Hello All,

This is my first post here and while I have been lurking this board for just a short time I just want to say this site is awesome. I have been reading through the forums to learn as much as possible and to all those who contribute their time and help I want to say thanks.
My father who is now over 80 was a B-24 tailgunner in WWII. He will be staying with us this summer for a couple of months. My plan is to build a B-24 with my 13 yr old son and dad helping. Dad has built many r/c units in the past and my son has built many stick built models. After reading through the forums I see there are a handful of manufacturers that make such a product. American Eagle, Bomber Boys, Don Smith, Jack Stafford, Palmer, and Guillows all make this plane. Size does not play a factor because I have the space to build and the field to fly the 146" Don Smith model. What I am wondering is time to build. Is there a real difference in the time it takes to construct any one of the above kits? I know Stafford is no longer so there is an availability issue and Smith may take forever to respond to my email but with that aside is one plane easier to construct over another? I have around 2 months time to get my habds on any one of these and then 2 months time to hopefully finish the project because I would love to have my dad fly this bird before he leaves. I know this sounds short but all three of us will be spending most of the visit building this. Any thoughs and input would be appreciated. B-24 Boy.

I have never built a B-24 but I have built about a half dozen warbirds. The manufacturers were Top Flight, Byron, PICA and Yellow. As you know, the Byron and Yellow have glass fuses and other parts, the Top Flight and the PICA are all wood. While I would characterize the building of the glass vs. the fuse as somewhat different, the time and effort it took me to build all of these were very comparable. I think the big difference is up to the builder particularly with respect to the degree of scale and detail the builder plans on putting in. I tend to add alot of detail to my warbirds. A long way to say it, but I wouldn't expect your bomber project to take any longer than any other advanced kit would take you. However, if you have three guys building, then obviously you will finish sooner. A short war story: I have a friend who had a close friend who flew a P-51 (not in WWII but a referbished one). As a gift, he and a couple of his friends built the guy a Byron P-51 replica of the guys real P-51. They put in all the works, including the 4 blade reduction drive thing. They only had two months to get it done and on the morning of the guys arrival, they opened up the hangar door where they had been building and taxied out the Byron P-51. The paint was literally still tacky, but they got it done. Good luck. If you guys work real hard, you may get it done too.

wing manufacturing is back now and they make a fine bomber..just do a search for wing manufacturing....

If size isnt a problem and if you are pretty good builder go with the Don Smith plane as it builds nice and the building of it is all over the planes. to build half the fuse and plank it while it still stuck to the board and can mount the fin half at the same time makes for a great straight plane and planking over the plans makes it easy. I like his plans but the one thing I hate is his lack of any instrictions at all but they build great and fly good too. I havent done the B-24 but have done his do 335, b-17, p-51 and helped with a b-29 all of his

Joe

Thanks Tor All those Responding,
I get a sense it will be the detailing that is cut back if we hit a time problem. I will do a search for wing manufacturing and see what they offer. I did not know they were making one. As for Don Smith I was all ready to buy one until I read on another thread that there may be a long wait to hear from him. I sent him an email several days ago and have not heard back. I really liked that 146" wing. Also thinking of letting dad take it flight ready but unpainted and let him finish up his trip visiting the remaining crew members and let them all take a hand at painting. They all have plenty enough pictures of their plane to replicate the coloring and nose art on this one. Thanks again for the input and the story and will be bending all your ears when I need help.

I believe that American Eagle makes a fiberglass fuse kit. It's a big plane that would hold alot of detail.

nick b,
Though I really wanted to make the Palmer 165" or the Smith 146" I made the decision last night that the American Eagle with the 132" wing is the bird to build because like you stated the fuse is already somewhat ready and I believe the wings are foam. I posted a want ad for the American Eagle kit as well as (and I am not holding my breath for the following lol) a want ad for a completed or nearly completed 165" Palmer or the 146" Smith. I say I am not holding my breath for any responses regarding a Palmer or Smith because I myself would never part with such a piece after putting in all that time. But you never know. Thanks for the direction. B-24 Boy.