Noorduyn Norseman - Matchbox 1/72nd vintage kit

 

 

Photo from the SDASM photostream (generic, not the intended model).

Nostalgia builds, when the kit has certain nobility to it, are a joy. Not long ago I built a Matchbox kit as a US Forest Service plane:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2020/07/noorduyn-norseman-forest-service-revell.html

Now I started a Dora Wings kit of the same plane:

https://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2024/07/noorduyn-norseman-wien-alaska-airlines.html

And I just couldn’t resist building another Matchbox Norseman in parallel. Obviously, a 43-year old kit can’t be compared to a state of the art one, so that is not the intention. It’s more like finding that fun can be obtained even with vintage kits, the ones that still hold their own even after all these years, and that with a little TLC can render a credible replica, plus taking us for a stroll on memory lane.

 The Matchbox/Revell kit offers three and two-blade props, floats, wheels and skis options, good for the standards of the time. A workable kit nonetheless:

The too-prominent ribs are sanded down on all flying surfaces, and the leading edges on the wing panels defined:

All parts removed from the sprues and cleaned up. Not sure which plane I will be representing yet:

The way the kit is designed the hollowed wheels match a relief on the LG legs, but the plane intended had uncovered legs, so the hollow has to be filled with punched-out styrene disks to offer anchorage:

Legs are obtained from the spares, as well as a more realistic prop (the kit's is not good). Some parts are being readied for painting:

A structure absent in the kit is scratched, but this model, unlike the others, won't have opened doors. Still to provide something to see through the windows:

I am settling down on a Saskatchewan Government Airways machine, most likely CF-SAM on wheels.

The holes for the home-made lenses are drilled, as well as the locations for the fuel gauges underneath the wing tanks. Ailerons and flaps are glued:

Some base colors are airbrushed:

The transparencies are adequate especially if you don't work on the interior much. The individual panes are sharply beveled, and must be installed from inside:

A few simple embellishments to the cockpit:

I decided to modify an engine from the spares to simplify life and substitute the somewhat generic provided with the kit:

Opening an air scoop and deleting a panel:

Rudder pedals and a bench often seen in photos. I think it's enough "upgrades" for a fuselage that will remain closed:

The tail rigging holes are drilled on stab and fin:

This plane had no top window, so the void is filled with sheet styrene cut to shape:

The bumps on the wing need to be added. This is how they are fabricated. Grab an airfoiled strut or carve one. Round the tip sanding. Cut. Repeat:

Will need a bit of further sanding to make them less pronounced:

Here shown with a larger strut for clarity:

The interior with a few additions is glued to one side:

Fuselage closed:

The legs are on. Wings ready to be added. Besides the seams already dealt with, a couple of sink holes where the locating devices are on the fuselage top are puttied over:

Main components assembled and a coat of primer:

A coat of white as a base for the yellow:

Yellow airbrushed:

 

Masked and a midnight blue applied:

Masks removed:

Wheels, landing lights, exhaust and fuel "sticks" on. I will wait until the Arctic Decals set arrives to place the registrations, and then add the wing struts and final details:

Tail rigging, prop and antenna in place. Still to do: decals, Pitot, wing struts, nav lights, 

(A pause here whilst a wait for some supplies)

To be continued...