Pic's of the Tabby ?

[ccheese]

Does anyone have pic's of the Japanese version of the DC-3, known as the
Tabby ? I want to build a DC-3 and convert it to the Japanese transport.
I'm looking for pic's showing unit markings, color schemes, etc.

Thanks.....

Charles

 

[Gnomey]

All I have found so far.

WINGS PALETTE - Douglas DC-1/DC-2/DC-3/C-47/C-53/Dakota/Li-2 Cab - Japan

WINGS PALETTE - Douglas DC-1/DC-2/DC-3/C-47/C-53/Dakota/Li-2 Cab - Japan

The modeling underdog: DC-3 with a twist. (Part 1)

The modeling underdog: DC-3 with a twist. (Part 2)

The modeling underdog: DC-3 with a twist. (Part 3 and the grand finale)

L2D2 Tabby - 1/200 Hasegawa @ Plastikowe.pl - redukcyjne modelarstwo plastikowe

 

[Wurger]

Some quick finds.

 

[ccheese]

Thanks, Gnomey.... I can't go to those sites from the work computer. I'll
check them out tonight.

Also, thanks, Wojtek. They look pretty good. Anyone else ??

Charles

 

[Wurger]

some more...

 

[Micdrow]

Hi Charles,

I guess first a little history as Im not sure if all those pictures are DC-3's without closer inspection but more likely to be a combinaton of Dc-2's and Dd-3's with a mixture of engines. Japan only aquired 13 DC-3's with Cyclone engines and aquired another 7 Dc-3's with Twin Wasp engines before the war started but they also aquire a license for $80,000 to buld the Dc-2's. So far records show that they built only six Dc-2 so the total aircraft would only be 24 between the DC-3 and DC-2. The first Dc-2 was built with two wright Cyclone SGR-1820-F-2's and later re-engined with the SGR-1820-F52.

The DC-2 was erroneously thought to be used wide spread by the Japanese Navy and given the code name Tess.

I think if I where you I would find out the differences between the DC-3 and the DC-2. Should be a quick start for you and will see what else I can dig up.

 

[Wurger]

...

 

[Micdrow]

You may also find this link usefull in the break down of a DC-3 plane.

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/other-mechanical-systems-tech/dc-3-manual-5163.html

 

[Wurger]

Nice Paul.

 

[evangilder]

Rod's warbirds site is a great resource. Here is the link to his Tabby pictures:

Rod's WarBirds

Here is the main link to his site, which covers, Japanese, German and Italian aircraft.
Rod's WarBirds

 

[ccheese]

Thanks, Eric....

Thanks, Paul. I will definately look into this. I thought there was much more
use of the "Tabby" by the Japanese, than you indicate.

Charles

 

[ccheese]

I found this about the Tabby:

Between the years of 1939 to 1945, the Japanese are reported to have manufactured 487 L2D variants. The L2D is the Japanese specification for the DC-3 and DC-2. Built in two factories: Showa Hikoki, Koygo and Nakajima Hikoki, 416 were produced in Showa Hikoki. The Japanese L2D DC-3 variant was nicknamed "Tabby".

The First Japanese DC-3 was produced in September of 1939. The Japanese purchased manufacturing rights from Douglas on February 24th of 1938 for the sum of $90,000. Unkown to the US, was that this purchase was made under the direction of the Imperial Japanese Navy for use as a military transport. The L2D variants were fitted with a variety of Kinsei Engines ranging from (models 43 to 62) 1000hp, 1350hp and to 1560hp on the later wooden models.

Found more good info here, too: Douglas L2D

Charles

 

[Micdrow]

Interesting Charles,

I found this varient though no pictures yet that might make for an interesting model.

L2D4 and L2D4-1 were personnel and cargo transports fitted with a dorsal turrent housing a flexible 13mm type 2 machine gun. Type 2 hand held 7.7mm Type 92 that could be fired from fuselage hatches. Designated Navy Type 0 transport model 32 though it remainded experimental.

 

[Capt. Vick]

...of the wooden fuselage version in an aircraft graveyard at the end of the war in Gallagher's book "Broken Wings of the Samurai". Evidently it's a camera shy "bird" and was some what fabled. I would post picture if I had access to my books.