Been away from the bench due to Wedding Planning issues. Being the “Father of the Bride” and former Wedding Photographer, I thought it was going to be easy. WRONG………LOL, much love, turmoil and happiness has been flowing through the Robinson household the last few weeks. Just a few more days and November 10th, the deed is done!
From Wikipedia:
“Designed by Robert B.C. Noorduyn, the Noorduyn Norseman was produced from 1935 to 1959, originally by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd. and later by the Canada Car and Foundry Company. With the experience of working on many ground-breaking designs at Fokker, Bellanca and Pitcairn-Cierva, Noorduyn decided to create his own design in 1934, the Noorduyn Norseman. Along with his colleague, Walter Clayton, Noorduyn created his original company, Noorduyn Aircraft Limited in early 1933 at Montreal while a successor company bearing the name, Noorduyn Aviation, was established in 1935.
The first Norseman, powered by a Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind, was flight tested on floats on November 14, 1935 and was sold and delivered to Dominion Skyways Ltd. on January 18, 1936, registered as "CF-AYO" and named “Arcturus." In summer 1941, Warner Brothers leased CF-AYO for the filming of "Captains of the Clouds" starring James Cagney.
Until 1940, the Noorduyn Company had sold only 17 aircraft in total, primarily to commercial operators in Canada's north and to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. With the outbreak of war in Europe, demand for a utility transport led to major military orders. The Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces became the two largest operators; the RCAF ordered 38 Norseman Mk IVWs for radio and navigational training for the Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
USAAF Colonel Bernt Balchen had been involved in establishing a staging route across Greenland to facilitate the ferrying of aircraft from North America to Europe. He required a bush plane rugged enough to survive in the harsh conditions of the Arctic. After evaluating six Norsemans diverted from a previous RCAF order, late in 1941, he recommended the purchase of the Norseman Mk IV specially modified to USAAF requirements as the YC-64A. After the US entry into the Second World War, the USAAF placed the first of several orders for a production version C-64A Norseman. Deliveries began in mid-1942, with the American military eventually placing orders for 749 Norseman Mk IVs as the C-64A (later UC-64A).
Throughout the Second World War, the USAAF Norseman aircraft were used in North America (primarily Alaska) as well as other in theaters of war, including Europe. Three UC-64As were used by the US Navy under the designation JA-1. Six C-64B floatplanes were used by the US Army Corps of Engineers, as well as by other Allied air forces, who placed orders for 43 Norseman Mk IVs.
It was a UC-64A Norseman (s/n 44-70285) flown by F/O John R. S. Morgan, tail no. 470285 from US Air Station 547 near Cambridge in which Major Glenn Miller was flying as a passenger when he disappeared over the English Channel on December 15, 1944.
It was also in 1944 that a Norseman crashed into King Alfred's Tower, a 50 m tall folly in Somerset, England, tragically killing all five air crew. The tower, part of the celebrated Stourhead estate and landscape, was not repaired until 1986 which included the use of a Wessex helicopter to lower a 300 kilograms (47 st) stone onto the top.
Here’s where I’m at. Finished the layout for the Diorama presentation. There is some concern about the accuracy for the representation for the Control Tower at RAF Twinwood. All though there are a multitude of images covering the grounds, there are no images that I have been able to find for the date of Miller’s flight.
Major concern is the painting of the Tower. Was it one color or the camo depicted in the restoration photos?
Or one from previous years?
I’ve drawn up the Dio with the closest measurements determined based on photos found on the interwebs. One curiosity is the apparent protrusion on the roof. Only thing I can think of is that it represents a type of Fire Wall. Interior photos do not show the proper representation of the location, but what I’ve laid out is close to the outside images.
The vehicles are just place holders at the moment. I have a Tamiya U.S Army Staff Car Model 1942 and am contemplating adding a British Tilley into the mix since the Brits operated this particular Airfield.
Once I finish reading Dennis Spragg’s book and get past a few builds lined up, I will update again.
MTC, James B
General Arrangement
First and Second floors
Roof
Elevations (Corrected thanks to Peter)
