Question about the Monogram 1/48 PBY-5A Catalina

Haha... got mine too yesterday but I haven't opened it (I dunno if I should return it and get the Dauntless). Looks like it has awesome reviews tho.. Does anybody know the differ3nce with this and the Promodeler release?

Monogram put out the PBY-5 and ProModeler was the PBY-5A (amphibian). I didn't look at the Catalina kits this morning, bought the AM B-25B and SBD-5 as well as another 1/35th UH-1C "Shark" kit. My Unit in Vietnam.

The Monogram kit I bought was labeled PBY-5A (it's the newest release, I suppose). Is there a possibility they are releasing it without the Promodeler name? If not, what would be the differences?

The -5 has no landing gear, It comes with a beaching dolly. While the -5A has a retractible, tricycle landing gear arrangement.
I also believe the ProModeler version came with crewmen for the various positions.

Randie

I've built both the -5 and -5A. Both have good fit, and good detail OOB. The Pro Modeler kit had a pilot, copilot and two gunners.

the major problem with both the Promod & Mono kits is the aft fuselage - where it meets the base of the vertical tail - it's too wide for the scale. If you are one of these modelers for detail, Belcher Bits of Canada makes a corrected tail conversion kit, and conversions for PBY-6A, & the eariler PBY-2, -3 & -4. It's a resin aftermarket kit, and I doubt it if it's still in production. Other than that, cockpit & waist guns are good for detail.

The other advice i can give is place a brass rod/strip thru the wings to provide added strength to keep them straight over time (so they dont sag down). But considering, when built, it's a VERY impressive kit. I recommend a book from Squadron/Signal Publications in detail & scale Vol 66 - PBY Catalina - EXCELLENT resource!!!!

Good luck mate!

I have found no major problem with the assembly of this kit. I am in the middle of placing decals prior to the final matte finish.

QUOTE: Originally posted by chopperfan The -5 has no landing gear, It comes with a beaching dolly. While the -5A has a retractible, tricycle landing gear arrangement. I also believe the ProModeler version came with crewmen for the various positions. Randie

That's odd. I opened my kit and it got a set of landing gears and a sprue of crewmen. Hmmm... maybe they dropped the Pro Modeler name and re-released it under the plain Monogram name. It looks like it has EXCELLENT detailing tho. Seems to be an interesting build...

Anybody else knows other kits released in Monogram names that used to be Pro Modeler?