tonyot Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 (edited) Hiya Folks, Hopefully I`ll manage to get stuck into this soon; The interior is part painted,....but I`m sure that this s OK? I`ve got these extras too,..... especially since the Academy nacelles are said to be too small; I`ll compare the kit and resin nacelles soon; These fishtail exhausts are very nice too; Cheers for now, Tony Edited December 24, 2018 by tonyot 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 11, 2018 Author Share Posted December 11, 2018 (edited) Hiya Folks, I`d like to represent a RAAF Black Cat with camouflage above the top wing,...... but there are so many theories about what these colours were that I`m a bit stumped really; So for this reason,..... I may fall back on a RNZAF Cat instead; Or even a RAF/RCAF wartime aircraft,.... Cheers Tony Edited December 11, 2018 by tonyot 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 What a great choice Tony. I was looking into doing a 1/48 PBY5 in the RAAF scheme you have shown above and like you have become more confused than I was at the start as to what the colours might be, I seem to be favouring the fact that they were originally in the overall USN blue/grey scheme and have had black applied pretty solidly to the fuselage but in a camo pattern on the upper surfaces of the wing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 7 hours ago, tonyot said: So for this reason,..... I may fall back on a RNZAF Cat instead; Hi Tony, An RNZAF one would be nice Behind NZ4007 in your photo is XX-C (NZ4003) which is is one of the rarer RNZAF cats in NS Sea Blue/NS Insignia White Look forward to your build (which ever you choose) Regards Alan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Your Cat will be a fine addition to the GB, pity it won't be RAAF (very biased I am!) The painted parts are fine, time to sit back and enjoy your build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 13 hours ago, LDSModeller said: Hi Tony, An RNZAF one would be nice Behind NZ4007 in your photo is XX-C (NZ4003) which is is one of the rarer RNZAF cats in NS Sea Blue/NS Insignia White Look forward to your build (which ever you choose) Regards Alan Cheers Alan,.....yes the one in the background is on my radar and I might push it forward,...... so many models that I`d like to build! Thanks Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 13 hours ago, Romeo Alpha Yankee said: Your Cat will be a fine addition to the GB, pity it won't be RAAF (very biased I am!) The painted parts are fine, time to sit back and enjoy your build. Brilliant cheers,...... the RAAF Cat isn`t off the card yet,..... I`m just in a quandry about the camo,..... I`m in two minds about it being light grey or EDSG applied to the black? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 (edited) Hello @tonyot & Craig @modelling minion I have built an 1/48 RAAF Black cat and have a good amount of info in these threads. I used DSG & Black on my build. https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235040132-my-aussie-black-cat/ https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235036672-more-help-with-raaf-catalinas-particularly-ordnance/ Please i hope you can use this info. I also have compiled a number of photo’s as well so if i can help please ask. Dennis Edited December 12, 2018 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 6 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Hello @tonyot & Craig @modelling minion I have built an 1/48 RAAF Black cat and have a good amount of info in these threads. I used DSG & Black on my build. https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235040132-my-aussie-black-cat/ https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235036672-more-help-with-raaf-catalinas-particularly-ordnance/ Please i hope you can use this info. I also have compiled a number of photo’s as well so if i can help please ask. Dennis Your Black Cat looks great Dennis,........ and I think that you have got it right,...... I`ll be going ahead with this then I think, Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 13, 2018 Author Share Posted December 13, 2018 Hiya Folks, I got started yesterday and I`ll post some pics later,...... I meant to add that for the RAAF option I have this sheet from DK Decals ; And quite like the one with this nose art; But,... from the only pic that I can find it isn`t clear whether it had black or camouflaged uppers,.....the sheet depicts all black which isn`t what I really wanted,....whereas it looks to have lighter upper cowlings and wing to me, but is it a trick of the light/shadows? So,....I`m still looking for firther reference info!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 (edited) I believe that is “OX*H” A24-65 of 43 squadron RAAF. http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Catalina This gallery helped me quite a bit in my research. I also have from one of my emails to someone in Australia that most of the PBY-5a(M)’s were camouflaged Black with upper wings in Nite/DSG. Dennis Edited December 13, 2018 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 13, 2018 Author Share Posted December 13, 2018 (edited) Thanks Dennis,........ oh yes, any modeller of Aussie subjects would be much poorer without the excellent ADF Serials Gallery and website,..... the RAAF/RAN modellers go to stop for info,....... I`ve been trawling the Catalina info myself! Well,..... a bit of an update,...... I decided to build this model alongside a PBY-2 kit that I had in the stash,..... whether I get to build them both and finish them is another matter,...... but we`ll see and I`ll add the updates for both here, starting with the wings; Tail; Fuselage,..... basic interior from the kit,..... PBY-5; ...and PBY-2, with the early small fin and rudder, plus the sliding gun hatches without glass bubbles; Now,..... everybody says that the Academy engine nacelles are too small,..... hence why I bought the resin `correct sized' nacelles, so imagine my surprise when after cutting the new resin parts away from their pouring pugs to find that they were in fact,....... smaller than the kit parts,.....wow! Cheers Tony Edited December 13, 2018 by tonyot 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 A wee bit of mould shrinkage perhaps? I also thought the kit parts lacked some engraved detail that the AM cowls have. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 The resin bits are basically copies of the kit parts, but less useful. A ripoff if ever there was one, Mr Quickboost should be ashamed! There's a thread somewhere on BM about a hopefully upcoming proper replacement for the undersized kit cowlings and nacelles. They may not be available before this GB ends though. Edit: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235046121-preliminary-inquiry-correction-for-academy-catalina/&page=2&tab=comments#comment-3202757 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 14, 2018 Author Share Posted December 14, 2018 Cheers Fella`s,...... yes I`m rather disappointed in the cowlings,..... especially as I`d bought two sets!!! Ah well,..... it`s only money, ......... something which I don`t particularly have a lot of!! Here is a bit more progress,.... I have buttonned up the fuselage of the PBY-5 and added the tailplanes; And the PBY-2; You cannot see much in the cockpit so I won`t bother adding much more detail, Cheers Tony 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 15, 2018 Author Share Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) Hiya Folks, It has been a research day today and I`m still stuck as to which subjects to model,..... my first option for the PBY-5 is; A24-65, OX-H `Some Chicken' from 43 Sqn RAAF,...... I`m pretty sure that it has camouflaged wing upper surfaces from these pics; And for the PBY-2 kit,...... I was thinking of another RAAF `boat,...... PBY-4- A24-28/C, Seaplane Training Centre, Rathmines, it originally had the early `art deco' rounded rudder before it was replaced with a later style larger fin and rudder. This aircraft was a US Navy aircraft from VP-101 and fought in the Phillipines, on to Java where it was abandoned and then taken over by Dutch aircrew who flew it to Australia; However,...... there are a lot of Catalina`s that I also want to model and the colours for the RAAF ones are `problematical',........ some other alternatives are; PBY-5; RNZAF,..... and I have decals for all of these; RAF, 205 Sqn, SEAC; PBY-2 kit; PBY-4 of VP-101, Phillipines and Java, 1941/42,..... wearing a unit applied three colour upper surface camouflage pattern; RAF,.....1st Catalina, P9630, MAEE, Felixstowe, 1939,..... some show this one to have a yellow upper wing like the US Navy aircraft, but I think that it was probably silver? I have found a photo showing what look to be red wartme code letters applied to this aircraft, the letter F on the fuselage side and a pair of squadron codes on the rudder,... which can just not be made out,...... this aircraft was also used by a number of operational squadrons before it was lost in a crash in 1940, it was also used for wartime proving flights to Iceland and for searches off the Norwegian coast for a German pocket battleship,..... and it appears to have retained the silver finish throughout and no fin flash could be seen either; I have decals for most of the above,..... and spares box for the US Navy & RAF options; And also a few reference pics for the early version boats; Cheers Tony Edited December 18, 2018 by tonyot 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 Hell Tony, talk about teasing & tantalising! 😮 Whatever comes from this are sure to be winners. Although of course I'm keen on a Kiwi ship, I'd also like to see what you can do with a VP-101 bird too. The story of this unit, "In the Hands of Fate" by Dwight Messimer is simply one of the best & most compelling stories of the air war in any theatre I've ever read & that unique unit applied camo made a purchase of the Academy kit with markings for the one in your 1st photo of the pair a must for me. Bring it on mate. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 16, 2018 Author Share Posted December 16, 2018 5 minutes ago, stevehnz said: Hell Tony, talk about teasing & tantalising! 😮 Whatever comes from this are sure to be winners. Although of course I'm keen on a Kiwi ship, I'd also like to see what you can do with a VP-101 bird too. The story of this unit, "In the Hands of Fate" by Dwight Messimer is simply one of the best & most compelling stories of the air war in any theatre I've ever read & that unique unit applied camo made a purchase of the Academy kit with markings for the one in your 1st photo of the pair a must for me. Bring it on mate. Steve. Cheers Steve,...... I`m in a terrible quandry mate,..... I want to build them all!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 17, 2018 Author Share Posted December 17, 2018 Hiya Folks, A quick update,...... I`ve sanded both models and they are ready to paint,..... I`ll attach the wing after painting and they are dry fitted here; PBY-5; And PBY-4; Cheers, Tony 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Looking really good Tony. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSH Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 These are looking great but I'm afraid its going to turn into a "ooh! I want one of them!!" builds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Superb and very quick work Tony. Great research too, I too would struggle to choose just one scheme, seem to have that problem with a few aircraft types! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 18, 2018 Author Share Posted December 18, 2018 Thanks for the kind words fella`s,....... here is another update after the models have received a coat of black from a Tamiya Rattle Can, with masking applied ready for a coat of US Navy Sea Blue; PBY-5; PBY-4; You can also see the decal option which I am attempting to replicate alongside, both from DK Decals sets. After consulting with Syd, my RAAF expert,...... he sent me some reference material which confirmed what I thought about the upper surfaces of the PBY-5 not being black or even black with light grey disruptive camo! I can see a definite demarcation line along the wing leading edges and engine cowling and it appears that the upper surfaces were left in the US Navy Sea Blue colour with EDSG disruptive camo applied, which tended to fade and chalk quickly under the strong sunshine. On the PBY-5 `Some Chicken' the EDSG still seems not to be too faded, so that is what I shall aim for. I`m still unsure whether this Catalina had the upper surface camouflage carried down onto the forward fuselage or whether the entire fuselage was black,....... some Cat`s appear to have this and some don`t while others have the camo on the entire fuselage. The RAAF adopted a colour called Dark Ocean Blue which seems to be all but identical to US Navy Sea Blue and this was also applied to the PBY-4 along with EDSG which appears to be quite faded and the camo covers the fuselage as well as the upper wing. Cheers for now, Tony 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 18, 2018 Author Share Posted December 18, 2018 (edited) And another update,....... the US Navy Sea Blue is applied,....... not sure whether it needs to be darker though? Mind you,.... the flash has made it look lighter still, having been forced to take a photo in the dark as the sunlight vanished around 1445 hrs today!!! PBY-5; PBY-4; Cheers, Tony, Edited December 18, 2018 by tonyot 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 19, 2018 Author Share Posted December 19, 2018 Hiya Folks, A bit more of an update,...... sorry for the poor photos but the daylight doesn`t seem to be willing to show itself at the moment! PBY-5,..... I have tried to make a darker representation of the camouflage scheme using Aeromaster US Navy Sea Blue and EDSG from Pactra,... you can see why the blue is mistaken for black in many b&w period photos of the real thing; And the PBY-4,...... The colours look more faded on this one, so I used Tamiya Rattle Can US Navy Sea Blue with Aeromaster EDSG which is a more faded version of this colour,......plus Dark Sea Grey was dry brushed over the fabric areas to make them appear more faded still. I`m still toying with replacing the blue on this one as it doesn`t seem right to me,........ we`ll see! Cheers Tony 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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