Airfix Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina 1:72

In October 1933, the US Navy placed an order with Consolidated and Douglas for prototypes of new machines. The prototype constructed by Consolidated, designated XP3Y-1, became a flying boat built in the largest number of copies. The internal designation assigned to the structure by the company is Consolidated 28. The aircraft, just like its predecessor - P2Y - had a high wing system. The new design, however, uses a system of internal stiffening curvatures, which made the wing look like a free-bearing structure. The only exception was the two small, profiled supports on both sides of the plane, between the fuselage and the center wing. As a result, version 28 was devoid of sources of additional aerodynamic drag, generated in earlier designs by struts and stiffening straps, which were the cause of lower flight parameters. Another aerodynamic innovation limiting drag was the use of stabilizing floats, which were folded up during flight to form a profiled wing tip. The hull with two redans was very similar to that of the P2Y, but in the 28 version it had a streamlined, cross-shaped self-supporting tail. The prototype was powered by two 836HP Pratt-Whitney R-1830-54 Twin Wasp engines, installed on the leading edge of the wing. The armament consisted of four 7.62 mm machine guns and a bomb load of up to 907 kg. The first flight took place on March 28, 1935, after which the XP3Y-1 was promptly handed over to the US Navy for operational evaluation. The tests proved the significant advantage of the P3Y-1 over the patrol flying boats used so far. The long range and improved properties when taking off from land-based airfields meant that the US Navy expressed interest in the further development of the structure so that it could be used as a patrol-bomber. Therefore, in October 1935, the prototype returned to the parent plant to continue construction work on it. They included i.a. development of new R-1830-64 engines with a capacity of 912HP. A redesigned vertical tail was also introduced and a new prototype, designated XPBY-1, was flew on May 19, 1936, and soon the serial PBY-1 began to be delivered to the US Navy. After minor changes, the planes ordered in July 1936 received the designation PBY-2, and the following PBY-3 and PBY-4 were fitted with the R-1830-66 (1014KM) and R-1830-72 (1065KM) engines, respectively. In April 1939, the last of the PBY-4 machines was returned to the production plants for the installation of a wheeled chassis. Such equipment made the plane amphibious, extending the possibilities of its use. This specimen, leaving the production plant in November 1939 after the modification was completed, received the designation XPBY-5A. Test flights confirmed the advantage of this version over the previous one. Therefore, the planes ordered by the US Navy as PBY-5 were equipped as amphibians in accordance with the PBY-5A standard. Intensive use led to the thought that the plane could have significantly improved characteristics by redesigning the fuselage. The necessary tests and design works were carried out by Naval Aircraft Factory and the next, last production version of Catalina was already called PBY-6A. Technical data (PBY-5A version): length: 19.46m, wingspan: 31.7m, height: 6.15m, maximum speed: 314km / h, rate of climb: 5.1m / s, practical ceiling: 4000m, range maximum: 4050 km, armament: fixed - 3 machine guns caliber 7.62 mm and 2 machine guns caliber 12.7 mm, suspended - up to 1814 kg of bombs.

Scale: 1:72
Skill: 2
Number of Parts: 128

Although initially intended as an evolutionary adaptation of the existing Blenheim bomber, it quickly became apparent that the new aircraft would look significantly different from its predecessor, with a much deeper front fuselage section housing a crew of four and the ability to carry a torpedo in a semi-recessed configuration. These modifications resulted in a gross weight increase of around 25% over that of the Blenheim and would require the installation of more powerful engines, if the new aircraft was not to suffer a significant performance reduction indeed, the new engines for the aircraft, combined with the existing production commitments for the Blenheim would cause lengthy delays during the Beauforts development. With the initial contract placed in August 1936, despite the pressing need for the new aircraft, it would be more than two years before the prototype Beaufort took to the air.

Entering Royal Air Force service with No.22 Squadron Coastal Command in January 1940, the Beaufort proved to be a rugged and highly manoeuvrable aircraft, although the engines continued to be something of a problem. Initially employed laying mines in enemy waters, Beauforts would later mount attacks against the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. However, in the European theatre, the aircraft would operate in the main as a medium bomber. In the Mediterranean, Beauforts operating from Egypt and Malta would take a terrible toll of Axis shipping and during a concerted onslaught from the middle of 1942, would make a significant contribution in denying Rommels Afrika Korps the vital supplies they needed to continue fighting the desert war. Due to the weight of the aircraft, a steep diving approach was not suitable for the Beaufort and a torpedo attack run needed to commence at a relatively low, flat attitude and quite some way from the target, if the torpedo release was to be successful and not hit the water ineffectively at a steep angle.

This made the aircraft vulnerable to accurate defensive fire, yet Beaufort pilots were brave and aggressive in their flying, using the excellent manoeuvrability of the aircraft to make the enemy gunners job much more difficult. Further afield, Beauforts of the Royal Australian Air Force would also prove extremely effective in the South-West Pacific, taking a heavy toll of Japanese shipping and posting an impressive operational record in the process.

Also employed in bombing, reconnaissance, convoy protection and troop resupply duties, the 700 Beauforts produced in Australia were regarded as some of the most reliable Allied aircraft to operate in these often demanding environments and were well-liked by both air and ground crews. Eventually equipping 19 RAAF Squadrons, the Beaufort was described as being perhaps the most important Allied aircraft in defeating Japanese forces in the South West Pacific region, which is some accolade for an aircraft whose contribution has largely been overlooked in the years since the end of WWII.