Fran

1:32 PBY-5A Catalina Cutaway 'Limited Edition' HPH Catalogue # CUT 3201L Available from HPH for 385 Euros The beautiful Catalina needs no presentation… It`s simply one of the most beautiful seaplanes made (alongside with the Walrus… and the Felixstowe… and the Brandenburg W.29). But I found this documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4GiyDOGdpM So as I know that it will be a long review, I will skip the brief intro history… Is the Cat you know!?... HpH already set its place in the modelling market, giving the modeler large scale planes or large planes with a very high level of detail and accuracy. So when I was told that Catalina Cut-away kit was on the way, I start dancing around the table like a little kid! I was delighted with the opportunity to make HpH Cutaway Catalina review. It`s almost like letting me drive a Formula One car ... The HpH is in resin model kits (and multimedia ) as the WNW is for injection kits ! They are the top of the tops! And it is the first full kit CK series from HpH as the He- 111 is an extensive detail set that needs the donor kit. Before taking some pictures, I decided to explore and "dating” a little with this breathtaking model of a beautiful aircraft. When the postman delivery it, despite knowing that the kit was great, I was still surprised at the size of the box. Cracking the box, you can immediately see a full package, very well organized with watertight compartments and all very well protected with bubbles warp. This professional care prevents resin breakdown in transportation. You can shake that does not feel any loose object inside the rattling and knocking – Really… I tried… and I bet the postman also tried. Noted two small boxes at the top left, in which are all the clear parts as well a ziplock bag containing one decal sheet, two masks sheets, seatbelts and deck beds, and a CD which is where you'll find your instruction manual in PDF format. Every single resin bites are in ziplock bags, and all box compartments are stuffed with protective bubble-wrap plastic, and the fuselage halve is wrapped too. Turning a brief attention to those small boxes, all the clear parts are in there but it`s not totally chaos… The smaller ones are in one box and the larger ones in another so there`s a less risk of breaking any pieces. Even though, clear parts are all in the bag, so there`s could be some damage but after a brief look, everything is perfect. We will get to these clear parts later on. Highly professional packing care is demonstrating that the HPH can take care of their products and please their customers. Kudos to HpH. The number of parts is huge and actually tried to make an effort to count them all, even the repeated as happens in photogravure but I give up… more than 500 for sure. And the modeler is presented with parts for all tastes: fiberglass, resin, metal and turned! Only lacks the injection plastic and thanks God, vacuform. There is actually not a weekend project… No even a two month project, at least for me. Just check out all the pieces in display on the first pages of the instructions. This model is quite unique in several things and one thing is the fuselage paint job. It can`t be made in the traditional way because the entire interior is "outside" ... I personally think that I will start working the fuselage and the wing first (painting the camouflage) then the engine and only after I will go to the inside. In an overall look of the resins parts, which looks fantastic I notice that the HpH casting technique is quite different from all the other resins kits I have had the pleasure to review and work on. The HpH casting technique is based in sheet casting method, one you don`t usually see in other good resin manufactures, like Brach Model or Plusmodel. It`s quite easy to clean as you don`t have resin block to remove. It`s seems that HpH use a two side molds (like injections models) for casting, giving to the parts a different look, almost a vacuform look because you will have to remove an entire resin fine sheet all around the parts. I think that´s why the wheels are in two halves, when, personally I would prefer a single casting piece. The method is not used in all pieces, like the engine nacelles or the wings. So I really can`t understand the HpH option for the wheels. Don`t get me wrong, they looks fabulous, with perfect detail and casting… Just look. Checking the HpH last release (Sea Hornet) the wheels are full cast with resin block… I do hope when building this one, HpH proves me that my fears on these wheels are unfounded. The model is quite big and highly complex, so I decided to start this review for the fuselage and external parts, like central wing, engine, rudder, elevator and clear parts. Then I going to the inside detail. After all that, going to view the decals, mask and HGW detail set (seatbelts and deck chairs). Well in fact I already start with the wheels. So bear with me, as I`m about to go little deep on the most complex model kit I ever have seen. Starting from the outside and the fuselage in concrete: Being a cutaway model, only have a part of the fuselage, and the right of the plane, leaving the left side of the fuselage airplane with full display. It's a long piece of fiberglass with very light gray color with spectacular Catalina profile. Just look at it and you can identify immediately the Cat in its entire splendor. All panels and rivets are present smoothly presenting all metal airframe with much reliability. Surface detail is quite excellent, with the high standard of riveting, raised paneling and access port scribing. Really impressive. The fuselage does have some minor and not relevant scratches in this coating which are simply removed with micromesh. In my fuselage there´s a downside. As can be seen on the cockpit wall, just where the fit with the transparent piece something has been broken there… a bit of fuselage, as you can see from the inside. I do not know what happened but the repair, while not easy because of the fuselage detail (rivet and panels), is possible with a little effort. Meanwhile I just sent an email to HpH, and a replacement part is on the way. Just perfect. Another thing that the modeler must be aware is that, Another thing that the modeler must be aware is that, unlike the usual, you only got one fuselage side. So the fiberglass edge from the fuselage is a little rough, so some sandpaper would do the job and give a less rude, soft and pleasant edge, like it has been cut by a laser beam. Inside the fuselage there`s no details ostensibly. The detail remains with pre-scribed lines to use as guidelines to all ribs and longitudinal strips. This is very important because you will need to add the stringer detail yourself. These pre-scribed lines are essentials to achieve the goal and to start raising the ultimate inside detail. Every single ribs will need to be cut off at the desirable size… You just need to measure every single space on the fuselage to cut the rib at the correct size. The ribs are very well cast, with subtle details. The longitudinal ribs are given in full size, so you don`t need to cut… just trim with careful. Hopefully, I think, for what I see that there`s some spare but not much. The work will be just tremendous and quite tedious, but that work will pay out your efforts.

Green 9! Jim is the "Godfather" Jeroen... don`t mess with him or else! :)

Great review! Thanks

Wow!!!! fantastic start! Now that`s is a project!!!

Boring??? Long??? No way!!! Just keep these wip pics coming!! I already have my chair and a full bucket of popcorn.

Woow Ralph!! fast and furious!!! great work... That`s why I love Tamiya... easy construction with all the the fun!!

great snow!! Looks like a very cold place... nice!!

First model???????? Brilliant!

Keep it coming! Very nice work!!

great looking ELefant!! Just love this beast!

Nice Spit!!!

Simply but a very efective AM! Very NICE! Thanks Jim for sharing!

I really like the camo paint job!! Nice!

Jeroen said it all!

Superb review JP!! Thanks

Wooooow!!! Fantastic! The 335 it's a real beast!!had no idea!

Just perfect!! Fantastic!

Just love it!! A real beauty! Great worK!

Thanks Paul for the info!! "Shelf o`Sherman"??? Just fantastic!! Love IT!

Swapilot this poll was made with the knowledge of Richard Alexander , and the WnW is really interested in knowing what the most desired plane. One of the top rated was initially the Camel and Richard informed me that this plane is already planned to be released by WnW, and asking for fans to voted in another plane. Two years ago, WnW Fans on facebook made a full wishlist with more than 30 aircraft and it was send to WnW. I really don`t know if WnW already have plans to do any of the top 5 and I fully understand you, but in fact, one thing that we want (and also WnW) with this, is get to Most Wanted one. If Wnw already is working on it, great... if not, they wlll think about it...

Looks quite good! love the interior rigging! Did you use EZ Line?

Sorry!! Great work on this beauty! Great weathering! Nice!!

Jim, The Eduard Sherman is the M4A1, this one is the M-51... I`m really not a Shermanolic but i do know the the M-51 has a totally new turret and canon. The tracks are different and the upper hull looks also different.

Very good start! This is on my wishlist... This one or takom's one....

Fantastic kit and review! Thanks WNW and Jim!