Models To Dunkeswell

I packed up my B-24 US Navy Liberators and U-Boats this morning for the short trip to their new home at the Dunkeswell Memorial Museum / Dunkeswell Airfield WW2

I’m so pleased these can be put to such a great educational use, rather than gather dust in my loft or display cabinet! I highly recommend a visit to Dunkeswell should you ever be down this way. 

https://www.southwestairfields.co.uk

B24 D Liberator

My latest US Navy Dunkeswell B24-D Liberator is complete. 

This is Minicraft’s 1:72 scale kit in the colours of B-13 ‘N' Berlin Express of VB-103 piloted by Lt. Chet Rief and Bruce Higgenbothem, and was one of the first Navy Liberators to arrive at Dunkeswell, Devon in 1943. 

US Navy Liberators went through a variety of camouflage schemes during World War II and Berlin Express can be seen here sporting the early tri-color camouflage scheme. 

Unfortunately Berlin Express had a short operational history, crashing on 3 December 1943.

 

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The kit 

Brand: Minicraft Model Kits
Title: Consolidated-Vultee USAF B-24D Liberator
Number: 11612
Scale: 1:72
Type: Full kit
Released: 1998 | Rebox

B24 J Liberator

 Just completed the first of a series of B-24 Liberators which flew from Dunkeswell, Devon, during WW2. 

This is US Navy B24 J Liberator B-6 “T” of VB-105, 1944-45. 

B-6 “T” was one of a few J-model Navy Liberators to retain the Emerson nose turret and a “high hat” upper turret. Note also the sea-blue replacement rudders. This aircraft was flown back to the US after the war. 

The model kit used in this build is the 1975 release of Airfix’s 1:72 B-24J Liberator with  generic decals from my stash. I scratch built the radar bubble replacing the belly gun turret and used Vallejo Air paints of White and US Navy Sea Blue to create, I hope, a passable likeness.

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The Kit

Brand:  Airfix
Title:   B-24J Liberator
Number:  05006-3
Scale:  1:72
Type:  Full kit
Released:  1975 | Rebox (Changed decals)