SQL/DB Error -- [
    Error establishing a database connection!
  1. Are you sure you have the correct user/password?
  2. Are you sure that you have typed the correct hostname?
  3. Are you sure that the database server is running?
]
SQL/DB Error -- [
    Error selecting database shb1_200_1!
  1. Are you sure it exists?
  2. Are you sure there is a valid database connection?
]

Warning: mysql_error(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in /home/1/c/cb/cbanyai/internetmodeler.com/public_html/Scripts/ez_sql.php on line 95

Warning: mysql_errno(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in /home/1/c/cb/cbanyai/internetmodeler.com/public_html/Scripts/ez_sql.php on line 96
SQL/DB Error -- []
Scratchbuilt 1/48Consolidated P2Y-3
 

Scratchbuilt 1/48 Scale Consolidated P2Y-3

By Gerry Nilles

Introduction

 

The first steps taken, to give the US Navy a monoplane flying boat with a single step hull, occurred in the late 1920s. Although Consolidated had lost the competition to produce the first of these new generation flying boats, the XPY-1, to Martin it did receive an order from the Navy to build a subsequent prototype based on that same XPY-1 design. This second NAF variation was designated the XP2Y-1, and differed mainly in that it retained a small lower wing which not only provided support for the stabilizing pontoons but also gave it a bit more lift as well as space for additional fuel tanks. Initially the P2Y-1 engines were mounted below the wing, but with the development of the XP2Y-2 prototype it was found that drag was significantly reduced when the engines were moved to the leading edge of the wing. The production version incorporating these and other changes became P2Y-3. However 21 of the original P2Y-1s were retrofitted with these same modification and then re-designated P2Y-2s. As it turned out the Consolidated offering became more successful then its Martin counterpart. Of course both companies went on to produce more advanced flying boats for the Navy including the Consolidated PBY Catalina, and the Martin Mariner.

Background:

The reason for scratch building a particular subject I am sure varies with each modeler. As for me I have always been a big fan of floatplanes and flying boats. It probably has something to do with the fact that I was born on and spent my early formative years in an island community that had only watercraft and seaplanes as its source of transportation to the outside world. But roots aside, flying boats and floatplanes still make for interesting scratch building subject matter mainly because they have been somewhat ignored by kit manufactures, especially in the larger scales. So if you want to add something other than the Monogram PBY or a variety of poorly done or very challenging vac-u-forms to your collection of 1/48th scale US Navy aircraft you are left to your own devises.

Construction:

First off, my goal is to assemble an extensive collection of US military aircraft, sort of my own miniature museum. To accomplish this, my approach to scratch building is to make it as easy and as quick as possible. Now I know some model builders believe that the more extensive the details, seen or unseen, the better the model. Perhaps this is true and maybe I am committing modeling blasphemy, but I feel that if you can’t see it why bother with it.

With that said my first task in constructing my P2Y-3 was the acquisition of a good set of plans. Fortunately a friend of mine has both volumes of Paul R. Matt’s beautifully done model drawings which included the P2Y-3. Once I had these drawings enlarged to 1/48th scale I was ready to go. I have scratch built a number of different models over the years and have used several construction methods depending on visible interior requirements. In this case interior visibility included the cockpit area under the main canopy and the somewhat limited visibility into the gunners positions as seen through a small hatch windows.

At this point I could go into how I built the fuselage, wings, vertical and horizontal surfaces, and other details, but seeing as how I did not photo document any of these steps it would be pretty hard to describe my building process with words alone. I will however say this much, the model is almost completely solid and is made out of a combination of sheet styrene and an industrial type of pre-cast high density polymer foam material. This material is very stable and can be cut and shaped with standard saws, woodworking rasps & files and various grade of sandpaper. Depending on the density used some of this stuff can have a finished surface that is almost glass smooth. But be advised this material is a bit expensive. Evergreen and Plastruct styrene strips products were also used for various surface details.

As for things like the engines, props, cowlings, cockpit interior etc. I borrow from other kits as much as possible. In this case the Monogram B-17 provided the correct engines as well as the rudimentary shapes for both the cowlings and props. The cockpit interior was built using parts from the “True Details” PBY Cockpit Detail Set (TD48457). The nose gunner’s 30-cal. mg is from the Accurate Miniatures SBD –2 kit. Markings are combination of “Yellow Wings Decals” and where necessary homemade on my own computer and ink jet printer. The entire models is painted using Tamiya Model Lacquers that I decanted, thinned and then re-sprayed with my air brush.

Conclusion:

I built this model primarily for my own collection, enjoyment and the fact that there probably is not much chance of any manufacture doing a kit of this aircraft soon, especially in this scale. Although I didn’t track the time I estimate that I put somewhere between 150 to 200 hours into the model over a 16-month period. The techniques I used were not particularly exotic or complicated.