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Flight deck for DC-3?

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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Flight deck for DC-3?
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, September 5, 2013 8:52 AM

I plan to build a couple more of Minicraft's 1:144 DC-3s.  Does anyone know if there are any aftermarket flight decks available for them?  The lack of something in there, given the transparent windshield, is the biggest problem with the kit.  Making the bulkhead and floor is a lot of work.

If no one makes a resin insert to fix that, someone should!  It is a popular kit in these parts.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Thursday, September 5, 2013 10:15 AM

Extra-Tech does a pretty comprehensive (and pretty pricey) PE set for the kit, but it's all external detail (including a neat set of boarding stairs that's useful for the era). I checked Matador Models, who do a fair selection of 1/144 pits, but no luck on a DC-3.

To be honest, even though the windshield is transparent, there's fairly little visibility, since the fuselage has no openings to let light in. On mine I just roughed a bulkead and false-painted seatbacks and a cabin door, and left it at that. Even that's pretty much invisible.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Thursday, September 5, 2013 1:36 PM

A friend of mine hates to build interiors, so he just paints the insides of all his windows sky blue, as if reflecting the sky.  Doesn't look bad, either, in 1/72.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, September 6, 2013 9:18 AM

On my latest DC-3 I did the bulkhead, a floor and a couple of seats.  I guess I should have saved the bulkhead and floor templates. I roughed them out on card stock, then refined them before transferring to plastic.  It was a lot of work and I kick myself for not saving them.

I did the Eduard civil Ju-52 with their PE detailing package.  Even though it is not easy to see the interior (especially the cabin area), it sure adds to the kit- especially the cockpit.  Would sure like something similar for a DC-3.  Maybe we should just hope Eduard decides to do a 1:144 DC-3 and also such a detailing kit.

BTW, speaking of Minicraft, I see by the latest Squadron catalog that they have what is supposed to be a new issue 150.  Hope it is as nice as their recent 172 kit!

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: back country of SO-CAL, at the birth place of Naval Aviation
Posted by DUSTER on Sunday, September 8, 2013 2:03 AM

Don obviously we are of like minds. I too am currently building the DC3 Minicraft and was wondering the same thing about the cockpit interior.

Guess I'll just stick in a bulkhead and call it good for this one (already glued the fuselage) 

The next one though, I plan to open the passenger door and luggage hatch so will try to expand on the cockpit as well.

Thanks Greg for the info. 

Steve

Building the perfect model---just not quite yet  Confused

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Charleston, SC
Posted by kg4kpg on Monday, September 9, 2013 1:36 PM

Could you use the Ju-52 in the DC-3 interior? I know it may be different, but a snip here and a snip there, maybe it could work.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 9:04 AM

The JU-52 interior, a pe set, was pretty pricy. Plus, the bulkhead and floor was part if the injection molded kit.  So buying both the plane kit and the pe accessory set would be quite an investment.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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