RNZAF PBY-5 Catalina - NZ4010 XX-L

[dewobz]

NZ4010 1251 PBY-5 Previously JX228. Arrived Fiji 16 June 1943. Code XX-L. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
Here's my 1/48 Monogram PBY-5 Catalina depicted as NZ4010 XX-L in late 1944 after white bars have been added to the roundels and blue borders to the bars on the underwing only. Built pretty much OOB with the addition of gunbelts for the 50cals in the Blisters, T aerials under the wings and scratchbuilt sidewall detail inside the cockpit. Aeromaster paints with Aeromaster & Ventura decals.
The complete build is on www.kiwimodeller.com RNZAF 75th Anniversary GB. (She was originally going to be NZ4021 XX-X) Additional finished photos will be added soon to the Build Gallery of the same forum.
Cheers,
Wally.

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[Dave Homewood]

Cool, well done Wally.

[dewobz]

To paraphrase William Shakespeare, "Is that the makings of a decal I see before me?" (Patua Te Ra). And to extend the analogy, "If so sir, pray, tell us more?"

[Dave Homewood]

Maybe. Would people be interested??

[Tony]

Jun 12, 2012 16:59:56 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Maybe. Would people be interested??

YOU BETCHA ;D ;D

[dewobz]

You betcha goes for me too. I do have a question though, in the spirit of 'us' - the Kiwi modelling & RNZAF historical fraternity (if you will) - getting it right. "Patua Te Ra" artwork painted upon what camouflage colour? Intermediate Blue (of a 3 tone scheme) or NZ Blue Sea Grey?
You may very well have already verified this from sources I do not have access to, but based on my own comparison of the photo in Classic Warbirds with other photos in the same book, and for several other reasons I can elaborate on depending on the answer to this question, I wonder if the aircraft has been repainted in NZ Blue Sea Grey over NZ Sky Grey by the time that photo was taken in Dec '43 (according to the caption)?

[Dave Homewood]

I have no idea as I have not looked into the paint underneath but December 1943 seems very early for a repaint, just two months into the tour?