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Airfix Douglas Dakota - 36SQN RAAF **Finished**


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My next entry will be an Airfix Dakota. I will be following on with a RAAF 34 Squadron theme with my build. This will be a wartime scheme rather than the usual VIP schemes for the Squadron.

 

The question now is?

 

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Old or new? (or both? :D)

 

 

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I decided to start with the classic US Airfix issue of the kit, turns out the plastic is almost as old as me! This boxing was issued between 1963 and 66.

 

This kit has a lot of simplified detail like the pilots just sit on a raised floor and there is no instrument panel

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I rectified that with a couple of seats made from card. I also put is a crew 'door' to hide the seam down the middle of the rear cockpit wall.

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I also added the rear bulkhead and floor piece, all 5cms of it as well as a small piece of card to back the hole for the stand

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I found that one of the wing pieces was split

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So some repair was in order, I also have filled the crack from the outside.

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The ailerons had some nice sink marks, fortunately on the underside

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..that were filled

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Then it was on with some painting on the interior. Not much will be seen.

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I am undecided as to the scheme I will finish this one in. I thought about using the new release decals on it or perhaps an Australian civil scheme like QANTAS or TAA.

 

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13 hours ago, John_W said:

Nice work. That detail on the wings seems to be a little innacurate. Are you going to rescribe?

 

No John, OOB except for the cockpit seats....

 

I have the new tool kit which will follow this one.

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The fuselage is together

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And some puttying done

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I suppose I should have paid a bit more attention to the seam alignment.

 

The seams have been sanded and lost detail replace with my 'rivetter'

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Oh and the wings are on

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Masking completed

 

23691972818_e097a48f79_b.jpg

 

Lower engine nacelles are attached, with some assistance

 

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and the Olive Drab has been applied.

 

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I have decided this will be done as a 36SQN RAAF machine using decals from the same DK sheet the other C-47 will be finished in (34SQN)

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1 hour ago, John_W said:

You appear to be missing air intakes from the upper nacelles?

Not fitted yet, the cowlings were only pressed on for painting, they will be removed to paint the engine faces and to enable the prop to be fitted and the 'holding bit' be glued to the back so the prop can turn :)

 

More filling and sanding happening and hopefully, I can repaint tonight and start fitting the last missing parts

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Time for some pictures

 

Some more painting

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And then some filling

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The engines were painted and assembled

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Wheel wells painted

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Upper nacelle intake scoops added

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Then the exhaust pipes were cleaned up a bit and drilled out.

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Final assembly, I added the navigator's astrodome and the leading edge landing light covers which were not a good fit at all. I will see how they look when the clear cement is set and might try and tidy them up.

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And finally, gloss coated and time for decals...

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Ray, 

That looks super cool with the Foliage Green overspray on top of the Olive Drab base coat. What a great result. Time to pop out the champagne to celebrate another kit completed and one less box in the stash. 

 

Cheers.. Dave

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Thanks, Dave.

 

 I rather like the result as well. Next will be the 34 SQN Dak, not as much Foliage green on that one.

 

But it will have to wait a week or so as I am jumping on a boat out of Sydney for a cruise up north.

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10 minutes ago, TEMPESTMK5 said:

Good morning Ray

Very nice job you have done here .. and I am glad to see that you keep the new Airfix kit for the Gb next year :D:D...

 

Best regards

Patrice

 

Thanks, Patrice.

 

In fact, I have 2 new tool Airfix kits and an Italeri kit in the stash still, so more Dakota available for this GB. I have to finish another by mid-November for a club display I am organising.

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Thats scrubbed up very well for an old(and favourite of mine for the time...)kit. Goes to show.

 

PS: I was always quite fond of the fine rivet detail on those early kits. They weren't too bad or grossly over scale i alwyas tjought.

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