f4h1phantom Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 I am currently building two 1950s NMF C-47s and would like to know what colors the cockpits should be. I have seen models built with everything painted a shade of green, others silver and others in a combination of both. Wonder if somebody could help letting me know what colors the rear bulkhead, floor, sidewalls, seats and control columns and wheels should get, particularly for that timeframe, in case it is relevant. Not going overboard, so some basic information should suffice. Also, what type of seatbelts did these birds use? TIA for any replies, Jorge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 C-47 interior colors is almost as complex a question as P-51 wheel wells. Early airplanes were clearly something akin to Dull Dark Green or Bronze Green, but later ones seem to have tended toward Interior Green. You really can't see that much of the cockpit on a model anyway :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f4h1phantom Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 Hi Jennings, thanks for the comments. I wasn't aware of the different greens so I have learned something new. I can do with just knowing which parts to paint green and which (if any) natural metal. It would also be nice to know if the seats had just lap belts of a full set like on fighters, so to speak, so I can close the fuselages ASAP! :) Jorge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigjugs Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Throughout the war, the C-47 had nothing more than a set of basic lap belts for the pilot and co-pilot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rich in name only Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Pardon my ignorance but what is NMF? It probably tells the smart guys just what you want but all I'm picturing is the variations in seats, belts, interiors, cockpit vs cabin, etc and thinking the answer is questions: what country, what military service, what unit, what kind of operational setup, and what year (and if you pick the right year, what month). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigjugs Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 (edited) Pardon my ignorance but what is NMF? It probably tells the smart guys just what you want but all I'm picturing is the variations in seats, belts, interiors, cockpit vs cabin, etc and thinking the answer is questions: what country, what military service, what unit, what kind of operational setup, and what year (and if you pick the right year, what month). NMF means Natural Metal Finish, in other words, unpainted metal. And for the C-47, which is the US designation, it is not that complicated. Sometime in 1943, Douglas switched interior colors from Dull Dark Green to Interior Green throughout. However, the quilted insulation blankets were usually in either DDG or Olive Drab fabric. Any user of this aircraft got it with the interior painted those colors. The RAF called it the Dakota. And it was painted inside just like those used by the USAAF. The seats for the paratroopers in the main cabin were unpainted aluminum (That would be NMF). No point in painting what will be worn off anyway. Edited September 1, 2014 by bigjugs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
majortomski Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Control columns are black panted metal with hemp wrapped round steering wheel sections. The C-47 I worked on had stock parachute seats with cushions instead of parachutes and both lap and shoulder harnesses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rich in name only Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Thanks! Should have guessed. I recall a Navy one in 1966 that had dark gull gray in the cockpit in line with Navy specs of the time. What about other countries? Some had them so long I wonder if they used other colors though it seems that "interior green" not otherwise defined is always a safe bet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f4h1phantom Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 Many thanks for the replies. Were the pilot seats green too or were they natural metal? Just to clarify, I will be doing two USAF MATS unpainted transports from the (late) '50s. Jorge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThudDriver Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 I would tend to believe that after the war ended and these airframes were donated/sold/ traded to countries and private operators through out the world that any commonality was all but gone. One could pick and choose what internal colors were used by that time. Given repairs, rebuilds customization etc one would need to work from pictures of a given airframe if level of accuracy is desired. Standards were looong gone by then unless your modeling a certain air force fleet when they all went through a common depot level maintenance program. Other than that, pick and choose.. Thuddriver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DonSS3 Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Late 50s, I would suggest Dark Gull Gray. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rich in name only Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 The Navy plane was all dark gull gray as I recall (except don't remember the forward panel). Needed a flash light to see on the floor along the sides. Something fell and dark on dark in the dark was a challenge. Rich Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigjugs Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 (edited) For a WW2 era C-47 and perhaps into the early '50s No parachute seat and nothing but a lap belt. Click on image for larger image. Images from manuals of '43 and '47. Edited September 2, 2014 by bigjugs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f4h1phantom Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share Posted September 2, 2014 Thanks for the additional replies. Very nice pictures bigjugs. Your suggestions are very much appreciated and I will incorporate them into the builds! ;) Jorge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DonSS3 Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 All kinds of lovely popups when clicking on those pics above. :-\ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.