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RAF Dakota question. need help here guys


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I have the Monogram 1.48th DC3 Dakota kit and wish to build it as the Post war RAF Transport Command in the Light gray and White scheme.

The kit i have is the Airliner version and dose not have the cargo doors like the C47 version.

Did the RAF use the DC3 with the single door post war ? or were they all the later versions with the cargo door ?

Any help would be greatfully recived.

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I looked through various books and couldnĀ“t find any RAF Dak with the passenger door. Even KN465 used by Montgomery had the cargo door. But should i find something i will let you know.

Cheers David

Edited by Dr.Bunsen Honeydew
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Did you see last month's SAM? It had feature on the Berlin airlift with pics & profiles of RAF/USAF a/c including the Dakota. I can't remember whether it answered you question but might be worth getting hold of. HTH

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I have the Monogram 1.48th DC3 Dakota kit and wish to build it as the Post war RAF Transport Command in the Light gray and White scheme.

The kit i have is the Airliner version and dose not have the cargo doors like the C47 version.

Did the RAF use the DC3 with the single door post war ? or were they all the later versions with the cargo door ?

Any help would be greatfully recived.

By the way I don't think the white/light grey scheme was widely-used and it would not be correct for a Berlin Airlift-era machine. It only appeared very late on in the life of the RAF Dakotas (when there were only a handful left in service) so I am not sure how many ever wore this scheme, as opposed to white/silver livery. The one Dakota that definitely wore this scheme in military use was the RAE's KG661 (later reserialled ZA947).

White/silver scheme:

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1038067/

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1022924/

http://pembrokeshire-pictures.co.uk/raf/do...kota_kn452.html

KG661 in white/grey: http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1025089/

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Thanks for that Irish. great pics and a lovely scheme eh. I have the extra decal sheet for the RAE Dakota which encludes the white and gray scheme.

Looks like i am going to have to buy the latest issue of the Monogram kit which has the correct door :undecided:

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I'm not sure the RAF ever had any pax door DC-3s (someone mentioned a Dakota Mk.II??). Even if the RAF did have one or two, in any event, the vast, vast majority of them were standard C-47s with the cargo door. I agree though - the grey & white is a nice scheme.

J

We had a few mk IIs which were C-53s (e.g TJ170) - total numbers were probably less than 10. As they were used as VIP transports, a few photos exist.

There were also some ex-airline DC-3s (including at least one DC-3-277D with the right hand side door, MA925 ex NC33653, USAAF designation C-49H) passed on by the US from stocks they impressed - mainly used in India. Interestingly, the 31 Squadron History refers to one of these as being a DST with a 'sleeper' configuration - presumably in fact LR233 DC-3B-202 c/n 1923 ex-TWA NC17313

The majority of the survivors were passed onto Indian airlines, and some survived into the late 50s.

None appear to have been used post-war

Edited by Dave Fleming
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