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The model In full dress. WW II invasion stripes and theAAF stars are easi ly app li ed d ecorat ions wh ich p rovide acolorful craft. Airl ine markings can be substituted Ifdesired

Build Your Own DOUGLAS C-47 By WALTER A. MUSCIANO

World's Most Famous Plane

No other airplane has ever made moreflights, carried more people or lasted so longas the world-famous and never-to-be-forgotten Douglas DC-3, or military C-47.When President Eisenhower named the fourweapons that, in his opinion, won World WarII, the C-47 was among them.

Developed from the earlier and smaller

DC-2, in 1935, the DC-3 was handling 93percent of all the world's air travel by 1939.The commercial DC-3 is credited withbringing standardization to the airlines which

horse" could easily climb to 20,000 feet.With the advent of WW II the DC-3 was

given many military duties. It hauled glidersand carried paratroopers over every front, itdropped food and ammunition to surroundedtroops, it ferried supplies to the variousbattlefronts. Carrying important militarypersonnel as well as U.S.O. entertainers and

mail were among this plane's varied duties.The DC-3 bore numerous militarydesignations. Christened the R4D by the Navyand Marines the DC 3 was called C 41a C

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Any two engines of from .14 to ,23 cubic

inch displacement can be successfullyinstalled in our model C-47. These power-plants can be installed inverted, upright or inpancake fashion, either beam or bulkheadmounted. We used O.K. Cub .19 engines andthese powered the model in a most realisticmanner. When either engine stops the craftdoes not drop sharply but can actuallysustain flight if it is "led" slightly by the flyer.

Despite the four-foot wingspan the model

does not appear cumbersome and thereforewe felt it was not necessary to installremovable wings, etc.

This craft is no harder to construct thanthe conventional single-engine scale controlliner. The first item to make is the centersection of the wing. Trace the ribs onto thesheet balsa and cut them to shape with a

single-edge razor blade. Now, cut the spars tothe correct size. The center section coveringshould be cut to shape from sheet balsa. Itwill be necessary to butt-join at least threesheets of balsa to form the correct wingchord. Cement the two spars to the lowercovering, followed by the ribs. Do not neglectto allow a space for the outer wing spar stubs

which slide in place later. The covering isheld to the spars and ribs with straight pinsuntil the cement is dry.

not of the same width because of the lowercamber of the wing.

Cement the main landing gear strutbetween the plywood and clamp togetheruntil dry. Cement this assembly firmly to thelower covering and forward spar. Plenty ofthe adhesive should be used in order toinsure a secure installation. It will be foundthat it is necessary to cut two 1/8" widenotches in the covering in order to allow thelanding gear strut to fit in its proper location.

The auxiliary 1/16" strut should not be firmlyattached to the wing but should merely piercethe lower covering in order to be able to movewhen the main gear flexes during take-offsand landings.

While the landing gear installation isdrying thoroughly, the upper covering shouldbe prepared. Bevel the leading and trailing

edges of the lower covering so as to fair withthe rib upper camber. Cement the covering tothe front spar, holding in place with pins.

Apply plenty of cement to the ribs, spar andbevel on the after end of the center sectionand cement the covering to it, again holdingin place with pins unt il dry. Repeat this for theforward portion of the center section.

Trace and cut the keel and formers toshape from sheet balsa and fi rmly cement thekeel to the exact center of the center section.

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WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS PLANE

With ballast replacing engines, Douglas craft became the CG-17, a troop carrying glider for towing by another C-47 Testpilots declared It one of stablest gliders!

Later C-47's delivered to Air Force were recognizable by unpaintedsurfaces. This is an Air Transpor t Command craft was succeeded bythe present well known MATS

The stabilizer should now be constructed.After all of the ribs and the spar have beencut out the ribs are cemented to the spar.While this is drying the covering should becut to shape. First cement both the upper andlower covering to the spar. This is followedby cementing the coverings, one at a time, to

the ribs and to each other at the leading edge.Bevel the spar as shown to facilitate theelevator movement.

Solid sheet balsa is used for the elevatorhalves. After these are cut to outline shape

with a coping saw they should be carved andsanded to a streamline shape. Now, carefullycut a groove into the leading portion of theelevators to accommodate the dowel joiner.This joiner must be cemented to the elevatorsvery securely, since much depends upon it.When thoroughly dry, firmly fasten the

commercial control horn to the dowel joiner.Join the elevator assembly to the stabilizer bymeans of cloth or other hinges.

Complete construction details areavailable on the full -size plans.

President Eisenhower listed the C-47 as one of the four majorweapons of WW 11! Walt's control line scale model is one you willwant to add to your f leet. Now's the t ime to start work.

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