Mark M Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 im thinking about making a costal command liberator, but dont want to stump up silly money for a hasse OOB kit, so what are my options? will any old liberator do? are there decals? so many questions i dont know where to start Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hacker Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/REV72003 how about this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 20, 2012 Author Share Posted April 20, 2012 thankns mate, there seems to be a few decal sheets, but im not sure which kit goes with them, some refer to gr's some to J's or even D's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfires Forever Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Avieology decals make a set for Canadian CC and the paint schemes are identical. are you going to keep the factory turrets or opt for the Bolton- Paul turrets with the four .303's? Also there is the radar pod built into the bottom of the nose, as well as the MAD pod in place of the bottom turret. Some also had search lights on the wing for night patrols. do you have any options for that in your kit? I am going to make my Monogram B-24D in CC colors and pre 1944 configuration. Good luck with yours, Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 21, 2012 Author Share Posted April 21, 2012 my issue is i havent got a kit yet and not sure which one to get Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck1945 Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 (edited) If it were me, I would start by finding markings, the Aviaeolgy sheet is a good starting point http://www.aviaeology.com/aod72001.html. For the basic kit, the Academy B-24s are perhaps the next best choice after Hasegawa, and Pavla have made resin bits to convert the Academy kits into various CC Liberators. You just need to decide which version to get, either the B-24D or B-24J, hence pick markings first and that will determine what you need. IIRC, the Aviaeology sheet has CC Liberators based on both the D and the J Edited April 21, 2012 by Chuck1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 21, 2012 Author Share Posted April 21, 2012 ok so help me out a D = gr v? a J = ? thats the bit i dont understand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jRatz Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 (edited) It is probably easiest to select a subject, then find what's available to make it up. Coastal Command gets somewhat short shrift from manufacturers direct so you have to be creative. First figure out what is the base B-24 model -- D or J. The D model is easy, no nose turret. Then look at what the Lib has on it and where -- ASR, Leigh Light, rockets, etc. Then look for a kit to fit, and baring that, a base kit and a conversion set. It is a lot easier to match to pictures than worry about which GR.? it is because there wer inconsistencies in/among them -- such as presence/absence of ASR, rockets, etc -- and lots of documentation issues. It doesn't help to be the 'Cinderella Service' .... Here's my Hasegawa D-model (Formatting Monitor kit) with the Pavla GR.V conversion set. Note I did not use the nose ASR from the Pavla set as my refs indicated it was not on this aircraft, which was Lloyd Triggs VC aircraft. The good thing about the Hasegawa kit is that it had both US & British turrets and that made it easier. Edited April 21, 2012 by JohnRatzenberger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck1945 Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 ok so help me outa D = gr v? a J = ? thats the bit i dont understand OK the B-24J appeared as Liberator VI and VIII and the B-24D could be a Liberator III, IIIA and V (the Liberator III had British equipment including the 4-gun BP upper turret, the IIIA had American equipment including the twin .50 upper turret The GR V was a 'D' with coastal specific equipment such as Leigh Light, radar, and some with stub wings carrying rockets The GR VI/VIII was the generic designations for nose turret Coastal Command Liberators While wiki is not always the most reliable source, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_...nd_sub-variants will give a brief summary of types Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 im thinking about making a costal command liberator, but dont want to stump up silly money for a hasse OOB kit, so what are my options? Wait for next year, as Eduard have plans to release another Lib, in CC colours, so you can count on them for the usual goodies. It was to be their first re-release of the ex-academy Libs, but they choose instead at the last moment two other boxing, centenarians and RAF/Burma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 21, 2012 Author Share Posted April 21, 2012 Wait for next year, as Eduard have plans to release another Lib, in CC colours, so you can count on them for the usual goodies.It was to be their first re-release of the ex-academy Libs, but they choose instead at the last moment two other boxing, centenarians and RAF/Burma. ive seen them on hannants they look good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 They are. With eduard, you can expect something nice, like radar, leigh light, rockets, etc... I've the haseg CC Lib boxing available easily here in Taipei, quite cheap by euro standart, but I'll wait for eduard, as the haseg boxing offer nothing more than the classic sprues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 There are shortcomings in basic shape with the Academy kits, but if you can live with them the Eduard looks like the best bet. However, I think you could use some research into the Coastal Command use and variants of the Liberator rather than just ploughing on blind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Hemsley Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 (edited) thankns mate, there seems to be a few decal sheets, but im not sure which kit goes with them, some refer to gr's some to J's or even D's Other than the (expensive) Hasegawa kit, you have a couple of choices. Look on the Hannants site & do a search on 'All Aircraft kits only', '1/72' & with a keyword of 'Liberator'. Of the kits shown, I'd suggest either the Minicraft kits (any of the listed kits, EXCEPT #MC11633) or her of the two listed Eduard's kits (re-boxed Minicraft kits with Eduard's 'goodies'). You gould also go with the Italeri offering (#IT1285) although I'm not familiar enough with that release to know exactly what you'll be getting. Pavla have also released a nice aftermarket set for a Liberator GR.V/VI that would prove very useful, no matter what kit you got - even though it was designed fro the Minicraft kit. The Hannants stock no. is PAVU72040. ( http://www.pavlamodels.cz/katalogy/detail....;styl=styly.css ) BTW, GR.V = B-24D; GR.VI = B-24J and GR.VIII = B-24M (a variant also released by Academy & Minicraft) Scott Edited April 21, 2012 by Scott Hemsley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Mk.VIIIs are not B-24M, the RAF didn't get any of these. Mk.VIs could be G, H or J; Mk.VIIIs J or L. There were a lot of differences between Liberators on the production line, almost regardless of the variant, and getting a model to be a close match may be more work that it is worth to you, although it is nice to at least get the right turrets! There is a new book out from MMP called Consolidated Mess, describing many of these changes, although it has lead to some bad feeling between the author and the resident B-24 expert as to the correctness of some of the information. You can also get Dutch markings for Libertors in Coastal colours, and Czech ones did exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoz Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 There is a new book out from MMP called Consolidated Mess, describing many of these changes, although it has lead to some bad feeling between the author and the resident B-24 expert as to the correctness of some of the information. How does it compare to the old B-24 book by Alan G. Blue??? (I presume you have both, correct??? ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 (edited) I have Alan Blue's book, but not the new one, I haven't seen it yet. I believe it goes into much more detail of the differences, and which production block they were introduced on. I suspect that you would then have to cross-reference to the Air Britain book on Commonwealth Liberators to find out which were applicable to which RAF serial. Then to the various kit options..... the Minicraft did appear with a number of variations and I don't have a grasp on them. Edited April 21, 2012 by Graham Boak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 21, 2012 Author Share Posted April 21, 2012 thanks for the replies ok to clarify, i want a costal command liberator to go with my halifx and b-17 i have a welly on the way im not 100% fussed on the acuracy but as long as its 90% id be happy funds are tight so i dont want to spend a fortune, so im balancing total cost against acuracy, now i can geet the italeri kit very cheap, so is that an option, then get some decals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck1945 Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 (edited) The Italeri kit is a reboxed Academy/Minicraft B-24, so yes that would work. Edited April 21, 2012 by Chuck1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 21, 2012 Author Share Posted April 21, 2012 The Italeri kit is a reboxed Academy/Minicraft B-24, so yes that would work. thanks chuck ok so im going italeri kit so decals and pavala conversion? is that it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Just for the record, I know Alan Griffith (B-24researcher) personally, and I can vouch for his bona fides. His antagonist on the forums is a Mr. Marchese, who has been banned from numerous forum sites because of his confrontational behavior. I don't know the man from Adam, but my impression thus far is that he likes to hear himself talk - a lot. I have no idea if his information is correct or not, and I really don't care. I do know Mr. Griffith is a second to none researcher, and is very fastidious. I plan on getting his book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Sorry everyone: this may be a bit of a thread hijack (so my apoogies if it is and mods please delete if appropriate) but I'm planning on doing an RAF Liberator or two and I'm wondering about what appears to be a heat exchanger in the exhausts at the rear of the engine nacelles (my source is KN751 at Hendon and I can't remember if these things appear on all engines or just the outboards). Your comments would be appreciated (would these also be fitted to Coastal Command Liberators or were they only on the bombers?). I don't recall seeeing them ilustrated in Martin Streetly's works on the aircraft of 100 Group, but as my memory leaks ike a sieve I could be wrong. They certainly don't appear to be included in the Academy/Minicraft kits and as for the Airfix offering..... All the best, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 21, 2012 Author Share Posted April 21, 2012 ok i have a small change of plan, err when i say small i mean, 1/48 scale! i have just bought a 1/48 revell liberator D from pielstick - cheers Nick! so to revisit my question, what do i need for this decals, ?belcher bits conversion? anything else these are the decals im thinking of - http://www.aviaeology.com/aod48001.html does anyone know where i can get the belcher bits conversion form the UK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted April 22, 2012 Author Share Posted April 22, 2012 (edited) just found this vry interesting http://number59.com/new_59/uboats/uboat_home.html http://number59.com/new_59/liberator.html Edited April 22, 2012 by markmarples Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfires Forever Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 ok so help me outa D = gr v? a J = ? thats the bit i dont understand This depends on what scale you are doing, it sounded like you wanted to do 1/72, but of you choose to do 1/48 then the Monogram B-24D will be your best choice, in fact if you are so inclined Iliad makes a great set of U.S.PB's based out of Brazil. regardless, doing an early D model free's you up from having to replace the turrets or add anything that is obviously needed. I do know that years ago you could get the radome and MAD pod along with the search light as resin parts but that set is hard to find and goes for over 80.00 when you can find it. your best bet is to get the Aviology set ( available on E-bay) and the kit ( not a terribly bad build, just takes up alot of room after it is built) then you just need some white, dark slate grey and dark sea grey, then go for it! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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