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Thread: WGS South West Pacific 1944-5 - 1/200 AIM Consolidated B-24 Liberators, 21 Sqn RAAF

  1. #1

    Thumbs up WGS South West Pacific 1944-5 - 1/200 AIM Consolidated B-24 Liberators, 21 Sqn RAAF

    My WGS project #8 for 2013 adds two Consolidated B-24 'Liberator' heavy bombers to my Allied order of battle. These are 1/200 scale resin models from Armaments in Miniature (www.armamentsinminiature.com) that cost me USD 14 each plus delivery. The miniatures are B-24Ds, but I am finishing them as B-24Js flown by 21 Squadron RAAF in the last year of the war. The major difference between the D and J is the lack of a front turret on the earlier model.

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    Starting with the CAC Wirraway in 1940, then being equipped with the Brewster Buffalo in 1941 and the Vultee Vengeance in 1943, 21 Squadron converted to Liberators in September 1944. Initially RAAF aircrew flew missions with the USAAF's 380th Bomb Group before commencing their own operations in January 1945. Assigned to No.82 Wing with 23 and 24 Squadrons RAAF, 21 Squadron flew more than 100 missions from RAAF Fenton in northern Australia targeting Japanese positions and installations supporting Allied landings and operations in Borneo and Balikpapan and targeting Japanese convoys and warships. No.82 Wing made a 'decisive' contribution to the success of the Borneo campaign. 287 B-24s saw service with the RAAF in 1944-45 (models D, J, L and M) with 33 lost in action at a cost of over 200 RAAF aircrew killed.

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    'MJ E' named 'Penelope II' flew more than 30 missions with 21 Squadron, the name appearing on the starboard side nose. The crew were credited with the destruction of two Japanese aircraft and sinking three enemy vessels as shown on the port side of the nose.

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    'MJ R' also served with 21 Squadron, and is possibly one of the B-24Js shot down over Balikpapan in July 1945.

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    These aircraft are painted all over gloss aluminium, with an olive drab anti glare panel running about 3/4 of the way down the nose from the cockpit. The black 'V's on the vertical tail surfaces are squadron identification codes, masked and painted. A standard upright 'V' was 21 Squadron, an inverted 'V' was 99 Squadron, base forward was 24 Squadron and base rear like these was 21 Squadron. The roundels and fin flashes are standard RAAF blue & white made from RAF Shed Decals. Nose mission panel and aircraft name are home made decals.

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    As we don't have official heavy bomber stats yet I am going with the following:

    Consolidated B-24J 'Liberator' (RAAF)
    Base size: WGS Bomber
    Manouver deck: XB (447 kph)
    Armament: Short - Bn/Bdt/Aw/Aw/Bt and Long - An/Adt/Aw/Aw/At
    Damage Points: 40
    Top Altitude: 10 (8,534 metres)
    Climb Rate: 7 (5.2 m/s)

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    I just have to do a management card and flight card and am good to go on the map.
    Last edited by Carl_Brisgamer; 06-04-2013 at 07:28.

  2. #2

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    Nice. I also like the little bit of history.

  3. #3

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    Good looking models. Nice work, and a fine addition to your air fleet. Which bases are you using?

  4. #4

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    Very nice work and thanks for the history.
    Great job.
    Linz

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by fast.git View Post
    Good looking models. Nice work, and a fine addition to your air fleet. Which bases are you using?
    At the moment I am using the standard bomber bases, but given the size of these miniatures I would not be surprised if Ares went to the large bomber base.

  6. #6

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    Well done Karl

  7. #7

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    Carl, they look really good. I did not know about Australian marking and camo, but this one fits perfect. Very elegant...

  8. #8

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    Very nice paint job and paint scheme.

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  10. #10

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    Those Liberators look sharp!

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by CappyTom View Post
    Very nice models and I love the mat as well.

    Thomas
    Thanks for the comments lads.

    The map is a satellite photo of a northern Australian river and airfield like one of those I used at Cancon this year. I have done a 'How To' article here: http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...printing-time)

    Cheers,

    Carl.

  12. #12

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    Nice job, Carl. I'm sure any Jap fighter that runs into them will soon be an ancestor
    Interesting history on the squadron: a bit stepping up from Buffalos to Liberators
    Karl

  13. #13

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    Most excellent Liberators, Karl. Thanks for sharing them.

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    Thanks Lloyd. I hope to get these into a game before too long. I'll probably do two B-24's escorted by four Spitfire Mk.VC's opposed by three Tonys and three Zeros.

  15. #15

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    Amazing work, Carl.

    Those B24s look awesome.

    Worthy opponents for the Japanese gun bird Kawasaki KI-61-I-KAId (Ichikawa)!

  16. #16

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    Beautiful paintjob, Carl. Lovely looking planes

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  18. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by CappyTom View Post
    Here's a little history of this gorgeous ugly duckling.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v...ture=endscreen

    Enjoy,
    Thomas
    Thanks Cappy, a great clip.

  19. #19

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    A great paint job on what look to be pretty nice castings.

    It's a pity, as you stated at the start, they're not J/L/Ms. The RAAF only operated 12 B24Ds, with 7OTU at Tocumwal, and they were worn-out 'hand-me-downs' from the USAAF. Actually quite a few B24Ds were field-moded to put a turret up front. I'm looking at doing some 1/144 B24Ds from the 380th BG, who apparently removed the ventral ball turrets from their aircraft to save weight, replacing them with twin yoked MGs on soething similar to an inverted Scarff ring.

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by Baldrick62 View Post
    A great paint job on what look to be pretty nice castings.

    It's a pity, as you stated at the start, they're not J/L/Ms. The RAAF only operated 12 B24Ds, with 7OTU at Tocumwal, and they were worn-out 'hand-me-downs' from the USAAF. Actually quite a few B24Ds were field-moded to put a turret up front. I'm looking at doing some 1/144 B24Ds from the 380th BG, who apparently removed the ventral ball turrets from their aircraft to save weight, replacing them with twin yoked MGs on something similar to an inverted Scarff ring.
    Hi Baldrick,

    Yes, I could not source B-24Js, so I'll have to suspend disbelief in that regard.

    I have seen photos of the ball-turret conversion, the guns are in a ventral hatch. By that stage of the Pacific War Japanese fighters were less of a threat than flak - and bad weather.

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    This B-24D has had the front turret retro-fitted in the field - B-24D-65-CO, US serial 42-40522, RAAF serial A72-6. This B-24 was named "DELIVERER" and served with the 531st BS, 380th BG, USAAF, flying more than 30 missions. Served with RAAF 7OTU and became Instructional Airframe No.2. Scrapped in August 45. Purchased by Charlie Ruthburg of Boisdale VIC and broken up for scrap. Some pieces have been salvaged and placed into storage for restoration at a later date (from ADF Serials website http://adf-serials.com.au/). You can just see the barrel of the single .50 cal protruding from the ventral mount.

    Cheers,

    Carl.

  21. #21
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

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