Puff the Plastic Dragon. Esci 1/72 AC-47 Spooky gunship +++FINISHED+++

[danbuoy]

Been keen to start this since getting it off Ebay a couple of years ago, and this group build seems like the perfect opportunity. 

 

The AC-47, nicknamed "Puff the Magic Dragon", was introduced in 1965 as a means of providing more firepower in certain situations where close air support was required.

 

Armed with three 7.62mm miniguns sticking out of the port side windows, controlled by the pilot, the idea of the gunship was to orbit over a target for hours, with the ability to accurately deliver a significant weight of fire. For example, in February 1965, an FC-47 (as they were initially designated before protests from fighter pilots brought about the change to AC-47), fired 20,500 rounds over 4 hours into a VC hilltop position, killing an estimated 300 enemy troops. 

 

In February 1969, an AC-47 crewman, A1C John L. Levitow, was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving his aircraft after it was struck by an 82mm mortar round which inflicted 3,500 shrapnel holes and wounded Levitow 40 times. Using his body, he jettisoned an armed magnesium flare which ignited shortly after he ejected it from the aircraft. 

 

By the end of the 60s, most AC-47s, now known by the call sign "Spooky" had been transferred to the VNAF, to be replaced in USAF service by the more capable and heavily armed AC-119 Shadow/Stinger and AC-130 Spectre, the latter still being in use today. The Spooky proved the gunship concept worked and in testimony to its effectiveness, no village or hamlet under Spooky protection was ever lost.

 

So, this is the kit in question, box corner damage courtesy of Bertie the dog;

 

 

Considerably more (and larger) parts than the Airfix Bird Dog I've just completed in the Reconnaissance and Scouting GB;

 

 

Hopefully the decals will be OK. My previous experience of Esci decals wasn't great, so we shall see.

 

 

Instructions, plus painting details for two very similar schemes. Haven't decided which one I will do yet. The state of the decals may dictate this!

 

 

 

 

Plus a bit of light reading to help me along and inspire!

 

 

Will probably get started early next week.

[Hook]

On 7/6/2023 at 12:52 PM, danbuoy said:

Hopefully the decals will be OK.

If not, I have some Italeri spares.

 

Following, gotta love a Gunship!

[danbuoy]

1 hour ago, Hook said:

If not, I have some Italeri spares.

 

Following, gotta love a Gunship!

Thanks, that's good to know! Last Esci decals I tried, for my Dodge weapons carrier, simply would not soak off.

[Hook]

1 hour ago, danbuoy said:

Thanks, that's good to know! Last Esci decals I tried, for my Dodge weapons carrier, simply would not soak off.

The sheet out of this boxing worked fine for me. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

[Planebuilder62]

Hi Dan

I have some Microscale decals for this including Puff the Magic Dragon in a white over silver/NMF colour scheme if you like.

 

Regards Toby

[danbuoy]

36 minutes ago, Planebuilder62 said:

Hi Dan

I have some Microscale decals for this including Puff the Magic Dragon in a white over silver/NMF colour scheme if you like.

 

Regards Toby

Hi, that would be great. Do any of the schemes have nose art, as I was disappointed that neither Esci option does, and I particularly like the Spooky ghost artwork. 

[Planebuilder62]

Oh yes. There is a Spooky ghost figure as well as Puff the Magic Dragon nose art options.

 

Regards Toby

[JOCKNEY]

An absolutely iconic kit, delighted to see it, in this GB.

 

Best of luck 

 

Cheers Pat 

[danbuoy]

Finally got a start on this last night. First step, cut out where the three miniguns are mounted;

 

 

Then got the 2 bulkheads and the control columns fitted. Leaving off the yokes and seats until I've got some paint on it, which hopefully I will start tonight.

 

 

So, a brief start, but a start nonetheless!

[danbuoy]

Got the first bit of paint on the interior last night. It's amazing the difference a bit of paint can make. I have to say though, that although the instructions are fine in terms of where parts go etc, in regards to painting they are a bit vague. However, as the AC-47 has been done by several other kit manufacturers, I downloaded the instructions for these off Scalemates, including the nicely detailed Revell ones for their 1/48 ex-Monogram kit. These go into far more detail, so I will be using these for colour references. 

 

 

Also got the inside of the fuselage painted, though another coat is required. 

 

 

Painted the instrument panel too, ready for trying out the 2 decals that need to go on it. At least if they don't work, it's not exactly the most visible part of the kit.

Edited July 19, 2023 by danbuoy

[danbuoy]

Well, I'm pleased to report that the decals seem fine!

 

 

Also assembled the mounts for the miniguns. Unfortunately 2 had broken off the sprue. One was fine, but on the other, 2 of the mounting points for the actual gun have broken off, but it will be tucked inside out of sight, so will be fine.

 

 

 

[danbuoy]

Well, after two holidays, plus getting over a heavy cold that was a direct result of one of the holidays (I do not recommend putting up a tent in the pouring rain), it felt good to get back to crafting last night.

 

I've been looking for some colour photos of the miniguns as I wanted to see if I could paint the mounts a different colour to the fuselage interior, just for a bit of contrast if nothing else, but not really found much, and all the different sets of AC-47 instructions I've seen say to paint the mounts the same colour as the interior anyway. So, that's what I eventually did. Besides, they'll hardly be visible inside the aircraft.

 

 

Also painted the toilet!

 

 

As I had the silver out, I decided to do the undercarriage

 

 

 

Made a start on the miniguns themselves 

 

 

Plus installed the cockpit seats and control yokes

 

 

Instrument panel to be fitted next, and that'll be the cockpit done.

[Hook]

Shaping up nicely!

[danbuoy]

Instrument panel attached

 

 

As this kit must use the moulds for a standard C-47, some alterations need to be made. First step is to cut out a window just before the cargo door

 

 

The cargo door itself needs cutting in two, giving me the chance to finally use the small saw I bought last year 

 

 

The larger half can then be attached to the fuselage. The other half is not needed, but I cut off the protruding hinges and attached these tiny bits next to the open door frame

 

 

Next step is to finish off the miniguns and install them on their mounts. 

 

[danbuoy]

The dragon now has teeth! Applied the decals to the miniguns and got these attached to their mounts last night;

 

 

Getting close to closing up the fuselage, but before I think about that, I made a small start on the wings and engines;

 

 

 

[danbuoy]

Still busy working on my gunship. Starting to get the camouflage colours on the fuselage, then I can get the windows installed then the fuselage can be closed up. Hoping once that is done, it will start to come together fairly quickly. 

 

 

[SigEp Ziggy]

I can't wait to see more, I have wanted this kit for some time now, you're doing a great job!

[danbuoy]

Windows are now installed in the fuselage, and got the 2 halves together. Not as much of a faff as I thought it might be, I just need to be careful not to knock the miniguns!

 

 

 

[JOCKNEY]

Looking the business 

 

Cheers Pat 

[Thom216]

We'll take a puff of that Dragon! Looking good.

[danbuoy]

Time for a long, long overdue update on my Spooky gunship! I have been working away on this, but not done anything I deemed worthy of posting. However, last night, I got the wings assembled;

 

 

 

Props are done, plus assembled the main undercarriage, on which the wheels roll very nicely. 

 

 

 

So, this is where things are currently up to;

 

 

Next lot of parts to be fitted;

 

 

[danbuoy]

Engines and cowlings attached, and ready for a coat of paint. 

 

 

Both halves of each horizontal stabiliser glued together too.

 

 

Getting there bit by bit!

[JOCKNEY]

This looks nearly done 

 

Cheers Pat 

[danbuoy]

1 minute ago, JOCKNEY said:

This looks nearly done 

 

Cheers Pat 

I'm really hoping so!

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Looking real good with the camouflage on now.