One thing I do know is that if I do build one, I’ll have to make it as well as I can, because not only do I not have the space for another, this is a lifetime itch I’m about to scratch!
31st July 2025.
I have no idea who leant it to me, but as a kid, I found myself in possession of a Monogram kit catalogue. I distinctly remember looking at it for hours (at junior school, oddly enough…) marvelling over the fantastic models, all of which I had never seen and would not see, for years to come.
Amongst those models a few stood out, but one stuck with me: the 1/48 B-24 Liberator. I just couldn’t get past how great it looked, especially on the kit box, its high wings and gun turrets capturing my imagination and not letting go.
Over the decades that followed, I’ve always loved the Liberator, but much like the Jaguar that I completed a few weeks ago, I’ve never built one, despite now having five in the house, two of which are Monogram kits!
Yesterday I posted on my Book Of Faces that I was getting the itch to build another Monogram kit. One of the comments was that I should at last tackle the B-24. I passed it off at first, but then couldn’t shift the idea and though I’ve been busy with other things today, my mind has wandered back and forth to my kits and what I could do with them (as well, frankly, what I can do with the superb Airfix offerings that I also have to build).
So at the moment I can’t shift the idea that I would really like to have a go at one. It’s most likely to be the B-24J because of the nose and turret, but what colour scheme. Metal or Olive Drab over Neutral Gray? Detailed or from the box? Weathered?
One thing I do know is that if I do build one, I’ll have to make it as well as I can, because not only do I not have the space for another, this is a lifetime itch I’m about to scratch! That little boy, catalogue in hand, would not want to see something that he wasn’t going to be wowed by, so who am I to let him down?
See you tomorrow.
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
If you’re go9ing to go for it, Spense – go all the way. Get the modern replacement gun turrets, do the necessary scratchbuiling on the main gear wells (there’s a good Monogram B-24 build over at iModeler, where the guy “went the distance” on it – good inspiration.
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Ahhh, the memories of those Monogram bombers with the monographs of Sheperd Paine’s beautiful dioramas. The only one I never made was the B-25. I love them because of their warts. I tend to be partial to the B-24D in a desert scheme, but if you are going to do a B-24J, I think natural metal with minimal weathering would be nice (so many bombers were shot down with very few hours on them). As for added detail, I think that is more of a personal decision, as I see the pros and cons of both courses of action. I think that if this is a lifetime itch, some added detail is in order. Personally, I would add micro-LED lighting in the compartments and nav lights for some dramatic effect when the light is low. I’m a sucker for lights.
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Sir! DO it. However you want. I’ve constructed three libs over the years (1 “D”, 2 “J”), and one Koster conversion to the Privateer. It is not a difficult kit, just a palette to do your magic on. If you can find the Koster bits like turrets, upgraded nose for (I think it was for an “H”), and all the other bits and bobs, the result will be excellent. The upper turret only caters toward the shorter, not “high hat” seen on some. Lots of expertise out here to help steer the build if you need it, (I’m not that person) but certainly the result in any case will be satisfying. Final thought: IMO Monogram’s B-24 and B-17 are still unmatched by any new kits… OOB they are accurate and finish well.
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Spence, I’d hope you would do the kit to your taste, since it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity….. I second TCinLA’s suggestion about the turrets as Monogram molded them in halves and you cannot get rid of the obvious seams. For the rest, it rewards careful assembly and makes a fine looking model. Note the canopy side windows are too shallow. I plan to add a bottom frame part below the side window and eliminate the existing bottom frame by scraping and polishing the side window to deepen it. There is as much aftermarket for the beast as you may want to use, so have fun with it…..
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I’ve one of those kits too, Monogram 1/48. It’s been on delay for about 10 years. There are so many fixes that need to be done it’s daunting, worse than the Airfix/whoever else B1B in 1/72. I’ve seen several of the B24 kits built to various qualities. The interior leaves much to be desired, over done rivits on the exterior just to start. I do have a few mag articles on builds in 1/72 where they were done in a somewhat acceptable manner. But like you I strive for excellence, contest grade work. I think after my build of a 1/32 Hasegawa F-16 A that needed SO MUCH modification work, Waldron cockpit for starters, plumbing became a nightmare for a while. I think slightly less complicated for the next build, maybe that 1/72 Airfix B1 B with 100 corrections.
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Good luck my friend, not sure what you will gain … except a little respect for your elders 😉
I’ve built three of the originals years ago when they were first issued … straight out of the box, converted to a “D” long before there was a “D” kit and one for the magazine … https://scale-model-workshop.com/lts49-020/018-3766/monogram-b-24j/monogram-b24j.htm
There are a fair amount of corrections … not sure how far you want to go but some of them are in the magazine article.
Good luck and I’ll be looking forward to your experiences.
Paul Budzik
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What is competing with this in your pipeline, anything more wanttobuildish? How about a decommissioned one in a bone yard, no guns, weathered, flat tyre, faded markings…? And of course you taking photos for your build of it!
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