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Consolidated LB-30 Liberator, QANTAS **Finished**


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This build is for a QANTAS 100 years club display in November, so plenty of time to finish it (I hope).

 

Some background on QANTAS LB-30s:

In June 1944 the British authorities released to Qantas two RAF Consolidated LB.30 Liberators then being operated by BOAC, to supplement the Catalinas on the Indian ocean route. G-AGKT and G-AGKU had overhauls by Qantas at Archerfield Aerodrome, Brisbane before being delivered to Perth on 18 October and 24 September 1944 repectively in Perth.  They were based at the newly-built Guildford Aerodrome (now Perth Airport), using the Australian National Airways hangar just built for their DC-3 services from the Eastern States. The Liberators which refuelled at Exmouth WA to reduce the ocean crossing, brought an increased payload of 3,800 lbs which allowed 8 passengers in airline seats, plus baggage and the essential diplomatic and priority mail. Two more BOAC Liberators joined Qantas for the Indian Ocean service, G-AGTI and G-AGTJ, allowing the Catalinas to be retired. The final Catalina service landed on the Swan River at Perth on 18 July 1945, marking a total of 271 Qantas Catalina services across the Indian Ocean.

 

When Avro Lancastrians became available during 1945, the Liberators were retired and flown to Sydney. The original two were scrapped, but G-AGTI and G-ATGJ remained with Qantas as freighters VH-EAI and VH-EAJ, mostly used to carry engines to Qantas airliners across the growing postwar route network.

 

I am using an Minicraft B-24D kit that has been hiding in my stash for around 10 years, the Magna Model LB-30 conversion and decals from Hawkeye Models

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I had a good set of in work images until Microsoft Photo editing software decided I did not need them any more and over wrote 10 images with just one. EDIT: I just found a set of images on a thumbdrive that shows some of the early work, yippee!

 

So here is my progress so far. I had to remove the forward and rear turrets for the resin nose and tail pieces.

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Test fit after cutting

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The fuselage openings for various windows and the waist guns were filled with card and glue goo and sanded smooth. I will have scribe some missing details

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The kit was designed to have the bomb bay doors open, so the shape they are moulded in does not make it easy to fit them closed, I had to add a shim and then remove the extra overhanging door

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The cockpit was assembled and installed and given a splash of interior green

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Resin parts from the conversion including the wings (not shown here) were cleaned up and prepared fr assembly along with some of the few other pieces from the kit needed for this build

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A test fit of the parts so far, the wings are slightly warped and will need some hot/cold water treatment to straighten them out

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That's all for now

 

 

 

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Wow!! now that’s some WIP Ray and I’m certainly gonna follow this build like a hawk. Along with a Double Sunrise Catalina and Lancastrian, these are the Qantas subjects I’d love to have a go at one if these days / years / decades!! It’s looking great so far and I wish you the best of luck getting this one ready in time for the Canberra show. 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

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I'd like to do the Catalina as well to go with my other completed one. I have decals for it,  I just need to find another PBY kit.

 

Slowly progressing on the Liberator (among another 4 projects at the moment).The fuselage is together now and tail plane and rear fuselage plug are attached and require fairing in.

 

Wings will be next, I want to make sure this is not a tail sitter with all the resin in it. I have added extra weight under the cockpit but want to make sure it is enough before the nose piece goes on.

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Some progress shots, as you can see a putty monster at this stage

 

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I realised after the surgery to make the open bomb doors fit that there were a second set of closed doors as well :banghead:

 

I also lost the rear lower fuselage panel and had to make a replacement. That's it under the putty mound behind the tail skid recess.

 

 

 

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Phew! Not a tail sitter

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round 3 of puttying on the underside

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and is will be time some more putty around the nose to fare it in, fortunately the resin sands easily and not much effort required to get surfaces matching

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Great to see this one taking shape so quickly Ray... and a good find with those closed nose wheel doors! Those new wings look very nice. I thought you just got round engines however now see why you need a little more than that. 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

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2 minutes ago, SleeperService said:

As I'm at the same stage with my build I feel for you. Very interesting subject. I never knew they were used by anyone other than BOAC. Lovely work so far, it should make a great display of the safest airline in the world.

QANTAS had 4 ex-RAF/BOAC aircraft at one point, used on the Perth to Colombo service and then transporting spare engines for the Connies post war when they broke down. Only 2 ever made it into full QANTAS colours.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I managed to do a little on this one today, clear parts prepped and attached to the cockpit.

 

The windscreen part had a sprue attachment point at the base of the centre windscreen panel which need filin, sanding and polishing

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The centre panel after polishing and futuring

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The conversion set includes an astrodome which is slight oversized in diameter for the supplied resin part.

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or I could use the kit supplied dome which fits the opening a lot better

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  • 3 weeks later...

Some long overdue attention to the Liberator.

 

Major assembly is now complete along with masking. The wheels and props are temporarily fitted to check it is not a tail sitter and fit.

 

I have a set Aeroclub props from a dead Privateer build but they are a larger diameter. So I am undecided which to use.

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Kit prop on the right, Aeroclub on all other engines
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That’s looking lovely Ray. To my eye the Aeroclub props look better, however would have to check references to see what looks closest.  Can’t wait to see it with some paint on. 
Cheers.. Dave 

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Thanks Dave I think I will go with the Aeroclub props.

 

After a spray, fill, sand and spray session it is almost ready for decals. There are a lot of pin holes in the wings I am not going to worry about for now.
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I also started the detail paint of the wheel, engines an props.
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42 minutes ago, stevehnz said:

Looking very sharp Ray, nice to see some progress on this, time on your hands just now? :)

Steve.

Not really Steve, I am working from home now, so I can do some in my breaks if I am quick!

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Thanks Cliff,

 

Well after a few issues it is done, I managed to ping one of the pitot probes off when masking some panels.

 

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So out with the card and tube to make a replacement
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I finished painting the wheels and props and then it was back to the paint shop to repaint the pitot probe and some touch ups.
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Painting complete
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And decalling pretty much complete, just needs a gloss coat and 12 small decals on the prop blades
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Calling it finished

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Well done Ray, that’s turned out lovely. You’ve done a wonderful job of this excellent conversion, a great tribute to your modelling skills. Now I’ve just scored a freebie Airfix B-24, so would be super keen to add one of these to my collection too, just need to source all the extra bits? 
 

Cheers... Dave (admiring QF employee).

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  • 2 weeks later...

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