1:48 Consolidated B-24D Liberator

A double name on one fuselage

The subjects are two four engine Liberators which in 1942 and 1943 operated over the Mediterranean from sand bases. The aircraft 41-23795 carried the name of one of the dwarfs, the machine 41-11776 a pair of nicknames at once, where a name referring to an American state, where part of the crew came from, was added to the fairy tale character. A double name was no exception, because each side of the nose tended to be painted differently and the men often added a joke of their own on the left side.

Both machines belonged to the unit whose aircraft were given names from the fairy tale, and that idea had a practical reason. In the middle of a vast expanse of sand stood dozens of machines painted in the same sand shade, and a name was the fastest way for a crew to find their own in the dark. Colored bands on the rudders, which appear repeatedly in photographs from this theater, served the same purpose.

For a diorama scene this pair also suits in that bombers in the African theater stood under the open sky with no cover whatsoever. Around a machine there were fuel drums, canvas shelters and crates of ammunition spread about, so a scene comes together from a few small items and a large area of sand.

How to work with the sheet

Before starting work, go through where each marking belongs and divide the sheet into two parts according to the machines. Let markings with a white component dry longer on a glossy area; white tends to be thinner and tears more easily. When settling the artwork on the nose, work from the upper edge downward so that the air leaves toward the landing gear bay, and finally fix everything with a thin layer of varnish. Only the sheet is part of the delivery; the kit is sold separately.