1/48 Monogram C-47 Mini Whiskey 7 Commission build

[Stikpusher]

Well, seeing how I can’t help but love the old Monogram C-47 and most anything to do with D-Day Airborne Ops (not to mention WWII Airborne), I had to look up the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron. It seems that they were quite a veteran outfit, having first served in the MTO starting in 1942, and had participated in the Operation Husky drop into Sicily. For Normandy, they carried the elements of the 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division to their DZ near St Mere Eglise. After Normandy, the 37th TCS would again carry US Airborne troops into battle in Holland for Operation Market Garden, and British Airborne troops into Germany for Operation Varsity. All the Way 37th TCS!

[BlackSheep214]

Hmmm.... will we see a Herc in Whiskey 7 markings, keyda?

[keyda81]

Well, seeing how I can’t help but love the old Monogram C-47 and most anything to do with D-Day Airborne Ops (not to mention WWII Airborne), I had to look up the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron. It seems that they were quite a veteran outfit, having first served in the MTO starting in 1942, and had participated in the Operation Husky drop into Sicily. For Normandy, they carried the elements of the 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division to their DZ near St Mere Eglise. After Normandy, the 37th TCS would again carry US Airborne troops into battle in Holland for Operation Market Garden, and British Airborne troops into Germany for Operation Varsity. All the Way 37th TCS!

I've dug quite a bit into Whiskey 7's history, unfortunately I can't find a whole lot on the internet. She was the lead plane of serial #18 on D-Day. After D-Day she was transferred to the 36th TCS, and participated in Market Garden, and Varsity. At some point after that she was with the 313th TCG, but not for long, she went to the 436th TCG, 79th TCS.

A few pics of her during WW2
36th TCS Market Garden

She's furthest away in this pic.


79th TCS Sometime after April 20th, 1945.



At some point I will build models with those markings. I have the kits in the stash already. I might of already made masks for the markings too, I can't remember.

BlackSheep, You most certainly will. I have the kit in the stash. Maybe it will be a "Whiskey 7 Winter" and I'll just work on all things Whiskey.

[scorpiomikey]

scorpionmikey, it happens, lol. I have yet to build that Italeri kit, but have one in the stash. The plan(at some point)is to build it along with a 1/72 C-130J and do an "in flight" type of thing. Attempting to recreate the photo down below in a way. But instead of painting Whiskey 7 as she is today, I would do what she would of looked like on D-Day.



The current Hercs flown with the 37th Airlift Squadron(lineage to the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron which Whiskey flew with on D-Day)are sporting WW2 markings, carrying the W7 Squadron code, and invasion stripes.



Stuart, I do wish I hadn't caved in and decided to do it. He just wouldn't take no for an answer. This will be the 3rd old Monogram kit I've done, and yes it is a bit large. I will certainly be bumping wing tips, and the tail into everything around my bench.

Oooohh that would look amazing. Just be warned with the italeri kit the spine seam is really weak and tends to split quite easily. It could do with a reinforcing strip of some kind. Ive had issues with it when i built the kit in the past and dad had issues with it when he built it 30 something years ago.

[Medicman71]

The Italeri kit will also need some kind of support for the wings. I had a hell of a time keeping the wings from separating away from the fuselage.

[keyda81]

Thanks for the heads up guys! Sounds like sheet sprue, and the mac daddy super glue that terrifies me every time I open it!

Last couple of days have been working on masking all the windows, then starting on the putty, sand, prime, repeat process.
I'm doing the wing section, and fuselage separately for now. Once they are good I'll join them together, and work on those seams.

Center wing section primed, along with the rest of the parts.


Masking all the windows on the fuselage.


Primed to point out all the flaws.


Both sections after a few rounds of the process. I was actually surprised after the second coat of primer on the fuselage that it didn't look a whole lot worse. Hopefully only a few more rounds and it will be ready to join up, then work on those seams.

[Stikpusher]

So far, so good!

[Stuart]

Excellent stuff!

What's with that poor A-7 in your paint booth?

[keyda81]

Thanks Stik!

Stuart, Thanks! That is my paint guinea pig. One of my very early builds before I knew what I was doing. I need to make a suitable replacement for it. Just haven't gotten around to getting a kit. I did the Hobby Boss one, but wasn't happy with it. Thinking maybe the Hasegawa eventually.

[LyleW]

Looking good!