade]

I bought mine from a guy in Poland; $181 shipped. Even with the problems I bought one. The only real issue for me are the turrets which can be fixed enough to pass. The other things don't matter as much as it will look like nothing but a Liberator when done.

My next big plane acquisition will be the Ki-45 Toryu and then the Lancaster for next Christmas.

The ceiling is where they all go for now but I am designing a display for my downstairs that will accommodate them.

[Axis Nightmare]

I bought one, but not for $250.

Kit has some issues but it looks like a B-24 when finished so I don't care.

So where are all those 500 parts? Interior? engines? Doesn't look like any of them are from molding canopy or turret frames separately from the clear pieces, as usual.

[[CAT]CplSlade]

So where are all those 500 parts? Interior? engines? Doesn't look like any of them are from molding canopy or turret frames separately from the clear pieces, as usual.

Much of it is interior detail, plus two sprues are duplicated for props/engines and bombs. You can see the sprues here:

http://www.themodellingnews.com/2018/11 ... t-kit.html

[Axis Nightmare]

Thanks! Looks like a lot are in bombs and oxygen tanks. Like I expected, a ton of totally unnecessary parts. At least they didn't have each engine in two dozen parts. They could simplify these kits and reduce the price some but many adult modelers love the challenge. Still drives me nuts that kit manufacturers of planes refuse to mold separate canopy frame parts for ease of painting. The tiny intricate parts I see tell me it could be easily done.

[Axis Nightmare]

Just got a Squadron catalog in the mail. Guess what's on the cover.....
(hint: it relates to the topic....)

[[CAT]CplSlade]

Just got a Squadron catalog in the mail. Guess what's on the cover.....
(hint: it relates to the topic....)

The bastards at Squadron are forcing the highest price on U.S. buyers as apparently they are the only distributor right now. I bought mine from a Polish retailer and even with shipping I saved $70.

[Axis Nightmare]

I don't know who "Military Issue" is brokering it through but they were $1 less than Squadron. Squadron likes to have high prices and then e-mail you with a token promotion and discount code. Noticed the 1/18 FW 190's were gone already.

[Axis Nightmare]

but to the casual observer and the '3-foot' rule, it looks just like a Liberator

1/18 figures need the 3 ft. rule for sure. They are not photogenic close-up.

[Axis Nightmare]

Watched a Youtube video of unpacking a 1/32 B-24. The Davis wing is definitely fubar. Can't see putting that much money out with such an obvious HUGE error. Get the big stuff right first, then try to impress us with hundreds of unnecessary parts you won't see once the main components are glued together.....my message to the manufacturers.

I toyed with getting an HK 1/32 B-25. It too has an absurd number of parts. Each engine is a complete kit. They too totally fubar'd a major part that's a glaring error. The engine cowlings are just wrong. They seem too long and have a taper forward that doesn't exist. It's subtle but doesn't take much to be noticeably off. The openings in the front are too small as a result. Saw where one guy posted a long tedious process of trying to fix the openings. Many would say they don't see it and it looks fine to them. The blessing of being around a B-25 as much as I am leads to the curse of spotting the smallest error many would not notice. The B-25 kit takes me back to my message to the manufacturers....

[tmanthegreat]

Axis, you’re darn right on the insane level of detail in the HK Models kits! I got an HK Models B-17G back in 2016 and also got the Eduard “Big Ed” detail sets so I could add a lot more to the model... Progress was painstaking to say the least... Then construction stalled back in early 2017 as I got distracted by other projects. That HKM B-17 is still waiting there for me to get back to it, though

With regards to Hobby Boss, I’ve only built their 1/18 scale FW-190 kits, and while those were modifications on the Merit 1/18 scale preassembled model, I found that Hobby Boss has a variety of issues on everything from the accuracy of certain parts in the kits to their paint references... The paint instructions for the Priller FW-190A5 are completely different from how the actual plane looked, for example. The FW-190A8 kit came with parts that weren’t even on the planes depicted for the kit and had inaccurate decals. I don’t see sloppy issues like that with other brands like Tamiya, Hasegawa, Dragon, etc.

[Axis Nightmare]

quite a bit cheaper than the 1/32 Lanc and B-17.

If you're very familiar with the plane you will be disappointed in some areas, They completely fubar'ed the Davis airfoil, for instance. Not a deal-breaker for me but it is for others;

Here's a graphic view of how bad the Davis wing was botched. Note the box art where the wing root mates to the fuselage. That's a fairly accurate portrayal. Then look at the shape of the actual model below. The 1960's box scale Revell kit pretty much nailed the accurate wing. They got it wrong all the way out to those over thick tips. Hard to believe they could be that incompetent with the basic airfoil shape while providing all the small interior details no one will see. For a kit that expensive, it's a deal breaker for me.

[[CAT]CplSlade]

Yes, but have you seen any of the finished builds out there? Even with its flaws it builds up into something that still says, 'B-24' and looks good to the average person. I got one for Christmas and am glad I did because there won't be another company stepping up to do it.

[Axis Nightmare]

Yes, but have you seen any of the finished builds out there? Even with its flaws it builds up into something that still says, 'B-24' and looks good to the average person. I got one for Christmas and am glad I did because there won't be another company stepping up to do it.

Yes, that makes it tough. Not like there are options.