The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat, and later an amphibious aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft.
It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other nations, including Australia.
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During World War II, PBYs were used in anti-submarine warfare, patrol bombing, convoy escorts, search and rescue missions (especially air-sea rescue), and cargo transport.
The PBY was the most numerous aircraft of its kind and the last active military PBYs were not retired from service until the 1980s.
Even today, nearly 80 years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as a water-bomber (or airtanker) in aerial firefighting operations all over the world.
The model and crew were purchased for one of the many rescue scenarios that occurred in the Pacific during WW2 involving the Catalina.
In the Pacific Australian pilots more often than not adopted the Khaki shorts and shirts of the Infantry due to the excess heat.
The WW2 crews from Q.A.N.T.A.S. used a military style khaki uniform.
These are painted in the RAAF uniform.
I opted for a 1/72nd scale aircraft as even that is large for a tabletop game.
Nice work on the crew, Dave! 🙂 I few years ago I saw a Catalina flying over my home town – earlier in the day it had actually touched down on the water and takes off again as part of a display for Sunderland air show (staged over the coast)!
Great crew- will be a big plane once built up.
Cheers,
Pete.
I would think in flight 1/72 would work, but on the ground it would be even bigger! Unless someone makes a 1/56 scale aircraft, you’d be looking at 1/48, a little large and defiantly dominating the tabletop!
Love the downed pilots!
Great work on the crew Dave, and the model should look great on the tabletop, when done.