US B-24J Liberator 1/48 Hobby Boss

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold as the LB-30, for Land Bomber. The B-24 was used during World War II by several Allied air forces and navies, and by all branches of the U.S. armed forces during the war, earning a distinguished war record with its operations in the Western European, Pacific, Mediterranean, and China-Burma-India theaters of operations

Often compared to the better-known Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 was more modern in design, with a higher top speed, longer range, and a heavier bomb load. It was also more difficult to fly, with large control forces and poor formation flying characteristics. Popular opinion among aircrews and staffs tended to favor the robust qualities of the B-17 over all other considerations in the European theater. The placement of the B-24's fuel tanks in the upper fuselage and its lightweight construction, designed to increase range and optimize assembly line production, made the aircraft vulnerable to combat damage. The B-24 was known among American crews for its tendency to catch fire. Its "Davis wing" mounted on the high fuselage also meant that it was dangerous to ditch or land on its belly, as the fuselage tended to break. Nevertheless, the B-24 provided excellent service in a variety of roles thanks to its large payload and long range and was the only bomber to operationally deploy the first precursor to the United States' precision-guided munitions during the war, the 1,000-pound Azon guided bomb.

The B-24's most expensive mission was the low-level attack on the Ploie?ti oil fields in Romania on August 1, 1943, which turned into a disaster as the defense was underestimated and fully alerted while the attackers were disorganized.

The B-24 ended World War II as the most produced heavy bomber in history. With more than 18,400 units, half of them by Ford Motor Company, it still holds the distinction of the most produced American military aircraft.

Length 430.3 mm
Scale 694.6 mm

Model to build and paint.

Manufacturer: Hobby Boss
Scale: 1/48