PBY-3 Catalina by PvG Aussie - FINISHED - Wolfpack - 1/72

[PvG Aussie]

Has anyone built the Wolfpack 1/72 PBY-3 Catalina Flying Boat? I'm not familiar with Wolfpack. Any issues as I am thinking of making it my next build?

[Landlubber Mike]

I used Wolfpack's wing fold set for my FM-1 build.  Obviously not a full kit, but I thought it was very well done.  My guess is their Catalina kit will work into a nice model as well.

Edited June 7 by Landlubber Mike

[Kevin]

On 6/5/2024 at 10:09 AM, PvG Aussie said:

Has anyone built the Wolfpack 1/72 PBY-3 Catalina Flying Boat? I'm not familiar with Wolfpack. Any issues as I am thinking of making it my next build?

1/72 - Consolidated PBY-3/4 & 5 Catalina by Wolfpack Design (plastic Academy) - PBY-3 & 5 released - new PBY-4 boxing in February 2024 - The Rumourmonger - Britmodeller.com

[PvG Aussie]

On 6/5/2024 at 7:09 PM, PvG Aussie said:

Has anyone built the Wolfpack 1/72 PBY-3 Catalina Flying Boat? I'm not familiar with Wolfpack. Any issues as I am thinking of making it my next build?

Reports sound good enough for me. I've ordered a PBY3-Catalina so I will be starting soon.

It is a different looking shape and should keep me busy for a while.

Cheers,

[PvG Aussie]

The kit arrived late today.

 

@ameletters from Nimbin Australia, provides a thorough historical account of the Catalinas during WWII. Click here to view.

 

First impressions tell me the kit has plenty of fine detail and no flashing evident.

Six sprues (1 clear) and masks for all clear parts, plus decals.

 

Instructions are well illustrated along with three aircraft painting options.

Tomorrow I hope to start with a prime paint of parts and then an internal paint of fusilage.

I'm looking forward to this build.

Cheers,

Edited June 15 by PvG Aussie

[DocRob]

The original kit was issued by Academy in 1993, but got new parts and decals for different versions. To my knowledge, Wolfpack adds new decals and masks with their releas. I have the Revell boxing rooting from the same base kit.

Cheers Rob

[PvG Aussie]

Thanks for that info @DocRob. It seems that Scalemates history of Catalina Models identifies heaps of Catalina 5 and 5A but my 2022 Wolfpack version is the only Catalina PBY-3 available. I suppose it is what it is. 😏

How did your Revell version turn out?

Cheers,

[DocRob]

2 hours ago, PvG Aussie said:

Thanks for that info @DocRob. It seems that Scalemates history of Catalina Models identifies heaps of Catalina 5 and 5A but my 2022 Wolfpack version is the only Catalina PBY-3 available. I suppose it is what it is. 😏

How did your Revell version turn out?

You are right Peter, your release is the only -3 of the pack, it seems, but I guess the sprues are modular, to made fit to all -X with some new parts added.
Mine is a shelve queen for the moment, as I have other projects in the pipeline. I added Quickboost resin engines and propellers for mine and also some Reskit Browning MG´s. I´m not sure, if I like the all gloss sea blue proposed for my -5A, so I may have to look for some decals as well.
1/72 is not my favorite scale, so it may take a while until I start, but I like the big Cat and this makes the build mandatory.

Cheers Rob

[PvG Aussie]

Thanks for your reply Rob. I'll look into the after-market items and I do agree with not having a gloss finish to the exterior. It's a shame we can't build and compare notes at the same time! 🙂

Cheers,

[PvG Aussie]

Thanks to all of you guys for the interest in this build.

Today was the first hands-on day ... painting.

 

I started with a decision of which primer I should use. The Grey or the Black?

 

Because I want to weather the top blue-grey colour of the plane, I can either start with a dark base colour as I did with my U9 German submarine which leaves the panel edges dark compared to the centres, OR I could start with a lighter grey base which has the opposite effect. @Scottish Guy may notice that I have again not removed the pieces from the sprues.  😊

 

 

 

Even though the final colour will be darker than the image above, I have decided on the second very subtle option.

 

I also painted the inside fusilage with Tamiya XF-71 Cockpit Green. I'll take a picture after I have done some detailing and washes.

 

Thanks for another day of interest shown by you.

Cheers,

 

[PvG Aussie]

You can't do much with a crook back. I thought aircraft pieces would be lighter than ship parts! 🤪 Not much activity over the past two days, just a little bit of painting, weathering and masking. Anyway, I should be a lot better tomorrow.

Thanks for your continued interest.

Cheers,

[Canute]

No rush, Peter. It's a hobby, not a job. 😄

 

Understand the creaky back. Occupational hazard of a former job for me.

[PvG Aussie]

Greetings all.

I can say in good confidence that my weathering attempt by using the grey surface primer followed up with Tamiya XF-19 did not work. I am pretty sure that the contrast between the two was not enough. To top it off, the final coat of Tamiya XF-66 (as researched on comparison tables to 'FS35189 Blue Grey') was a terrible colour match and left little, if any, difference between the top and bottom colours. C'est la vie, my model can either be a motley grey or I can try and add blue to the upper colour or lighten up the bottom grey. Any suggestions of preferences?

 

I did however get a pretty good finish by applying a wash of Black 'Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color'. I can still see the final result coming out as ok.

Cheers,

 

[PvG Aussie]

Thanks for your interest in my build.

I think I saved it from yesterday's mess!  I mixed up my own white and grey colour and repainted the bottom half. 

The colour in the image looks silvery but in fact it is a light grey.  Just what I was hoping for.  I'm pleased that I haven't destroyed the rivets and panel lines.

 

I also finished the cockpit and machine guns in the front turret and two sides. 

 

It's not as challenging as my Avro Lancaster Bomber but it has been a few enjoyable hours. 🙂

Cheers,

[PvG Aussie]

I love Sundays because you can do your favourite thing ... modelling! I do that every day anyway 😊.

Now I'm into some serious assembly work.

 

Wings tomorrow.

Cheers and thanks for another week of support. 👍 Time for a 🍺!

[PvG Aussie]

Greetings all,

 

Not a bad day, just very confusing due to the lack of accurate labelling in the instruction booklet.

Things like:

• where to drill holes or not,
• needing to repaint all the wing surfaces because I thought the tops were bottoms and vis versa 🙃 ,
• having to match mixed paint colours only to find out I missed when they dried!

All these added to the fun of the day. Who cares? It's done now. 😀

The last thing I redid was use Tamiya 'Panel Line Accent Color'.  What is the best way to remove the excess covered bits over the acrylic paint below? Is it safe to use Tamiya 'Lacquer Thinner' because the X-20A will definitely remove the paint. I'll test it I think.

 

My next model arrived today. Time to look!  🤩

Cheers,

[Jeffb]

Nice job, Peter!

Lacquer thinner will remove acrylic paint. It is best to use a thinner for enamels and oil paints such as mineral spirits or white spirits. Use an odourless type and use gloves in a well ventilated area.

 

Jeff Betcher

[Egilman]

11 hours ago, PvG Aussie said:

The last thing I redid was use Tamiya 'Panel Line Accent Color'.  What is the best way to remove the excess covered bits over the acrylic paint below? Is it safe to use Tamiya 'Lacquer Thinner' because the X-20A will definitely remove the paint. I'll test it I think.

Most modelers put a clear sealing coat over the final acrylic color paint before weathering or shading with inks or oils... This way you can work on the weathering without affecting the acrylic paint underneath...

Edited June 17 by Egilman

[PvG Aussie]

Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately, I did not apply a final acrylic coat before 'panelling' and I did try spirits. The spirits worked but did take some of the acrylic paint off. Solution three: mix up another coat of light grey and give the whole surfaces a light, low pressure, mist spray. It worked and did not cover up the 'panelling'. Thanks again for the tips and interest. 😃

Edited June 18 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

Today I partly created my version of the WWII Big wing.

 

Or is it some type of alien ship?

 

Also did some work on the propellors.

 

I'm happy with the results. Cheers,

[PvG Aussie]

Thanks to those who continue to follow this build.

 

Had a day of fitting BIG things and fiddly bits.

 

I've decided not to add the Beaching Gears (wheels) and Armaments as I think they would spoil the overall shape of this remarkable plane. 

All that is left now is to add the decals and find a spot to hang it. 😊

Cheers,

 

 

[Egilman]

4 hours ago, PvG Aussie said:

I've decided not to add the Beaching Gears (wheels) and Armaments as I think they would spoil the overall shape of this remarkable plane. 

Most people remember it as an amphibian with landing gear, the -5 and later models of this wonderful airplane, they forget it's roots were as a flying boat... Many of which served well into WWII....

[PvG Aussie]

FINISHED!

Added the decals today and am very pleased with this small (1/72 scale) build.

 

Things learnt:

• there are more than 30 shades of grey,
• don't mix your own shade of grey as you can only do it once and never match it again,
• look closely at instructions because they are sure to change right in front of your eyes,
• on a brighter note, I found I have put in as much concentration and effort into this model as any other,
• regardless of size, the fun is still there.

Cheers,

[PvG Aussie]

This being the end of this project, I would just like to thank all of you who have followed and liked what I have done over the past few weeks. I realise it has not been a massive project, but it has been a learning curve for me when it comes to paintwork, and it now flies gracefully in my study/workroom.

Thanks all,

Cheers,  Peter    🙂

 

[Canute]

Well done, Peter. 👍

 

About the paints, write down your formulae for drop counts, if you mix that way. Put a sticky label on the bottle, with that drop count. 😉

[Javlin]

That came out quite Nice!

[David W]

Very nicely done!

I have no patience with the tiny parts of a 1/72 build but do appreciate those that can work with that size😁 1/48 - might consider it someday if one is available as a -5 so I can do it as a Black Cat (no problem with dozens of shades of greys)

 

 

[Egilman]

3 hours ago, David W said:

1/48 - might consider it someday if one is available as a -5 so I can do it as a Black Cat

There is the Monogram #5609, Builds into a beautiful model... There is also the Revell rerelease #04507 (2014)

 

Pretty pricy, on evilbay right now in the 150.00 range but Hobby Models out of Mayfield, PA has it in stock according to their web store for 75.00...

[David W]

46 minutes ago, Egilman said:

There is the Monogram #5609, Builds into a beautiful model... There is also the Revell rerelease #04507 (2014)

 

Pretty pricy, on evilbay right now in the 150.00 range but Hobby Models out of Mayfield, PA has it in stock according to their web store for 75.00...

Thanks! I just bookmarked it for consideration - and to possibly add to my growing cache of unstarted/unfinished models. $150 and up is ......