{"product_id":"copy-of-hobby-boss-me-262-b-1a-cs-92-1-48","title":"Hobby Boss 1:48 US B-24J Liberator","description":"\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber. The B-24 was used in World War II by several Allied air forces and navies, and by every branch of the American armed forces during the war, attaining a distinguished war record with its operations in the Western European, Pacific, Mediterranean, and China-Burma-India Theaters\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e    Often compared with the better-known Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 was a more modern design with a higher top speed, greater range, and a heavier bomb load; it was also more difficult to fly, with heavy control forces and poor formation-flying characteristics. Popular opinion among aircrews and general staffs tended to favor the B-17's rugged qualities above all other considerations in the European Theater. The placement of the B-24's fuel tanks throughout the upper fuselage and its lightweight construction, designed to increase range and optimize assembly line production, made the aircraft vulnerable to battle damage. The B-24 was notorious among American aircrews for its tendency to catch fire. Its high fuselage-mounted \"Davis wing\" also meant it was dangerous to ditch or belly land, since the fuselage tended to break apart. Nevertheless, the B-24 provided excellent service in a variety of roles thanks to its large payload and long range and was the only bomber to operationally deploy the United States' first forerunner to precision-guided munitions during the war, the 1,000 lb. Azon guided bomb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e    The B-24's most costly mission was the low-level strike against the Ploie?ti oil fields, in Romania on 1 August 1943, which turned into a disaster because the defense was underestimated and fully alerted while the attackers were disorganized.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e    The B-24 ended World War II as the most produced heavy bomber in history. At over 18,400 units, half by Ford Motor Company, it still holds the distinction as the most-produced American military aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ACS-Brand-Co","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44069736808611,"sku":"HB81774","price":159.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2614\/5014\/files\/IMG_3387.jpg?v=1709269330","url":"https:\/\/hobbyshopmelbourne.com.au\/products\/copy-of-hobby-boss-me-262-b-1a-cs-92-1-48","provider":"Hobby Shop Melbourne","version":"1.0","type":"link"}