Johnnytodd's Build: 1/56 scale Catalina PBY (Completed)

[Johnnytodd]

My interest in scratchbuilds rose from a desire for more wargame vehicles in 1/56th scale.  I find that scale to be the best fit for 28mm - and there are really no aircraft kits in that scale. Lately my projects have grown in size - rather too big for a typical gaming table. This PBY is a challenge with all of its various surface angles and retractable wingtip pontoons - and its large size with wingspan of 22". Hopefully I can incorporate some crew figs (perhaps adding a waist gunner). I plan to "base" it on a simple water platform and conform to the contest rules:



12/1  Big box of basswood arrived in the mail yesterday so I better get busy.  The original plans are in 1/72 so I enlarged to 1/56 then glue to proper size blocks.  Next step is the bandsaw.



12/2  Now cut:

[Silent Invader]

I love projects like this 

[Amalric]

Fantastic

I look forward to seeing more

[Johnnytodd]

No surprise, but filing the fuselage proved to be very time-consuming.  In addition to sculpting the correct profile, each side needs to be symetrical from top, bottom, front and back - here is 6 hours of labor:




It doesn't look like much... but so far it measures just right! Once this is done everything else is pretty easy.

[Damas]

I'm pulling up a chair and watching this one very closely! 

[Mainly28s]

Wow! Looking good. I'll definitely keep tabs on this one!

[FramFramson]

Is it going to have a removable base so as to alternate between "In the water" and "Airborne"?

[Johnnytodd]

Is it going to have a removable base so as to alternate between "In the water" and "Airborne"?

Yes, the plan is for a simple removeable water base as well as retractable wingtip pontoons.

[Johnnytodd]

I cheated:  a wing that once took me hours to carve with file and sanding block I roughed out today in 30 minutes with an electric palm sander! 

[Johnnytodd]

More progress:

[Centaur_Seducer]

Jesus, this is some serious project!

Do look forwad to the end product

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Beautiful.

Tony

[Johnnytodd]

More progress:  Nothing glued together but most parts are now shaped - giving a good idea of the scale of this beast!  I've discovered that the larger the model the more glaring any flaws become.  Forunately I caught an error in the plan before I cut the nacelle slots in the wing.





Here is the plan I'm using:

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?album=104&pid=967#top_display_media

And here is a more detailed schematic I refer to for more accurate measurements:

http://www.outerzone.co.uk/plan_files_0/951/PBY%20Catalina.pdf

[Tom Reed]

Is that side blister in the right position? It looks too high to me, but maybe that is because the plane is not sitting in the water.

[Johnnytodd]

The blister is indeed in the wrong place - its just resting on the fuselage. Once I get the other one carved they'll be properly placed.  I want to make one of the blisters open to expose the .50 cal gunner but haven't quite figured out how...using only wood and/or metal