Thanks Chuck for the kind words. This one gave me a few problems with the wing gaps between the panels. But it was probably something I did rather than a fault of the kit. I have been bouncing back and forth between this one and the other builds I did for the Midway Group Build. Most of the time the poor PBY was set aside to work on the others. Now with our deadline coming nearer, I really need to dig in and get this one done... Thanks again buddy.

Thanks Dirk. I'm happy to hear that you read the entire build from start to where we are now. I hope it wasn't too boring for you ! I agree with you that the older Monogram kits are very good, still to this day... Thanks again for the compliments my friend.

Thank you David. I am pleased with how the finish turned out... It may be a mistake, but I do need to weather it some. I'm going to attempt something new for me, and try to replicate dried on salt spray in some areas of the hull. I also need to do something on the top sides of the plane to make it look more faded and weathered a little more too. Plus since this plane operated from Midway Island, I'm going to have to make it look dusty. If I get this done to where I am happy with it, I may carry on and complete the weathering on my Joe Foss "Cactus Air Force" F4F-4, "Black 53".

Meanwhile today I was searching the decal dungeon to find appropriate decals for use on this one. I didn't have the correct sized wing Star insignias... more on that in a few.

I wanted to determine exactly where the wing stars were located. So I pulled out my trusty Squadron Signal "PBY In Action" book and located these two pictures...

Here's a close up of the decals I sourced from a "Yellow Wings" decal sheet. This one is number 48-023, which is called USN 1932-1942 Standard 12" Numbers and Squadron Designators BLACK.

I was able to modify a bombing "B" letter into a "P" by cutting away the lower corner with a sharp single edged razor blade... The other "4's" were simply cut out of the sheet. I left two sets of two numbers connected to keep them straight as I applied them to the plane.

I mentioned above that I didn't have the proper sized wing Insignia Stars. It looks like "44-P-4" had a much larger star on it's wings than what I had available right now. But I did have a good selection of 50' stars. Plus I found one pair of Stars that was a lighter shade of blue. I decided to use these lighter blue ones on the tops of the wing as if they had been a little sun faded. I hope it works...

These lighter blue stars are on the right of this picture below:

Here's how the decals look after they were placed on the Port side of the fuselage bow.

and the Starboard side: (These were still wet when I took the picture)

Here's how the top of the wing looks now that the Stars have been added. Eventually I will get my hands on a larger set of Stars and replace these smaller ones. Hopefully it will be as simple as applying the larger Stars over these smaller ones...But for now these will have to work...

and finally a parting shot showing the underside of the wing and nose of the Catalina.

The next step is to mask off and spray the remaining clear parts, then get them installed. After that I have to do some weathering on it... I'm going to try my best to get this one done by the Anniversary.

Please check back soon for more updates. Thanks for following along... and have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend. Please don't forget the reason for the Holiday.

Comments are encouraged.

Thanks Tom !

It's getting even closer now. Last night I gave the decals a light spray using Testor's "Dull Coat" from a rattle can...

Today I managed to get the rest of the clear parts painted, and most of them installed.

To begin with I used "Scotch" tape and masked off the clear part of the windows.

Once that was done I used blue painters tape to mask off the back sides of the clear parts to protect them against overspray...

Then they received a light coat of "Interior Green",

Followed by a coat of "Blue Gray" to match the exterior of the plane...

Here's how the parts looked once I removed the masking.

This picture shows how painting the "interior green" on first gives the illusion that the inside of the window frames were painted separately.

Once the paints dried, I glued the front turret in position on the Catalina.

The waist position blisters and MG's were installed too:

I'm calling it a night. Hopefully tomorrow I can complete the landing lights and get some weathering and final small detail painting done on it.

As usual, comments are encouraged.

Well this one is finally done... Just in time.

Today I finished up the weathering and applied some oil washes to the engines and landing gear bays.

Then I installed the pitot tube, and antennae lead cables, and touched up the exhaust stains.

Here's how the Catalina looks now...

Ready for the "Midway Group Build" reveals, which will start on Saturday...

I have another project going on out in the shop scheduled for Saturday, so I may not be able to post this one up as the first posting for the Group Build reveal.

So please by all means, when you are ready to start posting your builds on Saturday morning, please don't wait for me. It may be later on in the evening before I can post this one.

Thanks again for following along with this build. It has been a very nice plane to assemble, and really looks the part once it's completed. Sure there were a few problems, but I may have been the cause of them. The main thing I had troubles with were the gaps along the wing panel joints.

I really am surprised that you don't see too many of these built. It's a shame, since this is really a nice kit.

Special thanks go out to my friend, Tom Bebout, who sent me some detail photos that he took for me in the US Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB, of their OA-10 (which is what the US Army called a PBY-5A). Without the help from having your pictures in hand, this one would not have turned out as nice as it did.

Thanks again Tom.

Lovely Louis! Great looking Cat!