C-47 Skytrain/Dakota/DC-3 GB

B-36Andy

Has anyone used Pointerdog Decals? They seem to have thick carrier film and I hope that disappears when the clear coat goes on.

Kg4kpg has been in contact with Tod Anderson at PointerDog7; he'd probably be the one to give you an answer.

I've 'almost bitten' on his decals on Ebay from time to time, but haven't jumped yet; I've already got more decal sets than kits for those /144 beauties.

Also...let us know, here or under the 'Technical Assistance' section, what your picture issues are. We might well be able to get you straightened out.

B-36Andy

Thanks Keyda for the offer! I will send you some pics until I get the photo thing straightened out! Thanks again for the offer! Andy

 

No problem!  I don't mind at all.

I have been voluteering at the museum that owns Whiskey 7 for a couple of Saturdays.  I'm pretty well known as "the one that built the Whiskey 7 model".  Lol.  I've been asked by a few of the other volunteers to build a kit for them.  Which really I'm flattered, but I'm not sure if I would live up to someone elses expectations.  Great group of people that volunteer there.  I will continue to volunteer as long as I have the time.  I really do enjoy being out there.  It is a bit chilly in the hanger since it's still only around 30 in my neck of the woods, but hopefully spring will be along soon.

A pic I took last Saturday, I made it artsy fartsy as I call it, lol.

Hope everyone's builds are going well.  It's been kind of quiet around here lately. 

Anywho.  I've been contemplating a few things lately.  My cousin brought up a few good points to me yesterday.  He suggested I donate my "Mini Whiskey 7".  Which I have thought about off and on.  It could be seen by so many more people than it would sitting in my living room.  Plus I would have a perfect excuse to build another one!  So I was thinking of extending the group build time frame, and building another Mini W7.  But this time I would attempt to build it in flight, gear up with some LED's added to it.  I would have to get another kit and other bits as well.  Probably wouldn't be something I would start on until maybe the Fall.  I have tons of things to do over summer. 

Keyda> You could always start "C-47/DC-3 GB II" after this one ends.  It's been known to happen.  

Gary

So I'm thinking of the Navy R4D and noticed many variations or propeller colors.  Anyone know which way to go on this?  I've seen silver, black or gray blades all with yellow or white and red tips.

This is what the old Testors box looked like.

The striped tips shown on the box art were widely used on USN aircraft in the postwar years...and remain in use on both prop and turboprop a/c today. That having been said, the traditional yellow tips have continued to be used virtually interchangeably. One occasionally sees photos of multi-engine a/c with one style on one engine, and the other on the other.

Obviously if you can find a photo of your a/c (or a similar one), go with that; otherwise either would be entirely suitable.

As for the props themselves, in postwar use they are most commonly unpainted metal on the forward surfaces, flat black (to minimize glare) on the rear surfaces...though here again, one sees variations.

I found a page that has a time line for the airframe but no goo pictures yet.

http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=17239

Gary, lol.  I could, but I feel like I wouldn't get as much interest.  Thought since the end is coming near extending it might work better for those that haven't had the time to get started yet. 

68GT, I've seen numerous colors on props, like Greg said you could probably get away with using whatever color combo you like.  I've looked up Whiskey 7 on that same website, they only have one photo showing what she looked like before NWM got her.  There is a photo from war time of her, but not with the W7 markings.  I guess it is documented that she had those markings. 

http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=23887

learmech, I am going to extend the GB time line.  We'll take it to next year.  I would really like to build 2 more Mini W7's.  One in flight with lights, and spinning props, and if I donate the first one I'll build another on the gear.  I really had a blast building it, so I'm itching to do more, lol.

B-36Andy

....

Has anyone used Pointerdog Decals? They seem to have thick carrier film and I hope that disappears when the clear coat goes on.

Keep up the good work!!

 

I think I'm just going to build it and leav the props for last.  This way I can try a couple different variations and see which one I like best.  Of course if I stumble apon a photo with the shark mouth I'll be set cause I'll have a time line.  I think it's going to be the silver with the white and red stripes but we will see.

B-36 Andy emailed me some pics of his DC-3.  Posting them for him, enjoy!

Thanks so much for posting these Keyda.

My DC-3 wings and fusalage 1/72--I plan to do it in silver with Eastern markings. The wing with pencil is my method of taking warps out of wings. I only glue a few inches at a time and then retape againto make sure everything is straight.

The Monarch wing is 1/144 and is a Pointer dog decal. I tried using microsol and found that it makes the carrier film really stand out!

Looks like B36Andy discovered Ozmod as well. Gor the major paint done. Just some touch-ups, de-icer boots and I’ll be ready for decals.

I changed back to Pan Am since this kit has some defects. I’m saving my nicer kit for the Puoneer Airlines scheme down the road.

No problem B-36 Andy!  Some decals are certainly better than others.  It's funny to cause I've had stuff that looks like they are going to be horrible, and they turn out fine.  I've also had the opposite!

Very nice kg4kpg! 

I've got a Trumpeter kit on the way, but I don't think I'm going to land up using it for another Mini W7.  But I'm going to pick up a few more of the old Monogram kits.  It worked perfectly for Whiskey.  I should of just stuck with the Monogram kit, but I wanted to see a Trumpeter kit in person I guess, lol. 

kg4--nice bird! Is that a Testors 72nd scale? Yep the Ozmod is a great 'drop in' for the door!

Hope to finish a 1/48 DC-3 later on that is Monogram. 

I’m done! Just going to finish this as a plain white-topped DC-3, unmarked. These Pointerdog 7 decals are crap, I don’t have any more and can’t drop any more money on this build. I also lost one of the small intakes for the top of the engine cowling. #53 I think. 

kg4kpg--

Sorry to hear about your DC-3--I'm having a tough time with my decals too---

I didn't want to bash the Pointer Dog decals too much--but they aren't much in the way of quality---He has done a super job with research on the obscure airlines ( 30 different liveries for the DC-3) and they are printed well, but I wish he could change his decal setup.

I may try to remove these decals and get some Vintage Flyer ones----

kg4kpg,  Sorry you're having issues with the decals.  Have you considered printing your own decals?  I've done it a couple times, they aren't the greatest, but work in a pinch most of the time.  I hate when decals are a pain in the butt.  You think it should be an enjoyable part of the build, because you are nearing completion, but sometimes they are the most annoying part.

B-36 Andy, You just never know how decals are going to be until you start on them.  I've dealt with some junkie ones as well.

I went and got a "permanent decal" on my arm today.  Lol.

That has to be the best group build entry ever!  Commitment right there.

keavdog

That has to be the best group build entry ever!  Commitment right there.

 

 

Lol.  My grandfathers served in WWII so I figured I would honor them with a plane that served as well.  Just happens to be my favorite plane. 

Spent the day in Geneseo.  Whiskey 7 had her first engine runs of 2019.  My cousin came along this time to volunteer as well.  We got to take a little taxiing around standing right behind the cockpit.

That is some good artwork! Did you pick a standard scale Or is it “box-scale”? lol

TheMongoose

That is some good artwork! Did you pick a standard scale Or is it “box-scale”? lol

 

Thanks Mongoose!  Everyone at the museum loved it. 

Hey Keyda--

Isn't that a nice experience being in a C-47 whith the engines running and taxing? Where I live I just wish I could just hear a radial engine!

As a kid, got to fly through thunderstorms in a commercial DC-4 (DC-6?). Airlines wouldn't even consider this now. Back then it was normal stuff. With a lot of crashes--which was normal stuff to those early 1950s!

I'm sure I had a grin from ear to ear the entire time!  I've been going every Saturday that I can, really a great group of people out there. 

"Mini Whiskey 7" made the trip to Geneseo this morning.  I decided to donate it to the museum.  I will be building another, probably 2 more, lol.  One static and one in flight with LED's and possibly moving props.  We'll see.  One of the other volunteers took a few pics, and cleary he's a better photographer than me, lol.

That's awesome Keyda.  I love the picture of mini Whiskey 7 in the foreground, and big Whiskey 7 in the background.  Seeing them in the same shot really illustrates how well you nailed the colors on mini W7.  Fantastic work.  Congrats. 

Cheers,
Mark