1/48 Revell B-24D (GR-V)

by Chas Bunch

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This is the Revell of Germany B-24D built as a GR-V Liberator sub chaser using Belcher Bits nose radome, Leigh light, and decals.  The winglets for the rocket launchers and Yagi antenna were scratch built from drawings and photos, rocket rails are from Aires, and rockets from my spares box.  Quickboost engines were used, pushrod tubes and ignition harnesses were fabricated.  I used True Details wheels with most of the bulge removed and fabricated brake lines.  I built a new instrument panel and made a new engine control console.  Eduard pre-painted belts and harness were added to the seats, as well as seat cushions.  I opened up air inlets and cowl flaps, drilled out the exhausts, and added waste gates.  I re-scribed most of the fuselage panel lines, but left some of the raised detail alone.  I used Model Master paints.

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Belcher Bits offered markings for 4 aircraft, and I chose BZ792 of 224 Squadron, Coastal Command because of a remarkable mission flown by this aircraft.  On the evening of June 7/8 1944, F/L K. O. Moore (RCAF) and crew sank 2 U-boats (U-373 and U-441) on a single sortie.  Although they had a full load of weapons including 12x 250lb depth charges, 2x Mk.24 homing torpedoes, and 8x  armour-piercing rockets, they sank both boats with one stick of 6 depth charges each, and without using the 5 million candlepower Leigh light.

Liberator IIIs and GR-Vs were delivered with US armament, and most (but not all) had the Consolidated tail turret replaced with a Boulton-Paul 4-gun tail turret.  This aircraft most likely had the B-P turret, but I installed the Consolidated turret for lack of a suitable B-P turret.  The winglets for the rocket launchers were detachable, and not all sub-chasing Liberators had them.

Chas

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Photos and text © by Chas Bunch