Moeggo
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 93
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Post by Moeggo on Mar 1, 2007 19:11:26 GMT 12
Hi everyone, I just came across by luck, I thought that I would share the build that I doing at the moment - 1/48 Monogram PBY-5 NZ4017 of Flying Boat Sqn 6, Halavo Bay, Florida Island late 1944. At the moment Im abit held up as I waiting and try to find a PBY-5a Front Turret to finish it off! Check it out here - www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=107936 |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 1, 2007 20:05:45 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Moeggo.
That's looking good. Please keep us up to date with progress reports.
I have that kit stored away, I must build it someday. I've interviewed a couple of Cambridge airmen who served on Catalinas at Halavo Bay, one as Flight Engineer and the other as the guy who helped the flying boats do their mooring. Their interviews are not on my site yet though.
Spread the word about this forum, the more the merrier. And feel free to tell us a little more on the Introduce Yourself page in the General Board.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 2, 2007 7:53:58 GMT 12
Very nice looking Catalina Moeggo  |
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Post by corsair67 on Mar 2, 2007 14:43:05 GMT 12
Great work, and it's good to see an RNZAF Cat being built, instead of the usual USN/RAF ones. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2007 12:55:42 GMT 12
What was the reason for the large dark blue circle on the starboard cockpit area? Was it blocking out some previous noseart on NZ4017?
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Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 5, 2007 7:40:01 GMT 12
Maybe they painted over the US star?
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Moeggo
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 93
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Post by Moeggo on Mar 7, 2007 21:47:31 GMT 12
Yes I believe it was the case of that, paint oth the star as most PBY-5 were hand-me-downs from the US gov.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2007 22:58:12 GMT 12
Thanks for that. I hought NZ had bought them new. But then I guess even new they would hav had stars painted on at the production line. Cheers.
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Moeggo
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 93
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Post by Moeggo on Mar 8, 2007 21:11:42 GMT 12
I had a been doing a bit more reserch into the painted large dark blue circles on the sides and its because they painted over the early style roundels!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2007 21:56:20 GMT 12
As in RNZAF roundels?
That makes sense as they did have bar-less roundels up the front early on when delivered. I'm not sure if they were red-white-blue or blue-white-blue though.
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Post by Bruce on Mar 8, 2007 22:39:06 GMT 12
The early batches of PBY-5s (of which '17 was one) came in the then - current US Navy scheme which included the stars on the forward fuselage. The aircraft were left in that scheme until they reached Lauthala Bay, as there was no gaurantee that US forces on route would correctly identify the nationality! the picture below is out of "Golden Age of NZ Flying Boats" and shows a ferry crew with what would become NZ4009  The stars were initially overpainted with red-white -Blue-Yellow roundels, of unusual proportions - with a small red dot, similar to that worn on P40s. Below are two pictures of NZ4001, taken during the first visit of a Catalina to NZ 20 April 1943 (at that time all the Cats were based at Lauthala bay in Fiji) Note that the particular film type has rendered the yellow ring as black - a common thing to be aware of with 1940s photos. The tone of the overall colours has also been rendered lighter than in reality.   At a later date the RNZAF adopted blue - white- Blue roundels with Bars, painted on the rear fuse - the early Cats which originally had nose roundels would have the bars positioned centrally, whereas later examples where the US barred insignia was on the rear fuselage and painted over, would have bars offset towards the top (to match the corners of the stars). the nose roundels were painted over in a variety of colours, varying from aircraft to aircraft. My 1/72 Cat is also representing '17, however I made it before much of the catalina colour scheme info was available and the topside colours are an innacurate darker green / blue, based on a misinterpretation of black and white photos, and a description of the colour as "sea Blue" which on USN 3 Tone aircraft, initially had that slight greenish tone. One of these days I may either build another in correct colours, or repaint it, but I'm leaving it as - is for now as an illustration of the falliability of relying on B&W photos! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2007 22:50:34 GMT 12
But Bruce those two photos of NZ4001 were taken at Hobsonville not Lauthala Bay, and very shortly after delivery to the RNZAF. It later went to Fiji of course, so not all were ferried in the star roundel then.
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Post by Bruce on Mar 8, 2007 23:14:02 GMT 12
I did mention that it was on the first NZ visit.. the delivery flight went to Lauthala bay, where the aircraft was commissioned, then it came to NZ. Certainly not all cats were ferried with stars, but the early batches were.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2007 23:40:07 GMT 12
Sorry, I missed that. I shouldn't read posts and watch TV at the same time.
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Moeggo
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 93
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Post by Moeggo on Mar 22, 2007 21:46:54 GMT 12
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Post by agalbraith on Mar 22, 2007 22:44:16 GMT 12
Great work Dave.........go on mate Wairapa Wildcat. That would look awesome next to that beautiful Cat.
Those Aeromaster decals look great. Did you have any trouble getting them to settle down?
First rate build!
Anthony
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 22, 2007 23:25:55 GMT 12
Excellent work Dave. It looks superb!
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Moeggo
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 93
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Post by Moeggo on Mar 22, 2007 23:54:56 GMT 12
Those Aeromaster decals look great. Did you have any trouble getting them to settle down? Those decals were a headache! I got them down the best I could theres two or three spots on the top roundals on the wing that still have problems! |
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Post by mumbles on Mar 24, 2007 0:45:16 GMT 12
Is it just me or do Catalinas just look plain wierd in plan view?  Everything seems out of proportion to everything else. |
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