Liberator and Privateer (B-24, B-41, PB4Y, P-4)

[mwf4nut]

What about converting a B-24 into a gunship like an AC-130?  Convert the bomb bays to gun stations with lots and lots of ammo?  If we're going to keep this in WWII, how about mounting some 20MM cannons pointing out the left side?  If we want to modernize it a little more, convert to turbo props and vulcan cannons.  I know it isn't practical, but it would look pretty cool!

Mark

[Maverick]

MW,

The only drawback with a wartime B-24 gunship (or any other heavy bomber conversion) is the simple reality of power vs weight.  A heavily armed aircraft like that would be a sitting duck for any enemy fighters or adequate air-defence systems.  A similar problem occurred with the attempts at 'escort fighter' B-24s & B-17s.  They were simply too slow to keep up with the bomber stream.  Of course, uprated engines could be considered, but then why not have the standard bombers with them, with the increased performance and you're back to square one.

Post war modernisation isn't so impractical, the B-24 served in the USCG post war for a number of years.

Regards,

Mav

[GTX]

The RAF fitted a under-nose blister on some of their first Liberator I's. It contained 4x 20mm cannons.

Image from here: http://wp.scn.ru/

With that picture in mind, how about an AEW & C Liberator a la Moss or with an Erieeye?

Not quite what you mentioned, but how about this as a turboprop powered AEW Liberator derivative:



Regards,

Greg

[gooberliberation]

The upcoming release of anigrand's B-32 got me thinking...

How about a low-medium altitute patrol bomber based on the dominator a-la privateer?

Is there an existing PB5Y?

[Jeffry Fontaine]

How about fitting wing tip mounted fuel tanks to the B-24?  Would the tanks from an F-84 be large enough or would the wings be able to handle something a bit larger?

Has anyone come across an image on-line of the wing mounted stores pylon that was mounted on the Liberator between the inboard engine and the fuselage?  This stores pylon was used infrequently to carry large bombs that would not otherwise fit in the bomb bays.

Did Consolidated ever attempt to test or develop an Allison V1710 powered version of the B-24?  Something like what Boeing did with the Allison engined B-17 which was designated XB-38?  Not necessarily an increase in power but it would have been an interesting look for the B-24 to be fitted with a quartet of Allison engines.

[jcf]

Might I be so bold as to suggest a planing hull and wing floats?

Okay, I'll get me coat...

The PB2Y was somewhat a flying boat version of the B-24, so it's been done.

Nope, the Model 29 (PB2Y) predates the Model 32(B-24) by three years.
The B-24 used the Davis wing, hydraulic flaps and twin tail of the Model 31(XP4Y-1) flying boat.

Jon

[jcf]

Did Consolidated ever attempt to test or develop an Allison V1710 powered version of the B-24? 

Hi Jeff,
I've not come across any reference to such an animal.

An Allison powered version of the Catalina was proposed early in that design's life, so V-1710s on a B-24 is a plausible concept.

Jon

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Did Consolidated ever attempt to test or develop an Allison V1710 powered version of the B-24?

I've not come across any reference to such an animal.

An Allison powered version of the Catalina was proposed early in that design's life, so V-1710s on a B-24 is a plausible concept.

Hi Jon,

I was thinking that Boeing could pimp the B-17 and turn it into the XB-38 powered by the Allison V-1710 then Consolidated could have come up with their own version based on the B-24.  While performance may not have improved it would sure give the B-24 a different look and something to give the purists fits if it were built and brought to the show.  Maybe someone should contact Saint Alvis and suggest that he build something like that to torment the ARC crowd. :^)

[rallymodeller]

Just the other day I was thinking about a Griffon-engined one.

Or maybe one with turboprops.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Just the other day I was thinking about a Griffon-engined one.
Or maybe one with turboprops.

I recently purchased two sets of resin XB-38 cowlings from someone in Las Vegas, NV.  This might be an excellent source for creating some turbine engine cowling shapes.  All that is missing is the big exhaust pipe and that could be added on top or underneath the nacelle.  The down side is that the cowling parts are in three pieces plus the spinner and will require copious amount of sanding to make them come together. 



***Update 20100927 ***

The resin XB-38 cowlings are absolute crap! A second party also agrees with this observation after I sent one of my conversion sets to him for evaluation and a second opinion. 

The conversion sets I purchased were molded with a two part engine cowling (instead of one piece) along with a separate spinner and oil cooler intake.  All of the pieces were cast in an off-white color resin and had a very grainy exterior finish.  The individual pieces were all rough around the edges and it appears that the molds used for this set are very primitive one-piece molds which left some parts short of resin material and created fit issues for me in attempting to assemble just one engine cowling from the eight cowling parts provided in the set. 

To say that I was seriously disappointed is an understatement.  For the amount of money I paid for two sets I now feel cheated and I would not recommend this product to anyone.  Even if the serious imperfections of this product are addressed and a better mold is created.  The producer states that he has a one piece cowling mold for this conversion set but with the completely unsatisfactory experience I have had with the two sets I purchased I am not eager to waste more money on a substandard product.

[GTX]

Just the other day I was thinking about a Griffon-engined one.

Or maybe one with turboprops.

Well, the AEW one I did above has turboprops.

Regards,

Greg

[Archibald]

What about a B-24 with a Vickers type C layout ?

You know, canard, wings at the rear, winglets...

[jcf]

The actual 'Liberator Liner' Consolidated Model 39 (Convair Model 104)/XR2Y-1.





Jon

[Martin H]

now that thing is butt ugly........

As for odd Liberator versions. I have seen a drawing of a proposed RAF mistel lib with a Hurricane I playing piggy back.  The idea was to get fighters over the atlantic to deal with the FW200. This was before they worked out that it would be easier to mount a catapult on a freighter.

[Geoff]

I have a vauge recollection of a proposed tilt wing B-24 but I am unsure if it was real or I was having one of those drunken conversations.