Airfix 1/72 B-24H First impressions.

[@johnbollig2790]

It's a wonderful kit and it will build up nicely. I have one on order from Hornby USA. It's a great kit. I don't think anyone can legitimately be critical of the kit. It's going to be very popular.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

It is lovely, if you don't look at the wheels..

[@Yves95128]

@@NigelsModellingBench Nigel, The wheels are right, see step 93 of the booklet

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Step 93 shows that there is a taper, not the wheels off centre.

[@bryan26762]

I hope you're going to to build it in the near future Nigel. I'm looking forward to following along with mine.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

That's the plan!

[@mikeMuppetmodeller]

The B-24 such an iconic aircraft, great review as always Nigel many thanks.

[@markfleming1605]

Another great and informative kit review. It would be interesting to see how an experienced builder like yourself constructs it. Enjoy your weekend ahead.

[@markoldreive]

A nice formative opinion on the kit. Another one to save for and a replacement set of wheels. Thanks again for spending my money👍🤣

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Any time!

[@richardgraham4512]

In the in box review of the Airfix B-24 elsewhere titled "Disapointing !?" you referenced, the reviewer is actually fulsome in his praise of the kit... He was "disappointed" only to the extent he now HAS to make it a priority to build this kit over other projects!😀

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Oh, it was there to catch my attention then... it clearly worked lol.

[@brettpeacock9116]

The B-24J had swapped the nose and tail turrets from the H. There were some minor internal differences also, but the nose/tail swap was the main featur and distinguishing mark of the H & J.

[@johnkelly2098]

Nice review, Nigel, warts and all! My kit arrived yesterday and I am delighted. Mind you, I've just checked my wheels and they look spot on - go figure. Maybe you are just unlucky. As you said, a GR VII Coastal Command bird would make me very happy.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Are you 100% sure John????? I don't get how only the wheels can be out, the rest of the sprue is fine?? Just checked Spencer, VFC and Airfix videos and they are all off too.

[@johnkelly2098]

Red face time. Just re-checked my wheels and they indeed aren't spot on but nowhere as obvious as yours. Being rear sides it probably won't matter as they can be plugged and redrilled.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

The issue isn't the hole being off centre as such, its whole profile. The only way to correct them would be to turn them on a lathe, true the the bore than "ring" them to get the O/D back.

[@johnkelly2098]

@@NigelsModellingBench Fixing the problem with resin replacements looks rather attractive.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Yeah, just ordered some for mine. Diamond tread as advised by a B-24 Guru.

[@russelltaylor535]

In case you’re wondering why it’s licensed by Lockheed-Martin … Consolidated -> Consolidated-Vultee -> Convair -> General Dynamics (aircraft division) -> Lockheed-Martin Which leaves me one more degree of separation to get to Kevin Bacon 😂 General Dynamics still exists of course but now they make nuclear submarines at their Electric Boat division here in Groton Connecticut.

[@SteveT-0]

This is the review I've been waiting for, from a reviewer I trust with my wallet! - Thanks a ton for doing this.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Glad I could help!

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

Hi Nigel. I pre-ordered mine. It came yesterday. Just checked my sprues, and my main wheel centres don't look too bad. Only a tiny bit off centre. Probably wouldn't notice when assembled and painted. However, the nose wheels look the same as yours. But the rest of the kit looks bloody great for the scale.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Thanks for sharing

[@ronaldbyrne3320]

A loud “BAH! HUMBUG!” on those off-centre wheels, this is why I always watch your reviews Nige. I had this kit on preorder and it is being packed for shipping as I write this. Wheels-up not an option for me with this one so I’ll need aftermarket wheels. Cheers. 🙂

[@lesthiele4921]

Hi Nigel, the kit looks to be a very good production, judt reading one or two comments, there should be NO issues with kits these days, but such is life, thanks for the review, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia Les

[@JeffDonahueScaleModeling]

Hi Nigel, Thanks for the review. It looks like a great kit. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day. Jeff

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Thanks for watching

[@themapmaker5374]

I don’t do 1/72, but there’s a first for everything. I’ll likely get this kit and do it. It looks fantastic and I’m a big fan of all the American WWII bombers. The wheels off-center is disappointing but certainly not a deal breaker. Easy fix with AM. Still, I agree with you Nigel, it’s inexcusable for a new-tooled kit in 2024. I wish they would have done a 1/48th B-24.

[@andrewjones1649]

Nigel. I tried looking at the instructions, but I see an issue. 8th AF B-24's were rerofitted with two large slabs of armour plate (actually boiler plate) either side of the fuselage under the cockpit at the modification depot before they were issued to BG's. It's very noticeable on the real aircraft. This mod wasn't carried out to15th AF machines. So one of the decal options here looks like it will be incorrect. I can't share a picture on KZbin to prove my case, but please have a look in amongst your references.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I'm not sure "all" 8th AF had this mod?

[@andrewjones1649]

@NigelsModellingBench . I just checked my old but favourite reference, 'The Mighty Eighth War Manual' by Roger Freeman and it says that it was fitted experimentally on earlier D models, but for H, J,L, and M models, it was part of a standard list of mods carried out at the 8th AFSC at Warton. Funnily enough, I think the Airfix box art shows it. It was 12mm armour on the D model, and 14mm armour on the later models, so hefty stuff. It was as much to do with trying to shift the centre of gravity forward, as crewprotection I think.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I've just looked again and the kit has those panels moulded on to the nose sections. So, as you say, they will need to be removed for one option.

[@Hi-lb8cq]

​@@NigelsModellingBenchall you'd have to do is look up the actual plane and see what they were using...

[@russelltaylor535]

Minicraft issued their 1/72 Liberator kit as a B-24H; there was a standard release then 4 kits with Zodiac nose art: Aries, Gemini, Leo, and Aquarius from the 486th Bomb Group. Now, whether the Minicraft kit is an accurate rendition of an H variant is another question. I believe Minicraft didn’t do much more than change the nose turret, which would not encompass all the mods needed for an accurate H.

[@Hi-lb8cq]

I have 2 of their zodiac b24 models and replaced the decals with better and more accurate zodiac decals as the decals that came with the kits were ugly and certain colors were inaccurate

[@Yves95128]

Hi Nigel, This is a wonderful kit, thanks for the review👍🏻 About the wheel being off-centered, I had the feeling that it was on purpose, because it's easier to draw a centered part in CAD, if not, you have to do it on purpose, I'm not sure exactly what it is but in step 93, you can see that it was intentional. Good continuation👋🏻

[@NigelsModellingBench]

No, step 93 shows a taper fit.

[@Yves95128]

@@NigelsModellingBench ,,, that looks asymmetrical to me...

[@alanparkinson549]

Re: off centre wheels My first thought was that the eccentricity could be due to misalignment of the upper and lower mould halves, rather than inaccurately shaped wheels at the tool manufacturing stage. If you look closely at the sprue where it's vertical in the picture, you can see the top and bottom of the sprue are displaced, confirming that it is a mould alignment problem.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

As I said in the video it is not a mold alignment issue as all the other parts are fine?

[@alanparkinson549]

@@NigelsModellingBench Fair enough, that's the problem with commenting when I've only watched part of the video!

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I do that all the time!! I've checked other reviews and they all look the same??

[@bengreen171]

Have you noticed that on the artwork, there's something weird going on with the insignia? I think the artist must have assumed that the wind shielding strip on the edge of the fuselage opening was some sort of 'swing up' bar. It's a shame, and something I only noticed yesterday, after weeks and weeks of looking at the artwork in eager anticipation - and now I can't unsee it. And now you can't unsee it either. Welcome to my hell of pedantry. I can no longer enjoy this otherwise superb artwork.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Ha ha!! Well spotted.. I cant unsee that either now.

[@bengreen171]

@@NigelsModellingBench yeah - sorry about that.

[@Model_ig_uk]

Don't look at the HK Lancaster 1/48 B.Mk1 box then 😅

[@bengreen171]

@@Model_ig_uk fortunately, I'm not expert in the finer details of Lancasters, so I can't see anything glaringly wrong. 🙈

[@markgordon2260]

Unless it was a replacement unpainted part, or just the skinning was replaced?

[@timduggan1461]

"dekalls"....in the USA we say "Dee Cals". But, wonderful video. Now I have to buy one. I've been building scale models for 50 years

[@richardgraham4512]

You like tomato and I like tomahto, Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto! Let's call the whole thing off! In the days before the internet, KZbin etc and being something of a solitary modeller I remember going into model shops and avoiding using the word "decal" as I wasn't sure how to pronounce it! To avoid embrassing myself went old school and called them "transfers". These days saying that would be embarrassing! 😆

[@orbitalair2103]

not seeing any in the usa yet....

[@memkiii]

We used to call them transfers (waterslide transfers), & I still do. I don't know why "we" stopped... Oh wait... America. PS the US is not the only nation that speaks English.

[@bobrivett7645]

Thank you this OOB review.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MartinSparks-ef9gr]

Hello Nigel. Ive always wanted to do "Gemini " one of the zodiac nose art b-24h and in 1/48 due to the detail being lacking in 1/72 . Might have to do this one as its great in that regard . Thanks for the review M

[@timduggan1461]

You are truly a fan of the B-24

[@jaws848]

Nice kit Nigel but due to my limited display space its just too big for me

[@SiHill80]

I've been waiting for this kit to get back into the hobby after many years away. What are the best sources (UK) for alternative bomb group and nose art decals etc?

[@davidgoddard594]

Looks really nice. I imagine we will see a D version at some point.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

For sure.

[@Stronty-dog75]

The video with dissapointed at the top of it's description, is just a click bait View grabber, he actually liked the kit.

[@ninus17]

I am currently working on a pby-6 Catalina 1/72 with a very heavy resin tail I am almost certain that the main gear can’t take the weight of the heavy tail and the nose that I will have to fill with weight to balance it out. What do I do. I don’t have the skills to make a new set of gears in metal and I am unsure if a stand will take the weight and not look horrible?

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Have you searched for metal gear for it?

[@ninus17]

@@NigelsModellingBenchI could only find white metal gear and I have had really bad luck with white metal being soft like butter

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Agree... how about a couple of clear styrene rods in the centre of the hull?

[@ninus17]

@@NigelsModellingBench that will probably work Thank 🙂

[@Rpantherluzero]

Nigel ,Question for you,could the locating point be small due to the accuracy of the real thing. Just to get your input. It still looks beautiful

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Which locating point?

[@Rpantherluzero]

@@NigelsModellingBench al the locating points, you are getting upset at. I love your process

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I was referring to massive sprue gates on the bomb tails and the off centre wheel, otherwise it's all good at first glance.

[@ChoppersModelworks]

Am i wrong but didn't the H model have the waist gunner positioned offset slightly? From your video it looks like Airfix made them the same locations.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I'm not sure?

[@richardgraham4512]

On Block 20 and subsequent B-24Hs, the gunner positions were enclosed behind permanent windows, with the guns fired through swivel mounts cut into the lower corners of these windows.. In addition, the two waist gun mounts were staggered. However, the waist gunner windows themselves were not staggered, (as they were in later B-17Gs). I'd imagine Airfix had a challenge trying to pin down a "common" B-24 as specs for individual production runs could change at the drop of a hat. Best advice as always try to get a picture of the subject you're modelling, even then nothing is guaranteed if a field mod has been implemented. 😉

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Thank you for this Richard.

[@lewistaylor1965]

Looks like you only have half a tyre if you want to make wheels down/in flight...

[@eddywells5689]

Great vid

[@ThePlasticModeler]

Are you sure the wheels is not a issue with your specific kit? I just watched Jason's review and he said his wheels are fine.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Well, If you watch Airfix's own review you will see they are the same, as are Toboldly go and Capt VFC. I know a lot aboult mold tools and if this was a misalignment issue, it would be the same on the whole sprue.

[@memkiii]

Oh no, I feel another purchase coming.

[@emmabird9745]

A nice kit for a ghost town. All that detail, oxygen bottles and all but no one to drive it. What a shame. I had an Airfix Liberator when I was young (I think it was a J) and loved it. I had to save for weeks my 7/6 to buy it. It had a retractable ball turret, including a gunner(!), it had waist gunners and pilots. I don't think it had upper or nose/tail gunners though. One thing it did have, that I really don't understand why modern Airfix can't (or won't) manage was retractable landing gear and moveable ailerons. I like moveable bits because I can repose it later and "refresh" the display. You would have to get up real close to see most of that internal detail (I suppose the waist position doors should be closed when stood on the airfield?) so why all that and no aircrew. Very dissappointed with that. Could you (you shouldn't have to) fill those wheel holes and redrill in the centre? Two observations. Your argument about plastic thickness limiting turret detail might point at the possibility of vac form turret transparencies. Yes they're more delicate but could allow more detail, perhaps even a head and shoulders gunner. The instruction to make sure the wings are straight is a good one at least for a ground model but in flight most of these heavy aircraft have a noticeable bending up towards the tips in flight which is a difficult but not entiretly unimportant consideration for those dedicated to the smallest detail. Aeroplanes belong in the air so why does Airfix make that difficult? PS you don't get free kits sent to you because you don't eulogise enough and you call a spade a bl***y shovel. Well done thats what we want.

[@memkiii]

You don't want the crappy pilot figures that Airfix occasionally deign to give us. They all look like Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots first molded in the 1950s that have melted. I really wish they would just pay a 3d modeller to produce something half decent. I just happen to know someone... wink wink.

[@bryan26762]

Wouldn't it be nice if Airfix offered a free correction for the wheels ?

[@NigelsModellingBench]

It would, they may just do that, I hope at least they will correct this for the "other" versions.

[@michaelnaven213]

Airfix should send you a test mold to critique. That would save them a lot of grief.🙉🙈🙊 I would rather have honest truth than ingenious fluff.👍

[@tonygary7611]

👍👍

[@АндрейШмырев-ж3з]

Отличная модель...но дорогая😢

[@jimbraiden2094]

Fill holes and and drill them out to your requirements it's called modeling,it's not rocket science.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Yes, if it were just the holes that were out of position. Look again. I think you'll find I quite enjoy "modelling" as you put it.

[@thedisabledwelshman9266]

made in india? makes a change from being made in china.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Airfix have made kits in India for years now.