Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina Operation Etna

[Chris A]

After reading several build threads, I decided to go with building the Airfix 1987 release Catalina model.  I trashed the mold covered box when it arrived, but this the box pic from Scalemates.

 

 

The sprues look quite good, compared to some of the threads I read.  Some flash, but I'm not seeing any warping or funnies. 

 

 

The plan is to build Dutch aircraft 16 215 from the early 1950's. The paint scheme is shown from the link to Wilko Jonker's Nederlandse Modelbouw en Luchtvaartsite (https://kw.jonkerweb.net/index.php/nl).

 

There is a picture of this aircraft on the 'Ministerie van Defensie' site link.

 

Also puts in an appearance in a old newsreel clip on Youtube.

 

I tracked down a decal sheet for this aircraft at Hannants, but think the international shipping just puts it out of contention.  Maybe I order it, maybe I make another plan for the markings, kicking the can down the road a bit.

 

Edited August 16 by Chris A
Edited title.

[modelling minion]

Welcome to the GB and with a superb choice of subject,  the Catalina is a true classic. 

I like your choice of markings but if you can't build that one then there's plenty of alternatives out there. Either way I look forward to seeing your build. 

[81-er]

Welcome to the GB, Chris  I like the Catalina and I have fond memories of those style of Airfix boxes as a kid (though the Catalina was one I didn't get). Nice to see a build showing these in their post-war lives

 

James

[Chris A]

On 07/08/2025 at 14:13, 81-er said:

I have fond memories of those style of Airfix boxes as a kid (though the Catalina was one I didn't get)

This kit is feeling familiar, like the Airfix kits I built as a teenager, in the er, 80's. Always wanted to build a cat.

Feeling a bit ambitious with this build (as always).  Thinking I'll try my hand at a diorama (vignette?). Never done one before. Catalina on water.

 

I liked the Dutch 16-215 aircraft for the paint scheme. There's also lots of easily accessible images and video of these aircraft. Same goes for other Dutch tail numbers of this period.

Aside from doing a first go at a diorama, I was planning to do this out of the box, but, the crew....  The crew in the kit are wearing high altitude gear. Heavy suits with full face masks and oxygen hoses.

 

Now I'm in the market for some bits. Can anyone point me in the direction of more period appropriate crew, like below?

 

 

 

While I'm looking around for crew, I've made a start on the nose turret and elevators.

 

In none of the pictures I've seen of these Dutch aircraft from the 1950's, is the gun visible in the nose turret.  I'm contemplating not fitting the gun.  Only the waist guns are visible in the pictures of the Catalina's landing and supporting troops in Operation Etna, counter insurgency in 1954. Does anyone know if the nose turret gun was used on these aircraft in the 50's?

 

[modelling minion]

Great to see your build underway, I'll have a look through my references regarding the nose turret. 

[modelling minion]

As far as I can tell the turrets were mostly unarmed, I have found one picture that possibly shows guns fitted but the rest clearly show the turrets are empty. 

[Chris A]

23 minutes ago, modelling minion said:

As far as I can tell the turrets were mostly unarmed, I have found one picture that possibly shows guns fitted but the rest clearly show the turrets are empty. 

Thanks for checking. I'm going to leave the nose turret unarmed. 

[parip]

3 hours ago, Chris A said:

Aside from doing a first go at a diorama, I was planning to do this out of the box, but, the crew....  The crew in the kit are wearing high altitude gear. Heavy suits with full face masks and oxygen hoses.

 

Now I'm in the market for some bits. Can anyone point me in the direction of more period appropriate crew, like below?

 

Hi Chris 

You should be looking for 3d printed drivers instead for pilots, and do some modifications (head set you will probably have to build from scratch). Try peddinghaus decals , i have purchased from them pilots for my Bronco build, they have a lot different sets...

Cheers 🍻 

Rade

[Chris A]

2 hours ago, parip said:

Hi Chris 

You should be looking for 3d printed drivers instead for pilots, and do some modifications (head set you will probably have to build from scratch). Try peddinghaus decals , i have purchased from them pilots for my Bronco build, they have a lot different sets...

Cheers 🍻 

Rade

Great tip, thanks.

[Rob Sutto]

Cool, I love the Cat and I've seen that the Airfix old kit can scrub up quite nicely. Your build has reminded me that I've a half-built Academy offering that would qualify for this GB (especially with the 25% rule being waived). Hmm 

[81-er]

Nice to see this one off to a start  

 

James

[Chris A]

Wing build moving along.  There was a bit of distortion in the center section pieces, but glued up reasonably straight. Finished up with a slight curvature across the length, around 1mm. If the outboard sections are glued on level, I don't think the curvature would be visible.

 

The OOB plan is OTD (out the door). 

The lack of detail around in the cockpit and cabin area does not matter to me. It will be completely hidden behind the old not, so transparent, clear pieces.

The waist gun positions are a different. They will be open and visible, so here comes the rabbit hole . Pushing the boundaries again, never attempted this type of detailing before. Need fore and aft bulkheads, seats, steps and walkways. Oh, yes, also stringers.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 16 by Chris A
Typo

[modelling minion]

Off to a good start, good luck with detailing the interior, it will make a big difference. 

[Chris A]

A bit of progress on the waist gun compartment rear bulkhead today.

 

Used clay prints of the fuselage cross section to mark and cut the fore and aft bulkheads from 1mm plasticard. After test fitting both, I added the ribs on the aft bulkhead with 0.3mm plasticard. Cut a door from the same.

 

Not sure if I should pre-paint it, or fit and paint when the compartment is done.

 

 

[modelling minion]

Excellent work on the interior, you really have done great work on it. 

[81-er]

That's some very nice work on those added deatails, Chris, I wouldn't have guessed you'd not done this before if you hadn't said. As for painting it, depending on how the transparencies fit over it, I'd be tempted to treat it like a cockpit and paint it before assembly

 

James

[Chris A]

19 hours ago, 81-er said:

I wouldn't have guessed you'd not done this before if you hadn't said

 

Thanks James @81-er. I'm going with painting the bulkheads before assembly.

 

Building up the forward bulkhead rib by rib, but now need the crew to report for duty, to work out seat positioning and adjacent ribs. 

 

 

The 3d print shop in MBZ (err, that's the area Mohammed Bin Zayed, about 30 minutes drive from me) still hasn't got back to me about printing the crew.

 

I made another plan, the Egeloo Mars 5 Ultra arrived last night.  Hastily unpacked and set up next to my work bench for a test print. 

 

Standard test piece? Not a chance.  I printed a couple of pieces representing what I need.

 

A bit later Tim, the waist gunner, was testing out the pilot seat, with a M2 50cal browning resting on the cat's tire.

 

 

And the wing assembly is moving along.

It's huge, I've got no idea where I'm going to put this diorama when its done.

 

 

 

 

[81-er]

I'd say that's a very successful first print  

 

James

[modelling minion]

I think that the printing is first class, the Catalina is coming along very nicely too. 

[Chris A]

Forward bulkhead painted interior green an glued in.  Next, work backwards from the bulkhead with fuselage stringers. And back to work tomorrow, my short break is almost over.

 

 

[81-er]

Very nicely done!

 

James

[modelling minion]

That looks superb, very nice work. 

[Chris A]

Slow but steady progress on the waist gunners compartment, the first half so far. A combination of cut sheet and printed parts.

 

 

[modelling minion]

That looks like really good work, well done.

[81-er]

Looking very nice in there now, Chris

 

James