Kit: No. 5609
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Monogram Models, 8601 Waukegan Road, Morton Grove, IL 60053-2295, phone: 847-966-3500
Price: $30
Comments: Injection molded, 128 parts, decals.

A 1/48 SCALE PBY CATALINA has topped modelers’ polls for years (including “Your five most-wanted kits” in the May 1994 FSM). Rumors that Monogram was working on one have bubbled up now and then, but now its here!

Monogram’s moldings feature beautifully recessed panel lines and rivets. Interior detail is excellent, too — a Monogram tradition. Options include warm- and cold-weather exhaust systems, positionable wing-tip floats, open or closed waist blisters, and an open or closed nose turret. Beaching gear is provided.

Underwing stores include four aerial depth charges and a prickly array of radar antennas. The decal sheet is well printed and has dozens of items to apply, including the zippered inspection panels in the wing fabric. Markings are provided for one aircraft, but there are two options: with or without red-and-white rudder stripes.

The 16-page instructions are easy to follow, name the parts, and provide a color chart that includes the stock numbers for Monogram’s ProModeler paints (which were not yet available when I built my Catalina).

I was concerned that the huge fuselage and wing halves might be warped. Surprise! Everything was arrow straight and the fit of the parts was excellent. Still, there are some mold-parting seams to clean on the small parts. Correct alignment of the horizontal stabilizers is built in, so there isn’t much trouble there.

I like the way Monogram produced the waist blisters. One section fits inside the other, and although they are not movable, you can pose them opened or closed.

Be careful with the numerous radar antennas and other small parts projecting from the wing and fuselage. I suggest you install them after painting and decaling.

My Catalina is painted with Floquil Classic Military light gray and blue gray. I sprayed the interior components olive drab according to the instructions, but I chose interior green for the inner surfaces of the fuselage halves.

The 75 decal items went on well, but don’t use setting solution. Follow the directions and use a damp paper towel to blot the excess water and adhesive from the markings. Press each decal down to remove air. My only problem was getting the rudder stripes to conform to the curve of the trailing edge.

While it took only 10 hours to prepare and assemble this kit, it took another 10 to mask, paint, and decal.

And boy, is it impressive when finished! It’s huge, a little more than 25″ in span and 16 1/2&quiot; long. That measures right on scale according to the statistics in Squadron/Signal’s PBY Catalina in Action and Walk Around PBY Catalina, my main references.

I’m pleased that I finally have a “Cat” in my 1/48 scale World War II collection. The forthcoming ProModeler PBY-5A amphibian will be just as welcome.

Al Jones