What prompted me was that late last night I was browsing through David Leigh Smith's @dirtylittlefokker postings that were titled "On this day". As luck would have it, I happened across a photo that he posted of the actual PBY that I'm going to build for David Thomas. @davidathomas

Here she is, in all her glory... This is perfect and will help considerably, as the instructions for the decals were not sure which type of lettering "font" was to be used for the aircraft serial number. This answered that question for me, and then a few more...

as always, comments are encouraged.

My dear friend David Thomas contacted me today, telling me that he is now on his way to Ecuador as a missionary. He asked that I complete this build for him.

It seems that I always get busy doing different things, and before you know it, almost a year and a half has gone by since the last update was posted... I am sorry that I have not done anything to this kit in such a long time... Forgive me David. I gave you my word, and I will live up to it.

Ironically, several days ago I made a trip to see my friends who are restoring a PBY that is credited with 3 U-Boat kills. This PBY has been modified from it's original wartime configuration, to a more "civilized" civilian aircraft. One such modification they did not long after this PBY was sold by the US Navy, was to delete the nose turret...

Now I am happy to report the turret has been rebuilt and is now back on the nose. Here are a few pictures of the progress.

As always comments are encouraged.

Thanks for the pictures of the 1:1 Catalina, Louis (@lgardner). I'm glad you are restarting this build and I am looking forward to the completion. Like Spiros (@fiveten), I have been dragging a number of the large Monogram/Revell kits around for a long time, and one of these days I plan to build all of them.

Spiros, @fiveten
These two kits of yours would be a welcome addition to this build journal. I have built the exact PBY-5A model as the one you have. It was done as part of the Midway group build that we had about three
years ago. It is a nice model to build.

Should you decide to open them up, clear off some bench space, and start documenting the build, that would be fantastic. If not, I understand that too, as you can only build so many models at one time... then you run out of space.

I have a lot of pictures showing the inside of a Catalina that I took a while ago. Should you decide to start building yours, I can share what I have with you. Expect more activity on this Catalina once I finish the big Uhu and smaller Moskito / Mosquito dual builds for the De Havilland group.

I have a regular PBY-5 flying boat, and a PBY-5A amphibian. In order to use the decal set I have had for a Cat that operated out of NAS Jacksonville, I will have to modify the amphibian to a flying boat by removing the landing gears, and building some shore dollies. The easiest way would be to look for another PBY-5 Flying Boat. So I might just do that, since I need a straight flying boat PBY to build a model of the aircraft that spotted the Bismarck. Time will tell.

John, @johnb
You are absolutely correct. This is in fact the same plane. It is currently owned by the Collings Foundation. From what my friends have told me, they plan to bring this PBY back to it's former wartime configuration. They want to preserve it's heritage, as this plane has seen combat, and it was credited with sinking 3 U-Boats.

It was circumstantial how this build was rejuvenated. I happened to stop by and visit my friends who are restoring this PBY. Then the very next day I get a message from David Thomas, the gentleman who sent me this kit, along with some others, and he asked that I complete it for him. I am a man of my word, so I will.

Please stay tuned for updates here. Thank you.

Thanks, Louis (@lgardner). All of my big Monograms are in storage until we move to our new house. I think the first kit I jump into when I get all of my stuff back is the 1/72 B-52 Mothership with the X-15. I have been saving it for a long time. The PBY should come shortly after that.

Cat fever! Should I be looking for a 1/72? Never did one.