Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Hi All,

Does anyone know if anyone makes Radial Replicas for the Top Flite DC3? I have this kit and am installing OS40FX's with Slimline Pitts mufflers, but I want to dress it up with replica radial engines. I don't even know the exact scale or what but I sure would like to get some if they are available.

Thanks,
Andy

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Dare hobby has moulded plastic radials in several styles and sizes. They are not super detailed, but do look pretty good when painted up.
Remember when installing radial engines in your cowls, the the rocker covers are not supposed to be visible. Too many guys use a radial replica that is too small for their model.
http://www.darehobby.com/accessories-scaleradial.htm

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

And also remember,,,

Leave enough opening in front to cool off motor...

It gets hot, it quits running...

And we all know whats worse than one dead motor
on a twin....
Pickin' up the pieces.... :eek:

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Thanks to both of you......now how many cylinders did a DC3 have?

Andy

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Andy:

Most DC-3 airplanes had the Wright R-1830 engine, but many (mostly military versions) had the Pratt & Whitney engines, think they were R-2000 but not certain. The Wrights were a single row nine cylinder, the P&W were two row. Externally the Wrights had a large oil cooler radiator under the nacelle with a relatively short cowling over the engine. The Pratt powered planes had a longer cowling to allow access to both cylinder banks.

For scale accuracy bear in mind that military purchases were 99% Pratts, the few military planes with Wright engines were taken from the airlines, or were too far in production at the start of the government taking all production to change the engines.

Or this is what I've been told.

After the end of the war many of the Pratt planes did go into civilian service, from military surplus. These surplus planes were the big reason the "Super DC-3" didn't make it in the market, so much cheaper to buy a used plane in excellent condition and convert it to airline service than to buy new.

If you would like to see one of the few surviving Pratt powered planes, Piedmont got one and restored it a few years ago, I think it's still North Carolina at their head offices. Other than the engines it's just like the ones we were flying back in the mid 50s when I worked for Piedmont Aviation.

Bill.

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

So Bill, The P&W's had two rows of 9 cylinders? or two rows of a smaller amount of cylinders.
The only thing I was able to find in my limited research was that the DC3 was powered by a 1000HP
Wright Cyclone

Thanks,
Andy

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Andy:

Sorry, forgot that. Yes, the P&W engines were 18 cylinders.

Bill.

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Thanks Bill,

Now I'll go to that Dare Hobby site and see what they have.

Regards,
Andy

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Andy:

Just did a quick search, the Piedmont DC-3 is now owned by the Carolina Aviation Museum. Nice article on this particular plane [link=http://www.carolinasaviation.org/collections/aircraft/dc3n44v.html]here[/link].

The engines were the R-1820, rated at 1250 hp, rather than the R-2000, according to that site.

Bill.

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Andy:

Went back to the CAM site, looked around and found this picture. It's the Pratt powered version, you can see the longer cowlings. Still has the big oil radiator, I didn't remember if the P&W planes had it or not.

Point of all this is that most C-47 a/c in military paint aren't right - I don't know of any kits that even mention the P&W engines in the military versions having different nacelles.

Bill.

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Hi!
Do not use such powerfull engines as OS .40FX on the DC-3! They will only make your DC-3 fly like a pattern plane...!
OS 40FP or LA is still too powerfull.
OS 25 LA swinging 10x4 APC props are much better choice!

Regards!
Jan K
Sweden

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Hi Randy

All of the DC-3 and converted C-47 airplanes that I worked on back in the 50's and 60's were powered by Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp R-1830 two row 14 cylinder engines. As I recall, the engines were rated at 1200 BHP. The Wright Cyclone R-1820 was a single row 9 cylinder engine. Sounds like your model should be a beauty.

Paul

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Thanks Paul, Bill and THL101,

I have a final question. I contacted Dare Hobby and all they have is Wasp replicas........I assume
that that is the Pratt and Whitney engine. So Paul if I buy the Wasp should I buy a 7 cylinder or 9 cylinder. This is not going to be a competition model but I want to make "myself" happy so it does
not have to be 100% politically correct, just correct enough to please me. ;^)

Thanks to all,
Andy

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Andy,

You want the 7 cylinder for the PW R-1830 [link=http://www.shanaberger.com/engines/R-1830.htm] http://www.shanaberger.com/engines/R-1830.htm[/link]


In 1927, Pratt & Whitney began researching twin-row radial engines. One result, the R-1830 Twin Wasp, first flew in 1931. It was one of the most efficient and reliable engines of the 1930s.

The R-1830 was in production from 1931 through 1951. Over 173,000 were produced, more than any other aircraft engine (per Pratt & Whitney).

14 cylinder, air-cooled, two-row radial
displacement: 1,830 cubic inches (30 liters)
Bore x stroke: 5.5 x 5.5 inches

Don

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Thanks all, I ordered the wrong thing from Dare Hobby but they contacted me and said that they would not ship until we straightened out what I really wanted.........as if I new........ ;^)

Andy

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

I need two cowlings for the Dc-3 arf kit from Kyosho. Please email me: [email protected]

See the fullscale: www.dc3.is

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Hi!
Have you flown the Kyosho DC-3 ???
You better check the wings for Wash-out...or lack of wash-out!
I have got glassfiber cowlings for the Marutaka DC-3 (span 211cm) you can see to the right...think it is approximately the same size as the Kyosho DC-3.

Regards!
Jan K
Sweden

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

So Jaka............how is the scale as compared to the TF DC3? Do you sell the cowlings pictured and if so how much including postage to Bend, Oregon?

They look sweet!!

If you want to reply via email, I'm [email protected]

Cheers,
Andy

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Hi!
No I have not flown it, I'm going to this spring, but before that I need new cowling.
I'm trying to get it to look like this famous airplane in Iceland called Páll Sveinsson, a C-47 that was last used to spread fertilizer over Iceland.
If someone can sell me nacelle/cowlings, for a fair price, please contact me. [email protected]
I'm not going to fly it until I get the nacelle/cowlings :D+

Thanks,
Kristinn Ingi Pétursson
www.flugfelag.net
www.flugmodel.is

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

The DC-3 had Curtiss Wright 1820's -102, 202, 56, and -76 single row 9 cylinder engines from 1,000 to 1,425 horse power. The more common power plant was a Pratt and Whitney twin row of 7 cylinders each at 1,200 hp. There was also a P&W R2000 conversion of 1,450 hp two rows of 7 cylinders. I owned and operated DC-3's for 24 years until the faa started picking on them again. That airplane has never seized to amaze me.

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Hi!
As I said before...check those wings if you have the Kyosho DC-3 . Those wings that I have seen were all warped (wrongly cut ,with wash-in in the tips).

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Video: http://video.frettavefur.net/dc3_toti.wmv

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Thanks for the link. I just ordered some for my TF DC-3 and some drop-tanks for my 1:9 P51. I will report on the quallity when they arrive in the post.

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

Ok Guys...
I bought and built the Kyosho DC-3 several years ago. I even installed the retactable landing gear and pained it up in Hawaiian Airlines colors. It looked great on the ground...it taxied with the best of them....and it had one of the shortest flights I ever had. When it landed...or I should say crashed...it rekitted itself but good. Talk about one crazy flight...and that was that. I had two kits of the model...wanting to build the next as a Super DC-3...but I ended up selling the second kit to a club member that wanted it for a static model. Kyosho blew me off and would not support me in any way with my problem...and Kyosho never will see another $$$ from me...unless they come out with a Super Connie arf. Then katie bar the door...who ever manages to make a Super Connie ARF...willl ge my check in the mail that day.
Soft landings always,
Bobby of Maui

RE: Top Flite DC3 Radial Engine Replicas
 

diddiminn,

Very nice video. Do you have any video of a take off? What engines did you use?