C-47 Skytrain/Dakota/DC-3 GB

Real G

Those "troublemakers" over on the Race to Space GB

Hey now, we're not makin trouble, we're just suggestin 

Keyda,

I would also like to join in!  Those "troublemakers" over on the Race to Space GB mentioned that my GB model used a R4D (US Navy C-47) as a tow plane.  So of course I had to put my helmet on and dive into the Internet to look into this.  What I found were the exact markings I needed on a decal sheet on Ebay.  Who would have thought?  I had the Italeri kit for many years, and was going to do a D-Day bird, but a NASA plane is more interesting!

https://flic.kr/p/2b8rwAP][/url]R4D-01 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I had started the kit decades ago, gluing the wings together and attaching the floor to one fuselage side.  I wrecked the bolt detail on one of the prop hubs (thank you Italeri for placing the sprue gate on the bolts), but noticed Quickboost makes a resin replacement prop set for the Airfix C-47.  So that bit is also headed this way.

https://flic.kr/p/29Kypn1][/url]R4D-03 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Here's the soon-to-be R4D with the M2F1; that's the guy that needs a tow.

https://flic.kr/p/29Kyp57][/url]R4D-05 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I only noticed now that this GB's start date is in December, so I'd better get on with the M2F1 so that I can hit the R4D when this GB starts.

plasticjunkie, I can just imagine, lol!  I would have to do it in a few sessions to avoid going nuts!

modelcrazy, The small parts can be the hardest ones!  I never, without fail, break off pitot tubes, and antenna on EVERY build, lol. 

GMorrison

Those who have added every stencil to a jet kit live in rubber rooms. Not a Morrison Law but it could be.

 

Like those who put dipoles on PE Radars for 1/700 ships. 

Keyda81

 

 

GMorrison

Those who have added every stencil to a jet kit live in rubber rooms. Not a Morrison Law but it could be.

 

 

 

 

Lol.  They can certainly drive one insane!

keavdog, I did a Phantom when I first got into modeling and I didn't do the stencils, lol.  I remember looking at the sheet, and going nope.  I'll have to actually attempt it on the next one, and see if I can get through all of them!  I agree they are super tedious, and sometimes they are so small you can't tell whether its upside down, or even flipped backwards, lol. 

 

Well GM and K,  a while back I did a 1/48 Academy F4B that had 300+ decals and stencils. The rubber room got close but I made it thru after 3 or 4 long evening hair pulling sessions. 

GMorrison

Those who have added every stencil to a jet kit live in rubber rooms. Not a Morrison Law but it could be.

 

Lol.  They can certainly drive one insane!

keavdog, I did a Phantom when I first got into modeling and I didn't do the stencils, lol.  I remember looking at the sheet, and going nope.  I'll have to actually attempt it on the next one, and see if I can get through all of them!  I agree they are super tedious, and sometimes they are so small you can't tell whether its upside down, or even flipped backwards, lol. 

Ha, I did the 1/48 Hasegawa F4J Phantom II showtime 100.  First time I put all the stencils on...  I have another one to do and I'm not sure I'm doing the stencils again.  I found it tedious and distracting from the finished model..

Those who have added every stencil to a jet kit live in rubber rooms. Not a Morrison Law but it could be.

GMorrison, I'll keep that in mind the next time I have to deal with some of the older kits in the stash.  I always have Dullcoat around.

keavdog, At this point I'm going to say the smaller the decals the easier to deal with!  Mostly anyway.  I've been working on an F-16 Thunderbird, and I'm not a fan of the decals at all!  The little ones can be a pain in the rear too.  I've lost more than one stencil from an F-86 I did.  Those ones just vanish, lol.

Tiny decals arrived for the tiny 1:200 DC3.  Can't wait to get started on this little kit.

Keyda81

 

 

plasticjunkie

Gt

Brush on some decal saver solution to keep the decals from fracturing and if they have yellowed put them out on a sunny window for a week or two to bleach them out.

 

 

 

 

Would Testor's Decal bonder spray work too?  I have a can of that, and I'm sure there are some questionable decals in a few of the older kits I have.  If they look too shabby I usually just toss them in the spares bin, and pick up an aftermarket set either online, or go to the local hobby shop and flip through his several binders full of decal sheets.  That's were I found the Skytrain sheet I just picked up. 

 

Sorry K but I haven’t tried that spray. I know the decal saver one works great.

Keyda81

 

 

plasticjunkie

Gt

Brush on some decal saver solution to keep the decals from fracturing and if they have yellowed put them out on a sunny window for a week or two to bleach them out.

 

 

 

 

Would Testor's Decal bonder spray work too?  I have a can of that, and I'm sure there are some questionable decals in a few of the older kits I have.  If they look too shabby I usually just toss them in the spares bin, and pick up an aftermarket set either online, or go to the local hobby shop and flip through his several binders full of decal sheets.  That's were I found the Skytrain sheet I just picked up. 

 

plasticjunkie

Gt

Brush on some decal saver solution to keep the decals from fracturing and if they have yellowed put them out on a sunny window for a week or two to bleach them out.

 

Would Testor's Decal bonder spray work too?  I have a can of that, and I'm sure there are some questionable decals in a few of the older kits I have.  If they look too shabby I usually just toss them in the spares bin, and pick up an aftermarket set either online, or go to the local hobby shop and flip through his several binders full of decal sheets.  That's were I found the Skytrain sheet I just picked up. 

Gt

Brush on some decal saver solution to keep the decals from fracturing and if they have yellowed put them out on a sunny window for a week or two to bleach them out.

Yes, I now scan any decal sheet before using. While they don't match the originals in quality when they were new, my own scan/ reprints have saved my bacon more than once.

You've been added to the roster.  Got to love it when you get to the decaling stage, and find out they won't hold up.  I've had it happen before.  They looked good, but apparently they weren't, lol. 

Sure, the only thing that might hold me up is if the decals dont stay together.

I think this would be the first R4D in the GB!

68GT

I have an old Airfix kit in 1/72 that I'd like to use the Navy bits from the Testors kit on.

 

Should I add you to roster?

I have an old Airfix kit in 1/72 that I'd like to use the Navy bits from the Testors kit on.

Added to the roster deattilio!

GAF, I will certainly give it a try!  If I can avoid painting white at all in the near future I'm going to!  I've been having a nightmare of a time with it and this Thunderbird lately, lol. Nice build you have there! 

Keyda81

I just kept thinking, more layers of paint, more chances of something to get screwed up!  I'm still not entirely sure how I'm going to attack the paint job.  I'm going to have to be extra paitent with it I know that much.  White is a pain in the rear to work with.  I'm working on an F-16 Thunderbird right now, and it took so many layers to cover and get it completely white.  It looks good though!

GMorrison, I do have Testor's white decal paper, but I worry about the opacity with that.  I could always give it a try, and if all else fails I can just paint it on.  This build will certainly put my skills to the test!

The white decal paper works fine over olive drab.  I used it on my 1/72nd Italeri C-47.  Cutting the strips for the letters was a bit difficult, but worked out okay.  As an aside, the letters were mostly "light grey" and not white.  At least, most of the color photos I see of C-47s of that period have white or light grey lettering.  Not sure when the yellow lettering came in, but was certainly after D-Day.

Here's the model to show how it covers:

And the original:

Gary

So tempting!  I have'nt participated in a GB in a long time and in the stash is an Italeri and Airfix C-47.  I'm in middle of a move so everything is boxed up.

If i can get everything unpacked and set up again I'll set aside my Italeri C-47.  Pencil me in as a maybe for a 1/72 Rhodesian Air Force C-47.

If you do, lets pursue finding the art/ decals.

I forgot about that livery GM. Since my wife's name is Cathy I may have to get that one for her.

One of two possible liveries.

Keyda81

White is a pain in the rear to work with.

Yes it is, I found that flat white acrylic, was well as flat yellow and red acryllics, are a little easer.

modelcrazy

That's a nice ste of decals Keyda. Yeah, I'm not sure I would want to try to paint the insignia either, although if you're going to give the W a try, the 7 should be a breeze.

 

I just kept thinking, more layers of paint, more chances of something to get screwed up!  I'm still not entirely sure how I'm going to attack the paint job.  I'm going to have to be extra paitent with it I know that much.  White is a pain in the rear to work with.  I'm working on an F-16 Thunderbird right now, and it took so many layers to cover and get it completely white.  It looks good though!

GMorrison, I do have Testor's white decal paper, but I worry about the opacity with that.  I could always give it a try, and if all else fails I can just paint it on.  This build will certainly put my skills to the test!

The W would be easy enough to make out of white decal film.

That's a nice ste of decals Keyda. Yeah, I'm not sure I would want to try to paint the insignia either, although if you're going to give the W a try, the 7 should be a breeze.