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1/72nd Hasegawa Liberator GR.VI, 8 Sqn (ex 200 Sqn), Special Duties role, SEAC 1945


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Hiya Folks,

               Another Lib,... but my first Hasegawa kit, this model was built from the Eduard Overtree`s for their latest release which includes both noses for either the early Mk.III (B-24D) or the later variants with a nose turret. I have always fancied doing a model of this particular aircraft which had been used by 220 Sqn for maritime duties from India before the unit was re numbered to become 8 Sqn and re roled as a long range Special Duties unit, flying agents and supplies and parachuting them into Burma, Malaya, French Indo China and as far afield as Borneo on missions lasting between 12 and 24 hours. In order to carry out these long range sorties the mid upper turret was removed, the nose guns were also removed (and often the waist guns too) and long range tanks were fitted in the bomb bay.  Thankfully DK Decals included this aircraft on their RAF & Commonwealth Liberator`s sheet, which is highly recommended if you can find one, as it was a short run set which proved very popular,... and I believe that they have another one in the works. 

Here is the WIP,.... which also includes an Academy kit built as a RCAF Liberator which is not as yet quite finished;

 

And here is the model,...... I`ve added Eduard Brassin resin wheels as they matched the cross tread pattern of those seen on the subject aircraft, a set of Rebecca antenna on the side of the nose came from an old Revell Havoc kit (which were thinned down)  and although the white areas were painted using rattle can, the rest was brush painted;

41143512371_4f640b4d73_k.jpgDSCF2772 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

26271581597_39a06d4b25_k.jpgDSCF2774 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

41143513111_5e10381a1e_k.jpgDSCF2767 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

26271581597_39a06d4b25_k.jpgDSCF2774 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

27269890768_4a2423c97d_k.jpgDSCF2770 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

40248102465_588cecdabc_k.jpgDSCF2786 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

27269889418_2b56b7db01_k.jpgDSCF2784 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

26271581137_f30f301170_k.jpgDSCF2783 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

40248104175_703849508f_k.jpgDSCF2779 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

26271580707_65424ad869_k.jpgDSCF2785 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

40248101875_8e33d42e22_k.jpgDSCF2792 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

 

OK,...I know that it is a tail sitter,.....despite `lots' of lead added to the nose,..... but as most RAF Liberator`s had a box placed under the tail skid at some point when they were on the ground, then I can live with that!

 

Cheers

         Tony

 

Edit,....here are some pics of the real aircraft;

41144192501_22a6272884.jpgliberator_lg by Tony OToole, on Flickr

40248824815_2967edd6e3_z.jpglib Winnimae right side SEA0271 by Tony OToole, on Flickr

41144192571_1e53ce0e0a.jpg8 sqn charlton by Tony OToole, on Flickr

 

Edited by tonyot
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I posted the pics of the RCAF Lib here by mistake,..... they should have been over on WIP!......DOH!

Cheers

          Tony

Edited by tonyot
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1 hour ago, Stew Dapple said:

Now that's nose art B)

 

Nice job Tony,

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

 

57 minutes ago, zebra said:

Two magnificent Liberators, beautifully finished. I love the nose art on the second one.

Sorry fella`s,.... thanks for your kind words,..... but I posted the RCAF Lib with the monster face nose on here by mistake,..... they were intended for WIP and that model has its own RFI post! Doh,..... what am I like eh?

 

Cheers

         Tony

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Really perfect! In Polish monogrph of B24 there is a story about Special Duty Lib. in SEAC shot down over Singapore, crash landed in jungle and then the crew escaped (all but 2 KIA) via Bangkok where they stolen airplane (a Beech 18? - AFAIR) and landed OK in Burma ...

Cheers

J-W

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23 minutes ago, JWM said:

Really perfect! In Polish monogrph of B24 there is a story about Special Duty Lib. in SEAC shot down over Singapore, crash landed in jungle and then the crew escaped (all but 2 KIA) via Bangkok where they stolen airplane (a Beech 18? - AFAIR) and landed OK in Burma ...

Cheers

J-W

Cheers J-W,.... never heard that story before,....... they sound like very resourceful blokes! There could be a film in that story,..... well if they were American`s eh!  I`m loving researching the Special Duties ops over SEAC,..... Catalina`s, Liberator`s, Dakota`s, Lysander`s, Stinson L-5`s and even Sunderland`s,....... brave blokes!

 

Cheers

           Tony

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26 minutes ago, tonyot said:

never heard that story before,....... they sound like very resourceful blokes!

I will dig for details (it was with names, dates etc...) 

J-W

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5 minutes ago, JWM said:

I will dig for details (it was with names, dates etc...) 

J-W

Don`t go out of your way J-W,..... hopefully I shall come across it during my own reading and research,..... I would hate to put you out my friend. 

Cheers

          Tony

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