I hope you will indulge me as I ramble on (but I don’t blame you if you skip right to the pictures [:D] )
So as a kid I used to buy plastic models and butcher them. And I mean BUTCHER. But I was young and enthusiastic, and even though they never came out like what was done on the box I was content. I stopped somtime around Jr. High, but never really lost interest. Last year I got the urge to give things a go again, only this time I wanted to take it to a new level. As is usually the case when I start something new (or in the case re-start) I gather as much info as I possibly can. Thus I found myself amassing a collection of tools, glues and other bits and bob’s. It was now time to test my self and my wits…
Here are the picutures:
EDIT: Success! pics are up!
The Model: Academy 1/72 PBY-5. Overall the fit was pretty good. It all went mostly smoothly, but thanks to a review on Modelingmadness.com I was armed with a few tips beforehand. Mainly it was to finish paint the nose turret as once assembled you would not be able to properly mask and paint it. I also learned I need better lighting where I airbrush as I found some thin spots and missed spots that needed to get redone, which was a pain in the butt since I had already sprayed the Yellow Chrome on the wings (using Tamiya spray can). The antanas gave me some fits during painting and I actually broke two off. Upon reassmbly one does not quite mirror its oposite on the other wing, but it is hard to notice unless looking head on or straight above. I also need to quickly redo the seam in between the turret and windshield, but that is for a rainy day project [;)]. The decals…I had a love/hate relationship with. They make for one snazzy looking finish, but some were too long while others too short. And the black line that is supposed to run frm nose to rear I had huge fits with I decided it was not worth leaving it on after trying (and breaking in 3 places) one on. I was going to add a simple wash to bring out all the great rivet and panel detail, bt I think it looks good as is. I’ll debate it more for a later time…
I know the pictures are not super depictive for scrutinizing, but please be honest in your critique, I view any negatives as a learning experience for later (just be gentle [:D])
You like that eh!? [:D] I got 2 of those things in a gift pack for Christmas and I found the notches allowed the PBY to sit in there PERFECTLY! And then one day I was starting to airbrush I was fumbling with a way to sit my airbrush so I could free up both hands and it dawned on me…a little weight in the bottom and the ridge will hold my AB nice and solid!
Thank you for the kind comments everyone! Everything I know now I learned from these forums and FSM books (so much so I decided to get a subscription!)
I agree it is a great combo! Ideally my favorite version of the PBY is the -5A with the trike landing gear. I plan on building one some day (figured this would be a great warm up and give ideas for the next PBY build) but must say it came out looking better than I thought. So much so I have an old Airfix 1/72 Kingfisher I bought on eBay a little while ago that I may do up in the silver/Chrome Yellow combo (using an aftermarket decal set I bought). I am holding off on that one until I get real good and start using Photo Etch since the cockpit of that kit is sparse to say the least…
Overall they were not too bad, but I threw some MicroSol on them just to be safe. The national emblems seem the thickest and may need more MicroSol to get the rivet detail to come through, but one coat on the others had the rivet detail pop out just fine. I may throw another coat on those as well just for consistency sake [:D]
Stunning return build. Fantastic fella. I think i need to quit building, have an extended Hiatus and then come back after 10 or so years, if my build would come out looking like yours.
Hey Bossman, I decided right from the get go the beaching gear was not going to get used. That was the only complaint I have about the -5 model, and that was the ugly gear. I went for a floats up in-flight look because that is where this bird looks most graceful!
And speaking of the beaching gear there is one more oddity of this kit. Ignore the thinned areas where you drill the holes out in the fuselage…you need to drill them lower down. If I had drilled out where indicated from on the inside then the top hole would have gone through the strut fairing (and most likely the top of the beaching gear would have gotten in the way of the strut). It is a glaring mistake I don’t know how it got that way!
Cool! nice job. I built the Academey’s black cat version of the bird and it was pretty fun. I wish they had a little more interior detail though. My avatar (to the right). Is a picture of it. I decided to do a diorama of it taking off.
First of all [#welcome] back to the hobby. It seems once you get the bug as a kid you never really lose it. My experience is very similar. I got away from the hobby part way through high school. Once my kids were born I started again building aircraft to hang from their bedroom ceilings. Now my 15 year old is into the hobby and I build for my own pleasure.
I think your PBY looks great. I love the pre-war/early war yellow wing schemes. As far as a wash or weathering go with what you like. Some of us like factory fresh planes, some lightly weathered and some like ones completely beat up.
