Jonners Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 (edited) This is the elderly ESCI 1/72 C-47 / DC-3 kit that I picked up for a tenner at last year's Driffield show as described in the Work In Progress section here: It's far from perfect, especially in the quality of its soft-edge camouflage, but it was primarily a first attempt to get a passable finish with my airbrush after it had laid unused for several years. As a kid in the early '80s in South Africa I used regularly to see and hear these Dakotas trundling through the sky. The brown was officially Dark Earth but the actual colour in service was much lighter. I think I might have gone too far and made it too light, but it's close enough. Decals come from a variety of sources: the national 'castle' insignia come from the old Superscale sheet, the code numbers (which are a bit too small) are from a 1/48 Airfix Spitfire kit and the yellow escape hatch lines are tiny sections cut from a decal stripe. More airbrushing practice is planned soon! Jon Edited March 20, 2018 by Jonners WIP link added 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Great job on this old kit. Nice to see one in different markings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Elderly or not you made a looker out of this Dak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Your Dak looks good. Colours look good to me. I have the old Esci kit in the loft, matbe I should dig it out now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 Thanks for the generous comments. I found this old photo which was taken by my father when he took me to the Waterkloof airshow in (I think) early 1985. We were standing on the taxiway; the Dak had just dropped a parachute display team and was taxying in after landing. Airshow safety was obviously a little less restrictive than it is now! Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 Very nice,....I love the Dak in this scheme and you`ve done a lovely job,...... until the Airfix kit was released the old Esci kit was the best Dak available and it still scrubs up well, Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glatisant Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Top class build and finish. Colour scheme superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Very nice. I built one of these Esci Daks last year and finished it in NASA markings. I still view the ESCI kit as "new" (I'm ancient) and remember that when it came out it in 1981 it was very much appreciated. Up until then the only 1/72 Daks were the ancient (1960) Airfix rendition - which had many accuracy issues and the 1979 released Italeri one (which was not too bad although had over emphasised recessed panel lines). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchem Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Nice build there Jon - still looks like you've got the old airbrush skills cooking. 23 hours ago, Jonners said: ...Waterkloof airshow in (I think) early 1985.... I went to an airshow at Swartkop in '98 and we were all searching the skies for the big finale - the Hercules para drop. Unfortunately someone got their wires crossed and they all of the paras jumped out over Waterkloof on the other side of the N1 - major disappointment ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 nice result Jon, the old Esci kit scrubs up nicely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Lovely job. Looks great in the SAAF colours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Everyone loves a Dak, even more so when it’s built this well. That looks as if it’s come straight out of that SAAF book that we both have - marvellous stuff. Now dont forget the DC-3/C-47 STGB slated to start in early 2019. The BM community never tires of seeing a good looking Gooney Bird. Cheers and well modelled.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted March 21, 2018 Author Share Posted March 21, 2018 On 20/03/2018 at 6:03 PM, Jonners said: Waterkloof airshow in (I think) early 1985. D'oh! I meant Swartkop - thanks Mitchem! It was a long time ago, in a land far, far away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted March 21, 2018 Author Share Posted March 21, 2018 Folks, you are all far too generous in your comments! They're all very much appreciated though. Dave, I will have to take part in that STGB - I have a couple of ideas in mind already. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Jon you did a great job on i despite having a i too light earth on it!!! The Esci kit was always my favorite until Airfix came along with their new tool!! Cheers, Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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