1:72 C47 Skytrain Part 1 'US Navy and JMSDF R4D-6 Fleets

The real subject

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain is the military form of the airliner DC-3: a twin-engine low-wing monoplane with radial piston engines, a tail wheel and wide cargo doors in the left side. With the Navy of the United States the same machines were given the designation R4D and served in it as liaison and transport aircraft long after the war. From there they reached Japan as well, where the Maritime Self-Defense Force took them over. This first part of the series sets both services side by side, so that American and Japanese machines are on one sheet.

What the set contains

Water-slide decals in 1:72 scale with markings for R4D-6 machines of both of the stated users. The sheet supplements or replaces the markings enclosed with a kit.

• A decal sheet in 1:72 scale for C-47 and R4D-6 models
• Machines of American naval aviation and of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
• The first part of the series devoted to this type
• An accessory for a kit; the model itself is not included

How to apply the decals

The surface has to be smooth and glossy, otherwise air will be trapped under a decal and the layer will go dull. Cut the feature out as closely as possible, soak it and let it rest for a while, until it starts to slide freely on the paper. Move it into place along with a little water underneath, line it up and blot the excess water away with a soft cloth from the center to the edges. Lay the long bands along the fuselage down in one go and line them up against a panel, not by eye. Once dry, spray the model with varnish.

Who it is for

For modelers who build transport aircraft in 1:72 scale and want to choose between the American and the Japanese form. The kit, paints, varnish and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.