Leo the Liberator

[cph64]

When Kits-World released the set of decals for the 834th Bombardment Squadron known as the 'Zodiac Squadron' I knew I had to buy them to build a Liberator with my birthsign Leo. At the time the only affordable kit was the Airfix reboxing of their 1963 vintage kit, so more Classic Plastic fun! The kit shows it's age with raised panel lines throughout, parts that move, sometimes when you don't want them to and crew figures which will need altering, see the last photo.

[Bigkev]

Hi Chris,
This one is going to be to watch and reminisce over. I remember building the 'Lib' many years ago when I was a lad. I found it a great kit at the time.
I'm sure you will add some life into this one. And those turrets with the crew holding a great big washer will have to be 'helped'.
Good luck and be a lucky Leo.

[chriswil42]

Good luck Chris.

[cph64]

Thanks guys. When I was a boy I went to play with someone who lived down the avenue and he had built the original kit but he called it a Lancaster!!! I had to put him right as I'd taken a Lancaster along with me. Dyslexia lures ko?

[zak]

Thanks guys. When I was a boy I went to play with someone who lived down the avenue and he had built the original kit but he called it a Lancaster!!! I had to put him right as I'd taken a Lancaster along with me. Dyslexia lures ko?

It rues odes.

[cph64]

Lots of knock-out points, mold misalignments and flash cleaned up. The fuselage interior has been 'roughly' painted with colours somewhat near the actual ones, once it's all shut up you won't see much anyway. As this is a definite candidate for 'tail sitting' lead weights have been fitted to the cockpit front and inside the engine nacelles, I knew the Norwegian fishing weights would come in handy one day. I just hope the undercarriage can take the weight!!

[Bigkev]

I think it might tremble a little bit once finished, but you should be okay. Upwards and onwards.

[chriswil42]

Hope you don't get wing droop.

[cph64]

Back from the wilds of Kent it was time to get the wings together and tidy up all the parts I'd been working on before we went away. This kit certainly needs a lot of TLC. I hope the photo turns out ok, for some reason our laptop's on one and is deciding how IT wants to format photos!!!

[chriswil42]

Good progress Chris.

[MSea]

Just show the laptop and model who is BOSS Chris     

[Bigkev]

Just show the laptop and model who is BOSS Chris     

Borrow Martin's Lump Hammer........... It'll sort out both.

[cph64]

Joining the fuselage halves together was interesting. All the internals with mated their with attachment points but somehow I ended up with a large gap on the underside. That and the fuselage halves refused to butt up smoothly has led to much filling, sanding and scraping. It nearly led to scrapping, no wonder Airfix retooled this kit!!!!  It will be a case of 'If I lose the rivet detail, so be it'.

[zak]

Oh dear, large clamp or a very big hammer.

[chriswil42]

Call Martin for the hammer!