The left engine was not fully inserted into the engine cowling causing a missed alignment which led to this.
So I will have to get over it and it will stay that way forever.
I have learned a lot since I reunited with my forgotten hobby back in December 2013 with one exception: forgetting to always dry fit parts before glueing them.
Double-checking and even quadruple-checking are sometimes not enough.
I will try my luck next with the pontoons, but then maybe it’s not a good idea to install them right away.
I am sure a state-of-the-art 1/48 scale Handley-Page Halifax III would be most welcomed by modelers. At least I know two modelers who have commented yesterday share the same opinion.
Dave
I agree completely the Halifax is one of the more important types not to be kitted yet! There has been a surge in larger kits the last few years, let’s hope it continues for a while.
Looks like pretty good fit on the Catalina, I look forward to giving it a try.
Mike
I’m also waiting for a reasonable Halifax in 1/48 (preferably a Mk I), but I still have 3 unbuilt Tamiya Lancs to deal with!
(I’d also someday like to find a 1/72 HMS Hotspur or Campbeltown, but I digress.)
Revell could easily do it since they already have a 1/72 scale Handley-Page Halifax III.
This 1/72 scale model kit is now out of stock which in a sense is great news since it was probably selling well.
Moving along I have little to add to the PBY before starting painting this huge RCAF Catalina. The engine nacelles were installed and the props were used as props for this photo.
I am certainly not going to mate the wings right now with the fuselage. I have glued the stabilizers. and I will see if I can glue something more, like the pontoons may
I will see if I can glue something more, like the pontoons maybe?
Looking back at the engine nacelles I wanted to check them.
Lo and behold…
I hope no one will notice another case of a missed dry fitting.
I am certainly not rushing into this build because I know I won’t build another Monogram PBY. So let’s enjoy every other step.
I won’t buy another model airplane kit. The only exception will be if some manufacturers will have the brilliant idea to stop making model kits of P-51s, Spitfires, et all… and to finally make a 1/48 scale Handley-Page Halifax Mk III.
Don’t ask me why I will buy it because I would have to direct you to the three blogs I created since 2010 about 425 Alouette Squadron which flew that bomber.
Shortly after Remembrance Day last year, I spent some time searching online for my grandfather William Gerald Phelan to see if any information was available about him. After sorting through various government sites I found Pierre’s blog about 420 Squadron, one of the two squadrons that he served with during his time with the RCAF. To my surprise and pleasure there were a few photos of him that I had never seen before. Over the next few days I spent hours going through the site reading about the history and missions, looking at photos and wondering about the people and the lives they lived.
My grandfather died in 1970 long before I was born, so we never got to meet. Most of what I know about him came from what my mom and other family members have told me. He studied philosophy in college, enjoyed singing in choir and playing the violin. He worked various sales-related jobs both before and after the war with cosmetics companies and at a car dealership. He liked playing sports like golf and hockey, and watching NHL games on television. Apart from facts and details like this, there isn’t much else I know. I get the impression the war took quite a toll on him, and his children only knew the person he was after returning from service.
It’s hard for me to imagine the sort of life he lived during this time period. Being stationed overseas with a wife and young child in Canada, not knowing if he would make it back, losing his younger brother Terence who didn’t return from a mission in February of 1945. Coming home and being expected to have a normal life, get a job, raise a family, all at a time when the diagnosis and treatment of war-related trauma was probably not very common. He never really talked about the war, but his experiences with the RCAF clearly stayed with him for many years after.
He had seven children, and just a few generations later his descendants number 61 and counting as great-grandchildren continue being born. Most of them live in Ontario where he spent most of his life, with others scattered coast to coast across Canada and elsewhere. It’s incredible to think that almost none of these people would exist had he not survived, if he had been sent on different missions on different nights. So many lives and family lines were cut short for those who were not so fortunate.
My family and I are incredibly grateful for the work Pierre has done with his blogs. They add a personal touch to the lives of people like my grandfather that does not exist in any government archives. These sites allow us to wonder about the human beings behind the names and dates, and what their experience during the war and life in general might have been like. I look forward to learning more about the details of my grandfather’s service as Pierre shares what he has been able to find out. Thanks to all the people who have shared the many fascinating and important photos, documents, and journals on these blogs. I hope they continue to serve as an important memorial and piece of history for interested readers, and descendants like myself who are lucky enough to find them.
A formation photograph of Marauders from the 320th Bomb Group’s 441st Squadron. Modelers note the variety of camouflage and markings, remaining paint where the cheek gun packs have been removed, and the extensive oil staining under the nacelles.
A beautiful study of B-26F 42-96322 of the 441st Squadron.
Although not the highest quality photo, it is comparatively rare to have photographs of both sides of an aircraft – let alone in color.
A 441st Squadron formation banks away while their target burns in the background.
Another 441st Squadron ship, this is 41-34891 “Missouri Mule”, a B-26C. The red cowling faces and propeller hubs are a Group marking.
Thumper II is another 441st Squadron ship. She is B-26C 42-10778.
Here is a close-up of Thumper II’s nose art, note the mission markers extend to cover the landing gear door.
“Bell Ringer” was B-26C 42-107534. One of the cheek gun fairings remains…
If mating the wings was somewhat easy, mating the fuselage halves will take some time because of this.
I will glue the fuselage halves section by section making sure everything is glued solid. I still have some little touch-ups to do because once the fuselages halves are glued painting these touch-ups will be hard to do.
Control wheels will be painted black as Jeff suggested. I should be receiving the after-market decals soon. I already have received by email the twelve 8.5 x 11 in. pages illustrated documentation.
The PBY is a quite large model kit and I will have to use common sense assembling some parts before painting. Fragile parts will be added at the end.
After-market decals will be added before the wings are attached to the fuselage.
My Forgotten Hobby III 