This repaint, which requires the Microsoft Local Legends #5 (Beechcraft Model 18) product to be installed, depicts Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor USAAF Serial No. 44-86957 as it was painted for the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition from 1947-1948. The original aircraft was fitted with skis and photographic equipment for the expedition, but I figure this repaint can be viewed as a modern restoration painted as a tribute to the original. Included with this repaint is a folder of many original photos of the aircraft taken in '47 and '48.

This aircraft was originally built in 1945 as a C-45F, construction no. 8216, and accepted by the US Army Air Forces as serial no. 44-86957. The "F" variant was the standard World War Two-era seven-seat USAAF transport variant of the venerable Beechcraft Model 18. In 1947, the C-45 was one of three aircraft provided by the USAAF to the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition, which also included a Stinson L-5 Sentinel and a Noorduyn C-64 Norseman. Led by Norwegian explorer Finn Ronne, the expedition explored and mapped the area surrounding the head of the Weddell Sea in Antartica, which was the last unknown coastline on the globe. For the expeditition the C-45 was modified with the addition of camera equipment, with camera ports installed on both sides of the fuselage as well as in the floor. The cameras could be operated either remotely by the pilot or separately by an aerial photographer. Other modifications included winterizing 81 structures and making mechanical changes, which included using lighter grease on the guides & pulleys, modifying the landing gear and adding fixed skis, adding long range fuel tanks (400+ gal. total), removing the wing deicer boots, and installing shelves within the wheel wells for emergency equipment. The aircraft was given a striking high-visibility red & yellow paint scheme, so in-case it were ever forced down it would make it much easier for a search party to find. The name of one of the expedition's sponsors, Ed Sweeney, was painted on the nose. 

If you would like to learn more about the Ronne Antarctic Expedition, I would highly recommend the following sources: 
https://www.key.aero/article/finn-ronnes-antarctic-expedition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKQBWfZ9iuI

Following the Antarctic expedition, the C-45 served with the Civil Air Patrol in Baltimore from 1949 until when it was transferred to Ramey AFB in 1951. In 1954, the USAF had it remanufactured by Beechcraft and redesignated as a C-45H, with the new USAF Serial No. 52-10955. In 1963 it was sold surplus and was placed on the civilian register as N9954Z. It passed through a few owners in the US until when in 1968 it was acquired by Cessnyca, a Colombian airline, and registered in Colombia as HK-1195. The aircraft was destroyed in a fatal accident in January 1971, when it impacted the side of Mount San Félix while on descent to land at the Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport.