This is very personal to me. My dad died many years ago, and tho' he never really took much interest in my hobby through the years, he did ask a number of times, if I would build a Catalina - I always said I would and I never did.

Dads interest stemmed back to the very dark days (for the UK), of 1941, A Catalina (and some other types) came to Liverpool on a 'moral raising' trip, Dad was 14 and was lucky enough to be taken aboard and given a joy-ride. He never forgot it.

I'd searched for this Aeromaster sheet for years and years, it popped-up on eBay in January, I bought it, bought the kit and the result is here. Xtracolour enamels throughout and hopefully Dad would've been happy with it... I am.

Thanks for looking.

Ian.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Yep it's the Academy kit (I mentioned it in the 'tags'. Thanks.

Ian.

Thanks for the kind comment, Rob, appreciate it - as for posting in to the Headlines, this is my 'first day on the job' may be seen as a tad presumptuous, doncha think ?

Ian.

Ian, I like what you did on the waterline, I don't see it ofter, and it certainly is what the real thing would look like. I remember that photo of the Sunderland being pulled up the ramp, and it was far from pristine. A revelation, as there are no flying boats hereabouts, since the late 40s.
Is this the one that found Bismark, had an American copilot at the time, on an exchange tour?

Bernard, yes it is the 'Bismark spotter' the one with 'Tuck' Smith USN in the right seat, I'm not certain, but I believe that the Catalina that visited Liverpool in 1941 was from the same squadron (209).

David, I didn't take any more photos than these, I may take some more in the future tho'.

Ian.