Does anyone know if a manufacturer besides Revell makes a 1/48 scale PBY Catalina? If so, are there any promising online places to pick one up (so to speak)? My seach has produced a goose egg.
Doc
I think that is about your only choice.
The 1/48th Revell PBY is an ex-Monogram kit. It’s rather nicely done, actually. They have both the -5 and -5a with retractable landing gear. (Optional position on the kit)
The Pro-Modeller edition has some nicely sculpted crew figures as well. All together not a bad choice.
The Pro Modeler release is my favorite. Pretty sure it’s OOP, unfortunately. Evil Bay may be your best bet.
which version doesnt have the wing pontoon (spelling i’m sure in incorrect)
and the mongram kit gives you the option? or is it the pro modeler kit?
The ProModeler kits are very well done–much better than the old Revell and Monogram stuff. I’ve done their Ju88 and have the Do17 and Ju52 still to build. The 88 was a great kit, a pleasure to build. I didn’t realize Pro did a PBY. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the feedback. If anyone knows where to find one, I’d be much obliged.
Doc
internethobbies.com carries the pro modeler line, however there is no pby at the moment
http://www.internethobbies.com/internethobbies/148scale3.html
Thought I’d add a bit of info: the Revell, Monogram and ProModeler kits are basically variations of the same kit. When it was first released (a number of years ago), Revell’s issue was the basic kit and ProModeler added better instructions, some crew and maybe some other goodies to make a different version. I have the Revell PBY-5 Catalina(kit 04520). The sprues say it’s a 1995 Monogram copyright. The decals (early USN and 209 Sq RAF) are made in Germany and very thin. Btw, the beaching gear’s included.
In response to Filibert:
My main complaint about the basic Revell and Monogram kits is that they are just that: Way too basic. The primary parts are always good, and the panel lines and molded detail and fit are always quite good, but cockpit, landing gear, and other small detail is always lacking, meaning that you either have to upgrade with aftermarket parts or scratchbuild (not my strongest suit). This defeats the purpose of an affordable kit, in my mind, so I’d rather spend an extra $20 on a Tamiya, Hasegawa, or Academy. I should add that many of the kits I have are at least twenty years old, aircraft models I acquired from my father who used to be an avid modeler but never liked to spend more than $15 on a kit (or whatever the 1970’s/80’s exchange rate would have been). Reissues or new kits in the last few year may have been improved, but I wouldn’t know since I never buy anything from Revell/Monogram except the ProModeler series. The PM’s “goodies” are exactly what improve the basic kit, some models even having some resin parts, and minute detail is greatly enhanced. The PM Do217 that I am going to build looks excellent, and with the Verlinden aftermarket I have to go with it, it promises to be a really fun project. Thanks for the info.
Doc
To Aerialresponder:
I checked out internethobbies last night, and while you are correct that they don’t have the PBY (and probably won’t since, as rjk points out, it’s probably discontinued. WHY!?), but I did pick up their PM Focke Wulf Ta 154 (a really great subject, I think) instead (only $30).
Suckered again . . .
Doc