Converting a Revell C-47 to a DC3?

Minicraft makes both in that scale... no conversions necessary.

If you're doing 1/48 scale, why not just get the Monogram DC-3? ;^)

Martin

Monogram at one stage did a civil DC3. look around you may find it. BAsically you need a new fuselage without the cargo door.

Charlie

I belive that you'll have to settle for either 1:72 or 1:144 as scales, ther's not all that many 1:100 scale kits around.

As for the C-47 - DC-3 likeness, that depends on wether you want to build a specific plane. Most civilian DC-3's started life as military C-47's. Some are build as civilians though. There are as far as I know two visible differences on the "real" civilian planes and the military converted ones. The civilians mostly didn't need the cargo dor, and therefore didn't have the wide dor. Also some were build with round windows and others with square - but if that relates to military/civilian use I'm not sure. In general I belive there's no visible difference in most cases, except markings and paint jobs, and possibly a few extra antennas (Especially on late used military ones)

Hope this helps a little even if it's not a clear yes/no answer.

Two other thoughts to make the choice more difficult:

1. Oz Mods makes a resin replacement door for a 1/72 C-47. .98 Australian at

1. There is a passable (more accurate than the Minicraft 1/144) DC-3/C-47 (two sets of fuselages in the kit) that's been around forever. Most recently marketed by Modelcraft, while not on their website now it should still be available from on-line stores.

Steve

Claus,

I have several books on the DC-3 (one of the few aircraft I have a deep interest in), and not one of them has any pictures of a DC-3 with round windows. (the Douglas DC-4, and I believe, their DC-5 had round windows, however).

In the US, also, the vast majority of airliner versions of this design were built as DC-3 airliners, although some C-49's and C-53's (VIP transport versions, most without the cargo door) were converted to DC-3 specs upon their being surplussed out of military service.

The DC-3 was practically the only large airliner in use by US airlines at the start of World War II, and while many were commandeered by USAAF early in the war, they were mostly released to their civilian operators after a year or so. As the major airlines transitioned to larger, faster 4-engine airliners after the war, their DC-3 fleets were "bumped down" to their respective airlines lesser routes, also sold off to the new, smaller "feeder" airlines being set up to serve smaller markets. Some of these scheduled "feeder" or regional airlines retained DC-3's into the early 1970's ("if you want a good replacement for a DC-3, the best bet is a new DC-3).

Some C-47's were converted into true DC-3's in the US, some of them by aviation technical schools, and then used for charter service.

Art Anderson

Hello

the c-47 if it is 1/48 don't do it, it is a rare kit, the dc-3's are easily available , not too many modelers picked them up, they are usually on ebay

the main difference is the markings, and interior, a c47 usually has benches for the jumpers to sit on, while a dc3 has seats, the side doors are different also, a c-47 has cargo doors, while a dc3 has a normal passenger door

And many ex C-47s don't have that fairing. You have to look carefully at your subject.

Rich schrieb:

How well are these kits done (raised / recessed panel lines, ...)?

Jürgen

Recessed (somewhat haevily) panel lines, some shape issues here and there, no serious fit problems. Both look fine when finished.

If You're serious about shape, the Welsh vacs (or resin DC-3s) are much better.

There's never been any version of the Connie done in 1/100 scale.

Nitto.

You're right, my bad. (results of trying to work with no coffee!) They did make a couple of 1:100 airliners (I have the Viscount, Junkers Ju.52/3m and a Convair 440, I think, on hand). I had an old catalog from Germany which indicated more, but had is the operative word and my memory is starting to suck lately.

-- John ___ __[xxx]__ (o - ) --------o00o--(_)--o00o-------

The history of things that didn't happen has never been written - Henry Kissinger

Wasn't there an HO DC-3 available for model railroad layouts in the past, say ten years? Maybe that's where I got confused.

-- John ___ __[xxx]__ (o - ) --------o00o--(_)--o00o-------

The history of things that didn't happen has never been written - Henry Kissinger

Okay, I know its not 1:00, but what scale was the old Monogram Connie?

-- John ___ __[xxx]__ (o - ) --------o00o--(_)--o00o-------

The history of things that didn't happen has never been written - Henry Kissinger

Didn't the C-47 and the civilian DC-3s have a different number of windows?

John Hairell ( snipped-for-privacy@erols.com) former DC-3 and C-47 passenger

Box scale; approximately 1/131 or so. It'll fit into a 1/125 collection without looking too out of place.

Nope, unless some specialty versions had the windows altered.

Yep, by Walthers. Fairly decent but not as accurate as the old Monogram kit in 1/90 scale.