[1250ships]

I noted on another post that trainsandplanes in the UK had pre-pro photos of the upcoming Catalinas posted. I dug out the only book reference I own- The American Flying Boat by Captain Richard C. Knott- and fired up Google to check out the mould.

First I looked at the one I'd want- B11E735 PBY 5A Catalina - Patron 52 in pre-war colors. Big problem- if this aircraft is a PBY 5A then it should be an amphibian and have the retractable gear. It does not so can only be a PBY 5. After some extensive searching I found a photo of the actual aircraft in question and it is clearly a PBY 5 not an A model:



With a photo of the real thing on hand I did some checking against the model. Unfortunately the photo is undated because the plane is wearing a different paint scheme in this photo. I also found an artist rendering of this particular plane:



Based on these images and the drawings in The American Flying Boat:

• Panel lines are over done (as they seem to be on most models these days)
• The waist blisters seem to be oddly shaped
• Wingtip float support structure is not correct but might not but fully assembled in the photos
• Waterline boot line markings are missing on the model
• The nose looks too fat- might just be the photos- and should have a more prominent lip on it at the waterline
• Front turret should have some slope to it- it is too straight
• Antenna below the cockpit probably shouldn't be there- can't be sure as I don't have a photo of that side
• I'd like to see the underside of the model as I suspect the hull shape is wrong

All of this was pretty unpromising. I turned to the late peace/ early war model. Again this is labeled as a PBY 5A but is really a PBY 5. Again it appears that the model is correct but the designation is wrong. Most of the comments about the pre-war plane apply to this one.

I really want a pre-war PBY but I guess I need to go check the Corgi's before I give up on these. If Corgi's mould is a PBY 5A perhaps they can not correctly do a pre-war PBY in all its glorious technicolor.

[Cruver Collecter]

I found same photo you are using and the caption for it reads. "Plane was Patron 52 number 7 at NAS Quonset Point, R.I., in 1941. BuNo 2293 was an early -5 transferred from VP-14 to VP-52 in February 1941." Caption further goes on to cover paint scheme description. You are correct on the point, if it has beaching gear it is not an A Model.

[Cruver Collecter]

Just curious to know if there are any actual pictures of their 1/48th PBY out yet.

[1250ships]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

Just curious to know if there are any actual pictures of their 1/48th PBY out yet.

Yes- go and Google trainsandplanes to get the UK dealer who has photos posted from the Nuremburg show.

[Cruver Collecter]

At least there are some nice looking pictures of these models on the UK site. The model is most definitely a PBY-5 and not an A Model. As mentioned earlier the front turret should not have such vertical sides, but some slight angle to it. I have quite a few pictures of these early PBYs and cannot find any that have the antenna as shown in pictures as the model has on both sides on the fuselage below the cockpit. As far as the waist blisters go, not sure if they are maybe slightly over sized or positioned slightly to high. Downward looking pictures I have show more space between the two positions. They did nail the beaching gear pretty spot on, and I wish Corgi had done the same with there models. It may not make out to well as a PBY-5A, but it does make for a PBY-5 flying boat variant. If I had the room to display one of these big beasties, I might just be tempted to pick one up. May not be a perfect model, but have yet to see one that is.

[ZS-VAN]

Thanks guys, appreciate the lesson for today. Great insights.

[Elmer]

It is curious to me that no one is talking about this model being aluminum...

I think it rather fascinating and... well... revolutionary! At least for military aviation diecast. I am a bit impressed by FM's venture into this realm and believe it to be a hopeful sign for the company. I really can't speak to the accuracy of the mold and the castings from it, but isn't anyone else out there excited to hold and heft this new aluminum piece?