Small Scale Military Headquarters

I think i mentioned this before but Kyosho made an r/c ARF kit of the PBY Catalina which is almost exactly 1/18 scale. The kit retailed for around $300. Recently i've seen them going on Ebay for over $400. Although closer to $300 is still the norm.

I've wanted to get one for about three years now and finally found a good one for a decent price. Comes with all kinds of r/c goodies (which i'll probably sell) and an extra bonus was it comes with 3 bladed props (the kit only came with 2 bladed ones). Since it's mostly built up it will save me a lot of time and effort as well, which is good.

Now my big problem is what markings to paint it in? Early war US, late war US, a British Coastal Command version? The problems just never end.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1

(ps i'm way over my budget for the month on this one...i may have to ammend my poll selection )

That looks pretty awesome and what a good find! If I were in your shoes, I'd make it in an early-war US scheme, preferably patterened after an aircraft operating around the time of the Battle of Midway

Then again, however, you do live in Canada, which is part of the British commonwealth, so you may want to do the British scheme

Just awesome. A terrific plane, RC or not.

After Flight 19 went into the Bermuda Triange, didn't a Catalina follow while searching for Flight 19, and was never heard from again?

I used to travel to Richmond on business a couple of times a year and a beat up Catalina always seemed to be on the airfield. I got a close up view only once, but it was flyable and looked great to me anyway.

TTT

That plane looks like it wants to fly!
Hook up the R/C and start a new hobby.

Might wanna start out on a Firebird Commander Trainer first, though!

Now my big problem is what markings to paint it in? Early war US, late war US, a British Coastal Command version? The problems just never end.

Might I suggest a "Black Cats" version?? The exploits of the Cats' are legendary, have a look here... http://www.daveswarbirds.com/blackcat/ Good luck with your new bird, whichever paint scheme you decide on.

I would go for the early war light blue--but i am just a sucker for it
Aaron

Nice looking Catalina Aferguson, are you going to drive down to Massachusetts to pick it up? I'd go with Coastal Command; You could hunt subs in the north Atlantic.

so now i have FOUR paint schemes to choose from...thanks for all the help guys..lol.

Normandy, i asked the seller to fly it up to me but he declined. He's going to partially disassemble it and ship it to me.

Right now i'm leaning towards the early war blue version myself. After researching the Black Cats i may change my mind....then again i do love the Coastal Command scheme...

I can't tell what version it is from the pics.
The tail changed on the latter anphib. variant.
That would limit you some.
Most if not all current PBY's are anphib 5's
Pensacola has a earlier boat with beaching gear.

Threetoughtrucks wrote:After Flight 19 went into the Bermuda Triange, didn't a Catalina follow while searching for Flight 19, and was never heard from again?TTT

Nope. It was a PBM Mariner flying boat.

Yep, better known as the flying gas tank for its unmanning ability to explode.

A good friend of mine's dad was in PBM's and his blew up with a loss of all souls.
His dad was sick that day and survived.