Nigel Julian [ LAMPIE ], brings us an inbox review of Hasegawa''s 1/72nd scale, very colourful, The Dragon And His Tail, Consolidated B-24 Liberator.
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REVIEW
B-24J Liberator The Dragon And HisPosted: Saturday, May 23, 2009 - 10:11 PM UTC
CMOT70
Victoria, Australia
Joined: August 23, 2007
KitMaker: 629 posts
AeroScale: 539 posts
Joined: August 23, 2007
KitMaker: 629 posts
AeroScale: 539 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 12:10 AM UTC
I agree with your assesment of price vs value on this one Nigel. The standard J model initially appeared here for much cheaper than the D model for some reason (A$69 at the time), so i got it then- even though i knew Hasegawa would do this version later.
One question: are the decals for the dragon the usual Hasegawa ones or are they the Cartograph decals that they sometimes use for special editions?
Anyway, i bought the Hannants Xtradecal set X72082 which has the Dragon plus 2 other options for 7 pound. So overall i think it is better value to buy the standard kit with the Hannants decals. It's only a question of whether the Hasegawa decals are better than the Scale-Master ones in the Xtradecals set. My money is on the aftermarket decals though...
Andrew
One question: are the decals for the dragon the usual Hasegawa ones or are they the Cartograph decals that they sometimes use for special editions?
Anyway, i bought the Hannants Xtradecal set X72082 which has the Dragon plus 2 other options for 7 pound. So overall i think it is better value to buy the standard kit with the Hannants decals. It's only a question of whether the Hasegawa decals are better than the Scale-Master ones in the Xtradecals set. My money is on the aftermarket decals though...
Andrew
MikeMx
England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: May 22, 2008
KitMaker: 649 posts
AeroScale: 434 posts
Joined: May 22, 2008
KitMaker: 649 posts
AeroScale: 434 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 10:33 PM UTC
I have this by a different manufacturer and the dragon is grey. I read somewhere that it was supposed to be grey but I've only ever seen illustrations showing a green dragon. Is there an actual picture of the real plane that would confirm the correct colour?
thanks
Mike
thanks
Mike
Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 11:32 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I have this by a different manufacturer and the dragon is grey. I read somewhere that it was supposed to be grey but I've only ever seen illustrations showing a green dragon. Is there an actual picture of the real plane that would confirm the correct colour?
thanks
Mike
Hi Mike,
I have found some pics of a restored aircraft at b24bestweb .
Andy
Posted: Monday, May 25, 2009 - 05:53 AM UTC
The picture Andy posted is the Collings Foundation B-24 which I mentioned in the review.
Apparently there is a colour photo of the original "Dragon And His Tail" in the "In Detail" series book but I havent seen this personally to confirm.
Andrew, sorry, but Im back on tour and wont see the kits decals again until July so cant answer your question at this point.
Nige
Apparently there is a colour photo of the original "Dragon And His Tail" in the "In Detail" series book but I havent seen this personally to confirm.
Andrew, sorry, but Im back on tour and wont see the kits decals again until July so cant answer your question at this point.
Nige
MikeMx
England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: May 22, 2008
KitMaker: 649 posts
AeroScale: 434 posts
Joined: May 22, 2008
KitMaker: 649 posts
AeroScale: 434 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 01:53 AM UTC
Thanks - nice pics of the restored B24 but I really could do with seeing the colour pic of the original - that will settle it for me! The 'In action' book you mention - I assume thats by Squadron/Signal? If it is I will look out for that also. If it is green - who does aftermarket transfers for it?
thanks
Mike
thanks
Mike
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 02:01 AM UTC
Quoted Text
who does aftermarket transfers for it?
thanks
Mike
Xtradecal Set X72082
Nige
B24Liberator
Minnesota, United States
Joined: November 07, 2008
KitMaker: 134 posts
AeroScale: 113 posts
Joined: November 07, 2008
KitMaker: 134 posts
AeroScale: 113 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 11:51 PM UTC
Nice review of a great ship!
Talk about the ultimate in 'nose art'!
Prop47
Arizona, United States
Joined: July 28, 2009
KitMaker: 19 posts
AeroScale: 6 posts
Joined: July 28, 2009
KitMaker: 19 posts
AeroScale: 6 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 09, 2009 - 10:44 AM UTC
This has to be my most favorite nose art of all time!!!!! Nigel you are a lucky man.
Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 05:19 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Apparently there is a colour photo of the original "Dragon And His Tail" in the "In Detail" series book but I havent seen this personally to confirm... Nige
Hi Nige
I've just checked the pic (D&S Vol 64, Page 37) and, although it's a little bit washed out, I think it still gives a pretty good idea of the original colours. It does look far more like the dragon was multi-tone grey, rather than green, with a reddish colour along its back - and certainly nowhere near as vivid as the restoration or the kit decals. Its feet were pink, not yellow, too.
All the best
Rowan
rdriscoll
Florida, United States
Joined: November 24, 2007
KitMaker: 180 posts
AeroScale: 50 posts
Joined: November 24, 2007
KitMaker: 180 posts
AeroScale: 50 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 26, 2009 - 05:21 AM UTC
Here is the photo on question:
Here are a couple of the Colling's B-24 (since repainted as "Witchcraft) that I took from the same owner's B-17 (Nine O' Nine) in March 1999
Here are a couple of the Colling's B-24 (since repainted as "Witchcraft) that I took from the same owner's B-17 (Nine O' Nine) in March 1999