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PBY-5A Catalina - 1:72


Paul A H

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PBY-5A Catalina

1:72 Revell

 

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The Consolidated Catalina was one of the most widely used amphibious aircraft of World War II. First flown in 1935, the Catalina proved to be remarkably long-lived. It was so well suited to its role that it not only served throughout the War, but remained in service with its primary user, the US Navy, until 1957 and with the Brazilian Air Force until 1979. There are many surviving Catalinas around the world, including a significant number of airworthy examples. Powered by two Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp engines, the Catalina had a range of over 2,500 miles.

 

Eagle eyed readers will no doubt have already spotted that this is not (thankfully) ye olde Revell kit from the late 1960s. Instead, it's the more modern Academy kit, originally released in 1993 and now repackaged in one of Revell's familiar large-but-flimsy boxvelopes. The kit features clean, crisp mouldings, fully engraved surface details and a respectable level of detail. All together there are around 140 parts spread across six frames of grey plastic and a single frame of clear plastic. Two decal options are included.

 

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Assembly begins with a series of sub-assemblies that fit inside the fuselage halves. The main landing gear bays are first and these can be built in wheels up or wheels down configuration. Wheels down will require the main landing gear legs to be assembled from four parts, and care will be required in order to ensure that the parts all align correctly. The wheel wells themselves fit into the inside of the fuselage, so make sure they are firmly glued in places just in case they pop out halfway through the build and rattle around inside the fuselage. There waist and nose gunner stations are present but fairly basic, as is the cockpit. Decals are provided for the instrument panel and sear harnesses. Aftermarket parts will definitely be required if you want to build the model to a modern standard of detail. 

 

Once the fuselage halves have been joined (remembering to add 40g of nose weight, which seems a lot) the slab-like wing is next. The wing is moulded in separate sections for the port, starboard and centre parts. The centre section holds the engine pods, to which the basic-but-good-enough engines and cowlings can be added. The outer wing sections hold the retractable floats, and as with the landing gear, these can be finished in retracted or deployed positions. The ailerons and elevators are moulded in place, as is the rudder. A number of details, such as exhausts and DF loop, are provided in different forms for both the early and late variants depicted on the decal sheet. Four bombs are provided to hang under the wings, but these could be swapped for aftermarket depth charges if so desired. The clear parts are nicely moulded. 

 

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Two different options are provides for on the decal sheet. The first is for a PBY-5A Catalina of the US Naval Aviation Reserve, NAS Glenview, Illinois, 1947. The second is a wartime-ara Catalina PBY-5A of Patrol Squadron 61, US Navy, Umnak Island, Alaska, 1943. The decals are fairly basic but appear to be high quality.

 

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Conclusion

 

Academy's Catalina is a solid kit, and although it is starting to show its age, it is still capable of being built into a faithful and convincing replica. It's not as detailed as many of the modern kits we are used to today, but it has recessed panel lines and just about enough detail to pass muster where it counts. Overall this should be a straightforward kit to build. Recommended.

 

Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit

 

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