PBY-5 Catalina

by Peter White

Academy's 1/72 scale PBY-5 Catalina is available online from Squadron.com

The model is Academy's 1/72 scale PBY-5 Catalina, representing "The Dabster", A24-64, 43 SQN, RAAF, using Humbrol paints and decals from the E.S. Decals set. It was purchased from Victorian Hobby Centre, Melbourne.

The kit was built straight from the box with all parts going together beautifully. The only "hard" part was mating the wing to fuselage whilst ensuring that the stuts stayed where they were meant to be. Some plasti-card was needed but as the wing looks straight then I guess it is straight enough for me.

I detailed the blister compartment and the cockpit, but when the clear bits were in place it didn't look right, so I painted the inside of all the "glass" with satin varnish to make them opaque. I think it works. Its hard to see anything inside a 1/72nd kit anyway.

Painting the large amount of black looked daunting but it worked fine. The "Dark Ocean Blue" was mixed using gloss "Ocean Blue" and matt "Extra Dark Sea Grey" until I was happy with the colour. I have no idea how accurate it is, but I like it. The contrast between the blue and grey appears close enough when compared with black and white photos.

I hand paint all my models because I couldn't be bothered with the mess of an airbrush, but I spray the final "varnish" coat from a warmed up aerosol can.

The scratching and panel marking was done with GUNMETAL as opposed to silver and I like the look. Whether I have overdone it is for you to judge. The lanolin coating was simulated with a slightly more glossy varnish that the final overall coat. It is bearly discernable.

Photography was with my OLYMPUS C1400L which has a few less limitations than I do as a photographer. I used Adobe Photodeluxe to adjust the size of the photos.