Revell(G) DC-4

Those are really clean looking DC-3's in a nice livery back there, too.

Learn something new every day. Those -3s belonged to the national airline ABA. The name "Swedish Air Lines" appears on their aircraft at some point, but is a frustrating internet search.

That was absorbed into the SAS system in 1950, according to wiki. 

John, the AK Air shot is at Sea-Tac's N  passenger terminal which is a very busy place for Alaska Air.  It wouldn't be a tie-down place.  It is used nearly 24 hours a day.

Yeah that's a pogo, I agree.  My last comment was about the DC-4 photos.  I'll have to adjust to a new reality, I guess.

Hi " G " 

 Funny you should mention the Viscount by Vickers . We had a neighbor who flew for Capitol .he called them Turbo - Plops .Well , one did fall short of the inbound leg and dug into our pasture .

 That was back in Buffalo N.Y.Years and years ago . T.B.

when I was a loadmaster in the South African AF in the early 90's we used C-54 (DC-4) and the forst thing we did when the plane got to a stop was to get out in put in the tailpost to the buldge under the tail.

It was not because the plane was a tailsitter normally but when all the Pax use to walk to the rear of the plane to exit the port side rear door it moved the CG dangerousely to the rear and then the plane could tail sit , hence the post.

Theuns

Do you remember where you kept the post? Good info.

Its been a while but I think it was in the rear carco hold.

As the loadmaster there was a ryme we had to tell the flight engineer and a little canvass bag to store the main and nose undercart down locks in after we showed him they were removed.

"6 chocks, 2 locks, 1 pin 1 tailpost, props walked"

The locks were metalblocks that stopped the mail UC from folding, same with the pin on the nose gear.

For the first flight we had to "walk the props" turning the engines to clear any collected oil in the bottom cilynders.

Then I can still recall the startup - the engineer would start #3 first after a good priming of fuel "12 blades cold start turning 3" then he would count 3,6,9 and on 12 engage the egnition switch. After some spluttering a few bangs and smoke the engine would settle down into a nice steady drone :-)

This would be done for #4 then #2 and then #1 (1 being port outer engine) 

I have some nice detail pix of the undercart bay and engine and undercatr I will post if needed. I took it of a DC4 that is at the field where I work.

Theuns

Hate to change the subject but I have a quick question---

The store here only carried the Revell C-54. Can these kits be converted to a 40s-50s DC-4?

I won't use the interior ----just the cockpit area.

Andy

Pretty sure you can convert the military C-54 into a DC-4, if you aren't concerned with interior. Could your local hobby shop order the DC-4 for you, if you'd prefer the civilian version? Its the Revell #04937.

I think it costs more...

Only about 80 DC-4's were built, post war. 1,200 or so C-54's were built. I think the main difference was that the DC-4 eliminated the cargo door.

Thanks G

In looking at pics of converted C-54s to DC-4 configuration, fairing in the cargo door and a few windows plus passenger door might work for the exterior.

Vintage Flyer decals has a nice Braniff scheme and provides window decals. This might work. Also not sure if Braniff used DC-4s as freight dogs---then I could use a straight C-54.

With decals for windows on the DC-4 it seems that the decal companies made a mistake by having square window openings---but in real life several airlines purposely painted square openings to make the public feel that the DC-4 was more like the DC-6! Braniff was one of those companies!

Challenger--

Thanks for the reply! I bought this C-54 as a sale item about 18 months ago--this didn't sell well so it was put on the clearance rack---It's a great kit though!!

Ordered AA decals from Vintage Flyers for the kit.  My understanding is it will take a couple of weeks to get the order.  When it comes, I guess it will be time to get the kit up onto my bench!

Looking VERY forward to seeing the build process!

Don Stauffer

Ordered AA decals from Vintage Flyers for the kit.  My understanding is it will take a couple of weeks to get the order.  When it comes, I guess it will be time to get the kit up onto my bench!

I'm a real fan of the window decals. I've always thought that putting clear ones in a large airliner like this is kind of a throwback to old kit design.

This will be an interesting build! Can't wait to see how it is rendered Don---

AA is my favorite too. Flew from LA to Love Field on AA DC-7 when I was a kid.

Those 50s Braniff markings are cool too!

Flew from SFO to HNL when I was a kid on a DC-7, in 1959.

I'd encourage all to look at Vintage Flyers decals.

Most other decal sets already available are for the Mach 2 model, which isn't so great.

I have Santa Fe (Railroad) Skyways. 

GMorrison

Flew from SFO to HNL when I was a kid on a DC-7, in 1959.

I'd encourage all to look at Vintage Flyers decals.

Most other decal sets already available are for the Mach 2 model, which isn't so great.

I have Santa Fe (Railroad) Skyways. 

 

I got to fly on -6s and -7s several times after I got out of school.  I could have used Draw Decals (local company) for  aNorthwest livery (NWA is very popular in this area).  But, I was raised in Detroit and saw far more AA planes there.  So I have a fond place in my heart for those red lightning bolts and blue lettering.