The DC-3 was transformed into the most important allied airlift asset in World War II by simply removing the commercial interior, fitting a reconfigurable cargo/passenger compartment, adding large cargo and paratroop doors to the port side, among other changes. The initial C-47 was the first adaption of the DC-3 with these changes and nearly 1000 were produced. The C-47A added a 24 volt electrical system and over 5200 of these versions were produced. The C-47B changed the engines to supercharged R-1830 engines and more fuel for flights over the China/Burma/India 'Hump'. The Navy designated their C-47s as R4D. The Army Air Corps did not exclude the available DC-3s from military service, but these retained most of their passenger service fittings and were pressed into service as the C-48. In RAF service, the C-47 became the 'Dakota'. In operational service however, the aircraft drew the nickname of the large seabirds of the Pacific - the Gooney Bird.
Trumpeter has released their 1/48 C-47A kit!
The kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on 10 parts trees, plus two trees of clear parts, one fret of photo-etched details, one set of rubber tires, and one set of white metal main landing gear struts. The detailing is all finely scribed.
The detailing inside the airframe is really impressive, from a well-appointed flight deck, radio operator/navigator's compartment, and extending into the main troop/cargo compartment. The cockpit is the nicest I've seen.
Markings are included for two examples:
- C-47A, 42-100521, 92 TCS/439 TCG, June 1944
- C-47A, 42-92189, 61 TCS, Operation Market Garden, September 1944