Narrow groove joint with chisels

[dzj]

Make a groove with a scratch stock in the drawer front. In the sides fashion a rebate, glue and nail in the ply and then rub some drawer runners
in the rebate and ply bottom. They used to make drawers this way in the 1700s.
Just without the ply

 

[bugbear]

More generally, if you intend to do hand work, and don't want to spend (too much...) money, get yourself a #50, either Stanley or Record.

It covers most of the joint cutting operations (and a few more beside) needed for normal work.

For whatever reason, most of the joint cutting planes (#043, #044, #050/#50, #78) cost around the same money, and the #50 is the most versatile of those.

(the #405 and especially the #55 are overkill)

More info from Alf, late of this parish;

http://www.cornishworkshop.co.uk/combinationplanes.html

BugBear