Douglas C-47A/DC-3 "OO-SBH", Libya

[BlackMamba]

Long story short, my step father was sort of a "bush pilot" some twenty years ago before he eventually got into flying jetliners. He was in Libya from 1989 to 1991, and "stumbled" across a crashed DC-3 in the desert. About 15 years ago, he showed me some pictures he took from the crash site. A few weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to try and build a model/diorama of this particular aircraft and give to him as a christmas present.

After a search on google, I came across this:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690328-0

POS in Google Earth: 28°38'55.13"N 22°46'21.49"E

My step father's original pictures from 1989:



The subject: A 1/72 scale DC-3 from Airfix


Misc WIP-pictures:


This is my first "diorama". I'm not done with the desert yet, but all in all I'm pretty satisfied!

 

[colin m]

What a great idea, and you've only got to do half a model.

 

[papa 695]

Great start, and as Colin said a great idea.

 

[BlackMamba]

Thanks. This is really not my cup of tea, and I felt a little uneasy when I first started to cut away pieces from the wings and airframe :rolleyes:

 

[BlackMamba]

One more of the original subject.

 

[Jens Andrée]

What a fantastic idea - and even better, a gift for your dad!!!
There's going to be a lot of emotions when you present it for sure - but only good ones

This one I'm going to follow for sure - and when it's done you have to tell us how your father reacted when you presented it to him?!
Really great idea!!!

 

[BlackMamba]

What a fantastic idea - and even better, a gift for your dad!!!
There's going to be a lot of emotions when you present it for sure - but only good ones

This one I'm going to follow for sure - and when it's done you have to tell us how your father reacted when you presented it to him?!
Really great idea!!!

Thanks, man! I really hope he's going to appreciate it
I wish I had more time to spend on this project, but since we're moving soon I'll have to speed up the process a bit...

 

[Jens Andrée]

Thanks, man! I really hope he's going to appreciate it
I wish I had more time to spend on this project, but since we're moving soon I'll have to speed up the process a bit...

Often we work better under a bit of pressure so I have no doubts it'll come out anything but great!
Are you going to include a figure of your dad, standing on the cockpit just like in the photo? If not I think you should try to do this because it would make it even more personal I think.

Anyway, good luck with the finishing stuff. Being able to recreate such a cool memory with a scale model must feel fantastic!

 

[BlackMamba]

Often we work better under a bit of pressure so I have no doubts it'll come out anything but great!
Are you going to include a figure of your dad, standing on the cockpit just like in the photo? If not I think you should try to do this because it would make it even more personal I think.

Anyway, good luck with the finishing stuff. Being able to recreate such a cool memory with a scale model must feel fantastic!

I agree, this build was actually done in probably half the time, or even one third of the time I would have used under normal circumstances.
The thought occured to me, so I might need to scan the interenet for a 1/72 scale figure that fits the bill The last thing I need to do after the desert is finished, is to make some sort of inscription which will include the lat/long position, aircraft registration code etc.

 

[Thorbrand]

I agree, this build was actually done in probably half the time, or even one third of the time I would have used under normal circumstances.
The thought occured to me, so I might need to scan the interenet for a 1/72 scale figure that fits the bill The last thing I need to do after the desert is finished, is to make some sort of inscription which will include the lat/long position, aircraft registration code etc.

Nice original idea and well put together.

If you want to do a small plaque you can get one laser etched on ebay really cheap. Just do a search for custom name badges and you can put whatever inscription you want and have a brass or brushed steel backing

 

[papa 695]

It's coming along very nicely Marius, Really liking the weather'd/blistered paint work

 

[BlackMamba]

Nice original idea and well put together.

If you want to do a small plaque you can get one laser etched on ebay really cheap. Just do a search for custom name badges and you can put whatever inscription you want and have a brass or brushed steel backing

Thanks, I'll check it out

 

[yak face]

Amazing job marius , the battered dc3 looks superb

 

[flyjoe180]

Looks good so far Marius, a very unique build which your step father will love for sure

 

[BlackMamba]

This is the final result. He was very happy with it, so I guess I'm satisfied as well

 

[papa 695]

Cracking work it looks just like the original photo

 

[BlackMamba]

Thanks! I wanted the aircraft to look just as it did in 1989, but I had a hard time finding any pictures from that era with the exception of the "original" photos. I ended up using a mix of newer photos, the "old" ones, and Google Earth.

 

[Jens Andrée]

I have to say that you really pulled it off!!!

I've had a look at my 1/72 figures to see if I could donate a suitable one but none of them sadly looked like your father in the picture, but the little vignette and the info plate was spot on!
This must be the best way to remember such a weird - in a way - event, finding a downed plan in the desert.

 

[BlackMamba]

I have to say that you really pulled it off!!!

I've had a look at my 1/72 figures to see if I could donate a suitable one but none of them sadly looked like your father in the picture, but the little vignette and the info plate was spot on!
This must be the best way to remember such a weird - in a way - event, finding a downed plan in the desert.

Thank you, Jens. I truly appreciate your effort! He was right back in Libya, and had to get some fresh air Oh, and that little plaque is printed on some sort of high quality/heavy weight paper which my fiance provided me with. This was taped on top of another piece of high quality paper, and "washed" with AK's sand wash. It was her idea, actually

 

[flyjoe180]

You nailed it Marius, superb work to replicate the photo scenes.