72modeler Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 (edited) The Cat's meow! Got one of these film clips from a fellow modeler, and the others I stumbled upon. Some good projects for you, @tonyot AND @Admiral Puff, (In case you're getting bored shooting silver on everything, Tony!) The Aussies really flew their Cats aggressively, but you know how it is with those guys- gotta love 'em! Mike https://youtu.be/m-Gw5Efqkcw https://youtu.be/iKMC7tHcHrY https://youtu.be/801g_zqb78g https://youtu.be/B_FYtMdiUZs https://youtu.be/tjxgwHxMEY4 This one's for you, @LDSModeller! https://youtu.be/gZXev4RP7VU Edited January 14, 2022 by 72modeler corrected spelling 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 Thanks, Mike! I'd seen some of that before (I've mined the AWM's archives) but not all of it. There's one point on which I will take issue - the Qantas Perth-Ceylon flights were crewed by Qantas personnel, not RAAF. Can't let the Blue Orchids claim the credit for everything! The aircraft were supplied under Lease-Lend, and because of that Qantas had to get rid of them at the end of the war, which they did by towing them out to sea off Perth and sinking them. In hindsight, it would have been appropriate if one of them had been saved for posterity ... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 2 hours ago, 72modeler said: This one's for you, @LDSModeller! Hi Mike, Thanks for thinking of me Our RNZAF Catalina's certainly were worth their weight in gold, as they rescued a fair number of folks from the Pacific waters. known as Dumbo Missions (after the Disney Flying Elephant) even venturing into the fray (namely Japanese guns at Rabaul) to try and rescue downed aircrew. Successful missions earned the aircraft/crew a Flying Elephant motif on the hull (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) A more later famous Catalina crew member of course was Edmund Hillary, seen here in the waters of Halavo Bay (very left hand side of boat), helping to Launch the "Jolly Roger Boat, christened with a bottle of Beer (how Kiwi is that) (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) NZ4016 (XX-S) as seen in the film clip survived the war and was held in open Storage at RNZAF Station Hobsonville (where I later grew up) after the war, SOC 1951, and scrapped at Hobby 1952 Though circa 1954-55 you could still see the odd Catalina - from my Dads collection Kind regards Alan 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 The RAAF Catalina squadrons' largest contribution to the war effort was mining. There is an excellent book with an overview and detailed accounts of this war effort https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6616203/the-secret-life-of-the-catalinas-of-rathmines/ Indeed the Double Sunrise service was Qantas - not RAAF. You can even make a model........... https://www.redroomodels.com/product/dk-decals-catalina-five-qantas-stars/ Also available in 1/72 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 Further to Ed's post - there was an A4-sized paperback published by the Aviation Historical Society of Australia in 1979 titled Qantas Empire Airways (Western Operations Division) Indian Ocean Service 1943-1946, authors Barry Pattison and Geoff Goodall, ISBN 0 95999336 5 4, which gives chapter and verse of the Perth-Ceylon operations. Well worth having. It's long out of print, but may still be available through the usual second-hand outlets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) One of our local master modelers and authors, Roscoe Creed, did a very comprehensive history of the Catalina that was published by the Naval Institute Press- IIRC, Ros had a lot of input and recollections from Catalina crews, and I remember seeing photos of some RCAF Cats with four .303's in the nose, as well as 20 mm Hispano cannon! Ros' book can be had at very reasonable prices from various booksellers- not intended to be a modelers' reference, but it is very detailed and is a very interesting read, of which I have an autographed copy! PBY- The Catalina Flying Boat, by Roscoe Creed. Mike https://www.amazon.com/Catalina-Flying-Boat-Roscoe-Creed/dp/B00HYMN0O0 Edited January 16, 2022 by 72modeler corrected text 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 9 hours ago, 72modeler said: RAAF Cats with four .303's in the nose, as well as 20 mm Hispano cannon New to me - pictures welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 12 hours ago, 72modeler said: PBY- The Catalina Flying Boat. https://www.amazon.com/Catalina-Flying-Boat-Roscoe-Creed/dp/B00HYMN0O0 It's a steal at $630+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) 16 hours ago, Ed Russell said: New to me - pictures welcome! Ed, I think I saw the photos in either the Osprey or Ros Creed's book. I will pull my copy. The Catalina photo I am thinking of that showed four fixed .303 MG's mounted in the lower noise and poking through the cover over the bomb aimer's window was an RCAF Catalina. This just in! Found a photo in Ros' book on page 260 that shows a No, 162 Sq. late production Canso with the eyeball nose turret that shows four .303 guns exiting the bomb aimer's window- they are staggered, with the upper pair projecting further out than the lower pair. (Photo caption states- "Canso crews of No. 162 Squadron in Iceland found little use for the bombardier's window as originally conceived. They found it served a much better purpose in clearing U-boat decks of crewmen when fitted with four additional Vickers .303 caliber machine guns.") Here's a link to some 20 mm installations on USN Black Cats. Mike https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/black-cat-pby-catalina.54845/ Found this digital monograph on No. 162 Cansos that looks like it has photos and a color profile of one of their aircraft that had the four .303's fitted as well as a pair of 20 mm cannon- I think I just found my Catalina/Canso modeling project! https://www.aviaeology.com/store/p174/RCAF-Canso-A-collection-1_The-sub-killers-of-162-Squadron_Docs.html#/ Best I could come up with, Ed, but if I find anything else, I will post it here! Hope this helps! (How about a nifty little resin nose/conversion set, mate?) Found this 162 Sq loss report after the original post- might make a nice tribute model for a brave and unfortunate crew; a shame they all survived the water landing, but not exposure. Sad story that most likely happened far too many times. http://aircrewremembered.com/hornell-david-ernest.html Edited January 16, 2022 by 72modeler added text, added link, corrected text 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 7 hours ago, alt-92 said: It's a steal at $630+ WHAT? No way! I'll let mine go for $500, and I'll pay for the shipping! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 I can't recall ever seeing any reference to RAAF Catalinas with that sort of armament in the nose. I note the photographs all show US-operated aircraft. Given that the RAAF's main use of the type was either mine-laying or ASR, rather than anti-submarine work (where a bit extra up front to keep a U-boat's crew's heads down would have been useful) I doubt that we would have any need for that sort of extra clout. And even a flying boat nut like me isn't prepared to cough up that sort of freight for ANY book, however good it may be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 As I suspected those upgunned Catalinas are not RAAF. I think the $633 price for that book was set by an algorithm rather than a human, like how most of Amazon works. Edit Well I just picked one up on ABE Books for US$6.73 + postage at cost. But I will sell it to Amazon for $300. Title: PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat Author: Creed, Roscoe Quantity: 1 Book Description: The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. ISBN: 9780870215261 Binding: Hardcover Book Condition: Very Good Book Price: US$ 6.73 Shipping Price: US$ 9.30 Estimated GST: US$ 1.60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, Ed Russell said: As I suspected those upgunned Catalinas are not RAAF. Yep, my bad, Ed- they were RCAF Cats...these poor old Mk 1a memory banks ain't what they used to be! You will like Roscoe's book; it is a very good read, and I learned a lot about the use of the Catalina from reading it. I will go back and amend my original post to correct the misinformation. I was able to buy the digital download on the 162 Sq. Canso's as well as the Aviaeology 1/72 decal sheet as a result of my search for information on the nose gun mods, so I'm a happy camper! Mike Edited January 16, 2022 by 72modeler added text Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 8 minutes ago, 72modeler said: these poor old Mk 1a memory banks ain't what they used to be No problem - maybe the Mk Vc ones will be better😃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leyreynolds Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 And there is the book Catalina Chronicle on RAAF aircraft, most of which were flying boats. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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