"Real" DC-3/C-47 Wheel Size
 

Anyone out there know the diameter of full-scale DC-3/C-47s wheels? Trying to match scale with a C-47 project I'm working on.

Thanks!!

Steve

RE: "Real" DC-3/C-47 Wheel Size
 

The main gear used 17.00-16 12 ply tires while the tail wheel was a 9.00-6 10 ply tire.

RE: "Real" DC-3/C-47 Wheel Size
 

THANKS! Though being the tire-ignorant person I am, can you tell me what the overall tire diameter is for the mains? Not entirely sure what 17.00-16 means.

Thanks again!

RE: "Real" DC-3/C-47 Wheel Size
 

These are the old tire designations which would make the side wall 17" tall and the tread 17" wide. The 16 is the wheel diameter, so 16" plus twice the side wall height makes a nominal 50" diameter tire and wheel assembly. I can't find it at the moment but the actual diameter was closer to 54" and the width almost 20".
They were big fat rollers but necessary as the struts had little shock absorbing capability.

RE: "Real" DC-3/C-47 Wheel Size
 

Gremlin Castle-

Wow, THANKS for all the info! Never new about the old tire designations...interesting info.

REALLY appreciate your help-

Steve

RE: "Real" DC-3/C-47 Wheel Size
 

How do they indicate the tire sizes nowadays?

Jerry

RE: "Real" DC-3/C-47 Wheel Size
 

With the advent of radial tires the new desifnations have a tread width, a sidewall dimension and a wheel diameter. But don't get too excited because there won't be any mag wheels and spinner hubcaps for the DC-3.;)