Scale 1/72
Manufacturer Kits-World
Decal Sheet ID KW172096
Decal Sheet Title C-47/C-53D "D-Day Doll" Commemorative Air Force
Types Featured AC-47D

Kits-World mainly specialises in World War II subjects. Sheet KW172096 covers a number of C-47 and AC-47 aircaft flying today in representative schemes, the main option being for "D-Day Doll" of the Commemorative Air Force. The other options on the sheet are of more interest, being three restored aircraft marked as AC-47s as follows:-

  • AC-47A N88874 marked as "43-92847 EN", painted in the standard South East Asian scheme of Dark Green (FS34079), Medium Green (FS34102), Tan (FS30219) with Light Grey (FS36622) undersurfaces. "EN" and "847" of markings on fin in white; other parts of tailcode in black. White ghost on the nose on a black background with "PUFF" in red. This aircraft belonged to the Aero Heritage Museum;
  • DC-3C N2805J (ex 43-16369) marked as AC-47D "43 770 EN", painted in the standard South East Asian scheme with black undersides. Markings similar to 43-x847 except that the white ghost does not have a background and the aircraft is named "Spooky". This aircraft was owned by Warbirds of America Squadron 14, Inc.;
  • C-47A-85-DL 43-15510 marked as AC-47D "43-15510 OS", painted and marked identically to '770. This aircraft was displayed at Hurlburt Field although owned by the US Air Force Museum;
  • DC-3C N514AC marked as AC-47 "927 EN", painted in the South East Asian scheme but with the upper colours overpainted with gloss dark brown and a much brighter gloss dark green with with a different white ghost on the nose together with "Spooky" in white.

This sheet is very much a "mixed bag". The decals themselves have a high gloss finish and are beautifully printed. The instructions are another matter. Whilst left, right, upper and lower schemes are provided for each aircraft, no color references are provided and the colour descriptions provided are generic. However, this is understandable given that the airframes featured are restored and painted to represent "in service" aircraft, so it is up to the modeller to decide what colors to use!

Review and images by Chris St Clair