Consolidated Liberator
Coastal Command VLR Liberator II

Kelly Wellington Author
The intent is to produce a facsimile of a RAF VLR Liberator II of the Coastal Command, 1943-5.

Kelly Wellington Author
Okay...I haven't even gotten photos up and I'm almost done.

It was in white, so I've so far left any lower portion of the craft in the color of the plastic. I don't know how spot painting will affect it...will find out.

This is a significant build. It's the first where I had multiple 'working' parts (props spin, wheels roll, mounted guns move, turrets turn...turning turrets with swivelling guns!) and I got them to all work as per the directions.

The kit is 'American Airfix' of the last millenia. The fit is okay with minor mismatch over the flight deck requiring plastic shaving, and the centerline joint needed light spackling. Small amounts of flash, easily dealt with...worst on the clear parts. Small problems with the gun elevation setup on two of the turrets (nose and tail)...the pin connecting the two barrels is a mite long...when they have to fit in to given slots, this becomes a big deal (and my biggest headache.

Oh...it's tailheavy. So much so, I think it might be pointless trying to counterweight it with the space I have available. *sigh*

Kelly Wellington Author
Oh...The wheels go up. And, with modest amount of fumbling, they can be extracted and repositioned in the gears down mode. They snap into place.

Kelly Wellington Author
And control surfaces move, too!

Phil Marchese
You got a clean built out of the old girl. Nice going!