ianwau Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Here in 1/48 scale is the Norman (or NAC) Fieldmaster a 1980’s British cropduster. If ‘Norman’ sounds familiar – you are correct. Here’s a little bit of history courtesy of Wikipedia… “NDN Aircraft, which was set up in 1976 by Desmond Norman, one of the founders of Britten-Norman, the manufacturers of the Islander, to build the Firecracker trainer, designed a new agricultural aircraft. The resulting aircraft, the NDN-6 Fieldmaster was a large single-engined low-winged monoplane with a fixed tricycle undercarriage, powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop engine” “The first prototype flew on 17 December 1981 at NDN's airfield at Sandown, Isle of Wight. TNDN moved the premises to Cardiff, Wales in 1985, renaming itself the Norman Aeroplane Company (NAC). Production finally started in 1987” “NAC went into receivership in 1988, after the production of six Fieldmasters, including the prototype. Brooklands Aerospace attempted to continue production, rebuilding one of the Fieldmasters with a more powerful engine as a specialised firefighting aircraft as the Firemaster 65” The scheme in the model is G-NACL (NACL = Norman Aeroplane Company) which undertook a sales tour of Australia in 1988. But no sales… The build has been tracked over in the Work in Progress forum. Just for a size comparison - here she is alongside an Airfix 1/48 Tiger Moth cropduster. The Fieldmaster (WS = 53ft 3", L=36ft 2") is actually bigger than a Britten-Norman Islander (WS=49ft, L=35ft 7") 49 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Wow, this looks gorgeous. You have done an amazing job . It was fascinating seeing it progress on the thread it gives me hope that one day I might be able to scratchbuild a model. Great work Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petetasker Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Stunning build. I followed the build and was incredibly impressed. Wish I had your modelling skills. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Excellent build and finish, congratulations. I was actually watching an Agcat(?) at work here in the Western Cape on our way back from Cape Town a couple of weeks ago. Lots of Canola fields needed spraying. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwau Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 1 hour ago, bigbadbadge said: it gives me hope that one day I might be able to scratchbuild a model. Thx Chris! Looking at your workbench Chris - you're looking awfully like a scratchbuilder? I always maintain - nothing to lose by having a go at a scratchbuild. Worst that can happen is you lose a few hours and bin a few bits of cheap styrene? I genuinely struggle more starting an expensive/exquisite kit - ie if I muck it up, it hits the hip pocket hard! Every scratchbuild is an opportunity to learn some new techniques (and mine are not perfect by any means...) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafetyDad Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Excellent job! What an impressive model and a really enjoyable and informative WIP thread. Well done! SD 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 7 minutes ago, ianwau said: Thx Chris! Looking at your workbench Chris - you're looking awfully like a scratchbuilder? I always maintain - nothing to lose by having a go at a scratchbuild. Worst that can happen is you lose a few hours and bin a few bits of cheap styrene? I genuinely struggle more starting an expensive/exquisite kit - ie if I muck it up, it hits the hip pocket hard! Every scratchbuild is an opportunity to learn some new techniques (and mine are not perfect by any means...) Thanks for your kind comments, I do have some plans circulating around the sawdust in my brain . I just need to pluck up the courage to start one I suppose, although having a large stash of kits means it's a difficult decision. I think I will have to sell off some of the stash to help!!! Your work looks great to me Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieW Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Beautiful scratch build, immaculate finishing. A complete stunner! 1 hour ago, ianwau said: I always maintain - nothing to lose by having a go at a scratchbuild. Worst that can happen is you lose a few hours and bin a few bits of cheap styrene? I agree 100%, only completed 1 scratch project myself and was daunted until I realised this great truth! Do you have the next projected planned? I'd love to follow the next build from the start. Richie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 A superb model, build and finish is immaculate ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Top drawer stuff 👍 TT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Superb modelling. And what an interesting prototype! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ad-4N Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 I know zero about crop dusters but that model looks the business. Amazing craftsmanship. I know zero about crop dusters but that model looks the business. Amazing craftsmanship. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickE Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Very impressive, what a great looking aircraft. Well done 👏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toniosky Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 Beautiful model ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 That is a simply lovely model - really top notch build and paintwork! I was vaguely aware of the aeroplane's existence, but had no clue the small production run was built just up the road from me! Cracking work! Keith (off to find your build thread!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 As I said on Facebook, who ever thought we'd see a Fieldmaster in 1/48? Another beautiful model Ian and it was a treat to follow along with the build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 A wicked scratchbuild! 👍👍🤔 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klubman01 Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 Fabulous workmanship. Bravo! Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djos Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 Great work, unusual subject and beautiful result Regards Djordje 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 Sweet! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwau Posted August 27, 2021 Author Share Posted August 27, 2021 On 8/22/2021 at 7:31 PM, RichieW said: Do you have the next projected planned? I'd love to follow the next build from the start Thanks Rich. Next scratchbuild is a 1:48 Eagle DW.1 cropduster - a late 1970's biplane! I have just started a thread for that in the Work in Progress forum 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted August 27, 2021 Share Posted August 27, 2021 Superb and what a wonderful subject, I now need to read your WIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieW Posted August 27, 2021 Share Posted August 27, 2021 11 hours ago, ianwau said: Thanks Rich. Next scratchbuild is a 1:48 Eagle DW.1 cropduster - a late 1970's biplane! I have just started a thread for that in the Work in Progress forum I will follow along keenly. A 70's biplane, how could that fail to spark interest! Richie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Getting Old Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 You would not think that is scratch built, excellent work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now