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Corgi Aviation AA34001 1:72 Consolidated B-24J Liberator 'The Dragon and his Tail'

Duties & Taxes Prepaid Where Available
30-Day Returns

Preowned - Excellent (8/10)
Out of stock
Dispatch by Mon, Oct 19
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Description

The most colorful and elaborate nose art of the Pacific Theater. This 1:72 scale diecast model recreates the Consolidated B-24J Liberator #44-40973, famously known as "The Dragon and his Tail." Assigned to the 64th Bombardment Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Group, this aircraft operated from Le Shima Island in 1945. First flown in June 1944, the airframe became a legend of the USAAF for its massive, full-fuselage dragon artwork, serving as a vibrant symbol of the 43rd Bomb Group's operations across the Bonin Islands and the wider Pacific campaign.

This inaugural release in Corgi's B-24 series is a definitive "must-have" for collectors of nose art and WWII heavy bombers. Ideal for display as a bold centerpiece, the model perfectly captures the gaudy, glorious scheme of the original aircraft, featuring the retractable ball turret and detailed nose gun station that defined the late-war B-24J variant.


Fact Sheet

Brand: Corgi

Series: Aviation Archive

Model code: AA34001

Aircraft: Consolidated B-24J Liberator

Unit: 43rd BG, 64th BS

Serial/Code: #44-40973 / The Dragon and his Tail

Location: Le Shima Island

Date/Period: 1945

Scale: 1:72

Material: Diecast


Model Dimensions

Length: 11.25" or 28.6 cm

Width: 18.25" or 46.4 cm

Condition

Model Condition - Excellent (8/10)

  • The model is complete and otherwise undamaged, graded as excellent. However, please note that the decal on the side art sticker has rubbed where the stand rested, resulting in the incomplete side art.

 


Box condition - Excellent (8/10)

  • For the age the box is in excellent condition with some wear to the edges and sides and remains structurally sound.

Photographed under studio lighting to highlight even the smallest imperfections. Buy with confidence, what you see is exactly what you get.

Any imperfections are shown in the images and description. Refer to the grading tab for more details. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Condition

This model has sold. Its condition details have been removed because they described the specific item that was available. If another example becomes available, it will be inspected and listed with its own condition details and photographs.

Grading

Grading Criteria

Our grading is based mainly on the physical condition of the model itself, including paintwork, attached parts, repairs, visible wear and overall presentation. Box condition and missing separate accessories are noted separately where applicable.


Mint (10/10)
- As new, with no visible flaws to the model itself.


Near Mint (9/10)
- Very light signs of handling, storage or display only.


Excellent (8/10)
- Light wear or a few tiny marks, but still displays very well.


Very Good (7/10)
- Noticeable wear, small chips or rubs, but still presentable as a display piece.


Good (6/10)
- Obvious overall wear, visible marks or paint loss; better suited as a display or filler piece.


Fair (5/10)
- Heavy wear, larger areas of paint loss, repairs or clearly visible flaws.


Spares / Repairs (4/10 or below)
- Significant damage, missing attached parts, broken components or best suited for restoration/spares.


If a separate accessory, stand, leaflet, certificate or optional part is missing, this will be mentioned in the listing notes. The model may still receive a high grade if the model itself remains in strong condition.

For a full breakdown on how we grade models, please refer to our Condition Grading page.

Shipping

Dispatch & Tracking

Orders are dispatched on the next working day after they are placed. We do not dispatch orders on the same day.

If you would like us to hold your order for a later dispatch date, please add a note in the cart before proceeding to checkout, or contact us directly as soon as possible.

Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel on our 'Track Your Order' page.


UK Delivery

  • Tracked 48 — £4.20: Usually 2–3 working days. Available on orders under £100.

  • Tracked 24 — £5.20: Aims for the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £100 or more.

  • Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50: Guaranteed by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £200 or more.


International Delivery

We ship worldwide from the UK using tracked services, with parcels insured up to the full order value.

  • Europe: Usually 3–5 business days after dispatch.

  • Rest of the world: Usually 6–7 business days after dispatch.

 

Add your models to the cart and enter your address to see available services and prices. Postage is combined by weight when you purchase multiple models.

If you place separate orders before they have been dispatched, we will combine them where they can be packed safely together and refund any excess postage paid. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can identify the orders.


Import Duties & Taxes

For supported destinations, duties and taxes are shown and collected at checkout. These orders are sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due on delivery.

Duty-paid delivery is available where shown at checkout for the United States, Norway, Switzerland and selected European destinations. See our Shipping Policy for the full destination list.

If duties and taxes are not collected at checkout, your order is sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). You may need to pay import charges or carrier handling fees before delivery.


We wrap each model box in bubble wrap and use paper void fill inside a sturdy, double-walled shipping box. We may reuse boxes and bubble wrap where suitable, while ensuring your order is protected during transit.

Returns

Returns

You can return an item within 30 days of delivery, provided it is in the same condition as when you received it.

Returns are free for UK customers. Customers outside the UK are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe each item carefully so you can buy with confidence.

We inspect returned items before issuing a refund. For full details, please see our Returns Policy.

To start a return, email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under About & Help in the top menu.

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Browse previously sold diecast aircraft and collectable models from The Collectables Vault. This archive shows past stock, rare releases, and examples of the models that may return in future collections.

Description

The most colorful and elaborate nose art of the Pacific Theater. This 1:72 scale diecast model recreates the Consolidated B-24J Liberator #44-40973, famously known as "The Dragon and his Tail." Assigned to the 64th Bombardment Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Group, this aircraft operated from Le Shima Island in 1945. First flown in June 1944, the airframe became a legend of the USAAF for its massive, full-fuselage dragon artwork, serving as a vibrant symbol of the 43rd Bomb Group's operations across the Bonin Islands and the wider Pacific campaign.

This inaugural release in Corgi's B-24 series is a definitive "must-have" for collectors of nose art and WWII heavy bombers. Ideal for display as a bold centerpiece, the model perfectly captures the gaudy, glorious scheme of the original aircraft, featuring the retractable ball turret and detailed nose gun station that defined the late-war B-24J variant.


Fact Sheet

Brand: Corgi

Series: Aviation Archive

Model code: AA34001

Aircraft: Consolidated B-24J Liberator

Unit: 43rd BG, 64th BS

Serial/Code: #44-40973 / The Dragon and his Tail

Location: Le Shima Island

Date/Period: 1945

Scale: 1:72

Material: Diecast


Model Dimensions

Length: 11.25" or 28.6 cm

Width: 18.25" or 46.4 cm

Condition

Model Condition - Excellent (8/10)

  • The model is complete and otherwise undamaged, graded as excellent. However, please note that the decal on the side art sticker has rubbed where the stand rested, resulting in the incomplete side art.

 


Box condition - Excellent (8/10)

  • For the age the box is in excellent condition with some wear to the edges and sides and remains structurally sound.

Photographed under studio lighting to highlight even the smallest imperfections. Buy with confidence, what you see is exactly what you get.

Any imperfections are shown in the images and description. Refer to the grading tab for more details. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Condition

This model has sold. Its condition details have been removed because they described the specific item that was available. If another example becomes available, it will be inspected and listed with its own condition details and photographs.

Grading

Grading Criteria

Our grading is based mainly on the physical condition of the model itself, including paintwork, attached parts, repairs, visible wear and overall presentation. Box condition and missing separate accessories are noted separately where applicable.


Mint (10/10)
- As new, with no visible flaws to the model itself.


Near Mint (9/10)
- Very light signs of handling, storage or display only.


Excellent (8/10)
- Light wear or a few tiny marks, but still displays very well.


Very Good (7/10)
- Noticeable wear, small chips or rubs, but still presentable as a display piece.


Good (6/10)
- Obvious overall wear, visible marks or paint loss; better suited as a display or filler piece.


Fair (5/10)
- Heavy wear, larger areas of paint loss, repairs or clearly visible flaws.


Spares / Repairs (4/10 or below)
- Significant damage, missing attached parts, broken components or best suited for restoration/spares.


If a separate accessory, stand, leaflet, certificate or optional part is missing, this will be mentioned in the listing notes. The model may still receive a high grade if the model itself remains in strong condition.

For a full breakdown on how we grade models, please refer to our Condition Grading page.

Shipping

Dispatch & Tracking

Orders are dispatched on the next working day after they are placed. We do not dispatch orders on the same day.

If you would like us to hold your order for a later dispatch date, please add a note in the cart before proceeding to checkout, or contact us directly as soon as possible.

Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel on our 'Track Your Order' page.


UK Delivery

  • Tracked 48 — £4.20: Usually 2–3 working days. Available on orders under £100.

  • Tracked 24 — £5.20: Aims for the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £100 or more.

  • Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50: Guaranteed by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £200 or more.


International Delivery

We ship worldwide from the UK using tracked services, with parcels insured up to the full order value.

  • Europe: Usually 3–5 business days after dispatch.

  • Rest of the world: Usually 6–7 business days after dispatch.

 

Add your models to the cart and enter your address to see available services and prices. Postage is combined by weight when you purchase multiple models.

If you place separate orders before they have been dispatched, we will combine them where they can be packed safely together and refund any excess postage paid. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can identify the orders.


Import Duties & Taxes

For supported destinations, duties and taxes are shown and collected at checkout. These orders are sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due on delivery.

Duty-paid delivery is available where shown at checkout for the United States, Norway, Switzerland and selected European destinations. See our Shipping Policy for the full destination list.

If duties and taxes are not collected at checkout, your order is sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). You may need to pay import charges or carrier handling fees before delivery.


We wrap each model box in bubble wrap and use paper void fill inside a sturdy, double-walled shipping box. We may reuse boxes and bubble wrap where suitable, while ensuring your order is protected during transit.

Returns

Returns

You can return an item within 30 days of delivery, provided it is in the same condition as when you received it.

Returns are free for UK customers. Customers outside the UK are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe each item carefully so you can buy with confidence.

We inspect returned items before issuing a refund. For full details, please see our Returns Policy.

To start a return, email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under About & Help in the top menu.