2024 AIRFIX B-24 LIBERATOR - INTERVIEW WITH THE DESIGNER! 

Lovely model of a very important aircraft..... from Norfolk where many of these aircraft and their brave crews flew from...

Oh no! The wheels are 0.15mm off, I'll never sleep again. Some people need to get a life. Great interview Gary, cheers.

Brilliant interview Gary. With regards to the "off centre wheels", when I see someone dig out a pair of digital callipers to make a point it makes my eyes roll. I think there's a certain amount of snobbery involved. It's "cool" to mock and knock Airfix and rather than praise them for the massive leaps they've taken over the last few years, certain "reviewers" just want to score points and possibly want to be "controversial" to get the extra viewers.

Still great to see Airfix back in the UK where it belongs 👍 Great interview 👍🙏♥️🌈

Its very nice model kit. Airfix goes very high in quality last years. One of the few companies that makes models of large bombers and planes like B-24. Thanks for interview. Hello from Czech republic. 99 like😃

But why no crew, either flying, or even better, with ground crew. Maybe Airfix could take a leaf out of ICM's book and issue a separate crew kit moulded in proper hard styrene, with or without a jeep. this would get more use from an existing mould.

A nice look behind the scenes of model kit designing, Gary. Thank you. As for the misalignment in the wheels of the model, it is a fraction but if it is noticeable to the builder then it must be addressed. Airfix should always aim for perfect moulds just as we aim for perfect builds. Will it stop me from buying this awesome kit? Nope. But if I can see the imperfection, I’ll swap to aftermarket wheels or ask Airfix for a replacement and job done. No fuss, however, I’m always thankful for such issues getting highlighted. It is how everyone can improve. 😊❤

I don't know why companies don't use the method Tamiya used for the 1/48 HE219 Owl to stop tail sitting ie. have a white metal front undercarriage bay or cockpit base for example.

Enjoyed the interview Gary - nice to hear the designer's thoughts on the model.

Good interview. Yeah I agree , it’s not just about how a kit will look when you are done but how it looked when you were building the interior .. kinda gives the modeler an intimate feel for the machine , inside and out and what the young kids saw when flew off in these not knowing if they are coming home.

I love the Tamiya Swordfish, the one with the transparent hull part. Maybe Airfix and other modeling manufacturers should think about getting large "Clear parts" so you can see the inside. Tamiya use like the He219 UHU (and other kits) a lead cockpit floor, which solves the tail sitting.

Great to hear the thoughts of the designer and how he approaches a project. Thank you.

Imperial thumbs and toes up Gary, love your maybe not so subtle jab at the rivet counters and the micrometer crowd at the end.

I really can't see if your bothered why you can't make the hole bigger and centre it in something like CA glue . I just happened to see that issue brought up by Nigel's as of his bench . I think he's quite pedantic and always wanting aftermarket. Some of us are just happy to get a good kit .

Arrived on Wednesday in my queue now

Hi Gary great to the project from designers point view, I have one sittin here, I need thing slow down before start a lot on the plate, but it will a slow build, If there is bit an issue, as modelers we just over come, that all part of modeling.

Thanks both. Very interesting and informative

The liberator is awsome very happy with it as for the wheels being off by a millimeter .in 1940 the real ones probably as well .As for wieght I’ll try the engines and squeeze some forward of the wheels and forward spar

Gary, I know there's been some comments about the wheels and tyres but having seen one in Modelworx in Newhaven I agree with you, when it's done you'll have to get a magnifying glass to see it. The tail sitting is more of an issue for me. Perhaps after market companies could produce the cockpit floor, pilot's seats, etc. in white metal, that would probably stop it being a tail sitter? Just a thought. 🤔

Great interview. I need to get me one of those!

Young designer for building a famous bomber but he did do his research. Especially the Bombay doors and walkway. The roll up doors were unique because if they malfunctioned the bombs could still be dropped right through them . The walk way was used to set the set the fuses and as the primary bailout position. To maximize the detail you could build a cut away kit - so I might just have to buy two kits :-) I may have missed it but I wonder who builds the kits out of the box at Airfix , do they have both builders and " makers".? Thanks for going to the factory Gary, I know it must have been a tough assignment :-) Cheers Bob

Great interview, Gary! That was quite interesting.

Can’t wait to see if they make a coastal command version. Itching to get one.

Beautiful lines and detail in this kit, great job. I was wondering if there was any mention of, possibly, down the line of course, of an updated PB4Y-2 Privateer coming our way?

I will be build of the Year! I’m waiting for it!

To me two points came out. Level of detail and something on part accuracy. I think for external detail I would like the highest level of detail that can be sensible accommodated in the scale of the model. Overdoing it could result in really small parts and a model that is almost impossible to build, and the pleasure of building it may be compromised. Internal detail is a bit of a double edged sword, on one hand if it can't be seen what is the point It could just be the "but I know its there" On the other hand if the hidden detail is really good then there is an opportunity to do a sectioned model as if it is presented in a museum. I have actually done this with the RFM full interior tank kits. As for having a go about the wheel axles being 6 thou off centre some people must lead really sheltered lives. They must go over these kits with all their measuring gear itching to find a fault. What would annoy me a bit is if the axle is too small a diameter for the hole in the wheel and when it comes time to glue the wheel on it won't hold a true position. This is a bit long but I found your discussion very interesting, especially the bit about all the kit variants being done already.

A new 1/48 scale Jaguar would be really nice to have, comparable to the 1/48 Buccaneer

Hi Gary great bomber,great looking kit, great interview well done Gary,can’t wait to build mine.

Enjoyable interview. Though I'm not in possession of this kit as I prefer 1/48, this product is really very nice and certainly very well researched. A lot of thought has gone into the design, together with much of Airfix's recent products too, that is obvious. A credit to this chap and his associates. As for 'tail sitters', I personally don't think it's the responsibility of model companies to sort out. Yes, Tamiya go that extra mile but their products are at the premium end of the market and consequently, one pays for that privilege. Personally, I think it's up to the modeller to resolve such issues nose weight. It's an exciting challenge. Make it enjoyable instead of seeing it as a nuisance.

Firstly it's a model who does this, l am not looking for every nut and bolt to be in the right place maybe if l had paid £500 or 600 for a 1/32 Border Model kit but it's a very good designed representation of a Liberator and that will do me Tommy, fascinating interview what l was wondering was does anyone say no you can't have that it's too expensive to mould it or maybe it doesn't matter a mould is mould 👍

Re the off-centre wheels Gary - there must be some variation in process somewhere then if the error is so small, because I've seen one of the videos where it has been pointed out and I can quite clearly see the eccentricity. I haven't got super-dooper eyesight and this wasn't in massive close up, and it really was obvious.

Hello mr. Gary!thank you very much for your efforts delivering fun excitenes and Inspiration. thank u4sharing.With best regards and sticky greetings from sandy Brandenburg/germany.your fellow modellmate.christian

After building the pre-production sample for Airfix Model World and finding myself unable to achieve the 55g of weight specified by Airfix (circa 30g in mine across both designated locations plus I put weight in behind the nose turret ammo boxes) I've written to Chris P-J and suggested they consider doing the bomb aimer's floor piece + ammo boxes in white metal, which combined with the weight in said designated positions, would skin the tail sitter issue. I hope they'll do this in future iterations and design in similar measures for other kits where this is a factor.

How do you forget pitot tubes on the B-17?

With regard to the offset wheels, it would be really good if Airfix would release the wheels as a 3D printer file so that those who are able can rectify the error. They released a 3D printable paper plane. Surely it can't be too difficult for them to release a correction.

An interesting interview, which leaves me with another question: What studies does a kit designer have, graphic design or industrial design?

I really enjoyed this.Hope they will release other versions of this great bomber.I would love the see the USN version of this.

I like to make a model not an exact miniature replica. It will look like a Liberator and that it what matters for the price you pay. I'm sure a replica would cost a small fortune compared to a plastic kit from your local shop.

If you're really that bothered about off-centered wheels, just fill the hole with some suitably stretched sprue, and re-drill the hole.

So the hole and rim seem to be a bit off like the builder? Chill out and have a cup of coffee ☕ while you contemplate Trumpeter... Where you automatically know a few things will be completely inaccurate. See, don't you feel better already? Did you notice no one said that wheel was inaccurate, its just a tad wacky. The optometrist society would like to thank Airfix for the sudden increase in appointments 😜. 90% of kits get tires and rims as a first aftermarket part offered out there. Propeller replacements are usually the second thing modellers buy. Next rivet counter you catch complaining like its the end of the hobby, ask them how many of each, wheels and props they've bought for their kits. Find something else use that energy on, like getting a hobby 😜