Academy Consolidated PBY-5A 1/72 Scale 'Black Cat' Review

 I just keep rifling through the Academy 1/72 scale models. I like the price, quality and selection that is offered by this manufacturer. I have never before built a Catalina, so this was an interesting project. The kit builds into a very nice little scale model.

The Modeled Aircraft

The kit comes with markings to build a 'Black Cat' Catalina, members of US Navy VP-12 who worked by night bombing Japanese shipping and island installations near Guadalcanal. This is perhaps one of the most famous of the Catalina units.

I did not really want to build an all-black ship, and having an interest in the Aleutian Island campaign I opted to build a Catalina of VP-61 which was based out of Adak. This is the aircraft I chose to model:

PBY-5A of VP-61 patrolling the Aleutian Islands in 1943 

I quickly discovered that there is not a great selection of custom decals for the 1/72 scale Catalina, so I decided to make my own on an inkjet printer. I will write about that adventure another time.

Kit Statistics

Manufacturer	Academy Hobby Model Kits
Scale	1/72
Model Number	12487
Wingspan	17" (43cm)
Length	10.5" (36.5cm)
Part Count	112

Kit Ratings

Category	Score
Overall Representation of Prototype	5
Packaging	5
Assembly Instructions	3
Painting/Marking Guide	5
Decal Quality	2
Decal Accuracy	2
Casting Quality	5
Interior Detail	4
Surface Detail	5
Component Fit	5
Total Score	41/50

Colors Required

Color Required	Color Used
Dark Blue (Panel lines)	Tamiya Acrylic XF-17 Sea Blue
Light Blue	Tamiya Acrylic XF-23 Light Blue
Zinc Oxide Green	Model Master Acryl 4852 Green Zinc Chromate
Light Grey	Model Master Acryl 4765 Light Grey
Flat Black	Model Master Acryl 4768
Tan	Model Master Acryl 4674 Leather
Silver
Flat White	Model Master Acryl 4769 Flat White

Optional Available Decal/Detail Sets

Testors 9198 Custom Decal System

Overall Representation of the Prototype

I think this model very accurately depicts the prototype. The detailing is very good for this scale, including the fairly delicate antennas and the main landing gear. It compares favorably with photographs of the prototype.
My only complaints would be the lack of surface detail representing the wing de-icer boots and some inaccuracy on the blister window framing.

Packaging

The entire kit comes packed in a box with a corrugated bottom. The sprues are separately packaged in plastic bags and the decals come in a separate plastic bag.

Assembly Instructions

The assembly instructions are a black and white 8.5" x 11" booklet format, consisting of several pages. Assembly steps are clearly shown and the kit is easily constructed using the instructions, with the one exception that it is nearly impossible to glue together all of the parts that are meant to be installed when the fuselage halves are mated. I installed the control yokes after assembling the fuselage rather than during as shown.

Painting/Marking Guide

The black and white painting guide depicts the paint scheme of an all-black Catalina. Marking locations appear accurate based on photographs of the prototype.

Decal Quality

I did not use the kit decals, so I can't speak to their quality. Having often used Academy decals in the past, I would guess that they are thick and do not respond well to setting solutions.

Decal Accuracy

Decals are sparse and include only the national insignia and aircraft numbering. There are no placards or warnings included.

Casting Quality

The castings are good and very clean. There is very little flash and clean-up is minimal.
One of the fin assemblies for the bombs was mis-molded in my kit.

Interior Detail

The waist gun compartment includes guns, bulkheads, gun platforms and a walkway so that it does not look too sparse through the tear-shaped blisters. The cockpit includes a bulkhead, seats, a dual control yoke and instrument panel decals. Much of the cockpit detailing has a clunky feel to it, but you can't see much of this once the windscreen is installed.

Surface Detail

Panel and riveting detail is all engraved, and there is a lot of it. The panel lines get less pronounced as they near the mating edges of the fuselage, presumably because of the molding process. Anti-icing boots are molded into the tail and horizontal stabilizers, but not the wings. You will have to guess their location there.

Component Fit

Major assemblies such as wings and fuselage fit very nicely. Some of the interior parts that mate with the fuselage, such as the bulkheads and forward gear bay, may need some work in order to get them to fit just right. Surprisingly the wing spars fit almost perfectly between wing and fuselage.

Project Summary

The Catalina was outdated when the war began, but it was a workhorse that saw action all the way through the conflict and beyond. This is a fun build and an interesting aircraft to have in your collection.

Photos

Below are images of the completed kit: