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David Kopielski
74 articles

1/48 Trumpeter C-47 conversion to the Tropical Tilly R4D-5 from the 1951 movie “The Thing from another world”.

May 6, 2022 · in Aviation · · 11 · 1.3K

This build was a little different. I have always been a fan of the 1950's and 1960's horror and sci-fi movies. One of my favorites is the Howard Hawks 1951 movie “The Thing From Another World”. The movie is set in the arctic at an outpost that ends up fighting an alien invasion. With that in mind, I used the Trumpeter 1/48 C-47 and converted it to a R4D-5 for arctic service. The scheme is the “Tropical Tilly” used in the movie. For the conversion used Lone Star Models (LSM) arctic C-47 conversion set. The LSM conversion kit includes numerous resin parts for the ski's, cowls, exhaust, nose, and a set of decals for the Tropical Tilly and another R4D called the Que Sera Sera. For research I took some screen captures from the movie and found some color production stills in an old “Famous Monsters of Filmland” magazine. I displayed this on a snow covered base. Check out all the build photos and details from start to finish in my build log at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-r4d-5-tropical-tilly/

Reader reactions:
12  Awesome

6 additional images. Click to enlarge.


11 responses

  1. Amazing result, David!
    An equally great build thread, too!

  2. I remember that movie! One of the first Sci-Fi Horror movies I watched as a kid- on TVO with Elwy Yost.
    Freaked me out when they open the door and the Thing was standing right there.
    Oh Yeah , your Tropical Tilly looks amazing!

    1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

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    Walt said on May 7, 2022

    Beautiful work and great build thread. It turned out great, inspiring build, of a plane from a great movie. I too love the 1950's Sci-fi and horror flicks. I really think you nailed it with this build!

  4. Watch the Skies!

  5. Excellent build, David @davids_models
    She looks great on skis and being displayed on the snowy base.
    The created tracks in the snow are very nice.
    Thanks for sharing your build progress in the build thread.

  6. Very well done. Great eye-catcher and unique subject. Dan Lee beat me to 'Watch the Skies".

  7. Nicely done Dave. Makes me want to give the movie another watch. Best scene..when they spread out to determine the shape of the craft under the ice, and it's a saucer! 50's sci fi at it's best.

  8. Nice imodeler at the Movies, looks great. The Thing was I believe was JIm Arness, before Gunsmoke.

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