What is the difference between the cowl and the nose section?

The DC-3/C-47 requires two separate fiberglass purchases: the engine cowls (one per nacelle, $40 each) which surround each engine, and the fiberglass nose section ($90) which forms the distinctive rounded nose and cockpit area. Both are sold separately by Ziroli — don't forget either one.

Kit Cutters Completion Guide

Nick Ziroli Giant-Scale Short Kit

140" DC-3 / C-47

The Gooney Bird — the most produced transport in aviation history, still flying today — in giant scale.

Buy the Kit — $552.00 See Everything You Need

Wingspan

140 in

Length

97 in

Scale

1/8

Wing Area

1,700 sq in

Weight (AUW)

38–45 lb

Power

2× 38–50cc gas

Skill

Advanced

A Legend, Faithfully Cut

Whether you call it the Gooney Bird, Skytrain, Dakota, or R4D, the Douglas DC-3/C-47 is the most important transport aircraft ever built. Over 10,000 were produced and it served in virtually every theater of WWII — from D-Day paratroop drops over Normandy to supplying the Pacific campaign. Decades after production ended, DC-3s were still operating regular passenger and cargo services. Nick Ziroli's 1/8 scale design captures that unmistakable twin-radial silhouette at 140" of wingspan — the largest model in the Ziroli lineup.

Kit Cutters supplies the precision laser-cut wood. This guide covers the rest: the honest, model-specific list of what you'll buy to complete it, with real sources for every part.

140-inch Ziroli Douglas DC-3 C-47 giant-scale RC transport in flight

What's in the Box?

Included in the Short Kit

Precision laser-cut wood parts only — ribs, formers, shaped parts
Three-piece wing rib set
Twin nacelle structure parts
Fuselage formers and shaped parts

⬇ Download Pack List (PDF)

Required Separately

Plans / building instructions (buy from Ziroli — copyright)
Spars, sheeting, and stick balsa
2× engines or motors (one per nacelle)
Cowls (one per nacelle), fiberglass nose section
Landing gear, covering, electronics, servos, hardware

Everything Else You Need to Complete This Kit

Model-specific, with real sources. The DC-3/C-47 requires two separate fiberglass purchases — engine cowls (per nacelle) and the nose section. Both are from Ziroli and are easy to miss if you're only expecting one.

Power System

The DC-3/C-47 requires TWO matched engines — one per nacelle. Ziroli specifies 2× 38–50cc gas. Electric twins are the most popular modern choice for this model — quieter, lower maintenance, and easier to synchronize.

GAS — designer spec

Engines (×2)	2× matched 38–50cc gas, one per nacelle. DA-35, DA-50R, or Zenoah 38. Must be identical.	Desert Aircraft
Fuel tanks (×2)	B&B Specialties or Dubro tank, one per nacelle, sized to engine	Ziroli
Props (×2)	Matched pair; size per engine and nacelle clearance	Builder preference

ELECTRIC — popular modern choice

Motors (×2)	2× matched outrunners, ~38–50cc class equivalent, one per nacelle. Must be identical.	Specialty RC retailer
ESCs (×2)	2× matched ESCs, one per motor. Program identically; drive from a single throttle channel via Y-harness.	Specialty RC retailer
Battery	6S–8S LiPo; balance battery position carefully for CG in the large fuselage	Specialty RC retailer
Props (×2)	Matched pair; size to motor and nacelle clearance	Specialty RC retailer

Heads up — Both engines or ESCs must be tuned identically and driven from a single throttle input. Asymmetric thrust on a twin transport at low speed is a serious handling problem. Run both powerplants on the bench together and confirm they respond identically before the first flight.

Engine Cowls

Designer sells

DC-3 fiberglass cowl (×2)

Multi-layer fiberglass — one per nacelle. Sold individually — you need two.

Ziroli

The DC-3/C-47 requires two cowl purchases (one per nacelle) plus a separate nose section — these are different parts. Order both at the same time.

Fiberglass Nose

Designer sells

DC-3 fiberglass nose

Forms the distinctive rounded nose and cockpit area — separate from the engine cowls. Multi-layer fiberglass layup.

Ziroli

Don't confuse the fiberglass nose ($90) with the engine cowls ($40 each). The nose forms the front of the fuselage including the cockpit area; the cowls surround each engine nacelle. You need all three pieces.

Landing Gear

Tricycle retracts

The DC-3/C-47's main gear retracts into the engine nacelles. The Geartech set is the only retract option currently available — note the premium price point.

Main retracts — Geartech	Douglas C-47/DC-3 Geartech replacement for Robart. CNC machined in Germany. Only retract option currently available.	Ziroli
Air kit	Robart 157VRX w/ tank & quick disconnects	Ziroli
Retract control valve	Ultra Precision UP-8 retract control valve	Ziroli

The Geartech retract set is listed at $1,812.70 — the most expensive single accessory in any Ziroli warbird lineup. Budget accordingly. It is the only currently available retract option for this model; the original Robart units are no longer in production.

Servos

6+ channels

Ailerons	2× 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Elevators	2× 90+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Rudder	1× 120+ oz-in, ball bearing	Builder preference
Flaps	2× 120+ oz-in, metal gear, ball bearing	Builder preference
Throttles	2× 50 oz-in (or Y-harness to single channel)	Builder preference
Gear	1× 50 oz-in	Builder preference

Covering & Finishing

Airframe	1 oz fiberglass cloth + ZAP Z-poxy finishing resin (Ziroli's recommendation)	Chief Aircraft / specialty
Elevator & rudder	Iron-on cloth (Solartex)	Specialty RC retailer
Vinyl graphics — D-Day	C-47 US Army Air Force D-Day scheme with invasion stripes	Ziroli
Vinyl graphics — Mule	C-47/DC-3 "MULE" scheme	Ziroli

Scale Accessories

All from Ziroli

Dummy radial engines (×2)	Vacuum-formed dummy engines (scale radial look inside each cowl) — buy two	Ziroli
Pilot figure	WWII American USAAF	Ziroli

Hardware

Wing tube set	Aluminum wing tube and sleeve set (three-piece wing)	Ziroli
Control horns & linkages	Sized per plan	Specialty RC retailer
Hinges	Flat hinges or Robart hinge points	Robart / specialty

Detailed Specifications

Wingspan	140 in
Fuselage length	97 in
Scale	1/8 (1.5" = 1 ft)
Wing area	1,700 sq in
Weight (AUW)	38–45 lb
Power	2× 38–50cc gas (one per nacelle)
Wing	Three-piece, with flaps
Gear	Tricycle — main gear retracts into engine nacelles
Fiberglass parts	2× nacelle cowls + 1× nose section (three separate purchases)
Min. radio channels	6+

Specs from Ziroli's published Douglas C-47/DC-3 plan. This is the largest kit in the Ziroli lineup at 140" wingspan. The plan supports all major variants — DC-3, C-47 Skytrain, R4D, Dakota, and others. Ziroli sells D-Day USAAF and MULE vinyl graphics schemes.

Nick Ziroli

Pioneer of giant-scale RC aviation, known for meticulous scale accuracy and structural integrity. The DC-3/C-47 is one of Ziroli's most iconic designs and the largest in his transport lineup. Ziroli sells all model-specific fiberglass parts, vinyl graphics, and accessories directly.

(631) 467-4765 · Plans must be purchased separately from Ziroli (copyright).

Get Ziroli Plans

The Build Journey

The DC-3/C-47 is the largest and most substantial build in this catalog at 140" wingspan. Twin engines, three-piece wing, tricycle gear, and a long fuselage make this a serious project best suited to builders with prior giant-scale experience. Treat these ranges as a rough sense of scope, not a fixed estimate.

Where a short kit saves you time

Ziroli's plans include full-size templates for all parts. At 140" wingspan, that's a substantial cutting job — three wing panels, twin nacelle structures, and a full-length fuselage. A Kit Cutters short kit removes that entire stage.

Plans only (hand-cut)

You trace and cut every rib, former, and nacelle part from raw stock, then build.

more time, lower part cost

Short kit (laser-cut)

All parts arrive laser-cut and labeled. Skip straight to assembly.

less time, cleaner fit

The four stages of assembly

Stage 1: Fuselage Assembly

The long DC-3 fuselage with its distinctive rounded cross-section.

Align and pin main fuselage formers
Build the cabin and cockpit area
Install nose gear retract bay
Fit fiberglass nose section

Stage 2: Wing & Nacelle Assembly

Three-piece wing with twin nacelles and main gear bays.

Build the center wing section
Build port and starboard outer panels
Build both engine nacelles with gear bays
Sheet and cap all three panels

Stage 3: Tail Assembly

Conventional tail group.

Build the horizontal stabilizer
Build elevator surfaces
Assemble fin and rudder
Install and align tail assembly

Stage 4: Systems & Final Assembly

Twin-engine installation, gear plumbing, and pre-flight.

Install both engines / motors
Fit nacelle cowls and nose section
Plumb tricycle gear system
Match and sync both throttle inputs before first flight

Frequently Asked Questions

The short kit is laser-cut wood parts only. To complete it you'll also need the Ziroli plans, spars and sheeting, two matched engines or motors, cowls (one per nacelle), the fiberglass nose section, landing gear, covering, and radio gear. The "Everything Else You Need" section above lists each item with a source.

Two — one per nacelle. Ziroli specifies 2x 38–50cc gas, both identical for symmetric thrust. Modern builders frequently convert to two matched brushless motors, which are quieter and simpler to maintain than gas twins.

Yes — electric twins are the most popular modern choice for this model. Two matched outrunners in the 38–50cc class on 6S–8S LiPo, driven by matched ESCs from a single throttle channel via Y-harness. Use identical components and confirm both motors spool identically before the first flight.

The DC-3/C-47 requires two separate fiberglass purchases: the engine cowls (one per nacelle) which surround each engine, and the fiberglass nose section which forms the distinctive rounded nose and cockpit area. Both are sold separately by Ziroli — don't forget either one.

Plans are purchased separately from Nick Ziroli at ziroligiantscaleplans.com (copyrighted). Kit Cutters supplies the laser-cut wood; Ziroli supplies the plans and model-specific accessories.

The DC-3/C-47 airframe was produced under dozens of designations: DC-3 (commercial), C-47 Skytrain (USAAF), R4D (US Navy), Dakota (RAF/Commonwealth), Li-2 (Soviet license-built), and many more. Over 10,000 were built and many are still flying today. Ziroli sells D-Day USAAF and MULE vinyl graphics schemes.

The Douglas C-47/DC-3 Geartech replacement retract set is listed at $1,812.70 from Ziroli. This is a premium CNC-machined German replacement for the original Robart units which are no longer available. It is the only retract option currently available for this model.

140" wingspan, 97" length, 1,700 sq in of wing area at 1/8 scale (1.5" = 1 ft). Typical all-up weight is 38–45 lb. These figures come from Ziroli's published DC-3/C-47 specification.

Ready to Build Your DC-3 / C-47?

Buy the 140" DC-3/C-47 Kit — $552.00

Prices and availability are subject to change — verify on each vendor's site before ordering. Kit Cutters supplies laser-cut wood parts only; plans and accessories are sold by their respective vendors.

Premium laser-cut short kits for large-scale and giant-scale radio-controlled aircraft builders. USA-based quality craftsmanship for serious hobbyists.