Best DC-3 1:72

Don it appears from Scalemates and others that there are two choices. Revell/ Airfix/ Italeri C-47, or Esci C-47. The latter is said to maybe be better, but hard to find. And you know how that goes. "I remember it as a great kit...".

I've built a couple of the Revell ones, and I think there's a commercial one in my stash. But it does have the cargo door.

Don, it appears that Italeri makes a Swissair DC-3 1/72. Hobbylinc has one #ITA551349.

Max

They do Hoda, but it's their C-47 with a cargo door, just a new set of decals.

Same issue in 1/48.

A conversion is possible. I don't think the civilian had an astrodome either. But it's such a ubiquitous aircraft that you can find all kinds of civilian operators using aircraft with cargo doors.

And there was the Sky Sleeper with extra little windows in the upper fuse for the upper bunks.

I flew in one with paratroop seats way back when.

I ended up ordering the Italeri one.  Interesting- I researched the door online.  Turns out, when built as a DC-3, the airline could specify which side they wanted the door.  Several airlines had doors on early ones on right side!  I may elect to build mine that way, and surprise folks who believe I have it the wrong way.  Turns out, too, that the ones built originally as a DC-3 were a small fraction of even the airline ones- after the war so many bought the surplus -47s and had them converted!  What I don't know is, when they converted them, were the hinges left on, or did they completely rework how the big cargo door was integrated into fuselage structure.

Since I am pretty well practiced in making my own decals, I am debating whether to do the plane as a North Central one, or as the Buffalo airlines (Ice Pilots) one.  The latter definitely had the full cargo door arrangement.  I'll have to look carefully at photos of NC ones to see what the door on theirs looked like.  Third choice it this point is to make it as an AA or United one with a starboard door :-)

I'm working on the Airfix Dakota (RAF C-47), and I've seen at a few shops that the C-47 kits are a few dollars less than the DC-3 kits, and the Aifix (new tooling) are great kits and less than the other offerings. I've seen on ebay decals for Buffalo Air, search for DC-3 or C-47 and filter for the model kits, they're there. 

Don,

I would like to make you an offer.  I have this kit from Revell

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/111678-revell-85-5245-douglas-dc-3

As you can see, it's an odd 1:90 scale.  I don't see myself building anything that small again, so I thought you might like to have it.  Still in great shape, as it was released in 2006 (although from an earlier tooling).  Parts are all still on the sprues and in the original plastic.

Let me know if you're interested.

Gary

Don Stauffer

What is the best 1:72 DC-3 kit?  I'd prefer a built-as DC-3 rather than a C-47, but I guess I can convert.

The newly tooled Airfix kit (NOT the older Italeri kit in an Airfix box) is head and shoulders above all the other DC-3/C-47 kits that have come before.

You wouldn't be interested in this, would you Don? Just stumbled on it today.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Monogram-Eastern-Airlines-DC-3-1-48-/142171757835?hash=item211a18dd0b:g:-8sAAOSwB09YHpFQ

iSteve

You wouldn't be interested in this, would you Don? Just stumbled on it today.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Monogram-Eastern-Airlines-DC-3-1-48-/142171757835?hash=item211a18dd0b:g:-8sAAOSwB09YHpFQ

 

Nope- too big- I'd have no place to put it.  I have stopped hanging planes from ceiling.  I've lost two models in the past two years from suspended models falling.  So I need shelf space and that model is just too big!