I am finishing up this 1/48 PBY Catalina, a revell-monogram, it is actually a PBy-10A or something of that sort, but I built it as a gift for a dear friend whose father served in the south pacific on a sub-hunter. This is only the third plane I have built since I was about ten years old, and I am learning all sorts of new techniques. Please take it easy one me. I am just learning to use the airbrush as well. I also took a swing at making some decals, with my friend’s father’s name on them, Crew Chief Paul singer. The pics are not all that great, as I just hung it in my paint booth, without any white sheet or anything behind it. It was also my first attempt at “weathering” around the exhausts, and that got to be overkill real fast, so it appears to be running quite rich! There were MANY “firsts” on this build. All-in all, it was a pretty crappy kit IMO. The fuselage halfs fit together like CRAP. The bottom part, where the “boat hull” part is at, was severely warped, and had to be cut-out, patched in, and required extensive putty. (another first, my use of putty) But I discovered Deluxe materials “perfect plastic putty”, and that stuff rocks!!! I initially used loads of squadron green putty, but the final coats were PPP… MUCH better! My new airbrush broke, so I had to buy another one. (another long story) This was my first time using “EZ-Masks”, purchased out of Canada, They really worked great, especially on the bubble-blisters in the back of the plane, those would be a nightmare to mask. This was my first time using “future”, see that story below. I also moved twice during the build, and lost several windows I had to remake, along with the landing lights. (I realize the colored lights in their place are incorrect) This was my first time using DULLCOAT, which I learned does not “dull” very well over Future, when it is only used for the decal areas. (again, see below) I also learned it will make your windows quite foggy, that they need to be masked. I cobbled decals together from a B-17 kit, and a P-51 kit, along with some home-made versions. (another first) Other than the pilot and crew-chief, I used all MOH or Victoria’s Cross recipients for the crew. I tried Aaron Skinner’s method of applying Decals over future that is still wet, then overcoating, with mixed results. On the wings, where I brushed it on (only where decals were to be placed) and let it dry, and THEN placed the decals, and re-coated, they turned out GREAT. Where I brushed on the future, put on the decals while still wet, and re-coated over the top, I had mixed results, some air-bubbles and decals not fully applied or “stuck” down in all places. Just brushing the future on where the decals go, brushing future over the top, and then dullcoating over the decals DOES NOT kill the gloss. If you use future over or under your decals only where the decals go, IMO you MUST re-coat the entire model with future after applying decals (better yet, before) otherwise the decal areas or any other spot where future was applied sticks out like purple polka-dots, as some noted above. Just my (first) experience working with future for decals… Again, not the best pics, and the model could have turned out better, but there were a whole slew of ‘firsts’ and a lot was learned. Now that my airbrush is fixed, I plan to re-coat the plane in future, (to get the decal areas to blend) then re-coat it in dullcoat, before I give it to my friend as a surprise gift. I think he will like it regardless. Much was learned. Rudy 
Wow, that PBY looks awesome, what a fantastic build. Very very nice. Thanks for sharing it.
BK
Very nice save, considering all the problems you’ve had with this kit.
I have the same kit on hold . I hafta force my self to re-do the riveting because the seam filling obliterated lots of them…boring and tedious but necessary. Viewing your nice build makes me feel guilty I haven’t finished it. Again, very nice job,
Thanks guys! I think you are being VERY generous with your praise lol… I also had to make new exhausts, those disappeared as well. I am learning a lot, and always looking to improve. Those “EZ Masks” are a godsend, that’s for sure, the only thing that was a PITA with those, is the guy who sells them, (in Canada) does not take credit cards or anything online. You have to SEND him an “international” money order. So, I went through my stash, and bought about 5 mask sets to make it worth my while. I think they will really come in handy on the greenhouse of the B-29 I just started…
Jay-Jay, yes, the rivet detail is rather light on this one, and I obliterated a great deal of it with sanding, filling, etc. I didn’t bother to replace it though. I would build another one, preferably from another manufacturer though. Or maybe I’d build this kit again, knowing what I was getting into ahead of time, it wouldn’t be that bad the second time. I’ll build another one for my own collection one of these days.
Yeah, despite your problems she turned out pretty darn good! I know what you mean, sometimes you just want to take the model and turn her into an American Kamikaze by hurling it into the wall on the opposite side of the room!
And those pre-cut canopy masks, they’re expensive but worth their weight in gold, I don’t know what I did before I found out about them.
Phew!!! At 1:48 that’s a big b!tch!! Very nice to see. Well done!! =D
Well done! I forget how big that pby really is.
It sure is!!! I think I built that paint booth at LEAST 24"x24", but I’ll have to confirm at home. I just started on a 1:48 B-29, it makes the PBY look like a Cessna. I’ll be painting that one outside I guess!!! Thanks all! -Rudy
Oh, WOW! If this is your third build and you were able to overcome all those obstacles you just described above, my hats off to you sir! That’s a fantastic rendition of a PBY. I would be so proud if my third build would have even come half way close to your Catalina. Congratulations on a superb job that’s well done.
Toshi
NOTE: the army designation for the Catalina was OA10A. They were part of the 3rd Emergency Rescue Sqdn in the PTO along with the B-17H. Rescues would be coordinated with the Navy PBYs and the subs. The PBY also did scouting and sub hunting.
That’s a good-looking PBY, Rudy.
Thanks guys, It was quite a pain at times, but came out OK. Much was learned, and they will be even better from here on out!
Rudy
I really like how PBY turned out Rudy. You have done a spectacular job on it in my opinion, especially considering the trials and errors and moving to boot. With all the different techniques you used it certainly seems you got a bend in your learning curve. I’ve been hesitant to try the decal and future trick myself. Believe I’ll just stick with the old tried and true.
I am especially excited to see your build of this kit as it is the one model I have in my stash that I want to do my very best effort on. In fact I have 4 of them in the form of 2 PBY-5’s, a PBY-5A and the Pro Modeler version of the PBY-5A. You see, my father flew the PBY during the war as a flight instructor and it was one of his favorite aircraft to fly. When this kit first came out I was so excited as I wanted to build one for my father. At the time my skills were not very good and I wasn’t actively modeling at the time so I kept putting it off. And then my father passed away suddenly 7 yrs ago and I always felt bad that I never got around to building one for him. So now I’m continually honing my skills for the day I sit down and put my very best effort into one. I’ve gathered all sorts of AM stuff for it over time so it will be an epic build for me.
Thank You for sharing your PBY with us and giving an outstanding write up on your efforts. Also, thank you for providing me with a bit of inspiration.
Joe
To Joe Rix,
I really feel your pain about not completing the PBY for your father.
Very sad that I too was way too late to build the model ship my Dad served on in WWII and a tad too young to even think about asking him about the details of the ship. I had to do a ton of research to even find out exactly which ship he was on ,after he passed, because there where 4 ships by the name Houston. All I remember of what he had told me was the name of the ship and a few battles it was in and some scant details about how he was 9 hours in the water after having to abandon ship amid a Typhoon. It took me a year and a half to vector this information and finally discover the proper ship.
Looks great, and yes it will look even better when the decals are overcoated with a thin coat of background color paint.
Thank You guys, I am glad I could stir your Memory and possibly motivate you to build a PBY. I am HONORED it reminded you of your Father, I only wish I could have met him!!! Those men were of a different breed, and have truly earned the name “the greatest generation”. They accomplished a thousand times more, with a million times less. I truly believe that many of the greatest men who ever lived are of this generation.
Rudy
True that!
Nice Cat. That just goes with the territory of bulding those old Monogram kits. They just don’t fit very very well. That said, their good practice and you’ll be a better modeler after tackling one. Thanks for sharing.
Joe
Yes, I had some fit issues with mine on the bottom as well , which took 3 layers of putty to get right, but aside from just a little fixing on the top of the fulselage it came out fairly decent.
I built the interior OOB, but am considering spucing up the exterior with PE. I don;t like how the kit depicts the retractable float area.
Very cool!