Dblackadder

I'm back to the hobby after 25 years, had a hard time finding a kit to build that grabbed my imagination (when did ARFs and RTFs take over???). I decided on a Unionville Norseman (the 2.15m version) on floats. I'm at the point of (re-) building up a workshop, playing with the plans and instructions. Not even sure I need to fly the thing, just find the propspect of building fun.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone out there has an experience with this kit, any tips they could pass along. I was at one time an OK builder, but it's been a while!

Actually, thoughts on any of the Unionville kits would be helpful. From what I can gather there's some overlap (wings etc.) between kits, plus the design philosophy is similar. And if the Norseman gets me going, the Otter may be next...

Any help much appreciated.

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

The Norseman is a great flyer. The landing gear setup is a bit funky, so there is not much in the way of shock absorbtion when on wheels - encourages very smooth landings!! I have seen a few on floats and they seem to handle that role well..

cf-drg

My Feedback: (1)

I have built 4 Unionville kits((2)6" Otters,6' Beaver, 8' Turbo Beaver) . .. They build lite, and they are a builders kit( alot sticks and stuff.....) I like them because of all the floatplane possible kits they have....The Norseman (7') is the next floatplane I'll have to get started on,(one day)... have to finish my 6' Otter first though...
For there price you can't go wrong, and you'll have to put it on floats..

Dblackadder

Thanks, I have the float kit. If I fly it it'll certainly be on floats, and even as a basement knick-knack it'll look better on floats than wheels!

Goinstraightup

My Feedback: (26)

Derek,

Keep us posted on how your project goes. I am considering one of the Unionville Noresemans as a future project myself. This is because my dad and brothers go up to Manitoba fishing every year and our outfitter has 2. I know one was made in 1948 because I saw the data plate. The other one was similar in age. He just did a ground up restoration on one of his Norsemans 2 years ago, and according to him it is the best flying condition Norseman in the world.

Here's a link to a thread I started with pictures of it.
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_893585/mpage_1/key_norseman/anchor/tm.htm#893585]Norseman pics[/link]

This guy has a great site with 8 pages of a Norseman build along report. There's tons of great pics and info. It's one of the 2 Unionville Norsemans:
[link=http://mamoose0.tripod.com/id89.htm]Norseman build along[/link]

Here's a link listing all the threads dealing with Norsemans in the Seaplanes forum. Most are Unionville kits.
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/searchpro3.asp?phrase=Norseman&forumid=176&product=&topicreply=combined&message=both&author=&timeframe=%3E&timefilter=0&language=single&top=300&criteria=AND&minRank=10&sortMethod=d&submitbutton=+OK+]Norseman search[/link]

Email me through RCU if you want me to send you more pics of the Norseman we ride in in Manitoba. The air serviece is Gogal air service and the lodge is Burntwood Lake Lodge.

Dblackadder

It took me a while to gather the tools and set up a shop in the basement (I still need to do something about ventilation as CA fumes bother me), and find time, but I got started yesterday.

Contrary to the instructions I decided to start with the floats as I am unsure of my rusty skills and thought if I screwed things up I could always claim to have bought the wheels-only kit!

In the event, things went well. One float is 3/4 of the way to being ready to cover after a very slow, careful 2-3 hours. CA being new to me (see my first posting) working with the stuff is a little scarey.

I'm thinking of moving to carpenter's glue, but I'm worried about exposure to water if it's flown on floats.

Thoughts?

Lots of fun...I shoulda come back to the hobby years ago.

Irish R.Seer

My Feedback: (1)

How do intend finishing the floats? If you're going to fiberglass and paint them the carpenter's glue will be ok, but if you're going to use an iron on covering make sure you waterproof it well, or better still don't use the carpenter's glue, stick to the CA.(if you'll pardon the pun!!)

cf-drg

My Feedback: (1)

CA's have there place and time, but i build 90% of my airplane with Titebond II.. Once it is dry, it's dry..Also you have a bit more working time with the part your glueing.. I just find now-a-days I'm not in a hurry to get an aircraft built...But I still use CA on the hard to glue parts and then fillet them with the Titebond...
Also the Unionville float kit you bought is kinda " unscale ( very thin ) " but it will work just fine for the model.. In the future if your looking for a float kit that is a bit more scale looking, try Great Planes float kits or Carl Goldberg 36" ones... There are also lots of FG pre-mades and foam kits that are good also out there..
OO Ya also put a 91 4-stroke engine in the Norseman.. It'll sound way better than Yappy 2-stroke...

Dblackadder

Again, might be the fact I've been out of things for so long, but I was thinking a couple of coats of clear dope to seal the wood and filler. Then silk or similar and a buncha coats.

I've never worked with any of the iron-on materials. But I'm a little concerned re. durability. And glassing the floats will really add weight. I would if I was going to fly it off grass on them, but I won't (see below).

Dblackadder

Titebond have any odours? What's it like weight-wise?

I agree re. 4-strokes. Again (I keep dating myself here...) they're a innovation in the 25 years I was out of things. I think I had heard of them way back when, but never heard one.

But I may never actually fly the thing. I'm having a great time building it. I enjoy it, find it relaxing and interesting to spend a couple of hours in the basement with the radio on, doing the odd bit of problerm solving etc. But I'm not possessed by any urge to see it fly under my thumbs. I'm thinking I'll sell it as ARC when I'm done if the build quality is good enough (so far, so good), or mebbe just park it on the diningroom table as a conversation piece (wonder if the family will notice???). [&:]

I'm already trying to decide whether the Unionville monster Beaver (almost 4m wingspan I think), the Unionville Tiger Moth or something a little more exotic (like some of the autogyros I've seen at http://www.autogyro-rc.com/) will be my next project.

I'm really pleased with Unionville's kit. Leaves lots of room for fiddling and customizing, but all the bits are there and the plans are high quality. If you want to build rather than assemble, I'd recommend them.

cf-drg

My Feedback: (1)

Titebond has a typical white wood workers glue smell... You can only really smell it if your nose is 2" away from it... It doesn't vapour around like the CA's....
Weight wise it's not really an issue, because it looses some weight when it dries ( water )...
Also it will fill gaps.. Not that you or I ever have any when wee build ....

Dblackadder

Gaps? What's a gap???

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

Those microscopic inter molecular voids mostly noticable between two adjoining wood surfaces