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PK-125 UC-64 Norseman - Can I HACK my first group build? +++FINISHED+++


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Well, this is my first group build since joining Britmodeller. Must admit when I saw "Matchbox" I jumped at the chance. Even more so when I saw it was running until June 5th! So, my entry will be the ubiquitous Noorduyn Norseman;

 

51939771342_cd126c4b13_z.jpg110 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

51940840013_3930263b63_z.jpg111 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

I bought a Norseman kit off ebay last year, but stupidly didn't check it over when it arrived. Upon opening it in preparation for the group build, I discovered that the cockpit/cabin floor was missing. In despair, I put out a plea on BM, and as luck would have it @Black Knight had one for sale, so I snapped it up. Going to use the cabin floor piece to make a replacement part for the other kit. I quite fancied making the floatplane version at some point anyway!

 

Lots of multi coloured plasticky goodness in true Matchbox style!

 

51939770742_229d7e2a2e_z.jpg112 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Decals look OK too;

 

51940839288_15395c7b7f_z.jpg113 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Classic Matchbox instructions. I always liked the separate instructions for painting small parts that were a feature of these kits;

 

51941079634_c7148a5f29_z.jpg114 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

So, why mention "HACK" in the title? I know that there are already a couple of Norseman builds as part of this GB, but I will be doing a USAAF one. However, it won't be the version from the kit. I have a very big interest in the Eighth Air Force, and although the USAAF option is from 8th Air Force Service Command, I wanted to do one of the individual Bomb or Fighter Group aircraft. I got this book a few years ago;

 

51940838438_daceb26d15_z.jpg116 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

It features all kinds of aircraft that the Eighth used for utility/communication purposes etc. Some real great ideas for other models in there, even a Heinkel 111 that was taken over by the 56th Fighter Group. As holidays in Suffolk were responsible for generating my interest in the Eighth, I wanted to do an aircraft from one of the airfields in this area. It also needed to be one without any complicated markings, or personal aircraft names that I wouldn't be able to reproduce. So, I have settled on this one, from the 490th Bomb Group, based at Eye;

 

51940838363_8b3299d2bc_z.jpg117 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Looks like it should be fairly straightforward (famous last words!). 

Edited by danbuoy
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Got started on this kit last night. Not much to report, as I spent most of the time, creating a new cabin floor for the other kit;

 

51942667651_cff8f18024_z.jpg20220316_205433 (2) by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Still, got a few other bits painted on the sprues and it felt good to get under way. Will hopefully get the pilots finished next time. First question though, as I'm doing a NMF aircraft, what colour should the interior be? I know that not much of it will be seen, but I'd still like it to be as accurate as possible. Looked on Google for interior views, but most seem to be of civilian ones.

 

51942667481_5cabd0f7fd_z.jpg20220316_225131 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

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Great stuff Dan

 

Delighted to see you in this GB and nice job on the replacement cockpit floor.

I think you should paint it purple or some other bright colour if you want it to look like an original part :giggle:

Best of luck with these two.

 

Cheers Pat 

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Bit more progress last night, but seriously, where does the time go?

 

Got some paint on the fuselage, and assembled the cockpit;

 

51945243170_a4ef6a99b0_z.jpg20220317_214601 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

51944714228_e02e9535f1_z.jpg20220317_222540 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

51943651662_900668737a_z.jpg20220317_222525 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

I was surprised with the detail on the instrument panel (not that it bears any resemblance to an actual Norseman one). I was expecting just a blank piece of plastic. I know once inside the fuselage it will be all but invisible, but I decided to detail it up for 2 reasons. Firstly, I know its there and secondly its practice for when such things will be visible on other builds. Pilots not quite out of the ready room yet, but hopefully not far off installing them and the windows and getting the fuselage together.

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Great to see you opening your BM GB account with the excellent Matchbox Norseman. Looks like a nice book you have there and one that may yield plenty of excellent and obscure modelling projects for a good while yet. I look forward to seeing this fine Norseman progress in good time. 
Cheers and best of luck.. Dave 

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Thanks, yes, it's a great book. Lots of potential for some really unusual schemes. There were quite a few Norseman (Norsemen?) to choose from. 

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Bit more paint on plastic last night;

 

51956201719_d2c45a1d96_z.jpg20220322_211225 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Made a start on the windscreen frame using a Posca paint pen;

 

51955904646_cc696b9942_z.jpg20220322_213917 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Finished and installed the pilots. Used one of my wife's rock painting pens for the lifejackets. Possibly a bit too bright so may tone it down, but it may help them be seen through the thick transparancies;

 

51956491755_23086b97b5_z.jpg20220322_223846 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

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Bit more done last night. Windows fitted to inside of fuselage. I was able to use Glue n Glaze for this, but how people managed to do this kit back in the 80s etc using normal polystyrene cement without ruining the windows I've no idea!!

 

51958430760_402b28bd9e_z.jpgnorseman by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Got the wings and horizontal stabilisers assembled. Just need to add the flaps to the main wings;

 

51957907583_88af51db74_z.jpgnorseman2 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Then installed the pilots and got the fuselage together. This took a bit of work, especially with having to install the roof window. I just could not get the 2 halves together, so in the end, I dispensed with the wall at the end of the cabin floor. It can't be seen through the windows anyway. So, here it is, looking like some kind of rubbish budget AT-AT;

 

51957844491_b36e5c4daf_z.jpgnorseman3 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

 

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Squeezed in a bit of modelling in between holiday packing, so not much of an update, but an update nevertheless! Flaps added to main wings;

 

51970769728_a75cd3b733_z.jpgnorseman6 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Rudder fitted, to give my Norseman some direction in life;

 

 51970699161_a354c96a4e_z.jpgnorseman5 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Plus some more parts on the sprue painted. Will try and give the engine a bit of a weathering;

 

 51970699201_55aecf5541_z.jpgnorseman4 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Gave the wings a few touch ups too. Next stage will be masking for the red stripes on them and the horizontal stabilisers.

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Tiny bit more done last night. Took ages faffing around with masking tape, but its ready for some red now. The eagle eyed amongst you, and those who are blind as a bat for that matter, will see that the flaps came off one wing. Decided to mask them up separately and reattach afterwards. Obviously used more glue on the other wing;

 

51971765777_0a3d6022e8_z.jpgnorseman7 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

The side profile in my Hacks book doesn't state how wide the stripes should be, so I turned to this;

 

51939770532_61848470cd_z.jpg118 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

It says in here that the 490th Bomb Group's B-17s had wing stripes 48 inches wide, and 36 inches wide on the horizontal stabilisers, so I have gone with that, which equates to a smidge under 1.7cm and 1.3cm respectively. The book also states that it is Insignia Red, so that is what I shall use.  This will probably be the last update for a couple of weeks, as off on holiday tomorrow!

Edited by danbuoy
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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi all, I've not forgotten my Norseman. Barely a week after our 2 week holiday, on Monday morning, we quite unexpectedly lost our dog. Massive shock to us all, and he will be hugely missed. Not in right frame of mind at all at the moment, but hoping to get back into modelling soon, and hopefully this will also help to take my mind off things. Still got just over a month to get it finished so hopefully will get there.

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Managed to get in a quick hour or so on the Norseman last night. Felt good to be back modelling again, and hoping to crack on with this more next week. Got first coat of the red on. Was tempted to leave it at that, as I thought a slightly faded look would be quite appropriate, but I will give it another coat.

 

52050529587_1147deeb73_z.jpg20220504_211532 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

52052073225_7710603b24_z.jpg20220504_211516 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

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This is coming along very well indeed. It looks a very interesting scheme, and top marks to you for finding something a little off the beaten track.

 

Cheers,

 

Ray

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Thanks @Ray S and @bigbadbadge, yes it felt good to be modelling again, even if it was only for an hour. Will get back into it more next week. There are some nice schemes in that Hacks book. Was quite tempted by the 357th Fighter Group Norseman, but felt the red and yellow checkerboard cowling was beyond me, plus it had an individual aircraft name that would have been impossible to find a decal for! 

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Got the masking finished last night. Needed a couple of small touch ups, but I'm pleased with how this is looking.

 

52064594922_f1701b7940_z.jpg20220510_214216(1) by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

52064594902_39b10fcb3a_z.jpg20220510_214255 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Also got the anti glare panel done. Again, it needed a slight touch up, but that is now most of the painting out of the way. Cowling just dry fitted for the photo.

 

52066125450_ac8fc8c2ef_z.jpg20220510_220531 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Time to get some bits stuck together! One question, Matchbox doesn't give a paint colour for the exhaust. In the plan on the back it looks rust coloured, but on some versions of this kit I have seen, it has been painted more of a gunmetal type colour. I may go with the latter, but open to suggestions!

Edited by danbuoy
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This looks lovely, great job the stripes really fo add some visible interest.

I use a very dark brown for exhausts and drybrush some lighter colours to add interest or use a bronze mixed with gun metal to add a slight sheen.

Great work on this

Chris

 

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Got some bits stuck together last night. Horizontal stabilisers, engine and cowling all attached. Leaving the prop off until the end.

 

52066733802_dd83986817_z.jpg20220511_204656 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Struts added to wings (and flaps reinstated on one wing).

 

52067779596_f5dfd28316_z.jpg20220511_205809 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Windscreen added, so the pilots can finally remove their goggles. This was a bit of  faff as the fit isn't great. It will need a slight touch up too.

 

52067779581_3ac7c7035d_z.jpg20220511_211533 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Wheel support bits added

 

52068007524_33a6ed6839_z.jpg20220511_212515 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

So this is how the Norseman is looking now. Hopefully will get the wings on next time.

 

52068007509_810a06d7f7_z.jpg20220511_212539 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Gave the exhaust a coat of Humbrol 113 matt rust, then drybrushed some 53 gunmetal over it. Will get this added next time too.

 

52067789463_ed6b9f4129_z.jpg20220511_215513 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

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Good to see another Norseman on the benches and this is coming along nicely. 

I must admit I didn't fancy my chances of getting the prop attached to the tiny pin supplied, and went my own way with that fitting, so good luck when the time comes 🍀👍

Looking great 

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Yes, I have had the same thoughts about the prop, that pin looks awfully short. Will see how I get on with it. I don't think I will be spinning it and flying it round the room though.

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Getting close to the finishing line now with this. Wings and struts now on. Struts are a bit of a fiddle as they have 3 points of contact. Wings actually just slotted into place as they were a nice snug fit.

 

52082325215_10f2eb315c_z.jpg20220516_212029 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Exhaust and steps fitted.

 

52082071364_66a899e860_z.jpg20220516_213213 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

52082071324_3b244bfc42_z.jpg20220516_215406 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Main wheels and tailwheel and pitot tube all attached.

 

52081834206_3c18061cce_z.jpg20220517_211428 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

52082325185_f6f254d98d_z.jpg20220517_211433 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

So, this is how the Norseman is currently looking;

 

52080798482_793a20cbcb_z.jpg20220517_215719 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

52081848923_f61e01645b_z.jpg20220517_215817 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

52081834116_cc265a2abb_z.jpg20220517_215841 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

52081848878_13f55ebc6b_z.jpg20220517_215951 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Just got the prop, and aerials to fit, but I'm leaving these until last.

 

Next stage is getting the decals on. I'll be using the kit decals for the stars and bars, propeller, NO STEP markings etc, but not sure at the moment what to do about the serial number and aircraft letter;

 

52080798397_9cdbf73323_z.jpg20220517_220003 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

Got nothing suitable in the spares box, so need to find a decal sheet I can use, but not found anything yet.

 

 

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