TommyP Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 I've been working on and off on this build for a couple of months, and decided you make a concerted effort over the last week to get it finished. I've used Revell's latest 1/72nd B-17G, and Kits World decals to finish this model as the recently destroyed 'Liberty Belle' of Don Brook's Liberty Foundation. His B-17 was restored in the colours of his father's aircraft, on which he was a tail gunner based in Framlingham, Suffolk with the 390th Bomb Group. Here she is in happier times on a visit to Duxford, England, a couple of summers ago: To bring this up to 'warbird' standard I made a few minor modifications to the interior, such as adding a couple extra seats on the flightdeck, and leaving out the top-turret mechanism (I presume on modern warbirds this is an important weight saving.) The interior was also completely painted (as I saw when I went inside her) unlike her WWII vintage counterparts: Revell's kit has the earlier non-staggered waist guns, so I had to move the startboard opening forward, and used a spare waist window from the kit to plug the gap of the original: Being a late model B-17G, Liberty Belle also has the Cheyenne tail turret which is an option supplied in the kit: Although I've not seen any photo's of the restored Liberty Belle with the bomb-bay open (in fact during my tour of her there was a wooden floor installed with spares etc in the bay) I decided to open the doors on my version to add a little interest: Here are some general shots of the finished model. I used a silver/grey automotive paint as the real warbird Liberty Belle was painted in this way (I presume for protection) rather than being in natural metal: The Kits World decals were excellent and give a good representation of the nose art. I also added the modern aerials applied to the real aircraft, which you can make out behind the chin turret: Finally - here she is with an older and war-wearly sister ship built last year: ... 1 & 2 fired up and ready to go: All in all a straight forward build of a super little kit. Here's hoping one day we'll see the real 'Belle' back in the air. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kstater94 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 WONDERFUL work! My late father got a ride in Belle a few months before he passed away. You have truly done her justice! Cheers John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 BRILLIANT...Good job. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Daddy Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Nice tribute to the Liberty Belle! I had a ride scheduled in the Yankee Lady the week after Belle crashed. That's all everyone was talking about as we boarded. Great job! BD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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