"Heavy Lifters" Cargo Plane GB 2008

Cardshark,

Are you going to build your gigant with the JATO rockets ?  Hadnt even thought about it until I had a quick browse through the instructions- havent started building yet.

Anyone else made a start ?

I'm not especially sure yet...I haven't gotten much planning done for this GB yet.

As far as size goes, I'm currently running the IJA/IJN Rare WWII GB. I was worried, becuase it started off fairly small, but after the start date, I've had five or six more people join. I think we're up to 13 now, with two completed models, and a bunch that are getting really close. Also, same as here, people have committed to build more than just one kit for the GB. I say go for it!

Finally got my C-47 back - it had been at my friends house. Will get started this weekend.

Is it too late to join? I have a 1/72 C-17 that I need motivation to build, and this seemed perfect. I'd love to get involved.

Jon

I got started on the Swede C-47. I decided to keep the front hatch closed after starting to put a few tidbits in the front end. Same old thing:

I'll detail my butt off, and then close it up - you cant see doodly inside that little 1/72 opening, anyway! So I came to my senses on that one.

At the rear cargo hatch, things will be different. I'm removing one course of jump seats to give a little more cargo room for the "stowage" I'll be sticking in there. Next up,  I'll have to find some 1/72 soldiers I can add for the human element. These guys will be milling around the opening and basically loafing, when they should be working. I've seen a lot of Swede armed forces photos fotos lately and they are pretty relaxed, if they are anything. No point in making them work too hard, you know?

Ive found ONE, count it, ONE, pic of the C-47 in Swede camo. This is basically a Brit style DG/DG upper with lower NMF, as far as I can make it.

Any body have some more info on this?

Do you have a conclusion date in mind for this GB?

You can put me down for a C5 as well as a KC10 144th scale for both.

Also, not sure if any of you know about this particular website. But it is a true home for the heavies, USAF ones anyways. Mike offeres a lot of pics of every trash hauler the Air Force ever flew as well as experimental ones also. http://www.theaviationzone.com/

Well, our happy band has reached double figures - who would have thunk it ?  Welcome aboard guys, you are on page one.  This build goes all year, so dont stress.  Masterpieces like these big boys take a little longer than throwing together another spitfire or, (god forbid) another 109

Anybody made any progress ?  Lets see some WIP pics.  I have lost my mojo, my A-4 scooter sits forlornly awaiting decals for the Aussie GB.  I did knock over the old Lindberg Independance Day Alien figure last week - I'm just in a slump I guess.  One question I did want to ask, the Gigant has a number of small windows.  What do you guys like to do ?  Paint the fuselage first, then install the windows and button up ?  Or build, then mask the windows and paint ?  I'm worried about pushing the windows back inside the fuselage while masking/unmasking (elmers glue only)

Going now- never listen to the Ramones while typing, I seem to be hitting the keyboard awful hard...................

Paul.

Wirraway wrote:

What do you guys like to do ?  Paint the fuselage first, then install the windows and button up ?  Or build, then mask the windows and paint ?  I'm worried about pushing the windows back inside the fuselage while masking/unmasking (elmers glue only) Paul.

Decide if they're worth using. If they fit well, are flush and have nice location flanges, I'd say use them and mask. If they're tiny, or hard to work with or mishapen, ignore them and use Klear after you are finished. You might test this before you commit to it.

Another option, which is a good one IMHO for lifters, is to glue in the windows, paint over them and paint them black at the end. In particular for little ports scattered around under the wing etc. I think it looks much more realistic.

Wirraway, I'd like to change my model for the build, since I ordered this Northwest dual use 707... 

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=MI14484&Submit3=Go

...yesterday. I'll be able to start it as soon as I finish some of my airliner group build birds. I may still do the RCAF C-47, but for now I'm putting it aside.

cdclukey wrote:

Wirraway, I'd like to change my model for the build, since I ordered this Northwest dual use 707...  http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=MI14484&Submit3=Go ...yesterday. I'll be able to start it as soon as I finish some of my airliner group build birds. I may still do the RCAF C-47, but for now I'm putting it aside.

Ooh, geez, I dunno........looks like an  awful lot of passenger windows in that box art.....

what do you think guys............is it primarily a cargo plane ?

I'll change your details........and the Gigant gets started tonight.........come hell or high water (with the weather in Queensland lately, its more likely to be the high water)

I'd say no conversions.

I'd say let it in, personally...the description does say...

Description: Northwest Boeing 707-351B. One of five built with a large cargo door mounted to the left side. Inside was a compartment capable of holding two tons of cargo. The seats on the right side were partitioned off when cargo was carried. Colorful decals have the distinctive cargo door and Northwest’s 707 Fanjet livery. The cockpit windows are clear, landing gear, and Pratt & Whitney fan jet nacelles are provided.

Just my  

Wirraway;

I'd like to join in on this build with the Hobby Craft  DHC-4 Caribou in Air America livery?

Thank you

Neil

Thank you cdclukey! Appreciate the vote of confidence.

Neil 

You're In ! and   I picked up the Kitech DHC-4 Caribou this year - possibly the worst decals I've ever seen !  The sprues are stamped "Hobbycraft Canada" so, the same moulds I guess.  The Novascale RAAf decal sheet cost me more than the model.

Got some work done on the Gigant.  My tarngrun/feldgrun didnt turn out too well, but I can live with it.

The fuselage is only a foot long, but the wingspan is 2 1/2 foot, so it will take up a chunk of space.  Being based on a glider, I guess it needed all that wingspan for lift. See page one for the dio I am going to try and recreate.  Got a space picked out in the den already.

A pity none of these survived the war.  They were just so slow and cumbersome to manouvre that they went down like meteors once the allied fighters got stuck into a formation of them.

I have been researching Kampfgruppe Zbv 323, which operated these and Ju 52's to resupply the Afrika Corps in Tunisia.  Their losses were horrific, with 15 ME323s being lost in a single day  on 2 April 1943.  This contributed to Rommels forces being starved of fuel and ammunition.

I just picked up this weekend the new Italeri Savoia Marchetti SM.82 Marsupiale in 1/72. It was the largest Italian transport of WWII and last flown in 1960.

Mike T.