Friday 28 January 2011

Consolidated Liberator GR.Mk VI

One of the models I did some work on over the Christmas holidays was this 1/144 scale Liberator model.  It arrived a couple of years ago as part of a batch of (already built but unpainted) models I bought at a show.  This is an old Minicraft kit and had been assembled to a reasonable standard.  I considered various colour schemes for this model, and already having several 'normal' USAAF B-24s, I fancied something a bit different - possibly with RAF markings.  Finding a picture of an aircraft of No. 547 Squadron, RAF Coastal Command settled the matter.  547 was based (in late 1944 at least) at RAF Leuchars in Fife.  Not only is Leuchars my 'local' RAF station (I grew up only about 15 miles away and attended several air displays there in the 1970s), but I know a number of people who have been stationed there over the years.
As always, the camera flash is rather unforgiving!

The markings were cobbled together from whatever bits I had in the markings box.

The paint looks better than this under normal lighting.

6 comments:

Don M said...

Always liked this plane...nice Cammo job!

Tim Gow said...

Don
It is quite striking isn't it? as I mentioned in the post, other B-24s are available, but it was nice to build one with a 'local' connection. To me at least.

Al said...

I like this one too. I understand they worked hard to protect the convoys and were good at this because of their long flight range

Don M said...

The one thing about US
WWII Aircraft,very few
camouflage examples, your
choice is generally OD green/Aluminum for Army
Air corps or Two Tone or
Dark Blue for Navy/Marines,
there are a few exceptions
but, much prefer the RAF
for paint schemes ...)

Tim Gow said...

Al
Yes - I beleive that the long range and spacious fuselage made them ideal for long patrol flights. I have read of instances of them attacking U-Boats - that might make for an interesting game?

Tim Gow said...

Don
The other finish I considered was as a US 'forming up' aircraft/ These had all sorts of colourful and whacky paint schemes.