Pre-order - Eduard 11198 - 1:48 PBY-5A Catalina - Limited Edition

1:48 Scale PBY-5A Catalina Amphibious Aircraft Plastic Model Kit – Limited Edition

Eduard 11198 is a limited edition 1:48 scale model of the PBY-5A Catalina amphibious aircraft —one of the largest and most recognizable aircraft of World War II. The kit is based on Revell sprues, supplemented by Eduard with a set of pre-painted photo-etched parts, masking films, a complete decal sheet for 5 marking variants, and resin parts from the Brassin series: realistically reproduced wheels, exhausts, and antennas.

The PBY-5A version is an amphibious aircraft with retractable wheeled landing gear, enabling it to land on both water and land—a key feature distinguishing it from earlier PBY-5 flying boats. In the U.S. military, these aircraft were designated OA-10A. The finished model will be a spectacular display piece thanks to its size—the wingspan is approximately 660 mm.

The kit includes:

• Revell plastic sprues with fuselage, wing, and accessory parts
• Transparent sprues with cockpit and side canopy windows
• Pre-painted Eduard photo-etched parts (pre-painted PE)
• Paint masks
• Brassin resin parts: wheels, exhausts, antennas
• A sheet of water-slide decals for 5 marking variants
• Illustrated assembly instructions with color diagrams

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalog number: 11198
• Manufacturer: Eduard (Czech Republic), Revell sprues
• Model length after assembly: approx. 405 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 660 mm
• Difficulty level: intermediate/advanced

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints, or modeling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Model construction:

Due to the model’s large size and the combination of plastic, resin, and photo-etched parts, this kit is intended for modelers with intermediate or advanced experience. Attach the Brassin resin parts (wheels, exhausts) using CA glue after thoroughly cleaning off the release agent. The photo-etched parts are pre-painted and ready for assembly without additional painting. With such a large wingspan, it is advisable to support the model while the glue dries.

Catalinas were used in several paint schemes: white underside with Navy Blue top (US Navy), olive green (USAAF OA-10A), navy blue-gray / dark gray camouflage (RAF), and the famous “Black Cats” had an all-black paint scheme for night operations. Painting masks facilitate the precise reproduction of color separation lines on the long, curved surfaces of the fuselage.

Essential tools:

• Model-making nippers
• Model-making knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper (also for working with resin)
• Plastic glue
• Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue for resin and photo-etched parts
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Clear varnish for decals
• Model wash

About the aircraft – PBY-5A Catalina:

The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a twin-engine amphibious flying boat produced by Consolidated Aircraft since 1936. The PBY became one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II – serving in maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue (SAR), transport, and night attack missions. The PBY-5A variant is an amphibious aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear, enabling operations from both water and land runways.

Catalinas distinguished themselves at many key moments of World War II: it was a PBY that located the battleship Bismarck in the Atlantic in 1941, and PBY crews were the first to detect the Japanese invasion fleet heading for Midway in 1942—a reconnaissance effort that contributed to the decisive victory in that pivotal battle. The famous “Black Cats” — Catalinas painted black — carried out night attacks on Japanese convoys in the Pacific. In the U.S. Army, the aircraft were designated OA-10A (amphibious observation). A total of approximately 3,300 Catalinas were produced in all versions.

Technical specifications of the original (PBY-5A Catalina):

• Length: 19.46 m
• Wingspan: 31.70 m
• Height: 6.15 m
• Takeoff weight: approx. 16,066 kg
• Crew: 7–9
• Armament: 2 × 7.62 mm machine guns (in the nose turret), 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns (in side blisters), 1 × 7.62 mm machine gun (tail hatch); up to 1,814 kg of bombs or depth charges
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp, 895 kW (1,200 hp) each
• Maximum speed: approx. 314 km/h
• Range: approx. 4,030 km
• Service ceiling: approx. 4,000 m
• Production: approx. 3,305 units (all versions)

About the manufacturer – Eduard:

Eduard Model Accessories is a Czech model kit manufacturer based in Obrnice, founded in 1989. Eduard’s limited edition series (designated by four-digit numbers in the 11xxx series) stands out by combining parts from renowned manufacturers (including Revell, Tamiya) with its own range of photo-etched parts, masks, and Brassin resin components—creating kits with significantly higher detail than the base versions while maintaining a good value for money. Eduard is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of aviation accessories and models, valued for its precision and extensive range in 1:72 and 1:48 scales.