Building the Catalina
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/6/5/3/935653-79044-71-720.jpg)
Finally: Time to get this thing going after waiting on the Wolfpack kit. As I wanted to build a catalina as shown on the glorious Kodachrome photographs of Catalinas and their personell at Corpus Christi TX from 1942, I needed a PBY-5 (not a 5a).
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/6/5/4/935654-79044-85-720.jpg)
Glued the Wing parts together just to have this out of the way.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/6/5/5/935655-79044-28-720.jpg)
Work on the cockpit and the interior started as well.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/6/5/7/935657-79044-53-720.jpg)
Some finagling was involved here – building the guns and the cockpit floor; using a mixture of the Eduard aftermarket gold, some spare plastic sheets and the kit parts.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/5/4/7/937547-79044-85-720.jpg)
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/5/4/8/937548-79044-36-720.jpg)
Some slight upgrades on the cockpit; as there won't be much visible – why bother?
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/5/4/9/937549-79044-59-720.jpg)
Not much interior work – so the fuselage halves have been closed. I'll probably keep the fuselage and the main wing separate for painting.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/0/1/9/938019-79044-50-720.jpg)
First Basecoat is on!
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/7/0/3/941703-79044-18-720.jpg)
Added som shading and the deicing boots on the wing tips – I forgot some of them the first time around and had to add the ones on the tail and the one in the middle of the wing
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/7/0/4/941704-79044-80-720.jpg)
Some details painted. I really liked the red beaching gear on the kodachrome photos by Hollem; also opted to got for the older paint scheme on the propellers as some of the photos showed the Catalinas having them in 1942.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/7/0/2/941702-79044-89-720.jpg)
Decals on, all details painted/basecoated
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/7/0/6/941706-79044-47-720.jpg)
Here's how things look after adding some washes and weathering effects. Plus I rusted/chipped some of the details. Looking forward to giving this a final flat coat after leaving it to dry - and then I'll do the final assembly. Still a bit anxious about the wing columns - hope they'll fit #fingerscrossed
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/7/9/9/942799-79044-25-720.jpg)
Well – it's a wrap. Quite happy how with how she turned out, I have to say. It's just such a beautiful plane...
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/7/9/5/942795-79044-46-720.jpg)
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/7/9/4/942794-79044-41-720.jpg)
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/7/9/7/942797-79044-57-720.jpg)
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/7/9/6/942796-79044-62-720.jpg)
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/7/9/3/942793-79044-67-720.jpg)
Fin.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/7/9/2/942792-79044-59-720.jpg)
...I think I'll be keeping her close for now.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/8/8/7/1071887-79044-65-720.jpg)
Comments
65 7 January 2021, 10:30
![](/profiles/img/79044-268-s.png)
thx guys – I need to ask you for some patience as I'm waiting on some after market stuff as well as a possible alternative kit, as I'm thinking about not building the amphibious version of the 5. I'll keep you posted though – and thanks for your interest!
9 January 2021, 10:12
![](/profiles/img/79044-268-s.png)
haha, ok. I now got everything I need for the build though; so I'll keep you updated.
12 February 2021, 13:47
![](/profiles/img/79044-268-s.png)
...and I now saw why Thomas is interested in the build, seeing his beautiful Catalina from 2016!
12 February 2021, 13:50
![](/profiles/img/16661-726-s.jpg)
I really love these old photographs, they are truely works of art, so I'll be watching this !
12 February 2021, 15:15
![](/profiles/img/15497-946-s.jpg)
Didn't look at the final pictures yet. Looks gorgeous! Hope to see it one day life!
11 March 2021, 20:07
![](/profiles/img/49836-796-s.jpg)
Just checking out albums. This is FANTASTIC! I have the 1/48 version. I'm thinking it's gonna be too big! Love your model?
1 April 2021, 13:16
![](/profiles/img/16661-726-s.jpg)
That is a really excellent result, flawless surfaces, great paintjob. 👍
6 September 2021, 20:07
![](/profiles/img/62842-375-s.jpg)
Perfect! This is one of the best Catalinas i've seen so far!
7 September 2021, 10:23
Album info
Building Process of the Revell 1/72 PBY Catalina. Started in January 2020.