Airfix 1/72 C-47 Skytrain (Dakota) - Paradropping on DDay

[steve149c]

Hi All

I've had some time off with the nice weather and work, so hoping to ease back into it with the Newly tooled kit from Airfix

Scale 1:72
Model Douglas C-47 Skytrain



My plan is to have her inflight and dropping some of the troops that jumped on D-Day, and I intend to use these little men, but will have to cut and splice to get the right stance. The blue men are RAF 1940's guys from another set, and I think these will make better aircrew (Jump Master?)



So on with the Kit, sprues are nice and clean, very little/no flash that I can see, a nice light grey and overall detail seems good. She seems to be quite a large kit for 1/72, but lets see when I get her off these lovely sprues.









Airfix's new style colour instructions and the decals



I have a lot of research to do, as the door is going to be open I will need the jump line, and I hope to be mid jump, so a few pull cords will already be flapping around the tail area.

On one or two clear acrylic rods will support her in flight, with a photo of the scene below on the base, or atleast that is the plan.

Weathering - I'm not sure how much to put on her apart from engine stains, again I will have alook at the history of this particular serial and its life leading upto D-Day.

So I have a week or so at work and then I will be cracking on, lets hope it all goes ok.

Cheers for now

Steve

[tc2324]

your back!

Looking like a great idea Steve. Will look forward to the progress.

[paddyboy]

Hi Steve

Great to have you back

I will be peeking, don't worry

Best regards

Patrick

[steve149c]

Hi all

Finally some progress and I am amazed at this tooling for Airfix - goes together like a dream so far.

First up the seating is in



Cockpit together - so much detail and ashame so much will never be seen again



Then a quick dry fit



Onto the troops, abit of filling required, but I've gone for 4 troops and one load master

Current mockup







Figures still rough and a lot of work- but I was so excited to try

More soon

Steve

[steve149c]

Thanks Andy

With the kids in school I was able to get a couple of hours at the bench - first up was to deviate from Airfix instructions - the instructions say to mount the doors after closing the body halves - but I think it is a lot easier to do before - so you can stop it disappearing inside!!



Then the interior was sprayed light green drab with grey on the floor. Cockpit was done sparingly as you are not going to see that much with the tiny windows in. Few small bits still to be done on flight crew



Then the main work of the morning on my four paratroops - the jumper is attached to a small piece of stretched clear sprue. I think these look ok for 1/72 as my art skills are not very good - though I can now see a couple of touch ups required! There are two inside the cabin waiting to go, one gone and one about to go.

The two internal ones are glued in place, the other two will be mounted upon completion





I would really love some feedback on my figures - good or bad!

Cheers

Steve

[Jonesy]

Your paratroopers look ok considering the scale. Each paratrooper wore a Mae West life preserver so a flash of yellow over the shoulders wouldn't go amiss.

Here I am re-enacting a D-Day paratrooper from the 101st Airborne.



Neil.

[tc2324]

Doing a fine job with this Steve.

[paddyboy]

Hi Steve

Great job, buddy

I remember making an Airfix 1/72 C47 back in 196

So long ago I have forgotten which year

Best regards

Patrick

[steve149c]

Hi All

Firstly - thank you to Neil for his photo - which has caused me to repaint a little bit on the figures. But also TC, Patrick and ALCVC10 for the interest and support

So it was time to mount the wings, and I must say that this method of wing spar is much better than the slot in idea.

Tops on first, and as you can see, poseable elevators and rudders



and then the lower - tamiya tape to help close up the small seam gap that was left



Ian Blackie said that this kit had a engine that didnt have much detail, but once he saw this - we both agreed that the engine is fine for 1/72, sure a resin one with finer detail would be great, but as 95% of this engine will never be seen again, I am happy. Painted up with Citadel Boltgun and chainmail



Then finally just about ready to paint - all masked up and sealed, lets hope this goes ok



Then back to the Paras - I have repainted the boots brown as per photos, tried to pick out some more kit. I also have a rifle for each one, and will be mounting this later - probably



So until next time - thanks again for the support!

Steve

[PaulN]

Hi Steve

Nice idea looking good hope it works out how you want it to

Really nice to see a kit I have been wondering about getting ...especially with the new Xtradecal sheet coming out soon ,I think I will have to invest in a few of these

Keep it up

Cheers

Paul

[paddyboy]

Hi Steve

Great work, yet again

Tape: pegs: all I had back in the day were some rubbish elastic bands from my dad who was in the boot and shoe industry

Keep us mere mortals up to date

Patrick

[Jonesy]

Good progress. Now to be pedantic, the kit decals are incorrect.

C-47 42-100521 was not coded J8 tailcode I, nicknamed Kilroy which is the markings for the 92nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group.

'521 was actually coded S6 tailcode D, nicknamed Night Fright which is the markings for the 79th Ttroop Carrier Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group.

Just thought I'd let you know as I'm sure somebody else will eventually.

[steve149c]

Thanks a lot guys! And thanks for the decal error - I think

Well I've got the Vallejo primer on and then some random preshading - ive never worried about being too exact with this as you can make it disappear etc



And unfortunately that is as far as I can get - back off to ship for three weeks - will crack on once home

Steve

[Typhoon2]

Looking good!

[seven]

Indeed, looking great. Looking forward to the next update!

[steve149c]

Hi all,

Well work is back on track - six months interval!

First up the olive drab sprayed to just show through the preshade, and then camo green on leading and trailing wings, plus vertical tail fin





Then the tough choice to spray the invasion strips on, so first masked up for white blocks.



Followed by the black!

Then the moment of truth - YES it worked!!



All for the moment, back soon

Steve

[steve149c]

So Klear coats on, and decals done. Then decals sliced with scalpel and Tamiya x-20 thinners applied to allow decals to conform to frames and hinges etc.

Another Klear coat and wash - mixture of Flory Model light and dark dirt.

Sealed with a Vallejo Matt varnish coat.

Now onto the final parts, still to do is the static jump lines, aerials and wheels

But here is how she looks



Cheers

Steve

[Jonesy]

Looking good Steve. That'll be pretty epic when you get the static lines dangling along the fuselage too.

Nit-picking, USAAF C-47's didn't have a black painted anti glare panel in front of the windshield.

[steve149c]

Thanks Jonesy - damn the air fix instructions!!!! I did check a few photos and some seem to have anti flash and others not - oh well, it's on now.

Question - jump lines, they seem to extend to just behind the leading edge of horizontal stabiliser fins - would you agree?

Cheers
Steve

[paddyboy]

Hi Steve

I wondered where this one had disappeared to

Superb work with those stripes there; they look spot-on

Best regards

Patrick