[Elmer]

Very nice, Pappy! Thanks. I had the 1:48 Monogram B-24 when I was a kid, so I am not adverse to the size. I am saving my pennies for the "Spotted Ape"; I know it is hideous looking to many of you, but it has the familial connection to me, and it is the first diecast Lib of a 458th Bomb Group Aircraft. Thanks again for posting the pics, I look forward to your on-line review.

[PappyB]

Here's a shot a threw together with a Marushin 1:48 Zeke and pilot figure to put Bombzilla in the proper frame of reference for size.......

[Ara1]

Congrats on the B-24 deal, Pappy, good pick up.

Your model looks fine and it looks like your nosewheel is touching ground. Mine pops a bit of a wheelie... (about 2 mm).

The B-24 is the king cigar in the FM collection, if you like FM you have to own a B-24. This is one serious model. Thanks for the excellent pics, as always.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Ara1

Congrats on the B-24 deal, Pappy, good pick up.

Your model looks fine and it looks like your nosewheel is touching ground. Mine pops a bit of a wheelie... (about 2 mm).

The B-24 is the king cigar in the FM collection, if you like FM you have to own a B-24. This is one serious model. Thanks for the excellent pics, as always.

No, it doesn't pop a wheelie... but the belly turret does drag on the ground -- I wish it could be retracted like on the Corgi libs...

And I agree -- I think it may be my fav FM model to date...

[PappyB]

Some shots of the Corgi version for giggles... First time I realized that the Corgi noseart was also a blend of sticker and paint... if you look closely at the dragon head where it wraps around the top of the nose, you can see that it is a "sticker"... whereas the body of the Dragon is pad-printed. The crew is a definite plus, but since the FM version is "parked only" the lack of figures isn't a big deal. I do like the retracting belly turret on the Corgi version -- the FM turret should be retracted permanently as opposed to extended permanently... The seams/joins are actually more visible on the Corgi than the FM, though.





Look closely at the decal on the nose below and you can see it is a "sticker".



Oops, someone forgot to paint that radome silver...



It may be correct for there to be no art on the port side, but man, it looks dull, dull, dull, -- particularly if you display forces you to show it parked diagonally left to right for symetry reasons... For example, most of my Corgi heavies have noseart on the left side of the nose, so I park 'em all in a row left to right in my bookshelf so you can see it. Same thing happens "in flight" so you can't see the best feature of the model unless you set up a special display for it. So FM's inclusion of the art on both sides isn't a deal breaker to me, despite the historical inaccuracy. (And look at that join line all the way down the length of the fuselage. Don't get me wrong, I dig Corgi Libs and heavies in general, just think that FM gets a raw deal sometimes in terms of criticisms.)






My Lib suffered a bit of flak damage in the stand -- the stand arms rubbed off a little fo the paint in the dragon body, I don't mind it really -- it's a small blemish and makes it look "used" (I can rationalize with the best of 'em!)



BTW: This Corgi Lib is need of a new home, as I dont' have room for two Dragon and His Tail Libs... $55 shipped CONUSA, in tip-top shape other than this blemish -- and the packaging is in very good shape, too. PM if interested.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by smartd

That looks pretty nice, why do some folks hate it?

Cause they either haven't seen it - or,

because it's 'F.M' they 'stereotype' - & spout by the 'truck-load' in 'dismissive'-fashion

[mikeb1958]

Originally Posted by aeroeng

I've got this one too and really like it. That dragon looks really happy.

The blonde looks better with her clothes on...well maybe not. She's in my avatar.

[Ara1]

Pappy,

In my Dauntless thread I rate Franklin Mint's silver finish very high, and in my opinion, unique to the 1/48 diecast world. My FMs (Ju 52, C-47, and SBD) all have a durable silver finish that appears to have the texture of a clear coating of some sort. Can you comment on your B-24's silver paint? How do you rate it?

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by PappyB

And I agree -- I think it may be my fav FM model to date...

I can't call my B-24 (RAF Coastal Command) my favorite FM (hard to pick!), but collectors need to see this model to appreciate the ambition and dedication it took to make it in 1/48. This would make for one honkin' big keychain, brothers. It's a statement. A lot of care went into this model. It defies, correction, it mocks shelf space. Displaying this baby is not a casual event, it requires planning, and a good grip! Kudos for a manufacturer to crank her out.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Ara1

Pappy,

In my Dauntless thread I rate Franklin Mint's silver finish very high, and in my opinion, unique to the 1/48 diecast world. My FMs (Ju 52, C-47, and SBD) all have a durable silver finish that appears to have the texture of a clear coating of some sort. Can you comment on your B-24's silver paint? How do you rate it?

The Lib does appear to have a clear coating on it that protects the HUGE art/decals and gives it a bit of a sheen -- I have a silver B-26 and -47 that are not as glossy. I would say they did good job on the finish on this model. However, I am thining about mucking around with weathering it as I'd prefer this particular scheme to look "war-worn".

Perhaps FM applies this coating to models with at least some sticker decals to protect them against wear over time?