C-124 Globemaster II
Production Changes

by Mike Boyd
 

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With the release of the Anigrand 1/72 Douglas C-124 A/C Globemaster II kit, tracking the several changes in the aircraft during the production run can be confusing.  This guide will show the major changes that occurred during the C-124 production run.  There were four visible changes that occurred in the following sequence: 

1. Prototype/initial production (no wingtip heater pods, no radar, ten windows on upper deck, rear heater vents)

2.  First production change (change of window and door configurations)

3. Addition of wingtip heater pods and elimination of tail heater vents from lower rear fuselage

4. Addition of APS-42 nose radome

5. Change from full-span flaps to partial-span flaps with elimination of outboard three flap fairings under each aileron 

The nine surviving C-124s on display fall into two categories: Category 4 (C-124A 49-0258, built to Category 2) and Category 5 (all eight C-124Cs).

YC-124/C-124A Initial Production (14 aircraft)

The first 14 aircraft (YC-124 48-795 and C-124As 49-232 through 49-244) had the original blunt nose with no radar dome.  With the exception of the YC-124 and aircraft lost in the early years, all C-124s eventually received the radar nose.  These aircraft also had full-span flaps with eight fairings under each wing.  The wingtips were rounded with no combustion heaters mounted.  Some of these early aircraft later received the heater pods.  Another identifying feature was the presence of vents from the rear heater unit, located under the horizontal stabilizer on both sides of the fuselage.  Figure 1 shows these identifying features. Also, these first 14 aircraft had ten windows and the troop doors on the upper level of the cargo compartment.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1: C-124A Initial Production Features

C-124A First Production Change (65 aircraft)

The first change (on aircraft 49-245 through 49-259, 50-083 through 50-118 and 50-1255 through 50-1268) occurred with a reconfiguring of the windows and troop doors.  The number of windows on the upper deck was reduced to eight and a second emergency door was added.  The troop doors were relocated to the lower level of the cargo compartment, eliminating two windows on that level.  The only C-124A survivor on display (49-0258) was built to this configuration.  Figure 2 shows these changes.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 2: C-124 First Production Changes

C-124A Second Production Changes (85 aircraft)

The next 85 aircraft (C-124As 51-073 through 51-157) had wingtip heater pods installed from the beginning and lost the rear heater and its vents.  Surviving aircraft also received the nose radome later.  They also retained the full-span flaps.  Figure 3 illustrates the changes.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 3: C-124A Second Production Change

C-124A Radar Addition (25 aircraft)

C-124As 51-158 through 51-182 (25 aircraft) introduced the APS-42 radar and its nose-mounted radome to the production line.  The C-124A on display (49-0258) was modified to this configuration.  This change is shown in  Figure 4.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 4: C-124A Radar Addition

C-124A/C Final Production Changes (258 aircraft) 

The final change occurred, starting with aircraft 51-5173, incorporating partial-span flaps on the remaining 15 C-124As (51-5173 through 51-5187) and all 243 C-124Cs (51-5188 through 51-5213, 51-7272 through 51-7285, 52-939 through 52-1089 and 53-001 through 53-052).  Many earlier C-124As were converted to this standard.  All eight surviving C-124Cs are of this configuration.  Figure 5 illustrates the final change.

Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 5: C-124A/C Final Production Change

As with any project, research your subject.  Many aircraft later received some or all changes during refits.  Check photographs of your subject to verify what features were present.

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2007 by Mike Boyd
Page Created 10 January, 2007
Last Updated 24 December, 2007

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