Corgi B-24

paul1127 · 08-13-2003, 02:41 PM

Still an impressive model but I must confess to being slightly disapointed with Corgi's 1:72 Scale Liberator. (I've just purchased 'Ball Of Fire')

Unlike their other heavies (Lancaster and B-17) it has no opening bomb doors and has plastic vertical fins!

Hope it's not a cost cutting exercise.

Garindan · 08-20-2003, 12:52 PM

I'll admit to being a little underwhelmed with the finished product too, it's nothing specific, (apart from maybe the sit when on it's undercarriage, it's far too nose down) it just isn't as satisfying as the Lanc or B-17. As to the points you raise the plastic tail was a neccesity to enable the model to stand on it's nosewheel, I think the only other alternative was to put a depleted uranium nose on it! The lancaster has plastic vertical tail fins too, not sure but also plastic horizontal sufaces I think. In cases of aircraft with endplate fins it's easier to mold them in plastic as you can glue the pieces securely together, metal has to be screwed or riveted, not easy with such small mating surface between pieces.
As to the bomb doors, as I'm sure you know the B-24 featured doors that worked rather like a roll top desk, these multi segmented flexible doors actually ran in runners on the outside of the fueslage. Needless to say replicating these in 1/72nd would have been a hard task for even a swiss watch maker! The only option we thought of was to have removable doors and an alternate set to fix to the sides of the plane to replicate the appearance of open doors. I can't recall why this was rejected, possibly on grounds of cost as the budget was already stretched by future proofing the model by providing alternative components for the different variants. Hope this explains somethings about this model.

Richard.

paul1127 · 08-20-2003, 02:05 PM

Hi Richard

Much appreciate the time and care taken with your reply. One begins to appreciate the difficulties when explained so concisely, it makes perfect sense.

I also have to confess to not being aware of the complexity of the B-24's bomb doors. Must take another look at those reference books!

Really hoping for a Halifax next, what are the chances?

Regards Paul

justin · 08-21-2003, 01:24 PM

Hope we'll see RAF B24's soon, either Coastal Command or one of the 159sqdn. machines that bombed Pennang would be nice choices

I second the request for a Halifax, and the Ju88, Wellington and B25 would be nice additions to the bomber line,

Justin

stever · 08-22-2003, 05:58 PM

The real-life B-24's were poorly balanced and could easily sit nose high. So I apprecaite that the model might need more help than most to sit on the front wheel.

Garindan · 09-01-2003, 05:55 PM

Yep getting the B-24 to sit on it's nose gear was a pain in model form, and in real life too going by the amount of photos you'll see of the real planes with the tail skid resting on top of bits of wood or oil drums. The B-24 at the RAF Cosford museum, which we photographed for the Corgi model, has it's tail skid resting on an oil drum which provided the inspiration for including one with the model.
As for future releases for Corgi, who knows, there's been a lull in work for a few months with only one new model being prototyped and one modification of an existing model being done, but fear not some sure to be very, very popular models are being planned,though no Halifax yet, sorry. I've just got to get the go ahead and make'em!

Richard.

08-13-2003, 02:41 PM	#1
paul1127 Junior Collector Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Norwich, United Kingdom Age: 47 Posts: 30	Corgi B-24 Still an impressive model but I must confess to being slightly disapointed with Corgi's 1:72 Scale Liberator. (I've just purchased 'Ball Of Fire') Unlike their other heavies (Lancaster and B-17) it has no opening bomb doors and has plastic vertical fins! Hope it's not a cost cutting exercise.

08-22-2003, 05:58 PM	#5
stever Senior Collector Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: co Age: 49 Posts: 366	A college prof told me that... The real-life B-24's were poorly balanced and could easily sit nose high. So I apprecaite that the model might need more help than most to sit on the front wheel. __________________ -The Stever My wish list: Garuda DC 10 United DC 8-73

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08-20-2003, 12:52 PM	#2
Garindan Collector Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: England Age: 34 Posts: 116	I'll admit to being a little underwhelmed with the finished product too, it's nothing specific, (apart from maybe the sit when on it's undercarriage, it's far too nose down) it just isn't as satisfying as the Lanc or B-17. As to the points you raise the plastic tail was a neccesity to enable the model to stand on it's nosewheel, I think the only other alternative was to put a depleted uranium nose on it! The lancaster has plastic vertical tail fins too, not sure but also plastic horizontal sufaces I think. In cases of aircraft with endplate fins it's easier to mold them in plastic as you can glue the pieces securely together, metal has to be screwed or riveted, not easy with such small mating surface between pieces. As to the bomb doors, as I'm sure you know the B-24 featured doors that worked rather like a roll top desk, these multi segmented flexible doors actually ran in runners on the outside of the fueslage. Needless to say replicating these in 1/72nd would have been a hard task for even a swiss watch maker! The only option we thought of was to have removable doors and an alternate set to fix to the sides of the plane to replicate the appearance of open doors. I can't recall why this was rejected, possibly on grounds of cost as the budget was already stretched by future proofing the model by providing alternative components for the different variants. Hope this explains somethings about this model. Richard.

08-20-2003, 02:05 PM	#3
paul1127 Junior Collector Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Norwich, United Kingdom Age: 47 Posts: 30	Hi Richard Much appreciate the time and care taken with your reply. One begins to appreciate the difficulties when explained so concisely, it makes perfect sense. I also have to confess to not being aware of the complexity of the B-24's bomb doors. Must take another look at those reference books! Really hoping for a Halifax next, what are the chances? Regards Paul

08-21-2003, 01:24 PM	#4
justin Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,005	Hope we'll see RAF B24's soon, either Coastal Command or one of the 159sqdn. machines that bombed Pennang would be nice choices I second the request for a Halifax, and the Ju88, Wellington and B25 would be nice additions to the bomber line, Justin

09-01-2003, 05:55 PM	#6
Garindan Collector Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: England Age: 34 Posts: 116	Yep getting the B-24 to sit on it's nose gear was a pain in model form, and in real life too going by the amount of photos you'll see of the real planes with the tail skid resting on top of bits of wood or oil drums. The B-24 at the RAF Cosford museum, which we photographed for the Corgi model, has it's tail skid resting on an oil drum which provided the inspiration for including one with the model. As for future releases for Corgi, who knows, there's been a lull in work for a few months with only one new model being prototyped and one modification of an existing model being done, but fear not some sure to be very, very popular models are being planned,though no Halifax yet, sorry. I've just got to get the go ahead and make'em! Richard.