Trumpeter's 1/48 C-47 Skytrain "D-Day Mini Whiskey 7" Completed.

Wonderful job on this historically classic aircraft!  Your construction, painting, & weathering all made this kit into a prize winner.  It's a testament to the engineers who designed this plane that so many are still flying today.  Here in Oshkosh, WI there is a business called Basler Air where they install turbo prop engines on this airframe.  I get to see these classics flying overhead all the time!  A job well done!

TJS

Nice job.  

I did that one along with an original release (from 1978) of the Monogram kit.  While the Trumpeter kit probably went together better and had more detailing in certain areas, I preferred the Monogram kit for its instructions alone.  In fact, I believe I used the Monogram instruction book to guide for painting the Trumpeter interior because, as you said, the Trumpeter instructions suck.  I've found that to be the case with just about all of the Trumpeter kits I've built.

Nice job Keyda. She even has rivets; anybody countin' them? Hey, you ever think ofentering your art work in a show?

Thanks Bronco Billy!

keavdog, Thanks!  I'm debating taking it with me this weekend so the "guys" at the hangar can see it.  Nervous about transporting it though.

MR TOM SCHRY, Thank you!  I am familar with the Basler BT-67.  I think it's great they are keeping these airframes going, but still prefer the sound of the old radials.

Aggieman, Thank you!  The instructions are horrible.  From a couple feet away it would be hard to tell the difference between the two kits.  You would have to keep up close and personal.  Both kits have their downfalls which is normal.  I had fun, and frustration building them both. 

Shipwreck, Thank you!  I've thought about it a couple of times, but never thought I had anything good enough to enter.  That and having to transport it makes me nervous, lol.

An excellent job on the C-47, Keyda!  Another one to be proud of!

Gary

GAF

An excellent job on the C-47, Keyda!  Another one to be proud of!

Gary

 

Thank you!

Someone on FB, very politely pointed out something, and I'm glad they did.  I had thought about whether or not Whiskey 7 would of been equipped with an SRC-717C radome on D-Day.  She is pictured with one during Market Garden.  But I'm not that keen on all that stuff.  I couldn't find many pictures of it online either.  I moved on and forgot about it.  I was told she would of been equipped with it since she was a serial leader.  So I spent a few hours this afternoon scratch making one from a cap, and a bit of apoxie sculpt.  While I was waiting for paint and stuff to dry I opted to add the tape to the door hinges as well.  A detail I forgot I wanted to do.

In her home with Mini Whiskey 7 #2.  Mini MMB got booted from the cabinet, lol.  The real MMB is no longer at the museum anyway.  The owners had her sent off to another museum in California.  Bit of a sour taste left in a lot of peoples mouths after all that. 

Looks great,puts me in mind of Band of Brothers

Tojo72

Looks great,puts me in mind of Band of Brothers

 

Thanks Tojo!

looks fantastic. You did an excelent job on everything.

lurch

looks fantastic. You did an excelent job on everything.

 

Thank you!

Keyda81

 

 

GMorrison

Yes good catch and no harm being a rivet counter, I'm proud to be one. The friction is when said person lays their trip on others.

There were DC-3s that had the last two windows on starboard side connected to form one long one. And there were the sleepers with little port windows over the bunks. Lots of variations.

 

Bill

 

 

 

 

Or in the case of the static C-47 at the museum(not owned by us) 8 windows.

 

Over the past few days)obviously not yesterday, I was in a freezing cold hangar most of the day) I worked on getting the pieces painted and together so I could assemble the center wing section.

I literally had to snicker when I put these together.  I know just how much stuff is actually behind that silver fire seal.  On the model its just open space.

I love the fact this kit has some detail in the gear bays.  The tiny little oil tank, which in the real thing is a complete pain to get in and out.

Center wing section is now in one piece.  Literally not locating or alignment tabs to speak of anywhere, so it was a bit fiddly to get lined up.

I'm close to be doing with the putty, sand, prime, repeat phase on the fuselage.  Just a few more small spots I'd like to sand a bit more.

Then I can start the same process on the center wing section, join the two pieces, and work on any seams there. 

 

 

 

ohhh that's some sweet work on those center seams! 

Thanks Mongoose!

That is an outstanding finish, Keyda!  And it's a fitting tribute, too.

Having built both the old Monogram C-47 and the Trumpeter kit, do you have a preference?  Would only build one or the other again, or are they both enjoyable enough that you could build both?

the Baron

That is an outstanding finish, Keyda!  And it's a fitting tribute, too.

Having built both the old Monogram C-47 and the Trumpeter kit, do you have a preference?  Would only build one or the other again, or are they both enjoyable enough that you could build both?

 

 

Thanks Baron!  I guess it depends on what version of Whiskey 7 I'm doing, lol.  The Trumpeter was a nice kit, start to finish, aside from the instructions.  Those were horrible.  The engines are a bit fiddly, and I landed up cutting locating tabs right off.  I do like the recessed panel lines, and the rivet detail, but that is something you don't really see from a few feet away anyway.  I can't remember if there is an option to modify the tail on the Monogram kit or not, it has the civilian tail cone on it, which is good for making a current version of Whiskey 7.  The Trumpeter just has the glider tail.  It also has that pesky 7th window you need to do something about, Monogram doesn't have it.  There is more detail in the Trumpeter kit, I like the little oil tanks in the gear bays, but unless someone wants to die by picking up it and looking, you aren't going to see in there anyway.  I have plans to build both kits again.  I'd like to do two more 1/48th builds of Whiskey in her other war time markings, which I'll use the Trumpeter kits for.  I still have everything I need to do the lighted LED, and spinning prop version as well, which would be the Monogram kit.  They are both enjoyable kits, and they both turn out a perfectly good representation to the real thing.  Keep in mind with the Trumpeter kit I would at least get the corrected rudder.  The kit rudder is made to look like it's metal.  I landed up getting the exhausts too, but in my opinion those are needed.  It's just a bit of a different shape on the exhaust outlet.  I didn't bother with the corrected cowlings either.  Not many people are going to notice.  I didn't, and work on Whiskey all the time, lol.

Thanks, Keyda!  I'm always interested to hear from those who build both, what they think of the two kits.

the Baron

Thanks, Keyda!  I'm always interested to hear from those who build both, what they think of the two kits.

 

No problem!  Hope I didn't bore you too much with my "book" lol.

Not at all! I enjoy hearing how a build went together, what the modeler thought, all that stuff!