1:48 Consolidated B-24D Liberator

Decals for the B-24D Liberator in 1:48 scale

A sheet of decals for finishing a model of the American four-engined Consolidated B-24D Liberator bomber. It is a separate accessory to an aircraft model; the kit itself has to be your own.

The real subject

The B-24D was the first version of the Liberator built in large numbers. The aircraft rested on a slender wing of great span set high on the fuselage, carried twin vertical tail surfaces and, as one of the few bombers of its day, had a nose landing gear. Power came from four piston radial engines with a turbocharger, thanks to which the aircraft kept its performance at great altitude. The roomy bomb bay was opened by doors that rolled upward along the sides of the fuselage, so drag during the drop grew substantially less than with hinged doors.

Working with the sheet

• Give the base a gloss coat; a matte surface traps air under the film and the markings turn gray.
• Cut the decal out close in, and on large areas work in sections.
• Soak it in lukewarm water and wait until the film releases from the paper on its own; pulling it off by force tears it.
• Settle the film into rivets and engraving with a softener, not with pressure from a brush; once it is down, do not move it and give it at least 45 minutes.
• Once dry, wipe the adhesive residue away with a damp cloth and seal the area with a varnish of the required sheen.

Who the sheet is for

For modelers who are building a Liberator in 1:48 scale and want markings beyond the contents of the box, or who need to replace the decals from an older kit that have yellowed. Applying them is ordinary decal work; what is demanding is rather the layout of large areas on a rounded fuselage.

The package holds the decal sheet. The model, the paints, the varnish and the softener are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.