I studied the hull’s interior parts and quickly realized the turret and cockpit would generally not be visible, even if painted aluminum. However the waist gunner/observer positions with those large hatches would be quite visible. So I studied the original Detail & Scale book on the PBY Catalina which has great pictures of the interior and decided to add ribs and stringers using strip styrene.
This was all well and good until I realized I also had to add a platform because the PBY-2 (and -4) kits are inaccurate in the waist positions. Given the kits use the same basic molds and there is obviously just a mold insert for either the teardrop windows on the -5/5A or the hatches of the -2/-4, unfortunately Academy provided only the later interior. They are significantly different, with the earlier variant using a square, stepped platform for the gunner, his guns were mounted at the aft-lower corner of each opening, swinging up and out when in use. The later variants used a large pedestal centered just inside the teardrop opening and with a semi-circular platform for the gunner.
I tried my hand at making the platform from styrene and after 2 failures I chose to again 3D print a solution. Again, I’ve made this available for free on printables.com.
When I tried to fit the platform into the fuselage, it just would not fit. In order to get it positioned under the opening I would have to place it up against the aft bulkhead, which is not the case in the real aircraft. There was not enough room for a chemical toilet, boarding ladder, and life raft aft of the platforms. I even tried altering the shape of the platform but ultimately could never get it to fit. Something’s wrong here…and I’ve already added the ribs/stringers.
I studied the interior pictures for a while and then some exterior pictures of the waist area. I also studied line drawings to get a feel for the geometry of the waist. The kit is the right length, so something else was off.
Ultimately I realized the hatch openings were in the wrong location! And on further study, they were also too large and improperly shaped, with the aft edge wider than the forward edge and the length too long. I contemplated leaving well enough alone and just building the model but then decided since I put the effort into correcting the cowl/nacelles I should correct the waist.
More study of photos and I realized the forward edge of the opening was near the same panel line as the forward bulkhead. A quick measurement and that meant moving the opening 27 scale inches forward along the same stringer lines. I was able to find a rib line that matched the approximate length of the hatch and then started cutting. The photo shows how much of a difference there is in the unmodified and corrected locations.
After cutting the opening and filling and sanding that smooth I focused on fixing the interior again. More ribs and stringers… Since the model will be displayed on her beaching gear, I chose to show the guns stowed, which would be correct. I used the kit’s 0.30 calibre Brownings as that was typical for the PBY-2, getting 0.50 caliber guns closer to entry into the war.
I then fitted the platform which now made significantly more sense and matched the pictures. Since I had the opportunity I added the chemical toilet and corrected the gangway. It’s angled too low at the forward end if attached per the instructions. I simply drilled 2 fresh holes and moved the gangway up to align with the forward hatch as shown in photos.
Some test fitting and ultimately I realized only the platforms and the gangway, with the forward bulkhead would be visible. Everything aft of the opening is blocked from view by the trailing edge of the wing. So I did not add the boarding ladder or life raft. I may scratch a boarding ladder later and add it to the port side as shown in a couple of photos.
Now to finish the cockpit and close up the hull. I see some sanding and priming in my future.
Thanks for looking…
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