Consolidated B-24 Liberator Solid Wood Model Kit, 1942

Joe Burkhard started his model company around 1940 in New York. Instead of the more complicated builit-up models with structures similar to real aircraft, Burkhard made solid wood models that were cut out in profile and had to be sanded to shape. In 1941, model enthusiast Art Hasslebach bought out the Burkhard Model Company. Hasselbach formed the Consolidated Model Engineering Company to manufacture Burkhard and other brands. By buying a model propellor manufacturer he acquired machinery to carve kits that featured fully shaped parts requiring only finish sanding. This B-24 kit is one of their so-called "Redi-Carved" fuselages. One advantage for manufacturers of solid wood kits was that as balsa became scarce during World War II, availabe woods such as pine could be substituted, ensuring uninterrupted production.