PBY-5A Catalina, 1/72, Academy
Here’s one of my favorite build. Catalina!
I love all seaplanes and I think Catalina has the most standard shape of beauty in her kind.
I made this a years ago and this was my very first made water base. Wonhee Lee(now you all may know him for ‘master of the sea..’) commented a lot for helping me.
Kit is one of the finest model I’ve ever built of Academy. no correction needed and nice rivet details all over the plane. I had only the Black cat kit and I just changed color scheme. so some details may different. Main color is Tamiya AS-19 but I did a filtering with oil colors for brighter color. and panel lines were washed with same ivory oil color. I’m satisfied with this highlighted panel lines that make a model brighter look.
And for the weathering, I didn’t wanted to make too dirty this tidy bird but she still needed some hard weathering because of her use on the wild ocean. so I put the hard weathering of salt and rust but just in the some water submerged area.
Water base is made in normal way with Gel Medium and varnished for shiny finish.
for wave texture, I used this time my own hand with rubber globe tapping in slightly horizontal way on still wet Gel Medium surface. Easy way but result’s very satisfying for me.
For dried salt on surface, I used mix of Tamiya’s ‘Flat base’ and ‘clear’ enamels. normally it comes liked flat clear when you mix flat base in clear in right ratio. but if you use over quantity of flat base, it remains like white powder on surface after it dries. it really looks like salt. and just brush the border with thinner for better look.
This was the one of three seaplane that I’ve dreamed for my early building experience.
next time I’ll put my second seaplane, and same my only diorama. I think you’ll like it.
21 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Craig Abrahamson said on November 22, 2017
A most excellent job, my friend – a very nice build indeed…and you definitely have a talent for that water representation.
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
I hope so but I think it was just an beginner’s luck. because in second time it didn’t came back like this π
Hans Wilhelm Fischer said on November 22, 2017
Very fine Job. Like picture 15 – if you had held her at the wing-tip your hand wouldn’t have been on the photo π
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
Haha, your right Hans. I just can’t believe my self of when I glue the wing on the fuselage….
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on November 22, 2017
Another unbelievable sea scape! Also not easy to capture-as you have- a seaplane “on the step”, when it unsticks from the water. Beautifully done, in all aspects. Love the workworn look to the Catalina!
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
I first heard that word, “on the step”, Interesting Expression!
Rob Pollock said on November 22, 2017
Good choice with 1/72 scale- the 1/48 version is HUGE!
Louis Gardner said on November 22, 2017
Yes it is……………
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
I heard that monogram’s 48th is nice. but the size… how about hang it over the bath tube?
anyway I always build just 1/72. it is joy for me spreading out all 72th model and watch them comparing size.
Ferry Dierckxsens said on November 22, 2017
Wow, fantastic work in 1/72. Wonderful work on how the sea looks and the Catalina is just great!
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
Thank you Ferry! I’m really glad my sea looks like… sea!
Robert Royes said on November 22, 2017
A fine build and sea scape!
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
Thank you Robert, I’ll put my next seaplane soon
Jeff Bailey said on November 22, 2017
Outstanding, Hongseob CHOI. You have a special talent with water.
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
It’s Just wonhui taught me well!
Louis Gardner said on November 22, 2017
Very life like. This looks fantastic !!!!
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
Thanks Louis! I always work paying attention to give a life like look!
Johannes Gerl said on November 23, 2017
I think we have two masters of her sea here, one Posseidon and one Neptun. Really, sometimes I canβt believe what I see when you guys, Won-hui (@won-huilee) and Hongseob, present your work. My special thanks for the tip with the Flat Base. I will try this one at the next opportunity.
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
I appreciate for your compliments!
Flat Base technic is really useful. just test first with variable rate, and you’ll soon get it
Dirk Derks said on November 24, 2017
Hello Choi,
Fantastic model in a fantastic setting. very realistic.
Regards, Dirk / The Netherlands.
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
Thank you Dirk!
however, I noticed that you choose just same DC-3 like me for your award before! I hope to see you building it soon
Greg Kittinger said on November 24, 2017
That is a beautiful Cat. I love the weathering and detail work. Just excellent!
Hongseob CHOI said on November 26, 2017
That’s true.. this may be could be in the Cat group build! I didn’t noticed it.
George Johnson said on November 28, 2017
Very nice! The water is very convincing, and the model is, of course, beautiful.