Here comes my entry into the Halloween PBY GB. The Super Cat, as modified by Slafco and featured in the film “Always”. Originally a PBY-5A, she was retrofitted with R-2600 engines, a new fore deck and a larger rudder.
My model started with the Academy 1/72 PBY-5A “Black Cat”, and included Draw Decals set for the aircraft, new engines, cowlings and props from a donor Italeri B-25, kit bashed nacelles, resin tires to replace the really inexplicable Academy rubber ones, and a scratch built rudder. Eduard masks, which are wrong for the blisters but will have to do.
This took a fair amount of time but I’m pretty happy with it.
Photographed at Buchanan Airfield, Concord CA, May 2009.
Thanks for looking.
WOW!!! When I first looked whilst reading I thought it was an actual pic of the real one!!! Then realized it was your 1/72 taken outside!!! Stunning build and photography mate!!! WELL DONE!!![tup][tup][tup][bow][#toast][oX)]
I too thought it was the 1:1. Very nice.
[#ditto]
Same here, thought they where reference pix.
Very Well Done.
Eric…
She is a absolue BEAUTY Bondo! What next…the Invader in the Always theme colors!? [:D]
Brian
Trying to pass off photos of the real thing as a “model”, shame on you! Seriously Bill, well done! Your photos do indeed look like the real thing. [^]
[(-D] I see I wasnt the only one scrolling down looking for the “model Pics” after the reference pics… Fantastic Job Capt Bondo [tup] Nothing beats having a model turn out looking like 1/1 .
They say you can only fool most of the people some of the time or was that some of the people most of the time… [%-)] Looks like you fooled all of us Capt. Bill with your trick photography. Well done and spectaculiscious build!!! [tup][tup][tup]
GULP!!! [:O]
Bill, that is simply OUTSTANDING my friend!! [bow][bow]
Being outside and at eye level is a magic that causes people to do a double take… and you certainly nailed this one BIGtime!!
Take care,
Frank
Really nice, Bill. Get any dirt on your shirt taking the photos? Looks just the right amount of scabby to be any of the PBY’s Ive seen up close.
Thank you gents. This was a fun one but I spent a long time on it. It looks pretty nicked up, but flying through trees will do that. Changing up the engines was a study, the 1830s to R2600s moved the crank centerline up 5 inches, which caused a nacelle rebuild. Lucky I found a B-25 cheap at the LHS and co-opted the cowls and props.
The one disappointment was the Eduard masks- they didnt make the blisters correctly and I didn’t realize that until after the fact. But I worked hard at the peeling paint and exhaust stains.
There’s a little picnic area at Buchanan that I put the carpet from the rear of my Explorer on a table… no lying down. Also photoshopped out the tail prop- 6 OZ in the nose and it was STILL a tailsitter.
Here’s a Q
The real thing! what are the various antennas?
Very nice Bill. That paint scheme has a very “trimming” effect on the Cat. Very sleek. Great job.
Chris
Great job Bill, and a unique subject! A comanion Invader from the movie would be a nice project, but I don’t want to distract you from the T-2!
Fred