CATALINA MODELLING NOTES
(Notes apply only to RNZAF aircraft)

 

  

    1:72 Scale   By Dave Stewart and Peter Dingwall.

AIRFIX: PBY-5A: Now quite old and with (the then almost mandatory) Airfix rivets in abundance, but reasonably accurate.
It has been described as the "stalwart" of the 1:72 Catalina kits, as it is still available and seems likely to remain so for some time.  Can be converted to PBY-5.

   

REVELL: PBY-5: Currently not available. The moulds appear to be such that either the -5 or -5a could be moulded with the use of inserts to block off or create the wheel wells.
One example I have has a copyright date of 1971 on the box, and was moulded under license in New Zealand by Lincoln Industries.

 
ACADEMY: PBY-5: The latest and the best. There have been questions about the accuracy of some of the internal parts, but overall currently "the best game in town".


     1:48 Scale   by Peter Mossong.

COMBAT MODELS: PBY-3 - 5/5A: Vacform with white metal props and resin engine fronts. For its time this wasn't a bad kit, but props and resin engines are rough and full of air bubbles in my example. Basic detailing on vacform sheets includes cockpit interior, and parts for PBY-5A.

Good 1:48 plans and some interior detail photos on very basic instruction sheet. 4 x U.S. 'Stars and Bars' decals only. Very 'pebbly' vacformed canopies, turrets etc. I have not measured it up but it looks right.

   

MONOGRAM: PBY-5:  Well, this is the one we have all been waiting on for the last 10-12 years (as the rumours went) and except for the problems with the tail area, is a beauty.

Good representation of the fabric areas of the wings but I feel is let down a little by the engines - those B-24/C-47 mouldings have come back to haunt us - in this day and age. I feel Monogram could have done better - re the AMT A-20 kits etc. These need to be replaced by Hi-Tech, Vector, Aires, Art Models, or Engines and Things R-1830's.

Good interior details but can be improved on.

True Details have a cockpit set (48-457) which adds the overhead console with better detail, and Eduard have a photo-etch set (48-182)

Decals were available in Aeromaster set SP-4810 (and  SP72-10) for PBY-5 NZ4017 (XX-T) and PB2B-1 NZ4033 (PA-E)         
Footnote: We just need Falcon/Squadron to do a canopy/turret set with the later 'Eyeball' turret as most RNZAF Catalinas had this turret - earlier examples appear to have been upgraded. Until then, one will have to be 'pinched' from the PBY-5A kit!

 

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