Catalina modelmaking site

This site contents a personal report of building a PBY 5A on small size

Build report of a PBY 5A, made by two Dutch modelmakers

Covering the frame

Covering the frame is a serious task. The balsa wood makes the fuselage strong and gives it the right shape.

So this task is very important and has to be done extremely concentrated.

Important: Try to use shelves of balsa as big as possible to give optimal strength.

Be sure that the frame is standing in the right position.( the covering can also been used to set the partitions in the right order). After that bring ordinary wood glue to the partitions. Bring the shelve on and hold it with cloth pins. Because the shelve has to been bent you can use water or ammoniac ( on water base) to make the balsa flexible.

After a couple of hours working, this is the result. The big shelves have been placed. It's now time to place the small shelves.

This is looking very idiot but it works! While making the Catalina we damaged to downside. Spary some water over it, and iron over it with a flatiron (side stand) and the holes disappear. (not the big holes of course)

J Bronsvoort

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Covering the frame is a serious task. The balsa wood makes the fuselage strong and gives it the right shape. So this task is very important and has to be done extremely concentrated.
Important: Try to use shelves of balsa as big as possible to give optimal strength. Be sure that the frame is standing in the right position.( the covering can also been used to set the partitions in the right order). After that bring ordinary wood glue to the partitions. Bring the shelve on and hold it with cloth pins. Because the shelve has to been bent you can use water or ammoniac ( on water base) to make the balsa flexible.
After a couple of hours working, this is the result. The big shelves have been placed. It's now time to place the small shelves.
This is looking very idiot but it works! While making the Catalina we damaged to downside. Spary some water over it, and iron over it with a flatiron (side stand) and the holes disappear. (not the big holes of course) J Bronsvoort