zebra Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 I'm going to build a pair of bush planes operated in Papua New Guinea in the 60s. At that time PNG was administered by Australia and there were several Australian operators flying there. Air travel is still essential in PNG - it's the only way to get to some towns and villages, even the capital (Port Moresby) isn't connected to any other town by road. Hence light STOL transport types are essential - when I briefly visited PNG for work a few years ago there were far more of these, and helicopters, at the airport than there were airliners. First up will be a Qantas DHC-3 Otter using the Hobbycraft 1/72 kit and Hawkeye decals: The other one will be an Ansett-MAL Noorduyn Norseman. Decals for this one will be custom-printed: The 'MAL' in Ansett-MAL is Mandated Airlines - this was an independent operator in PNG for quite a long time until it was taken over by Ansett in 1961. It operated quite a mix of aircraft including the DC-3, Bristol 170, Piaggio 166, Cessna 336 and Caribou, and there are a couple of these in Ansett-MAL colours at the Queensland Air Museum, but no Norseman unfortunately. I've made a start on the Otter - a bit of basic assembly but nothing worth photographing yet. More soon. cheers Julian 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 Welcome Julian, Nothing wrong with bush planes. If I had ever become a pilot thats the path I would have followed myself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 You had me hooked at "bush planes", Julian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 Looks cool! 14 hours ago, CliffB said: You had me hooked at "bush planes" Me too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 Two great choices Julian, especially keen to see how those custom MAL decals go. Will be following your progress with keen interest. Cheers and best of luck.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 Cracking on with the Otter first. Keeping this simple, straight from the box (unless there's something I think really needs improving) - I'd like to get something completed under my belt to get 2021's modelling under way. This kit seems like it fits the bill - nice little kit, not very detailed but fairly crisply moulded, should go together well. It's a bit of a shame Hobbycraft isn't around any more, it would be nice if this kit was still in production. Here's my progress so far: more soon Julian 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 The Otter has gone together very quickly - once I got going I had a more or less finished airframe in no time! Norseman is lagging a bit behind but the fuselage is together. The Otter is a really nice, simple kit, which fits together very well and needs very little filler. The Norseman's nice enough but very much a Matchbox kit! Apologies for the very poor quality photo! 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 Nice pair Martin H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 Flying bush. Proper aviation! That's a nice start and the pictures came out okay here, it must be foggy in Melbourne. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted February 6, 2021 Author Share Posted February 6, 2021 First paint on the Otter: And wings on the Norseman, which now looks very Matchbox with its multi-coloured plastic: 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted February 7, 2021 Author Share Posted February 7, 2021 Quite a lot of painting done on the Otter today: and the Norseman isn't far behind: Looking forward to getting some paint on the Norseman and decals on the Otter cheers Julian 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 Got some decals on the Otter today. FIrst time I've used Hawkeye decals, quite like them. Also got some primer on the Norseman so that should get its first coat of paint later. cheers Julian 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 That’s looking great. Unusual though having the reverse of the flag on the tail rather than the more conventional obverse. AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 1 hour ago, Andwil said: That’s looking great. Unusual though having the reverse of the flag on the tail rather than the more conventional obverse. AW D’oh! I’ve only gone and put the flags on the wrong sides of the fin! I think I might be stuck with it now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 No, can't leave it like that. Can't unsee it. Going to have to source a couple of new flags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 12 hours ago, zebra said: No, can't leave it like that. Can't unsee it. Going to have to source a couple of new flags. Sorry Zebra. I’d hate to be one of those nit pickers who post on people’s threads with “you realise you have the wrong radio mast, the Mk VI had the 3’ 2” mast not the 3’ 1&3/4” mast” type comments, but it just looked odd to me. Having caused you grief, I owe to you to help out if I can, I will have a look through my decal stash, I may have a couple of spare flags. What size are these ones? AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuppa_joe Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Excuse the pun, but your flying with these! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 On 2/14/2021 at 9:39 AM, Andwil said: Sorry Zebra. I’d hate to be one of those nit pickers who post on people’s threads with “you realise you have the wrong radio mast, the Mk VI had the 3’ 2” mast not the 3’ 1&3/4” mast” type comments, but it just looked odd to me. Having caused you grief, I owe to you to help out if I can, I will have a look through my decal stash, I may have a couple of spare flags. What size are these ones? AW Thanks AW but you didn’t cause me grief, it was my daft mistake, and if you hadn’t spotted it someone else would have! Many thanks for the very kind offer but I’ve already printed a couple of flags onto some plain white decal paper - once the ink has had plenty of time to dry I’ll get them onto the model. Meanwhile the Norseman has had a coat of aluminium - not photographed it yet - and will get some white and red on the tail soon. cheers Julian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 These are looking fantastic Julian. Great to see something a bit out of the ordinary being built and to a very high standard too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 A few days away from BM and my build thread's on page 4. If that's not a sign of a popular GB I don't know what is. Norseman painted and ready for decals: 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted February 21, 2021 Author Share Posted February 21, 2021 And now with decals: I should probably get on with painting the wheels, prop and engine. thanks for looking Julian 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 Thats looking quite good now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 Very nice looking pair. Your paint work is superb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 11, 2021 Author Share Posted April 11, 2021 Surprised this one was only as far back as page 3, I've been neglecting it for a while. Finally got my finger out and got the Norseman finished. A couple more pics will be in the gallery shortly. Otter isn't far behind, I just need to clear coat the replacement flag decals and then leave them to cure for a bit, so it'll be a few days at least before I can finish it. thanks for looking Julian 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 Well done you don't always get to see a Norseman. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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