Adam Poultney Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Can anyone tell me if the Airfix Dakota Mk.III will build a Dakota Mk.IV or are there external differences that the kit doesn't cover? Or alternatively could someone could point me in the direction of suitable aftermarket decals for a silver or camouflaged (with British paint colours not American) RAF Dakota Mk.III Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifer54 Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 According to British Warplanes of WW2 (ed. Daniel J March, Aerospace Publishing), the Dakota Mk.III was a C-47A, and the Mk.IV was a C-47B. This book also states that the C-47B differed from the A model by having R-1830-90 or -90B engines with "high-altitude blowers" and extra fuel capacity. It's quite possible that external differences were minimal. HTH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Sinclair Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Air Arsenal North America has a photograph of a mark IV "note the larger air intakes on the top of the engine cowling when compared to the Mk.III" After that comes the differences between the various blocks of C-47A and B, an incomplete list can be found at, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 (edited) Differences are so minimal relating to the engine length nobodys noticed that all dakota kits to date are technically wrong by offering one engine/cowling , though really would be trivial and pointless given the difference must be a fraction of a mm in 1/72 scale. In short, build the one you want from the kit Edited April 23, 2021 by PhantomBigStu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernandocouto Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 16 hours ago, PhantomBigStu said: Differences are so minimal relating to the engine length nobodys noticed that all dakota kits to date are technically wrong by offering one engine/cowling , though really would be trivial and pointless given the difference must be a fraction of a mm in 1/72 scale. In short, build the one you want from the kit Do you mean the cowling length is for R2000 "postwar" version, with R-1830 fitted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 4 hours ago, fernandocouto said: Do you mean the cowling length is for R2000 "postwar" version, with R-1830 fitted? I mispoke, the cowling probably isn't any longer, just the engine inside is fractionally longer being an R1830 with two speed superchargers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 It's an interesting point. Adding a second stage to the gearbox or supercharger certainly added noticeable length to the Hurricane and Spitfire, 4 inches in the Hurricane's case and perhaps a little more for the Spitfire. (I've not seen the latter recorded, so if anyone knows the true value please get in touch.) However, these were single-engined aircraft built to a tight design, so it is possible that there was extra space behind the engine in the C-47 to avoid lengthening the cowling or nacelle. I'm quite sure that any such difference isn't seen on any model, or mentioned on plans I've seen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 It could be the carb intakes on top of the engine fairings. Two types generally supplied in kits long ones and short ones. Pick and choose which looks right and a refferal to photos will help. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torqueofthedevil Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 On 4/24/2021 at 2:46 PM, Paul J said: It could be the carb intakes on top of the engine fairings. Two types generally supplied in kits long ones and short ones. Pick and choose which looks right and a refferal to photos will help. I think there are actually three possible lengths of carb intake for a C-47. I would imagine that checking references is the only way to be sure of getting the right variety. To answer the OP's second question, there is an aftermarket decal sheet for an all-silver 1/72 Dakota (1948, Oakington based I think). My son made it a while ago. I can try to find the details if that helps, but I'm pretty sure it came from Hannants website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fukuryu Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 (edited) On 4/23/2021 at 9:27 AM, Adam Poultney said: Or alternatively could someone could point me in the direction of suitable aftermarket decals for a silver or camouflaged (with British paint colours not American) RAF Dakota Mk.III Hello, Adam. Would this sheet from Blackbird Models fit the bill? If not, Kits-World has a camouflaged Dakota Mk.III used by BOAC: HTH. Edited April 29, 2021 by Fukuryu Adding other option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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