Minicraft 1/144 VC-118A Kit First Look
by Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | February 2013 | Manufacturer | Minicraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | VC-118A | Scale | 1/144 |
| Kit Number | 14667 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | Nice detailing throughout | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | $26.99 |
First Look
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The military variation of the Douglas DC-6 airliner was designated as the C-118. In 1947, an order for 166 aircraft was placed to support MATS operations. The DC-6 served also as a Presidential aircraft designated VC-118. The 165 C-118A Liftmasters produced were roughly six feet longer than the C-54 (DC-4). As a transport the C-118 could carry up to 74 fully-equipped troops or up to 50,000 pounds of cargo.
The Minicraft kit follows design-wise on the footsteps of their DC-4/C-54 kit with relatively accurate outlines and minimal surface detail. For a 144th scale it is adequate but some companies have really surpassed this minimalist design with their kits (Platz C-46D for example). Still, it is going to make a nice looking kit with a little bit of effort.
The decals are looking good on paper and are needed to represent all the fuselage windows and ascent the side entrance doors and loading bay. I plan to use most of the decals to do a an NMF/White/Dayglo scheme.
Recommended for the 1/144th crowd as an alternative to the Roden kit which has its own virtues and issues as well.
My sincere thanks to Minicraft Models for this review sample!