C-47 Skytrain/Dakota Book Review

By David L. Veres

Review

Hard to believe: the legendary Douglas DC-3 still remains a fixture in global aviation circles. In peace and war, it has revolutionized the worldwide movement of both people and product for nearly 90 years.

Now its more militant guise enjoys spectacular color coverage in C-47 Skytrain/Dakota – No. 133 in Guideline Publications’ perennially popular Warpaint Series.

Format follows the publisher’s proven prescription. After handy design, development, and deployment notes, author Adrian M. Balch recaps C-47s and variants “in Worldwide Military Service” – from WWII through today.

At least ten pages of Sam Pearson’s outstanding color plates – mostly profile perspectives – showcase dozens of schemes. I counted 48 subjects. So gear-up for that group build!

Specifications, 1:144-scale pullout plans, extended captions, and – I think – about 300 color and B&W photos further season this succinct study. And a concluding, three-page spread of close-ups explores Skytrains and Dakotas “in detail” for AMS victims.

Sure, pedants might bemoan Balch’s comparatively compact commentary. But I suspect that most modelers buy Warpaint titles for pretty pictures – not for pithy prose. And this one doesn’t disappoint.

It’s loaded with eye candy!

Now maybe Guideline Publications will favor us with a dedicated follow-up on the Soviet Union’s license-built Lisunov Li-2 – including its intriguing night bomber versions.

Recommended!

My sincere thanks to Guideline Publications for this review sample!