C-47 Skytrain/Dakota/DC-3 GB

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. 

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.

 

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

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. 

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.

Real G

Those "troublemakers" over on the Race to Space GB

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

modelcrazy

Real G

Those "troublemakers" over on the Race to Space GB

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

 

Ha-ha Steve, I jest. But you guys are makng me build TWO models for the GB!  What is the forum coming to?  Making people build more models?  That's crazy-talk!

I will get you added to the roster Real G!  One more month and we are a go!  Can't wait to get started!

Woo-hoo Keyda, thanks for hosting the GB!

No problemo!  Glad to have some people to share the build with!

Decals arrived sooner than I expected:

https://flic.kr/p/29QJeef][/url]R4D-1 Paint Guide by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

So fight's on for December!

Required reading:

"The Plane That Changed the World", Ingalls.

Real G,

GMorrison, I landed up watching a Smithsonian episode on the DC-3.  I was hoping to Whiskey 7 might have been it, she wasn't, but there was a WW2 veteran paratrooper that they interviewed wearing a W7 hat!  Quite the remarkable plane, that's for sure.

I'm in.  A Navy bird in Antarctica. 

I'll get you added to the roster SteveCB! 

I think I decided on what theme I will build my DC3 into.

Since I was raised in Montana, I want to make the DC3 out in Johnson Flying Service livery.  It has pretty simple coloring and font that I can make my own decals.  Johnson had a long and colorful history in the state.  

This is a really cool group build! So few civilian planes are modeled and there seems to be quite a few that will be done in this build!! 

(just saw a Ford trimotor fly over this morning---a nice touch!)

3 more weeks until this GB is a go!  Can't wait to get started on mine, and see what everyone else does.  There are going to be some interesting paint schemes and liverys that is for sure!

Looks like my subject of choice isn't done for the season yet.  She's in Monroe North Carolina for an airshow this weekend.  Snagged the picture from their FB page.

I hope you were able to get plenty of refrence shots.

modelcrazy

I hope you were able to get plenty of refrence shots.

 

Yea I did, lol.  I have some from last summer and the two airshows she was at this year.  There are a lot online as well.  If all else fails I can take an HR and a half drive to see her.  Once she's back home anyway.

Slowly closing in on the start date!  Hope everyone has their kit/decals/aftermarket and supplies gathered up, I know I do!  Feel free to post pics of the kit or aftermarket stuff if you want!

I was going to do my tiny 1:200 DC3 in Alaskan Airlines livery and have the decals but while poking around for window decals I found this awesome Empire Airlines sheet - arrived just in time.  And it has the window decals!  Can't wait to start.

EDIT:  forgot the pic :o

I can imagine trying to mask off windows that small.  I attempted it on a 1/144 Constellation but the windscreen was just too smooth to do it.  I have done it on a couple 1/144 Herc's, but the frame work was raised enough to make it almost easy to burnish the tape down with a tooth pick, then cut it with a razor.  I don't think I would ever attempt a 1/200 DC-3, lol.  I do have a Herc kit in that scale though.

Yay,

I just got my resin conversion kit and decals in the mail, so I am now ready for December 

HI I've got a 1/72 Airfix "SkyTrain" on the bench. So put me in. BTW: I did a book on air warfare in the South Pacific a few years back and talked with a lot of WWII vets. C47 pilots were among the most interesting - many stayed in aviation for one thing. And to the best of my knowledge no American ever referred to the C-47 as SkyTrain. Never. (Just as no P40 was known as WarHawk.) Americans liked numbers - so usually it was just "C47" or "47". (Warhawks were always "P40s".) Sometimes they'd used the nickname "Gooney Bird" or "Gooney." Odd, because the lines of the C47/DC3 were lovely - a classic design. Brits and Aussies (often - but not always - those flying with 5th AF might use C47) called it the Dakota. But nobody and I mean nobody called it a SkyTrain - idiot name really.

My models & supplies should get unloaded this week!  After that, just a matter of digging through all the boxes for the C-47.

Recently ordered PE from Airwaves (for the stairs), Bilek (for interior) and Eduard (for flaps and exterior).  All of which should arrive just in time for start of the GB.

PFJN, I just finished my last project, and now the bench is clear.  A little early though, lol.  I'll have to play video games while I wait for the 1st.

EBergerud, You've been added to the roster.  I'm not exactly sure how it got nicknamed the Gooney bird either.  Must be a story behind it somewhere.

deattilio, I've got my fair share of PE for the kit as well.  Haven't dealt with it too much at this point, but with everything I have I should be a pro at it when I'm done, lol. 

The Gooney Bird moniker came from the plane's resemblance to the Albatross and their ungainly appearance during takeoff and landing. It was said the Albatross was too stupid to realize it couldn't take off but it did anyway, so the name stuck. The DC3's ability to lift incredible loads was similar because it's too stupid to relize it can't takeoff, so the story goes.

modelcrazy

The Gooney Bird moniker came from the plane's resemblance to the Albatross and their ungainly appearance during takeoff and landing. It was said the Albatross was too stupid to realize it couldn't take off but it did anyway, so the name stuck. The DC3's ability to lift incredible loads was similar because it's too stupid to relize it can't takeoff, so the story goes.

 

Lol, I had a good laugh at that.  My Golden Retriever does the same thing sometimes.  He's actually really smart, but has his dumb moments.  He will chase "shiney objects" to no end.  Like the sun reflecting off your watch or cell phone, he hasn't figured out he can't catch it no matter what!