Academy Minicraft LB-30 Liberator
QANTAS obtained 4 EX-RAF Consolidated LB-30 Liberators from BOAC in 1944 to supplement the Catalinas servicing the Kangaroo Route (or Double Sunrise route) to Colombo in Ceylon. They did the trip 5 hours faster and could carry 4 times the payload of the Cats. After the war two were retained until 1950 as freighters carrying replacement engines for the new Constellations which were constantly breaking down. This is the 1/72 Academy/Minicraft B-24D kit converted to an LB-30 using the Magna Models conversion set and decals from Hawkeye Models Australia.
6 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 23, 2020
Great model, Ray. Nice to see such interesting schemes Liberators.
All the best!
John Healy said on April 23, 2020
Nice. Very interesting.
Tom Bebout said on April 23, 2020
Never seen one in civilian dress, looks good.
Robert Royes said on April 23, 2020
An unusual subject, great job!
Haslam Yeoman said on April 23, 2020
Great subject and really nice build.
Greg Kittinger said on April 23, 2020
Nicely done, but really odd to see a Lib without something dangerous sticking out of the nose!
Philip A. Stelzer said on April 23, 2020
Big , Beautiful and shiny…just how I like ’em!
Great work on the NMF and canopy masking!
Michael Woodgate said on April 23, 2020
She looks great Ray! You done see one of these every day.
Ray Seppala said on April 23, 2020
Thanks for the kind words gents!
Allan J Withers said on April 24, 2020
Very liberating Ray, well done.
Ray Seppala said on April 24, 2020
Ha Ha Allan 🙂