Hey everybody, I just wanted to know where I can find 1/48 scale decals for a PBY Catalina. I have the monogram kit, and it supplies parts for rescue and black cat versions, but only decals for the rescue version. I just wanted to know if there was any site or brand in particular that makes Black Cat versions, or just any non-rescue versions. Thanks for all of the help.
DasBadger
ive been searching for the same thing, no dice…but they were usually pretty bland markings wise , aircraft number and smaller than usual star and bars. check out PBY-5A walk around and US Navy aircraft camoflage & markings 1940-1945 from squadron/signal publications (the walk around book has great color interior pictures too) hope this helps!
dave
Try this site: http://fineartofdecals.com/goodies/148-treasures-allied/ (scroll down near the bottom of the page)
The description is:
Black Cat “NOSE ART” PBYs. Researched by the inimitable Hal Tippens, this set covers two overall black Catalinas — with NOSE ART and wing access stencil markings — of famous “Black Cat” night intruder squadrons. First is a PBY-5 of VP-11, Black Cat #30 with large female nose art, kill markings & mission markings. The second subject is PBY-5A Black Cat #45, “Nite Life,” of VP-81. This ship has the name, kill markings and mission markings. These two subjects are a model painter’s dream: the black finishes were extremely worn & faded; in places with the original blue camouflage showing through. The national insignia was also exceptionally faded, and we give you national insignia decals printed in a very faded light blue instead of the much darker “full-strength” Insignia Blue as seen on newly painted aircraft.
Only 21 sets still available.
They also have a second set of PBY-5/5A decals (which I ordered but have not tried yet) with this description:
PBY Catalinas — Early War. PBY-5, 14-P-1, Pearl Harbor midget sub hunter-first USN aircraft shots of the war; PBY-5A, 44-P-4, Jack Reid, spotted Japanese fleet at Midway; PBY-5A, VADM John S. McCain’s Guadalcanal Flagship (grandfather of Senator John McCain) — 1st US aircraft to land on captured enemy territory (Guadalcanal)! All three aircraft were in the blue gray over light gray scheme. Set includes FULL stenciling for the Catalina!
Just ordered the PBY-Early War set. Will let you know how they look.
I too feel your frustration OldFart. I have 3 of the Monogram PBY-5s and 1 of the PBY-5A. I have had them ever since they were first released and I have been searching for decal sets ever since. There are few sets to be found. I have the same set you ordered and it appears to be the nicest set around. Why do I have so many of these kits? My father flew the PBY in the Navy and loved the plane. He bought me the 3 PBY-5 kits on sale while visiting at Hill AFB in Ogden, Ut. Now I just need to sit down and build them in his memory.
Joe
I always thought an interesting build would be the “Cutaway PBY” at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola which can be viewed here: http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display.php?irn=16038691&QueryPage=%2FQuery.php.
If you haven’t already seen it, this is the most impressive scratch-built PBY interior you’re likely to see, perfectly suited to a Cutaway build, but only if you have the time, talent and patience (I don’t!): http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Flugzeuge/Gaeste/Wolf_Catalina.html
Just got my set today…they look great. Markings for three PBY’s. This is going to be a good build. Going to do it as Jack Reid’s ship. It’s interesting that, in resaerching this aircraft, Strawberry 5 was fictional. It was a made up name fot the movie ‘MIDWAY’. Artistic license or not, I’m building Strawberry 5.
A lot of the movie Midway was made up but I still have the videotape, which I haul out from time to time.