1:144 Douglas C-133 Cargomaster

The real subject

The Douglas C-133 Cargomaster was an American transport aircraft of the late 1950s, built around a single requirement: to get into its fuselage cargo that fits into nothing else. Hence its appearance, that is a massive fuselage with a hold along its whole length, a wing set high above it and four turboprop engines. It served military aviation for carrying bulky and heavy consignments and was in its day among the largest machines of its kind.

What the kit offers

This is a plastic kit in 1:144 scale, which is the usual one for transport aircraft. The subject is so large, however, that even a model reduced this far is among the bigger pieces in a cabinet, and it is a good idea to think out room for it in advance. The number of parts, the contents of the decal sheet and the range of color schemes offered are given in the instructions in the box.

Building and painting tips

• Fill and sand the fuselage and wing joints carefully, as every unevenness shows on large smooth surfaces.
• Put ballast into the forward part of the fuselage before you glue it up, otherwise the model will sit down on its tail.
• Spray the paint onto the extensive surfaces in thin coats, as an even finish is hard to achieve with a brush.
• Mask the cockpit glazing before spraying.

Who it is for

The kit will please collectors of transport hardware and modelers who like machines with unusual shapes. It is supplied unassembled and unpainted; paints, glue and ballast are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.