C-47 Skytrain/Dakota/DC-3 GB

Keyda, here's another Whiskey 7 you can do, dropping parachutists at Juliet Drop Zone in Pordenone, Italy on April 16, 2019.  Practicing for a D-Day commemoration?

I've managed to aquire two more of the old Monogram kits. 

I've started to track down aftermarket stuff as well.  This is where things get expensive, lol.  I need 2 sets of H21 Flying Banana PE seats, 2 sets of exterior PE, 2 sets of interior PE, 1 set of flaps, 1 set of metal landing gear and resin wheels(for the static build).  I'll still have to track down some decals, or attempt masking and painting the National Insignia.  I figure I can paint the W7 on, and I know I can do the "R" on the tail.  That still leaves the tail number. 

I still have some LED stuff laying around from my 1/48 Herc.  But I'll need to pick up some motors to make spinning props on the in flight build.  This is the area I'm going to need some help.  I'm not that great with electrical stuff!  So if anyone has any tips on pulling this off I'd appreciate any advice.  I intend to have probably 3 interior LED's, one on the tail, one at the tail cone, one for each wing tip and the two landing lights on the wings, along with the a motor for each prop. 

No idea when I'll get started on any of this, or which one I'll tackle first.  It's slow season when it comes to building models. 

gregbale

 

 

Keyda81

My cousin convinced me to donate it. A lot more people can see it being there rather than in my living room, and it gives me an excuse to build another!

 

 

I think you've properly 'hit the nail on the head'...on both counts!

 

I had an absolute blast building it, yes it was stressful at times, but I managed somehow, and know what I'm in for next time around!

Keyda81

My cousin convinced me to donate it. A lot more people can see it being there rather than in my living room, and it gives me an excuse to build another!

I think you've properly 'hit the nail on the head'...on both counts!

Thanks Mark!  It was nice to finally see them both together. 

keavdog, Credit for the pic goes to one of the other volunteers, my pic wasn't as good, lol.  My cousin convinced me to donate it.  A lot more people can see it being there rather than in my living room, and it gives me an excuse to build another!

That's a really cool pic.  Nice of you to donate  

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

"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.

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. 

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!

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. 

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

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.

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. 

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

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.

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----

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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!

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

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-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!!

 

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.

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

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.

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.