Some scans from a book I have on the DC-3. There are surprisingly many variants.
Hope these don't give Manfred heart palpitations although I would love to see the Viewmaster and the Wrights powered 8 windows each side variant.
There's been a lot of discussion about the multiple variants (and conversions) of the DC-3 and it's military sisters. In most cases we cannot just call it a DC-3 or C-47 and be confident that what we see is 'typical'. To begin, there were several different versions of the initial civilian DST/DC-3 and then many more different combinations once military orders began coming in.
Here are a few references to help ( or confuse) you...
hours of reading from different perspectives:
http://dc3dakotahistory.org/
and a few links to their sub-sections:
-here is a good overview of how the assorted variants got confusing
http://dc3dakotahistory.org/c-47dakota-military/military-variants/
the Russian bought/built models:
http://dc3dakotahistory.org/c-47dakota-military/russian-li-2/#more-1624
The Japanese bought/built models (including a reported "wooden wonder derivative:
http://dc3dakotahistory.org/c-47dakota-military/japanese-l2d3/
Some conscripted airframes were returned to their previous civilian owners after the war (and restored/converted - or not), some were sold as surplus (again restored/converted), some were 'switched from right-hand door to left-hand (and maybe a couple the other way round). As more moved fromairline operations to other civil applications ( executive, cargo, crop-sprayers, etc.) other mods changed the engines (mostly from Wrights to P&W for commonality), cargo doors got sealed and replaced by airstair doors, "speed-kits" were developed (wheel fairings - small and large) windows added or blanked-out.
Pat's beloved Viewmasters were conversions done by several sources (most notably Remmert-Werner in St. Louis, MO and Fairey & Ansett in Australia).
"
Speaking of Viewmaster DC-3s, VH-ANR was the first aircraft modified in Australia. The work was performed by Fairey Aviation at Bankstown between July and October 1958. Other Australian Viewmasters were:
VH-AVL ex QAL converted prior to sale to SPANZ as ZK-BYD
VH-IND converted by Ansett at Essendon sold to SPANZ as ZK-BYE
VH-ANM converted by Ansett at Essendon sold to SPANZ as ZK-CAW
VH-AEQ TAA Dismantled and in poor condition on a farm near Swan Hill
VH-TAK TAA Wrecked nose section at Mitiamo Air Museum north of Bendigo.
ZK-CAW survives as a McDonalds restaurant at Taupo, NZ.
The conversion of VH-IND and VH-ANM also involved removal of Wright 1820 engines and fitment with P&W 1830."
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-482386.html
Here are a couple of links to show how many mods and changes occurred to individual airframes (both related to Viewmaster conversions):
http://www.aussieairliners.org/dc-3/vh-anr/vhanr.html
http://www.oldwings.nl/content/c47_bog/c47.htm
So, if you have a love for a particular DC-3/Dak/Skytrain the only way to understand it is to trace the aircraft by serial number and piece together the various steps in it's history. There are a few sources, the best of which are the very comprehensive DC-3 volumes by Air Britain
https://www.air-britain.co.uk/cgi-b...dc 3&PN=Douglas-DC-1--2--3---Volume-3-41.html
https://www.air-britain.co.uk/cgi-b...-DC-3-The-First-Seventy-Years---------47.html
https://www.air-britain.co.uk/cgi-b...ch.html&WD=dc 3&PN=Haynes-DC-3-Dakota-92.html
If your budget doesn't allow for the A-B books there are a couple of online sources that may (or may not) be up-to-date:
http://www.abcdlist.nl/maind.html
For more general info including some very unique data try this - in particular the "Tech Data Airframe" "tech Data Misc." and "Pilots Training Manual" links (want to know what different colours of flame and smoke from the engines mean? -it's here)
http://www.centercomp.com/dc3/25000.html
There... while you wait for the updated model and paintkits all that should keep you entertained and perhaps educated to a greater degree than you ever expected
PS - Pat, since you like counting windows ( it can sometimes be a great aid in 'planespotting') how about a rare Right-hand-door, NINE-window version? -->
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Douglas-DC-3-208A/1170441/&sid=70c63d454da5faf87a078c2ba64cbedc
For those who weren't blinded by the CPAir Dak in the orange/red "Speedstripe' livery, try THIS! -->
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-...1444160/&sid=70c63d454da5faf87a078c2ba64cbedc
Oh, one last bit... Remmert-Werner (which reportedly produced the first 'corporate' DC-3 conversion in 1946) still exists in a way. Read the timeline in this link:
http://www.sabreliner.com/sabreliner-aircraft-history/timeline-aircraft