Consolidated B-24B

[Acree]

Since Consolidated missed out on the Davis wing that was so important to the "real world" B-24 (see here: http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=4927.15), they did not have a world class long-range bomber to offer the USAAC.  Instead, they competed with North American for the medium bomber market (Martin, of course was busy with the long-range, four-engine, Davis-winged B-26). 

This is my excuse to mate my left-over Martin B-10 wings with my PB4Y (aka B-24) fuselage.  Of course, the R-1820 engines of the B-10 would be insufficient, so a pair of R-2800s replaced them.  The wing was lowered to the mid-position, and the tricycle landing was replaced with tail-dragger gear, since the tricycle gear was motivated by the Davis wing.  The PB4Y's Erco nose turret was deleted and replaced by a bomb-aimer's nose. Below are a couple of teaser photos:

[finsrin]

As we seen here at BTS, you can kitbash most anything (even a laundry iron) into a different and interesting/inspiring subject.
Much as I like all land-sea-air-space builds; multi engine aircraft in prop or jet (e.g. B-58H) have a slight edge in holding my interest for kitbashes.

That said, and anyway, and whatever, and whatnot --- I really like your two way B-10 & B-24 combo kitbashes :)

[jcf]

Nice.

BTW there some real world twin-engine 'B-24' proposals from Consolidated,
it used two R-3350 ala the Davis-winged Model 31, one of them was for a naval
patrol bomber designated PB4Y-2.
 

[Acree]

I have finally completed the B-24B build.  Shown below is a B-24B medium bomber used by the Fuerza Aerea Mexicana (FAM) for anti-submarine patrol.  20 B-24Bs were obtained under Lend-Lease and used from Veracruz to patrol the Gulf of Mexico and the western Caribbean.  FAM B-24Bs had their upper turrets removed to save weight, since they were not expected to meet fighter opposition.  However, they kept their ventral and tail turrets which were considered useful for searching and strafing surfaced U-boats. 

The B-24B in FAM service was equipped with a total of six .50-caliber machine guns (two in the tail turret, two in the ventral turret, and two fixed in the upper nose, aimed and fired by the pilot). FAM 116 was the most successful of all Mexican anti-submarine aircraft, being responsible for sinking U-504 in June, 1943, and U-171 in October, 1943.  She also participated in attacks on two other, unidentified U-boats.

The model is the fuselage of a Minicraft 1/72 PB4Y-1 mated to the wings of a Williams Brothers B-10.  Engines and cowling were F7F units from Quickboost.  The nose was created using dense foam and blister pack clear plastic.  Decals came from Aztec Decals' Juicy Jugs sheet (1/48). 

Hope you like her!



 

[Brian da Basher]

Wow that's a real show-stopper. Chuck! Your mods appear seamless, especially that excellent new nose!

Using Mexican Air Force markings was truly inspired and makes it seem more plausible to me.

Congrats on building a real winner!

Brian da Basher

[Logan Hartke]

Very neat! Two R-2800s wouldn't be terribly impractical, either. That would be enough power to get it off the ground and at least do patrol missions. I imagine it would have similar performance to the PBM Mariner.

I wouldn't want to try to fly it with an engine out, though!

Cheers,

Logan

[Rickshaw]

Reminds me a lot of the Fokker T.V medium bomber

[GTX_Admin]

Nice work :)

[apophenia]

Reminds me a lot of the Fokker T.V medium bomber

I was going to say the same. Nice work!